Abba's Girl

Yesterday out of the clear blue, a woman I've known 30 years set me off and "got my goat". It shocked me. She made a sarcastic comment to me and I almost erupted. The rest of the day I had negative thoughts about her and the way she's conducted her life the last 5 years. Can anyone say judgment??? Who am I to point out her sin? It's a big job trying to keep up with my own sin. It was as if I was flipping through a Rolodex of her sinful moments. I was not comparing myself to her, didn't feel better than her, just wanted to throw a few zingers her way. I still do not know why I reacted that way to 1 measly comment. Maybe instead of flipping through the imaginary Rolodex, I should have repented and prayed for her as well as her fractured family. (I did later in the day.) I woke up today with a better attitude toward her, but it still is not where it should be. Our Lord said: For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you...

Thursday night our dog Shorty treed two large possums. One looked down on him with great disdain, the other seemed a little frightened of him. My husband had to go outside, pick up Shorty and carry him inside because he was so fixed on the possum he tuned us out as well as everything else in the world. As soon as my husband put Shorty down on the floor in the kitchen, Shorty spun around and ran into the sun room to zip out his doggie door which much to his chagrin was closed. After my husband and I went to bed, we heard Shorty trying to open the doogie door. He finally gave up and slept on the couch most of the night. I am sure he dreamed of getting outside and finding the possums. One word aptly describes Shorty: tenacious. As Christians tenacity is a good thing, if we are seeking the Lord with all we have tuning out the distractions of the world, clinging to him and adhering to His Word. However, we must be mindful of being tenaciously legalistic,Pharisaic, and driving people awa...

So far I've memorized John 1:1-5 in the ESV: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Now I move on to John 3:17-18, I must begin with verse 16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. Please feel free to leave your verse/verses in a comment.

The last two Saturdays I've spent time shoveling a couple of yards of top soil into my flower beds. There were spots missing top soil due to wind and erosion caused by HEAVY rains and others spots with slight depressions. If the weather is clear this Saturday, I will spread the last 1/2 yard. The new top soil not only filled in void spots, it nourished the plants which were planted over the years. The blossoms and foliage brightened in a short time. The new flowers are healthy and growing. The Word of God is like top soil in our spiritual lives, it brings nourishment and fills void spots. Many times I've told myself it's OK, I didn't have time to pick up the Bible today but somehow I had time to breeze through Southern Living or goof around on FB. I have to ask myself, am I filling void spots with the Word of God or other things? It is not necessarily bad stuff, but it certainly isn't time in the Word or with prayer. I want 2013 to be the year I consistently ...

In my area we can garden year round. I've been busy working in the yard to keep ahead of a winter weed what we call Velcro Weed. It sticks to you, your gloves, and clothes. If you do not pull it in time; seeds stick to you as well as scatter through out the flower beds and grass causing more work the next winter. (I've spent time picking the sticky seeds off pants and shoelaces all the while contemplating throwing the pants and shoes in the garbage can.) Velcro Weed is an example of how something well established is hard to eradicate. If I let it remain in the garden it will stick to everything in its path, smothering some plants as it grows and then finally when I've about given up, the heat causes it to go dormant for 7 months or so. Sin is the same way. If we justify it, excuse it, refuse to acknowledge it, fail to confess or repent, it will stick to everything in its path. Sin can smother. We need to nip sin in the bud before it takes over our lives. Over the years...

Last night we learned our friends' son died due to a work related accident. Their son leaves behind a wife with a baby on the way as well as another child. He was to be his brother's best man a week from today. I do not think there are any words to aptly describe how the family feels today. Devastated may come close. Last night the question why came up in conversation. Why God, why? When in reality the questioner was thinking God, why did You allow this to happen? He didn't phrase it this way because he didn't want to accuse God. No matter how we word it, God knows what we mean. I cannot answer the question as to why this young man died; but I can with complete faith state God is pouring out His comfort and sustaining love on those who grieve. He gives us assurance in the face of what seems to be a hopeless situation. He calls those who mourn to Himself. He brings peace to a situation in which you think there will never be peace. He binds up broken hearts. He will n...

I continue with John 1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (ESV) Please feel free to leave your verse/verses in a comment. With Christ and each other's love and support we can do this thing!