despair....................

dusti and i have been watching the series....anne of green gables....an interesting quote was said in one of the videos and it has stayed with me for years when i watched it with my older girls....aunt mirilla said, "to despair is to turn your back on God". strong statement....so i thought i would comment on that today. i find myself the older i get that there is going to be situations ALL the time that can steal your joy and hope in the Lord. the question is are you going to let that happen, because we do have the power by the Holy Spirit NOT to let that happen. i looked up in the dictionary the word "despair" .......one definition says it all......to be without hope; to give up all hope or expectation; to loose confidence in; to deprive of hope;..........strong words girls......i want you to turn you face to the Lord today and worship, praise and thank Him for all He is and does on our behalf. despair is not an option for me.......my hope is in the Lord in all things.......even loses.......even tradgedy and disappoint..........even triumphs and victories........where is your hope today.........in what you see?............or who He was and is and is to come!!!!!!!!!! have a hopeful and victorious day, girls..................it is always your choice!!!! i choose life today...........how about you??!!!!!
my hope is in the Lord
now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen
it is impossible to please without faith
But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

have a hopeful and glorious day!!!!!!
robbye

Don't Get Caught Lacking

It is a HOT morning!  I just walked into my house from my morning walk feeling thankful for the cool air.   Earlier this morning, as I rolled out of bed before everyone else in the house, I grabbed my coffee and bible which is my routine.    For about a month now, my routine has been just-exactly-that......routine!    Sometimes I read my bible and the words jump out.  I get an excited feeling kind of like butterflies in the stomach! I know God is speaking to me through His word.  

For about a month now, I have struggled to “feel” anything as I read.    This morning I was reading in Hosea 4, when verse 6 made that long awaited jump!   

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge,

Because you have rejected knowledge,

I also will reject you from being My priest,

Since you have forgotten the law of your God,

I also will forget your children.

I know this is Old Testament and that God is speaking to the sons of Israel, but I believe the words of the Prophet Hosea can speak to us today.

Having a passion for God’s word and “feeling it” is the best thing ever!   What about the times I don’t feel it?   During times of trials and struggle (which is inevitable),will I lay The Word down and wallow in self pity?   Honestly, I have been there lately.   

I was reminded this morning of a very profound fact of life.   This thing is so simple, yet at times I can make it complicated.   Take the living word, as God has given us, to guide us through life, read it, gain knowledge of the truth inside, which in turn will keep me from being “destroyed for lack of knowledge.”

I chose to do this whether I feel it or not!

  

Hey girls,

I just want you to know that I haven't ditched the blog! Hey, "shift happens"! I only said that because I can't say the other! HA! At this moment I am sitting at my sister's computer in Oklahoma City. She is at work today, so I am alone. (Well, not really, Seth is here) There is nothing like being pampered by my older sissy! God is good. He is so in love with me and I with Him. No matter what is going on at any given time in our life, He is right there with us. I am experiencing a "shift" in my life that I have no control over. I am so happy that God knows and He controls what happens. Sometimes thing happen and we are not sure why, but once we walk through and get to the other side, we can then be able to help others. I am overwhelmed with thankfulness to be a child of the living and active God!

I am reading a book, "Think and Make it Happen". Rice Brooks told us about this book, while we were in Nashville. I started it a couple of months ago, but haven't had the time to really dive into it. My one goal during this restful week in Oklahoma , is to finish this book. (It is so nice to have just one goal!, at least for a few days) God's timing is always perfect! I need this book at this precise moment in my life. A quote: "A correctly thinking mind understands that the goal with our emotions is to manage them as best we can by directing their significant power to achieve positive ends. The remarkable mind will also make sure the conscious "self" remains in charge rather than being ruled by emotions."

We have control over our thoughts. Do we take control? So may times a thought will make itself known in our mind, we immediately grab it, feed it, then it grows into a monster!

I truly believe that every circumstance, even the toughest, can be looked at with a positive mind. This book states: "The fact that Jesus withstood the pressures brought upon him is evidence that he was the captain of his own thoughts."

We can only learn by doing, therefore, when a negative thought jumps into my mind, I desire to
take control and not let that "thought" control me. This book is a meaty book written by a very intellegent person. I don't know how I will ever get through it and remember everything. One chapter can be overwhelming with a wealth of information. Well, better get back to reading.

Love you all.... Have a wonderful week! Ruth