That Doubt In Me

                                                                      Everyday is a brand new day,
                                                                      everyday is a journey.

Lord, subdue our selfish will;
Each to each our tempers suit,
By thy modulating skill,
Heart to heart, as lute to lute.

--Charles Wesley.

Being a devout follower of Christ is extremely important to me. I need to make that clear right away, but I have found that the same faithfulness and devotion holds me apart from everyone else. People don't really understand why I would help anyone or offer money to someone in need. 

Not long ago, I did just that. I helped someone in need. Whether or not this person was in need or not, that doesn't matter, because I was guided to do so.There are no regrets in doing so as I believe the Holy Spirit guided me in this gift. I have long learned to listen when God says go and this was that opportunity. The problem began when I approached others to also help. They were not believers. There was hesitation, not on all parts, but for some of them. I was questioned as to why I would do something so out of the world to them. To them, that person didn't look as if in need. 

I'm asking nonbelievers to do a believers act. It took away all of my Joy of giving. The blessing to others was taken away from me. It was gone. I began to doubt, to mistrust the Holy Spirit's voice inside of me. I didn't even believe in myself anymore. For the remainder of the night, I was tortured inside with remorse with I shouldn't have done this or what was I thinking? I felt horrible.  

It's difficult for nonbelievers to understand our Christian ways, especially when it comes to the giving. Forget the 10% tithe, they totally don't get that. Yet, when we give from our hearts randomly to random people, they think we are crazy. They didn't want to give. It made me think of the bible verse from Mark 10:25.

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."

Isn't that the truth? People don't want to part with their money. Giving and sharing is so difficult for some of us. Why is that? I've learned a lesson here and I think it will be a while before I ever involve nonbelievers in the act of giving. I can't help think that perhaps I've handled this wrong. Perhaps this was an opportunity for a lesson for them. Have I missed it? Perhaps. Something definitely to think about.

Have a blessed day everyone.

A Little Birdie Told Me

                                                           Everyday is a brand new day,
                                                           everyday is a journey.



Labor is life! 'tis the still water faileth;
Idleness ever despaireth, bewaileth:
Keep the watch wound, or the dark rust assaileth;
Flowers droop and die in the stillness of noon.
Labor is glory! the flying cloud lightens;
Only the waving wing changes and brightens,
Idle hearts only the dark future frightens,
Play the sweet keys, wouldst thou keep them in tune.

--Frances S. Osgood.

My mom put together the puzzle above of the different birds. Looking at them made me realize how much Joey seems to love birds. This is something I never knew about him before, even though I am his mother. Every time I visit, there is a new bird house feeder or more birds flying around his yard. 

To say I'm a little surprised would be an understatement. Joey has never shown interest for pets. Take his sister for instance, her whole life she has been an animal whisperer. She can't walk down the street without dogs or cats running up to her for love. That is not Joey. Now, that doesn't mean he doesn't care for pets, it just means he doesn't go coo-coo over animals like his sister.

Although, looking back to when he first started living on his own, one could see his love for the subtle and relaxing things in life. He began fishing, a sport that involves quiet time, meditation and peace. Birds in a way are the same. They're tranquil, reflective and peaceful. In a way, that might be what his heart longs for since his occupation devotes so much of him to others. 

We all are looking for that something that we can enjoy and relax in. Recently, I had a massage and the entire time there, they were playing a piano instrumental. I cannot explain to you how much that relaxed me. I need to try that at home. Besides that, I have a deep desire to get some bird feeders when I retire, so I can watch the birds just like my son. After all this years, they actually teach us.

Have a blessed day everyone. 

April Days

                                                          Everyday is a brand new day, everyday is a journey.     



We cannot kindle when we will
The fire that in the heart resides,
The spirit bloweth and is still,
In mystery our soul abides:
But tasks in hours of insight willed
Can be through hours of gloom fulfilled.
MATTHEW ARNOLD.




The month began with Easter! Yup, on April's Fools! Well, I think that's kind of appropriate, because our Lord lives! The jokes on them!

As the month proceeded, I felt extremely energized for Spring! Of course, it didn't come until the end of the month as we still had snow and sleet. Winter did not go away easily, but finally nice weather prevailed.

Look what I came across, the original five. The next generation began with these little ones. Starting at the top row we have Tommy and Joey. Bottom row there's Kathy, Emily and Carolyn. Nice picture of Emily crying. I'm sure she'll appreciate it being posted.

Down below. we have the five with my mom, their grandma. She loved the fact that she was a young grandma. This is Christmas at my older brother's apartment. 

So mom has become quite a professional with these puzzles. Whenever she begins a new one, it isn't long before it is completed. That's funny, because there was a time where she didn't want to hear anything about these puzzles. Now look at her.

Sitting in my car before work, I snapped this picture of a perfectly rounded tree. For some reason, I'm drawn to the perfect globes of a tree. It just looks strong to me when the branches grow out in all directions. It looks full of life!

I also started a new Beth Moore Bible study on David. This will be an eleven week study, so I will keep you posted on how it is going. 

Have a blessed day everyone. 

Cleaning Out The Frig

                                                               Everyday is a brand new day, everyday is a journey.


One there lives whose guardian eye
  Guides our earthly destiny;
  One there lives, who, Lord of all,
  Keeps His children lest they fall;
  Pass we, then, in love and praise,
  Trusting Him through all our days,
  Free from doubt and faithless sorrow,--
  God provideth for the morrow.
R. HEBER.


When the children were small, I remember very well watching The Cosby Show. It was one of the favorites to watch a family that obviously loved each other very much. There was an episode where the entire family was cleaning out the refrigerator. It was like a special day with a special dinner, because that night they made supper with all the leftovers in the refrigerator. There wasn't a single completed dish, but plenty of small bits and pieces of everything else edible.

Well, we've been doing the same thing ever since that episode aired. It truly is a great way to clean out the frig and prepare it for the new groceries that are coming within a day or two. I mean, who doesn't eat leftovers?

First, I have to admit that I really dislike cleaning the refrigerator or any deep cleaning similar to it. I have often said that Emily would clean the frig whenever she was in trouble as a child. She doesn't do it anymore. She grew up. Too bad.

Our "clean out the frig suppers" usually consist of some sort of pasta or grain from the pantry like rice. We do need some substance added to the brussel sprouts or green beans. Somehow, we always seem to fill our stomachs satisfactorily. It just shows you that as a society we are overfed. No one likes leftovers, yet they are filling. 

Today our leftover supper consisted of white rice, brussel sprouts, peas, pickles, pickled artichokes and some fruit salad. Not bad if I say so myself. It was all edible and quite tasty. Oh yes, and one mozzarella stick. 

Do you have a leftover day or perhaps a clean your frig day?
What are some of the unusual family dinners that you have had? Would love to hear about them. What are you eating today? I guess it doesn't matter. It's not the food, it's the company.

Have a blessed day everyone. 

Not A Bad Day

                                                                         Everyday is a brand new day,
                                                                         everyday is a journey.






For patience, when the rough winds blow!
For patience, when our hopes are fading,--
When visible things all backward go,
And nowhere seems the power of aiding!
God still enfolds thee with His viewless hand,
And leads thee surely to the Fatherland.
N. L. FROTHINGHAM, from the German.



The day has gone pretty good so far, even with a few hiccups along the way. I awakened early and had my breakfast with a dear girlfriend. We ended up getting a massage afterwards, finally using up my free massage gift certificate I've received for my birthday. It was totally relaxing and I didn't want it to end. They kept playing a piano instrumental music and I found it quite enjoyable. Maybe I should try it at home with the lights off?

The day preceded with a trip to Home Depot to make a copy of my car keys. The original copy got lost and let me tell you, it's been a heck to get a new one. This has been my fourth Home Depot and finally I've struck oil. The key is a transporter (anti-theft) and not too many of the stores have them for my make/model/year. 

There was a gentleman waiting beside me for one thing or another and he never heard of a transporter key. Now, I thought men were born knowing everything on cars and sports, but apparently, I was wrong. So I very knowledgeably informed him of all the details. 

Came home and decided to do some laundry. Don't ask me why, because I should know better than to do laundry over the weekend. There are two of my neighbors who spend all weekend doing theirs, so it's a crap shoot if one can find an available washer/dryer. This time, there was no one washing so I rushed down and loaded the machine. Of course, I should have checked if the dryer was empty or not, but I didn't until I actually needed it. The neighbor used it and left for the day without taking her clothes out of the dryer. 

I felt extremely frustrated, going up and down the stairs checking to see if she came home. Alas, that didn't happen, so I brought the wet clothes upstairs and hung them around  on hangers to air dry by the windows. One can easily become disappointed, discouraged and ticked off, forgetting about the wonderful day I've spent with my friend. I wasn't about to let that happen, so I switched my attitude. One can do that, you know. Suddenly, the day was beautiful once again.

Have a blessed day everyone. 

Just Share It: Joey Krol

                                                                           Everyday is a brand new day,
                                                                           everyday is a journey.




o mine are these new fruitings rich,
The simple to the common brings;
I keep the youth of souls who pitch
Their joy in this old heart of things;
Full lasting is the song, though he
The singer passes; lasting too
,For souls not lent in usury,
The rapture of the forward view.
George Meredith.

I couldn't help, but share my own son's blogpost. It maybe one he wrote for Easter, but the message is one we all need to hear. Who hasn't messed up and wished they could rectify the situation? Often, we hold ourselves hostage to our pasts, because we cannot forgive ourselves even though Jesus already has. The message is one of hope. No matter what our situation may have been, we can begin anew in the love and grace and forgiveness of our Lord Jesus. I hope you enjoy. 

It’s possible to feel so low and filled with so much shame and guilt…that we feel that we are beyond the love, grace and reach of God.  But Easter reminds us that isn’t true.    

Let me introduce you to the Apostle Peter.  He was a disciple of Jesus.  He followed Him everywhere.  Peter sat at the same table as Jesus at the last supper.  What an honor!  He told Jesus that we would go to prison and would even DIE for Him.  (Luke 22:33)

After Jesus was betrayed and arrested, the disciples ran away out of fear.   But…Peter was spotted.  Matthew 26  gives us the account: “Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, "You too were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about."…

We read this took place three different times.  After the third time, he realized he denied his Savior and wept bitterly.  Peter did something he thought he would never do.  Have you ever done something you thought you would NEVER do?  Ever get to a place in your life and thought “I never thought I would end up here…”?

Peter couldn’t believe he denied the king of kings….the Beginning and the End…the Hope for all eternity.  

I’m sure he felt a million times worse after Jesus had died. I bet he thought to himself, “I didn’t even have a chance to say I was sorry”.  He probably had unresolved guilt and shame between Friday and early Sunday morning.  

Many of us are living in a Saturday situation with pain from our Friday.  But be reminded of Sunday. 

On Sunday morning the two Marys went out to visit Jesus’ tomb.  “But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.” “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter."

Did you catch that?  God specifically sent an angel to go tell the Disciples….AND PETER.  The wonderful news of the empty tomb wasn’t just for the righteous…but for the mess-ups and the screw-ups.  

It was like God saying: 

• Peter, I know you messed up…but I still want you.
• I still love you, Peter. 
• You can’t go hiding from me Peter….I still have plans for you. 
• Don’t you dare hang your head low, Peter…I’m still going to use you.  

AND PETER.  Two words changed his life.  

And that wonderful news is for you, too.  Come on home.  His arms are wide open waiting for you.  There is no sin outside His grace.  He loves you.  1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”


Dr. Krol is the Pastor at Galilee Baptist Church in Decatur, IL and is the author of the devotional book "At The King's Feet", available now.  

Another No

                                                                    Everyday is a brand new day,
                                                                    everyday is a journey.



Life is made stronger
Giving, receiving;
Love is made longer
Hoping, believing.

Life is made sweeter,

Truly worth living;

Love is completer,

Trusting, forgiving

Anon

Sometimes, it feels like the answer from God is always a no. I've had to come to terms recently with that fact and it's not pretty. It's not easy to do so, especially when we feel we have been faithful in our praises and stewardship. All of which are lies since none of us are really good. We like to think so, but we are not. We like to think we deserve all the answers to be a resounding YES, because of our serving and gifting.

What do Pastors love to say about waiting on God's answer? Oh yes, it's no, yes or not now. I think the "not now" is the hardest to deal with, because it involves waiting and sometimes, it can be very long. The yes or no are better, even though it may be hard to accept if it's not what we like. At least, it's an answer. That not now, can be a real pain.

We are not a waiting type of people. We admire the people in the Bible, but we don't want to wait like they did. Look at Moses or David or Joseph. All the years they waited. Lord, let it not be us that has to wait like they did. Forty years? Twenty years? Fifteen years? Oh no, not for me.

Another thing that gets me is the answers people give whenever we seek advice or solace in the waiting. 
Well, you must have some sin in your life. 
Well, you must have displeased God in some way.
Well, you must get your life right first.
Well, it's God time not yours.
Well, God knows what He's doing.
Well, you need to fast.

It's all true, of course, but it's the last thing we want to hear. We want comfort at the moment, the courage and strength to keep moving. So this is where I'm at right now. I'm in the waiting room of the Yes, No and Not Now world. It's not easy, but I'm trying to stay faithful and filled with the promise.

Have a blessed day everyone.