How many have you stoned?

John 8:7-8

New International Version (NIV)

⁷ When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” ⁸ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
  

I was traveling to Woodward last Friday and then again on Saturday.  I drove through the area of the Quartz Mountains on the way and back both days.  I was thinking that one of these days that I need to stop and explore.  I noticed all the stones around the area and thought that some of the area might be rough going but that the view was very beautiful.

My mind always wonders away from the subject and I quickly forgot my plans to someday explore the area as I thought of the stone that Jesus could have thrown at the adulterous woman.  His reply said it all.  You without sin be the first to throw the stone at her.  The accusers quietly left.

My thought was that I could never throw a stone at others but a thought immdiately entered my mind that I have hurled many stones.  My thoughts and actions at times might as well have been real stones.

I have thrown stones of unkindness, pride, indifference, unfriendliness, strife, selfishness and apathy.  The stones that I have thrown may have struck a heart with as much or more damage than if I had thrown a real stone.

I have to realize that it is only because of Jesus that I am a sinner saved by grace.  Without Him I am nothing!!  When I feel my stones ready to be hurled I have to remember what He has done.  Jesus led the way!  I have to follow and drop all stones!

John 3:16-17

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

What room are you stuck in?

Our puppy is curious and full of energy.  He will follow us everywhere that we go.  We will tell him to stay, to go back or to stop but sometimes he doesn't.  Several times he has gone places and then been stuck there after he followed one who did not see him.  He has been in the garage, the pantry, outside and in bedrooms but we didn't know that he was there.

That is when the howling and the scratching starts.  The puppy will create such a ruckus that we hear and will rescue him.  He is learning though to stay,to go back and to stop.  He is learning there are certain rooms he does not want to be stuck in.  He is learning to be content and wait on us.

This morning as I headed toward my room the puppy followed me and I told him to stay.  He lay down and was waiting on me when I came back out of my room.  Does he do this every time?  No, but he is learning.

How many times have I been curious?  How many times have I went when God had told me stay?  How many times have I been warned by God to go back but I went forward?  How many times have I been told by God to stop but didn't?  God does see me where I go.  God hears my howling and scratching and will rescue me!

I am trying to be content and wait on God.  I am learning when to stay, go back or stop.  I am learning to ask for His strength and knowledge.  Will I do right every time?  No, but I am learning.   I do not want to be stuck in the wrong room!

What room are you stuck in?

2 Thessalonians 3:4-5

New International Version (NIV)

⁴ We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. ⁵ May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

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Zeal for life

Yesterday afternoon I felt really tired and so I decided that I would take another dose of zeal.  For those of you wondering what on earth is zeal, it is a wellness drink that has all the vitamins and nutrients that your body needs.  I have heard others say that they take an extra dose when they have those really tired afternoons so I decided to go ahead and take the plunge of an extra dose.

Well by the time I made it to church I couldn't quit talking.  I felt like my mouth was in motor mouth speed.  Looking back I am surprised that someone just didn't give me a quick slap and tell me to shut up.  I am a talker anyway but normally I can be quiet when I am supposed to.  You know like in orchestra and Bible study.

I slept really well though and woke up refreshed this morning.  I woke up thinking that zeal is a great thing.  I also thought I need to have that kind of zeal to tell others about God.  I need to have the kind of zeal to spread the news and to be quiet and listen.  I need to take an extra dose of prayer and Bible reading when my strength is fading. Jesus has everything that I need!  I need to point others to my Lord and Savior with a zeal that can't be ignored.

Jesus is my zeal for life!! What is yours??

Mark 8:34-36

New International Version (NIV)

The Way of the Cross

³⁴ Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever wants to save their life^[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. ³⁶ What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

How Great Thou Art!!

This morning I woke up with a song in my heart and a sense of comfort!  God reminded me again that no matter what happens in my world that His Hands are on me!  I can draw on His strength and power even in the face of death.(hoping that doesn't happen for a while)  I felt His presence surround me with His song of joy!

I hope that you have His song of joy!

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV

How Great Thou Art Hymn

Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works thy hand hath made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed;

Refrain:
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
and hear the brook, and feel he gentle breeze;

Refrain

And when I think that God his son not sparing,
Sent him to die - I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin:

Refrain

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home- what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, my God, how great thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

Copyright © 1953 The Stuart Hine Trust/All rights worldwide adm. by Kingsway Communications Ltd.tym@kingsway.co.uk (except USA admin. by EMI CMG Publishing and print rights adm.
by Hope Publishing Company. All other rights in North,
Central & S.America adm by Manna Music Inc)

The Journey Continues: WHOO HOO More Good News!!

I had a hard time not running to the computer as soon as walked in the door this evening.  I had some news to share but first there was supper, watching the news and then Idol to see who was eliminated. The whole time I was thinking about Richard's news!!!  I couldn't wait any longer!! I had to let you guys know!!!

Dr. Selby, himself, called Richard a little before five and gave him news that Richard has been waiting so long to hear!! HE CAN PLANT A GARDEN!!  HE CAN MOW THE LAWN!! His t-cells are high enough that Richard was given a green light! Last month they were too low and he was cranky!  He is not cranky tonight!

My mind really wasn't on supper, the nightly news or Idol as I thought of the good news and how excited I was to share.  It made me realize that good news is so fun to share!

It also made me think of the Good News of JESUS my SAVIOR and how I need to be just as excited to share that news!!  IT is the best NEWS ever!!  I need to eliminate all the distractions and be ready to plant the seeds of GOOD NEWS!  Richard's news gave him a new perspective on life but the GOOD NEWS of my JESUS will save lives!!

Psalm 100:3-5

New International Version (NIV)

³ Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his^[a];
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

John 3:16-17

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

The Journey Continues:Update

Richard's appointment yesterday went fairly smooth.  He even got several naps.  He napped before and during the pet scan, during chemo and the IGG infusion.  I did post on facebook yesterday about the blood work.  His labs were great!! They were better than they have been in a long, long time!

I thought that we were going to see the PA but the doctor was the one that gave the results of the pet scan.  He said that the spots are still there and that they are not smaller than last time.  He said that the spots could be scar tissue that might not ever go away.  He said that is common with lymphoma patients.  He also said that the glow(pet scan) that shows up the hot spots are not as much as before.  He seemed positive and upbeat during the appointment.  The doctor also is reducing the steroids and he is now down to 10 mg a day.  Hopefully his graft/vs/host will not flare up!

Richard will still be going back every three weeks for chemo and he will get the IGG infusion every six weeks.  He will be doing eight to ten more chemos.  I am sure that there will be more pet scans thrown in along the way.

Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes!!!

Philippians 4:6

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Romans 10:9-10

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

REMINDER

In the midst of all the chaos and confusion of our world I wanted to remind myself and you whom we serve!

John 13:5-9

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
⁷ Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
⁸ “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
⁹ “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

John 13:34-35

New International Version (NIV)

³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

The evidence and the recent happenings, even in the United States, show us that satin is alive and well and has many followers but we have to remember this.

The devil will not win!!!  

Praying for the families of the Boston Marathon who lost loved ones and the many injured!

Brokenness

The last few weeks I have been pondering on the fact that my Lord and Savior, Jesus came to Earth willingly.  He came knowing that His body would be bruised, battered and broken before His time on Earth would end.  He knew that He would be rejected, mocked and spit  upon but He came anyway.  He knew that He would be nailed to a cross but He also knew that He would rise again and He did.  He did this for me!  It breaks my heart that He had to do this for me.  He knew though that His body would need to be broken so that He could heal my brokenness.

I was saved as a child and knew at a young age the power of prayer.  I also knew that I could take any problem to my Lord.  Even as a child though I had a problem with pride.  Sometimes I was afraid that I would be embarrassed.  I was afraid of what people might think.  Sometimes I was just so caught up in my own self that I could not hear that still small voice.

I found myself many years later broken, bruised and battered.  It was not my body though.  It was my heart. After seventeen years of wedded unbliss I had to let go.  My heart was broken into a million tiny pieces that I thought would never be whole again.  I felt like I had a big D on my forehead.  It was there for everyone to see my humiliation.  I did not even care what people thought.  I was full of shame and regret. I felt so unworthy that I would not even partake of the Lord's supper.  I was so low that I could only look up.

Through prayer, Bible reading and a Christian counselor my eyes looked straight up into the Eyes of my Lord!   He mended my heart piece by piece until I found joy and peace.  Because of His broken body my broken heart was mended.  I needed to come to a brokenness before I really understood His love.

Jesus takes us just as we are!!  Are you ready??

Romans 5:6-8

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Psalm 34:18

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁸ The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Verse:
In brokenness, I come to You, Jesus
I’m kneeling in surrender to Your Spirit
Mend my broken heart
I can find no other
To mend my broken life
To give me hope, Jesus

Chorus:
Lord I want to place my life in Your hands
Lay my burdens at Your feet
Take my life
Take my heart
I am Yours

Verse:
In repentance, I come to You, Jesus
I’m kneeling in surrender to Your Spirit
Forgive me my sins
I want no other
To give my life
My all to You, Jesus

© 1995 Esther Mui

Another not so close shave story

This story is not about me but about a dear friend.  In all fairness she was not aware that I had a blog when she was telling me this story about herself so I will not use her name.  Yesterday in church she was telling me about her hot water tank and that it is not big enough.  She has to really hurry in the shower or the hot water will run out.  She was shaving her legs and trying to get it done before the cold water hit.  She told me that in her hurry she didn't get one of her legs completely shaved!!  She even showed me the patch.

I told her the truth!  I would not even have noticed if she had not shown me that big hairy patch! She was self conscience because she knew it was there.  In her mind it stood out like a neon sign.  She tried to situate herself where that patch of hair would not be noticed by anyone!

Sin is just like that.  When there is sin in a life it feels like a neon sign is flashing.  It is flashing 'Sin, Sin,Sin'!  It could even be that no one else knows but to the sinner it is big!! Hot water might help cleanse a body but it can run out!  Jesus will never run out!  He will shave away your sin!! Jesus will never leave you in cold water!  All you have to do is ask!

Acts 13:38-39

New International Version (NIV)

³⁸ “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. ³⁹ Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.

Are you Parched?

The rain the past few days has been watering dry land, trees, ponds, lakes and more.  Parts of Oklahoma have been in a drought and the ground has been parched and aching for a soaking rain!  The rains have finally came with much needed moisture!!

God's word is like that to me.  Many times I am in drought but don't  know it until I open up the Word! My soul has been aching for the truth!  God's Word will soak me with truth and love.  It also chastises and woos me.  God's Word shuts out fear and doubt and wraps me in His Light!!

God's Light is the way to everlasting life!  Are you soaked in His Word?


In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace Ephesians 1:7 NIV

Psalm 119:105

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp for my feet,
    a light on my path.