I've been without a computer for a while..... a virus was the culprit! I became victim to an old trick that has been updated. I received a message stating that I had contracted a virus and I needed to run my virus software to find it and get rid of it. Well, this wasn't the first time I've seen that trick so I did not click on the yes or no button, instead I clicked on the X in the top right hand corner to get me out of it. OOPS!!! Wrong thing to do. Because I clicked ANYWHERE in the box, I was doomed. I was not on a new website, I had not clicked on something that was forwarded to me and I certainly had not opened an attachment, I was just surfing the web and the message came up.
I started thinking that our lives are just like computers and we can pick up viruses at times we least expect it. It can be so easy for sin to sneak into our lives. We all know that we must guard our hearts and minds by being careful what we watch on TV, but sometimes if we are not careful, we will get a virus through something as "simple" as a commercial. Other times it comes in through our favorite show that has nothing wrong with it until something is "slipped" in that we ought not to be watching or listening to. Perhaps our favorite radio station that has nothing wrong with it becomes over powered by a radio station that has music on it that we ought not to be listening to, but music that is so tempting.
.
I now have a very good virus software. Of course, the virus software will not do me any good unless I take it out of the box, download it and run the scans. If I just buy the virus program and leave it sitting in the box, you think I could convince the company that they did not do their job? No, they would immediately tell me it was my fault I was infected because I did not load the virus software onto my computer. The same is true in our lives. We cannot have a Bible, leave it sitting on our coffee table, and expect it to protect us from the viruses of the devil. We must use read the Bible daily and hide God's Word in our hearts because if we don't, we will just do all the wrong things when we are tempted. The devil knows our weaknesses and he knows exactly what to tempt us with.
Let's determine in this new year to not let any viruses into our homes. Let's make a habit of having our devotions, praying and staying in church. Strive for a virus free year!
Happy New Year!!!!!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Our advanced form of communication
The other day I was reading the Christmas story and I read where the angel told Mary that she was going to be the mother of baby Jesus and the angel also told her that Elizabeth was also pregnant and was approximately 6 months along. I've read that so many times, but not until this time did it occur to me that the angel had to tell Mary that Elizabeth was expecting because they did not have phones, the postal service or email back then. Of course I knew they did not have those forms of communication back then, but I had never given thought to the fact that Mary probably had no idea that her own cousin was 6 months pregnant until the angel told her.
It made me think of my first boyfriend. I remember when we used to write each other (his father was a missionary so they did not live local) that it seemed to take forever for his letters to come and once they finally came I would read them over and over again because I was so "hungry" to hear how he was doing and so happy to hear that he was thinking about me.
It was then that I had to bow my head in shame because I realized that have a love letter that is even more important, yet I do not read it as much as I should. We all have that love letter, it is from God and it is His Holy Word. God longs to hear how our day went and He longs to hear us tell Him that we love Him. God longs to speak to us as well and He does that through His Word.
Not only am I lazy about reading God's Word, but I am also lazy about telling my family how much I love them and how much they mean to me. We have so many forms of communication now that I think we actually take them for granted and don't use those forms of communication to express our love to our friends and family. If we did not have phones, U.S. Mail or email, we would realize how important it was to express our love every chance we got.
This is the Christmas season. Let's determine to spend more time expressing our love to our friends and family, but more importantly, express our love to the Lord Jesus Christ by reading His Word and spending time with Him each day in prayer.
Happy holidays!!!
It made me think of my first boyfriend. I remember when we used to write each other (his father was a missionary so they did not live local) that it seemed to take forever for his letters to come and once they finally came I would read them over and over again because I was so "hungry" to hear how he was doing and so happy to hear that he was thinking about me.
It was then that I had to bow my head in shame because I realized that have a love letter that is even more important, yet I do not read it as much as I should. We all have that love letter, it is from God and it is His Holy Word. God longs to hear how our day went and He longs to hear us tell Him that we love Him. God longs to speak to us as well and He does that through His Word.
Not only am I lazy about reading God's Word, but I am also lazy about telling my family how much I love them and how much they mean to me. We have so many forms of communication now that I think we actually take them for granted and don't use those forms of communication to express our love to our friends and family. If we did not have phones, U.S. Mail or email, we would realize how important it was to express our love every chance we got.
This is the Christmas season. Let's determine to spend more time expressing our love to our friends and family, but more importantly, express our love to the Lord Jesus Christ by reading His Word and spending time with Him each day in prayer.
Happy holidays!!!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Brighter days ahead
I usually can't contain myself when the holidays start up, but this year I am having a hard time getting into the holiday spirit. I could not write anything for the last week or so because I just could not put into words how I was feeling, nor could I write anything because nothing seemed to "fit".
My blog is turning over a new leaf. I will write at least every other day. It may not be a devotion every day, but it will be something uplifting, helpful or encouraging. While looking through a book called, "Life Can Be Hard Sometimes", I found the following poem. This is not a poem based on scripture, but I hope you will find it encouraging, like I did.
Look to the Future and Brighter Days Ahead
Sometimes it seems like the world is crumbling around us and we just can't go on.
But those are the time when we most need to look to the future, to hold on to our
faith and hope and to each other.
One of the hardest things to accept is the realization that things that make no sense
to us now may never make any sense, but life will go on anyway - with no explanations
or apologies, and that we somehow survive the changes thrust upon us.
We even manage to grow.... but nothing grows without rain, so when it begins to pour,
let it flow. And when the storm has passed, let it go. Be kind to yourself; ask for what
you need. You are not alone.
Kerry McCaskill
My blog is turning over a new leaf. I will write at least every other day. It may not be a devotion every day, but it will be something uplifting, helpful or encouraging. While looking through a book called, "Life Can Be Hard Sometimes", I found the following poem. This is not a poem based on scripture, but I hope you will find it encouraging, like I did.
Look to the Future and Brighter Days Ahead
Sometimes it seems like the world is crumbling around us and we just can't go on.
But those are the time when we most need to look to the future, to hold on to our
faith and hope and to each other.
One of the hardest things to accept is the realization that things that make no sense
to us now may never make any sense, but life will go on anyway - with no explanations
or apologies, and that we somehow survive the changes thrust upon us.
We even manage to grow.... but nothing grows without rain, so when it begins to pour,
let it flow. And when the storm has passed, let it go. Be kind to yourself; ask for what
you need. You are not alone.
Kerry McCaskill
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Teaching our children to make a difference
The title of this group is Single Mothers Making a Difference. Well, how can we make a difference? There are so many ways that we can make a difference, but today I want to focus on our children.
I raised my children to be giving and kind, among many other things. Our society today is so involved in self.... self worth, thinking highly of yourself, etc. Many children, and parents alike are too self absorbed. I did not want my children growing up thinking only of themselves. I learned early on that the best way to teach your children is by example. So, when we found out of someone in our church that was in the hospital, the kids would make a card for them, we would buy a small vase of flowers and then go visit. At Christmas time, we would bake or make items to give to people at church. If we went to McDonald's to get something to eat and there was someone sitting on the sidewalk that looked like they were homeless or hungry, I would order them a bigger meal than what we had and let the kids give it to them. One time I was pumping gas and a man walked up to me and said that he did not have any gas and could I give him some money for gas. Well, I did not have much money to put gas in my own car, but told him to pull up to the pump when I was finished and I gave him half of what I was going to put in my car.
Why did I do all these things? Because I wanted my children to see that taking care and being kind to others was more important than taking care of ourselves. And each time I did something like that, I always made it a learning lesson. I explained why I did what I did and told them that it was very important to let God use us to be a blessing to someone else. I even found that at times when I was discouraged or depressed, doing these things made my day brighter.
Thanksgiving is a good time to teach your children to be giving. We have so much to be thankful for and we ought to teach our children to be thankful for what they have and to help the less fortunate.
Let's determine to take time to teach our children to think of others first. And as they get older, pray that God helps them to continue thinking of others instead of self.
I raised my children to be giving and kind, among many other things. Our society today is so involved in self.... self worth, thinking highly of yourself, etc. Many children, and parents alike are too self absorbed. I did not want my children growing up thinking only of themselves. I learned early on that the best way to teach your children is by example. So, when we found out of someone in our church that was in the hospital, the kids would make a card for them, we would buy a small vase of flowers and then go visit. At Christmas time, we would bake or make items to give to people at church. If we went to McDonald's to get something to eat and there was someone sitting on the sidewalk that looked like they were homeless or hungry, I would order them a bigger meal than what we had and let the kids give it to them. One time I was pumping gas and a man walked up to me and said that he did not have any gas and could I give him some money for gas. Well, I did not have much money to put gas in my own car, but told him to pull up to the pump when I was finished and I gave him half of what I was going to put in my car.
Why did I do all these things? Because I wanted my children to see that taking care and being kind to others was more important than taking care of ourselves. And each time I did something like that, I always made it a learning lesson. I explained why I did what I did and told them that it was very important to let God use us to be a blessing to someone else. I even found that at times when I was discouraged or depressed, doing these things made my day brighter.
Thanksgiving is a good time to teach your children to be giving. We have so much to be thankful for and we ought to teach our children to be thankful for what they have and to help the less fortunate.
Let's determine to take time to teach our children to think of others first. And as they get older, pray that God helps them to continue thinking of others instead of self.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Parenting takes commitment
A reporter for the U.S. News and World Report from 1994 once wrote on our culture's view of parenting:
"Americans are so shaped and stamped by their legacy of individualism that the concepts of community virtue and moral obligation have been discredited. In our popular culture, adulthood is too often defined as doing what you want to do, not what you are supposed to do. Making a baby is a sign of status, while caring for one is not. Right and wrong are old-fashioned, politically incorrect concepts. And sin? Forget it...Half of all Americans who marry and have children eventually divorce. For many, marriage is more like a hobby than a commitment, a phase instead of a trust. We are becoming a country of deadbeat dads who don't pay their bills and dead-tired moms who work two jobs to pick up the slack. Even many parents who pay for their children don't pay attention to their children. In so doing, they miss out on some of life's greatest joys: hearing a small giggle or holding a small hand. Probably the best thing that society can do for its toddlers is to make 'parent' an honorable title again. No job is more important, yet no job is more often taken for granted. We teach work skills but not life skills, how to change a carburetor but not a diaper, how to treat a customer but not a kid. Becoming a parent should be...a sign of a lasting relationship, not just a passing infatuation; a source of pride, and not remorse. Only then will our children be safe."
Although the article wasn't written from a Christ-centered viewpoint, it points out many flaws in our views of parenting. In order to raise Godly children, we must first be committed.
We have to be commitment to parenting. When we become a parent, we realize the extra work required to train a child. Our responsibility moves past changing diapers and providing food, but also includes teaching our children Godly principles and values, correcting them when they disobey and helping them see God's plan for their lives.
As single parents, we ought to thank God that He has blessed us with our children. We should never take for granted the lives he has allowed us to shape. Our responsibility as single parents is more difficult than others, but with God's help we can be just as successful as any parent at seeing our children grow to love God and serve Him.
Are you committed to raising godly children? Being committed to raising Godly children takes work, but God trusted us when He gave us our children and it is foolish of us to take that trust lightly.
Let's determine that no matter what we've done in the past, we are going to be committed to raising our children the way that God wants and expects us to raise our children. We only get one chance!
"Americans are so shaped and stamped by their legacy of individualism that the concepts of community virtue and moral obligation have been discredited. In our popular culture, adulthood is too often defined as doing what you want to do, not what you are supposed to do. Making a baby is a sign of status, while caring for one is not. Right and wrong are old-fashioned, politically incorrect concepts. And sin? Forget it...Half of all Americans who marry and have children eventually divorce. For many, marriage is more like a hobby than a commitment, a phase instead of a trust. We are becoming a country of deadbeat dads who don't pay their bills and dead-tired moms who work two jobs to pick up the slack. Even many parents who pay for their children don't pay attention to their children. In so doing, they miss out on some of life's greatest joys: hearing a small giggle or holding a small hand. Probably the best thing that society can do for its toddlers is to make 'parent' an honorable title again. No job is more important, yet no job is more often taken for granted. We teach work skills but not life skills, how to change a carburetor but not a diaper, how to treat a customer but not a kid. Becoming a parent should be...a sign of a lasting relationship, not just a passing infatuation; a source of pride, and not remorse. Only then will our children be safe."
Although the article wasn't written from a Christ-centered viewpoint, it points out many flaws in our views of parenting. In order to raise Godly children, we must first be committed.
We have to be commitment to parenting. When we become a parent, we realize the extra work required to train a child. Our responsibility moves past changing diapers and providing food, but also includes teaching our children Godly principles and values, correcting them when they disobey and helping them see God's plan for their lives.
As single parents, we ought to thank God that He has blessed us with our children. We should never take for granted the lives he has allowed us to shape. Our responsibility as single parents is more difficult than others, but with God's help we can be just as successful as any parent at seeing our children grow to love God and serve Him.
Are you committed to raising godly children? Being committed to raising Godly children takes work, but God trusted us when He gave us our children and it is foolish of us to take that trust lightly.
Let's determine that no matter what we've done in the past, we are going to be committed to raising our children the way that God wants and expects us to raise our children. We only get one chance!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Why worry?
Worry is the act of distrusting God and trusting self.
How much time a day do you spend worrying? Have you ever stopped to think about how much you worry? Consider these statistics from a recent study on the focus of people's worries:
40% - things that will never happen
30% - things about the past that can't be changed
12% - things about criticism by others, mostly untrue
10% - about health, which gets worse with stress
8% - about real problems that will be faced
Most of the time spent worrying is spent on things that will never happen. Have you ever worried about a potential problem at work, a possible catastrophic event, or a supposed circumstance only to have it not come true?
Single parents unfortunately worry a lot because a lot of times we feel like we are in it by ourselves but that is the furthest thing from the truth. Everything that we go through, God is right there with us and He longs to take our burdens, if we will only given them to Him. "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." Our job isn't to worry about what will happen to us, but to trust that God has everything under control.
God loves us and doesn't want anything to harm us, yet many of us believe we need to look out for ourselves. As is the mindset in our world, looking out for yourself and preparing for the worst is the only way to assure you're taken care of. Yet God teaches that because He knows the future, we should trust Him to care for us.
Let's determine to turn over our worries and cares to God and let Him provide and take care of us.
How much time a day do you spend worrying? Have you ever stopped to think about how much you worry? Consider these statistics from a recent study on the focus of people's worries:
40% - things that will never happen
30% - things about the past that can't be changed
12% - things about criticism by others, mostly untrue
10% - about health, which gets worse with stress
8% - about real problems that will be faced
Most of the time spent worrying is spent on things that will never happen. Have you ever worried about a potential problem at work, a possible catastrophic event, or a supposed circumstance only to have it not come true?
Single parents unfortunately worry a lot because a lot of times we feel like we are in it by ourselves but that is the furthest thing from the truth. Everything that we go through, God is right there with us and He longs to take our burdens, if we will only given them to Him. "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." Our job isn't to worry about what will happen to us, but to trust that God has everything under control.
God loves us and doesn't want anything to harm us, yet many of us believe we need to look out for ourselves. As is the mindset in our world, looking out for yourself and preparing for the worst is the only way to assure you're taken care of. Yet God teaches that because He knows the future, we should trust Him to care for us.
Let's determine to turn over our worries and cares to God and let Him provide and take care of us.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Even in our weakness, God's power is strong!
A missionary was once guest lecturing in a college classroom of future church planters. Among other topics, he was to speak on the subject of God's power. To illustrate this truth, he told a story from when he first arrived on the mission field. A missionary with little money but great zeal, he realized his need for transportation around the country. After a few weeks, a new convert of his learned of his predicament and offered to give him an old car. The only problem with the car was that it wouldn't start without some manual help. Not deterred, the missionary figured out a plan to get his car going. He would ask strangers on the street outside his home for help pushing his car every morning, then he'd either park on a hill or leave the engine running as he visited homes. His plan worked well, and the car was of great use to him over the next two years.
Suffering from sickness, the missionary was forced to return home for some time, but before he left, he met with the missionary who was to take his place. He explained to him the workings of his ministry, then showed him the car and proudly described the routine used to get the car going. As the older missionary explained his "plan," the younger one looked under the hood of the car at the engine. After a few minutes the younger missionary said, "It looks like the only problem with this car is a loose cable." After connecting some wires, the car started automatically. The older missionary stood in astonishment. He had been needlessly struggling with the car for two years when the power was there all along. All he had to do was connect the cables!
I've learned this lesson many times before, and am currently learning it again. Last week I fell on our concrete back porch and severely pulled the muscles in the back of my leg and suffered from severe muscle spasms for many days, also had a hard time sitting and standing. The day after I feel, I went to work only to find out a few hours later that I was laid off. All that went through my mind was how was I going to pay all my bills? How was I going to provide, buy food, pay the electric bill? How was I going to pay for my health insurance that I HAD to keep because if I lost it I would never be covered for my back injury again? All these things went through my mind as the tears rolled down my face. For days I felt like a failure. I felt as if everyone had a job except me. When I went to the grocery store I felt as if everyone had plenty of money to pay for their food except me. I know I was having a pity party, but in all my years I had NEVER lost a job or been laid off. I was and am in a position I have never been in before, a position in which I must rely completely upon God and God alone. I still don't know what I am going to do, it's been a week and still no job, but I keep reminding myself every day that God is in control, He knows what is best and He has the best job for me. Sure, I still find myself wanting to creep back into my self pity stage because I am human, but I just remind myself that God loves me and He is watching over me. Try as I may, this is a problem that I cannot solve myself.
Sometimes we can become like the older missionary. When faced with a problem, we seek our own solution and struggle needlessly. However, God wants us to realize that even when we can't solve a problem, He can.
No matter what struggle we have in our lives today, let's determine to trust God and let Him provide.
Suffering from sickness, the missionary was forced to return home for some time, but before he left, he met with the missionary who was to take his place. He explained to him the workings of his ministry, then showed him the car and proudly described the routine used to get the car going. As the older missionary explained his "plan," the younger one looked under the hood of the car at the engine. After a few minutes the younger missionary said, "It looks like the only problem with this car is a loose cable." After connecting some wires, the car started automatically. The older missionary stood in astonishment. He had been needlessly struggling with the car for two years when the power was there all along. All he had to do was connect the cables!
I've learned this lesson many times before, and am currently learning it again. Last week I fell on our concrete back porch and severely pulled the muscles in the back of my leg and suffered from severe muscle spasms for many days, also had a hard time sitting and standing. The day after I feel, I went to work only to find out a few hours later that I was laid off. All that went through my mind was how was I going to pay all my bills? How was I going to provide, buy food, pay the electric bill? How was I going to pay for my health insurance that I HAD to keep because if I lost it I would never be covered for my back injury again? All these things went through my mind as the tears rolled down my face. For days I felt like a failure. I felt as if everyone had a job except me. When I went to the grocery store I felt as if everyone had plenty of money to pay for their food except me. I know I was having a pity party, but in all my years I had NEVER lost a job or been laid off. I was and am in a position I have never been in before, a position in which I must rely completely upon God and God alone. I still don't know what I am going to do, it's been a week and still no job, but I keep reminding myself every day that God is in control, He knows what is best and He has the best job for me. Sure, I still find myself wanting to creep back into my self pity stage because I am human, but I just remind myself that God loves me and He is watching over me. Try as I may, this is a problem that I cannot solve myself.
Sometimes we can become like the older missionary. When faced with a problem, we seek our own solution and struggle needlessly. However, God wants us to realize that even when we can't solve a problem, He can.
No matter what struggle we have in our lives today, let's determine to trust God and let Him provide.
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