Jesus Eyes

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness
Matthew 6:22

I just finished reading a great book, okay, well I didn’t actually read it, I listened to it on tape. But close enough. The title of the book is Divine, by Karen Kingsbury. It’s a story about a modern day Mary Magdalene. There are some very hard parts of the book to read, but hey, life can be hard sometimes. But the blessing from the book was worth getting through the difficult parts. Sorta like life itself.

In the story, the girl, Mary, talks about people with Jesus eyes. How folks that love Jesus have something different in their eyes.

I was thinking about that. Have you ever noticed it yourself? You look at someone and they just look different. Their eyes sparkle, regardless of what the rest of their body is portraying, there is always something so warm and inviting coming from their eyes.

I remember hearing someone say that our eyes are the windows to our souls. Boy, isn’t that the truth. We can tell so much by someone’s eyes. Have you ever tried to talk to someone and they wouldn’t look you in the eye?

Remember when you were young and you did something wrong and your Mother said, “Look at me.” Because she knew the minute she looked at your eyes, she would know the truth.

We can hide behind our actions, but our eyes will always show our true hearts.

Father, there is so much darkness … help my light to shine. A light in the darkness brings hope … teach me Lord how to share your light.

I Love You Jesus.
In Your Name I Pray,
Amen

God Bless You!

Love,
Joyce

Submitted by:
Joyce Schneider
http://www.alifedecision.org

This Old House

In the neighborhood where I live, I have one neighbor who likes to cause trouble. He picks the fruit from my trees, chops down my shade trees, and mows down my flowers.

He dumps trash in my yard, reads my mail, steals my packages from the delivery man, tries to tell me all the neighborhood gossip about my friends, and does his darnedest to make me mad.

Forever prowling around the premises, he tries to sneak in the windows and get his foot in the door, attempting to steal my belongings. So I put an alarm system on all the doors and windows.

He likes my house and wants to live here, but I’m under a lease contract for a single dweller. He can’t have it and he certainly isn’t going to move in with me! But he still continues to try to take it away from me.

It’s a comfortable old house, though it’s not the most beautiful on the block nor is it the biggest. The landlord was very generous in his lease, so I appreciate what I have, even if a few structural changes are needed.

A few of its rooms have become dusty and overcrowded and need remodeling. Some of the junk needs to be put out with the trash. Some rooms are in a constant state of upheaval; others just need rearranging.

The windows have become a little foggy, so they’re not as easy to see through as before. Some of the shingles are falling off the roof, while some of the fence pickets are missing. A few of the hinges have become a little rusty and don’t work as well as they used to, but the landlord I lease from said he would make all the necessary repairs. I know he will, for he is a man of his word. However, he does have a busy schedule, so I’m just patiently waiting my turn.

I thought it might be time to move, but he says I can stay a while longer, if I do some of the maintenance work. I do look forward to moving, though, because I’ve had my eye on this perfect, little cottage that’s being built. I’d really like to move there some day…there’s no traffic, no noise, the air is clean, great neighbors, the scenery is beautiful, and best of all, no more Mr. Meany!

I’ve called ahead to see if it was ready but they tell me they’re still working on it. Well, I guess I can wait a little longer. I’m not really finished renovating this one!

“For we know that when this tent we live in now is taken down-when we die and leave these bodies-we will have wonderful new bodies in heaven, homes that will be ours forevermore, made for us by God himself and not by human hands.” (2 Cor. 5:1 TLB)

~~Blessings, Lynn~~

Let Me Be The Parent

Let Me Be The Parent

Do not judge, and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
     Luke 6:37-38

As I walked into the house tonight, I heard Bobby saying to Carson, “Let me be the parent.”

From day one of Chase’s life, he has been Carson’s baby. Carson loved his baby brother and it was always his ‘job’ to take care of him.  Through the years, nothing has changed.  But nowadays, Carson isn’t as gentle with Chase as he used to be. 

He has a tendency to forget that his brother is a little younger, hasn’t quite experienced all that he has and he is a little more critical of him.  Bobby is constantly reminding Carson that he is the brother, he needs to worry about himself, he doesn’t need to reprimand Chase. 

Sometimes I get frustrated by the actions of others.  In my mind, they should act a certain way or do things the way I want them to.  One day I was fussing to myself about someone and I felt God saying to me, “Joyce, you take care of yourself.  I’ll take care of them.”

Ummm … I’d heard that before. 

Ouch … but it was true.  I can only be responsible for myself.  I cannot change another person.  I can’t make them do things the way I want. 

It’s a hard lesson for Carson to learn … it’s a hard lesson for me. 

But the peace that is in our house when Carson isn’t fussing at his brother is wonderful.  And the peace that flows through me when I am simply putting my focus on God, and my relationship with Him and not worrying about another,  is truly incomparable.

Father, please forgive me when I fuss about others.  I know I have enough on my plate, just keeping myself focused on you.  Help me to simply love and let you be the parent.

I Love You Jesus.
       In Your Name I Pray,
      Amen

God Bless You!

Love,
Joyce

Submitted by:
   Joyce Schneider
   http://www.alifedecision.org

Book Review: “The Shack”

William P. Young’s The Shack is one of the most remarkable novels I’ve ever read. Creative, intriguing, and gutsy, this engaging work addresses the age-old question of why/how a loving God can allow suffering and evil to exist in this world.

When “The Great Sadness” threatens to engulf him with tsunami severity, Mackenzie “Mack” Allen Phillips receives a cryptic note in his mailbox one winter afternoon. There’s no return address. No postal mark. No signature. The typed note is signed “Papa” – the word his wife, Nan, uses for God. Unbelievably, the sender asks Mack to meet him at the shack – the site of an immense tragedy about four years prior.

Against his better judgment, Mack gingerly, reluctantly finds himself on the road to the wilderness area where his young daughter, Missy, was abducted during a family camping trip and subsequently murdered. What and Who he finds at the shack travels with Mack through his blistering rage, sorrow, confusion, disillusionment, and accusation as well as infinite amazement, forgiveness, grace, and finally, immeasurable joy and wonder – without the clichés and canned answers on either side of the equation.

Set in the Pacific Northwest, this intense, beautifully written story is “ghostwritten” by the author as “told by” Mack, whose unspeakable personal loss leads him on a Bunyanesque journey into eternity – and some startling surprises.

Refreshingly, The Shack isn’t about churchianity, sitting in a pew on Sunday, skimming through a Scripture reading so you can mark it off your daily to do list, or textbook academia that’s as dry as the Atacama. It centers on relationships that are as bold and dazzling and mysterious as a  new harvest moon. The imaginative portrayal of the Trinitarian God is especially delicious and exhilarating in this regard, and within biblical bounds.

Of the nearly 200 books I read last year, The Shack is among my top ten titles. I read the whole thing (250+ pages) cover-to-cover in just over 24 hours. It’s THAT good. As in, brilliant. If you don’t read anything else this year and want something fresh, authentic and amazing, don’t miss The Shack.

(Note: The Shack is a novel, as in fiction. It neither purports nor pretends to be a theological treatise. So if you’re of the American Gothic persuasion, never mind.)

Reviewed by: Kristine, author, blogger, homeschooler, professional mom and chief wrangler at the ‘ole testosterone ranch.

A Life of Purpose

Our family should be our top priority.  There are so many things out “there” today that can distract us or occupy our time, thus taking us away from the top priority in our lives.  We can get caught up in many different things.  But if we’re not careful, our families’ and our children will suffer and pay a price.

 

If we are going to raise confident, moral, Godly young men and women – it won’t be by accident.  If we are going to have vibrant, loving marriages – it won’t be by accident!

 

We need to live a purposeful life.  We need to focus on what kind of home we want to raise our children in, what kind of values we want to instill in them, and what kind of an example we want to be for them in the process.

 

Our families’ in today’s society are falling apart.  And I think it’s because we are letting other people and things (including our own pride at times) take priority over nurturing, growing, and bonding the family unit.  No one said being a wife or parent was easy. It’s not!  You need to have perseverance, patience, creativity, pray A LOT, and have a good support system to help guide you along the way.

We can’t aimlessly walk through life anymore.  We need to have some vision in what we are doing.  God can give us that vision and He can give us the strength, direction, and support we will need.

Having a loving family is a privilege. It is a privilege that comes from making them a priority as we raise, love, and tend to them.

Take the time, make the effort, and funnel out the “unnecessary” distractions that tear your family away from one another.  Make your husband and children your number one priority today.  It will be the richest blessing you’ll ever experience.

 

 

~ Dionna Sanchez shares from her heart to help encourage moms. She started Emphasis On Moms at http://www.EmphasisOnMoms.com out of her desire to help and heal hurting hearts.

Houseguest Coming

I received a message the other day to expect a houseguest, a special friend coming for a visit, someone with deep needs. Since I love giving and love my friend, I was excited at the prospect of helping out in any way I could.

So I did what every woman would do, I started cleaning the house…

Knock, knock, knock! Yikes! I’m not ready. However, I opened the door anticipating my friend but found a dirty beggar asking for a handout. Sorry, I said. I’m busy. Try next door.

…then I started preparing special food…

Knock, knock, knock! Aha! Must be my friend! Opening the door, this time I found a member from church collecting canned goods for the hungry. Sorry, I said. I’m busy. Try next door.

…then I put out the good towels and tablecloth…

Knock, knock, knock! Now what? Irritated, I flung open the door and found a neighbor’s child collecting clothes for homeless children. Sorry, I said. I’m busy. Try next door.

After everything was finished, I was pooped so I sat down to rest. Looking at my watch, I began to wonder what happened to my friend who was in such need. Doesn’t he know I’m waiting here to help him?

No more interruptions. No more knocking. As I decided to just sit there and wait, the Lord began to whisper to my heart…

“I knocked on your door three times today but you were too busy to let Me in. I said I would come to visit because I had needs. I sent you the needs but you didn’t accept them as from Me. You received Me not. If you had responded to what I sent, you would have enjoyed sharing a precious fellowship with My people and with Me.”

Hanging my head in humiliation, I listened as He continued…

“Didn’t I tell you that when you did something for one of the least of these, you were doing it to Me? Will you turn Me away again next time?”

If He knocks upon your door today, will you open up to welcome Him as your honored houseguest? How will He appear, as the dirty beggar, the church member, the child? Or maybe as the person sitting in the back pew crying, the young father with small children and food stamps, the neighbor down the street dying of AIDS, the single mother working two jobs to feed her children?

Who will you welcome? Whose needs will you meet?

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Rev. 3:20 NKJV)

~~Blessings, Lynn~~

Book Review: “For the Tough Times”

For The Tough Times: Reaching Toward Heaven for Hope

by Max Lucado
Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2008

For The Tough Times: Reaching Toward Heaven for Hope
is one of those little books that packs a big punch. We all have hard times in life, times when we feel like God doesn’t care and times when we question the whole point of it all. Max Lucado turns to scripture to try to provide some answers. He begins with a reminder that “God has always turned tragedy into triumph,” and that “God has a different agenda [than we do]. He dwells in a different dimension. He lives on another plane.” God loves us and wants the best for us. He sent His Son to die for us. He will never leave us. Sometimes, however, it is very hard to understand God’s plan for our lives.

Perhaps the most interesting section of the book is when Lucado explains that Satan is actually under God’s control. He can only do what God allows. He is a creature, created by God. He is not equal with God. Lucado maintains that God uses Satan to 1)Refine the Faithful, 2) Awaken the Sleeping, and 3) Teach the Church. He uses scripture and evidence from life to illustrate that this is true.

“For the Tough Times” is a very insightful book which brings great comfort during difficult days.

Some good quotes from this book:

It does us twice as much good to think about God as it does to think about anyone or anything else.

Would you like some peace? Then quit giving your neighbor such a hassle. Want to enjoy God’s generosity? Then let others enjoy yours. Would you like assurance that God forgives you? I think you know what you need to do.

The Holy One dwells on a different level from the rest of us. What frightens us does not frighten him. What troubles us does not trouble him.

- Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur
http://spiritualwomanthoughts.blogspot.com

All You Can Eat! by Lucy Ann Moll

When my husband and I brought home our 10-month-old son, John, from a Russian orphanage, we had a mission: Feed the little guy.

The diapered dude was more than happy to oblige.

“He’s an eating machine,” my husband pronounced at the first of many high-chair feeding frenzies. He raked up food and shoveled it in his mouth, then raked and shoveled, raked and shoveled, removing physical “hunger” from his vocabulary forever.

My little guy’s high-chair experience reminds me of the feeding of the 5,000 recorded in the Gospel of John. A great crowd had followed Jesus to a mountainside. They had hunger but no food. A brave boy offered his lunch: five small barley loaves and two little fish.

Not much. But more than enough.

You probably know how the story goes. Jesus held the bread and fish, gave thanks to God, and shared it among the people. After everyone had their fill, the disciples gathered. . .leftovers! If there were a Jerusalem Journal, this miracle would have been the lead story.

The next day the people looked for Jesus. They wanted more food. He offered them something better: himself. The crowd walked away, very hungry. Without God, they were empty, void, in need. They were still starving.

As someone reminded me the other day, hunger is good. It is a sign of a normal, vibrant life. The feeling of hunger leads to eating which leads to growth. When satisfied, it brings delight.

Most important, hunger signals our true significance.

My husband and my mission to “feed the little guy” was physical and spiritual. John needed more than a baby bottle, banana chunks and Cheerios. He hungered for love, for touch, for someone to believe in him, for someone to say, “You matter.”

Deep down, isn’t this our real hunger? A hunger that only Jesus can satisfy? All around us are spiritually starving people.They try to satisfy their deepest need with counterfeits: busyness, wealth, high-status jobs, sex and stuff. In Jesus, you and I have everything we need. Now.

In him, we are chosen, redeemed, forgiven, blessed. Present tense! Read it for yourself in Ephesians 1. Say it to yourself or out loud: “In Jesus I am chosen, redeemed, forgiven and blessed.”

Now feed this truth to a friend.

I Have A Dream

January 19th was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The holiday is in honor of Dr. King, a Baptist preacher who was a prominent leader in the American civil rights movement. His dream was for a future where blacks and whites, among others, would coexist harmoniously as equals. In 1964, at age 35, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other non-violent means. He was assassinated in 1968, before he saw his dream become reality.

On January the 20th, America ushered in a new president, Barack Obama. He is the very first African-American to hold this office. I can only image what Dr. King would be thinking, if he were alive today.

This past weekend, Carson was sharing with me his dream for his future. He wants to be a veterinarian and live on a farm. He wants to have an office on the property to take care of the animals. He wants to raise guinea pigs and pygmy goats. He wants a lake on his property where he can fish. He has it all planned out in his mind. He has a dream.

It made me feel so good inside to hear Carson sharing with me his desires for his future, I want Carson to enjoy life. I assured him that I thought it was a wonderful plan and could Daddy and I come and live with him on his farm and take care of his pygmy goats. He said, “Sure, if we want to.” He’s a good little boy.

David tells us in Psalms 37:3,4, Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.
God wants us to have the desires of our heart. He has a plan for us, and it’s a good one.

Jeremiah:11:29, says: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Ultimately … regardless of what goes on in the here and now, we have hope and a future – eternity with God, through our acceptance of his son, Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior. That is our ultimate goal … our dream for eternity. As Paul explains:

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
    Philippians 3:12-14

What’s behind might not have been so good, but what’s ahead … well, that is a dream worth pressing on for!

Father, thank you for your love. You do desire for us to enjoy our lives. To have dreams and hope for what’s to come. Thank you that we have a future, for eternity with you. You are so very good to us.

I Love You Jesus.
In Your Name I Pray,
Amen

God Bless You!

Love,
Joyce

——————————————————————————–

The Choices You Make Today …
Will Affect Your Tomorrow!
http://www.alifedecision.org

Internalizing

I can internalize a lot of feelings. I tend to let things build up inside of me until I either fall apart – or explode….not a good habit, nor good for my physical or emotional health. I learned that, when I started having heart palpitations two years ago.  It’s amazing what stress can do to the body.

I felt so immature. I felt like I was stupid to let things get out of control – emotionally – inside of me to the point that it affected my health. I felt like I was “not normal” and it has taken a great deal of prayer, tears, self analyzing, research, love, and growth – to come to a point in my life where I am more honest with myself about what I am feeling and how it affects me. I feel stronger now – even when I’m hurting – because I can be transparent and honest with myself about what is going on.

It’s been interesting that as God has been taking me through these personal hurdles and lessons – I have been finding that in no way, shape, or form – was I alone in what I experienced with stress and internalizing feelings. Not only that – but I was far from “not normal.” I was very normal!! I have been shocked and amazed at how I have been discovering how many people in life are walking around stressed to the core. People who I previously viewed as being “cool” or “having it all together.” Instead, I am finding that they too, have allowed stress and internalizing their feelings to affect them emotionally and physically. Whether it’s health issues that come up, depression that creeps in, anxiety attacks, doubting their faith, or self – esteem issues. Internalizing our feelings leaks out to affect us.

What I wonder is – why do we feel so ashamed to admit how we feel? Why are we afraid to let others see that we are scared, hurt, embarrassed – or even weak?? Why do we feel we must put on a smile and act like we have it all together and life is hunky dory? What are we doing to ourselves?

I’ve had people tell me that they don’t understand how I can feel so free in being myself. That I appear to feel very comfortable in my own skin. I’ll tell you something ~ I’m still discovering how to be free in who I am and how to truly be comfortable and free in my own skin. But I thinkI have begun to tap into that feeling- finally – by simply embracing God’s plans for me and learning to be more honest with myself in my daily battles and challenges. God is teaching me to be real and to be honest about my own limitations.

It’s not always easy. In fact, some days it downright hurts. But oh – it is liberating. The more I can go to Him and put my cares on HIS shoulders and trust Him to handle them; the more I am able to voice my gut-level feelings to Him – the more I can be honest with myself about my human faults, fears, and emotions.

I’m learning it’s okay to feel weak. Because that’s when I lean onto God the most instead of trying to control life myself. He is teaching me to be more discerning in what battles I truly want to internalize and what ones I need to let go of. If the challenge is worth my time, emotional energy, and will have lasting repercussions on me or those I love…chances are, I will take that battle to heart. Otherwise, I’m challenging myself to learn how to let the rest go.

And learning I am. Won’t you learn with me?

Are you one of those dear, beloved comrades – who like me – has let life infiltrate your body, heart, mind, and soul? Do you know who you are anymore? Do you have health issues – or emotional issues?

Dear friend – I know the feeling of shame that can come upon you when you know that instead of controlling your life – life has turned around to control you. And it doesn’t have to be that way. That is Satan’s lie to us. Don’t let him win. Start today – to get the help you need for your life. Turn your cares over to the Lord as you seek the help you need for your physial or emotional issues. Don’t internalize your feelings any longer.

It’s time we all start healing and going easier on ourselves. We owe it to ourselves to love ourselves enough to know our limits, enforce our boundaries, and embrace our uniqueness

–
Dionna Sanchez
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