Abba's Girl

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to put down other people, those people if we watch or read too much news? I am not suggesting we go through life uninformed, I am suggesting too much is too much. It takes our focus off the Lord and what we need to change in our own lives and may cause us to point our fingers and say what is wrong with those people ? We see the speck in their eye and miss the log jammed (think telephone pole) in our own eye. In Matthew 7:2-4, we have the words of Jesus: For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? Sometimes we forget social media posts are far from expressing an opinion and are in fact judgment of other people. What if each member of the Body of Chris...

I dislike the time change each spring. I am astounded each year, how moving the clock forward 1 measly hour causes havoc with my schedule. I try to go to bed early unless I am at the rodeo (The time change always occurs during the Houston rodeo.), I try to wake up by 5:30 a.m. but many times I fail just as I did this morning. I woke up, it was pitch black, I shuffled into the kitchen to turn on the coffee pot, I look at the clock, surprise it is after 7:00 a.m. No prayer time this morning, no time in the Word this morning, and frankly I am not in the work mode yet, though I signed into my e-mail at 7:30 a.m. to respond to clients. It is now 7:51 a.m. - my thoughts are maybe I can take a 15-minute nap after work, maybe I can turn off my phone and pray at lunch, maybe I should walk around the block a couple of times at lunch and skip the nap after work...Coffee please jolt my system with caffeine! (And logical thoughts) A small example of how easily our plans can be derailed. How we...

My memory verse is Ps 73:26: My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (ESV) At times, it is hard to admit my flesh is weak, my heart may fail. Today it not hard to admit I failed! I received a letter from a client disputing work I submitted to them. My heart pounded, fear tried to overcome me, then I prayed. I called my vendor rep, asked for the date the work was requested and returned. It was requested and submitted in June 2013 . I sent accurate information. November 2016, the subject of the report had her record expunged and reported to my customer I made an error. I almost let fear consume me. In 2013, the work was accurate, it would not be today because her record has been removed from public access, only law enforcement, the District Attorney's Office, and the County Clerk have access to the record. I picked out the memory verse last month, how appropriate it is today and every day. All news is not good, all phone calls...

I read I Timothy 6 the other day as a part of my daily reading. The chapter leaped off the page at me. The vitriol from the election has not waned, harsh words on all sides are still splattered on Facebook. Christians berating each other on social media and in person, another way to phrase is - Judgment Much! Of course, people have opinions which they wish to share, but the judgment, the self-righteous attitude, the name-calling must stop, that is not sharing your opinion. If you feel the need to post 75 pro-Trump statements a day, you need to find a hobby. If you feel the need to post 75 statements a day bashing Trump, you need to find a hobby. Suggestions include but are not limited to: gardening, fishing, knitting, bicycling, reading, running, sewing, glass blowing, woodworking, and bird watching. Judgment is judgment not discernment, anger is not righteous indignation, profanity is not passion (increase your vocabulary to make your point if need be), and hate is not debate. T...

2017 seems to be speeding along at a brisk pace. I cannot believe it is time for another memory verse! My verse is Psalm 73:25 ESV: Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire but You. I battle earthly desires. In our age of buying, consuming, catering to self, it is hard at times to focus on what I should - our Father, the Kingdom, the Gospel, Heaven - not self. Do you ever tire of the be a little selfish, you deserve it ads in print and on television? Many evenings, I watch movies or TV shows via my Amazon Fire TV device. No commercials, an hour television show averages 39 to 45 minutes. It is jarring when I watch broadcast TV, not to mention the content in some ads. I want to feel the same reaction when I am looking to self instead of heaven. I want to be jarred awake, I want to turn away from self. I want to truly set my heart on the Lord. Lent begins today, a good time to reset, rethink, and to refocus on the Lord if we are off track in any...