Pondering Thought of the Week : All Sides of me

Title

All Sides of me

Scripture

Luke 17:11-19

Poem

For those who like me
Thank you

For those who love me
Thank you more

For those who don’t know me
Lets get to know each other

For those who don’t like me
Lets sit down and resolve our differences

For those who don’t understand me
Lets have coffee, share our stories

For those with struggles
Don’t keep them to yourself

For those with praises
Share them regularly

Each person in your life
Pray for them continually

When life gives you lemons
Try to make lemonade

When it’s seems impossible
Lean on God more, ask for His mercy and grace

Life is full of unknowns
There will be different people, different situations

Some will be harder than others
As we learn more

We’ll realize there is a lot we don’t know
We won’t know the answer to some questions on this side of heaven

At all times, please be with me
During the dark times especially

Provide me more peace and understanding
Provide me Love and Grace

Until faith becomes sight
Provide the inner peace to deal with everything

God, I love you.
Thank you through Christ Jesus our Lord

Amen!

Story behind the Poem

Thispoem was dedicated to my Mother who was facing some challenges.

Pondering Thought of the Day : Political Honesty – Instead of Political Correctness

With all the attention given to political correctness…replace with honesty. Seems to make sense to me? You?

Social media, the mainstream news (is there such as a thing <big grin>), nothing but division, differences, threats, overall stupidity by us humans. I offer a new term that was laid on my heart, Political Honesty equals “be nice”, “be honest”, “be clear”, “be humble”, “do the right thing”.

Pondering Thought of the Week : Reflection

God laid the word Reflection on my heart.

Title:
Reflection

Scripture
John 3:16, Exodus:20, Matthew 22:34-40

Story behind the story
I woke up one morning thinking of all kinds of negative things, or being prompted I don’t know. I was worried about several items, few from home, couple from work and personal items, which was one impacting reading comments on stories, most were negative and had apathic mood it puts you in. Additional, I was reading a story of a person who is a reporter for a popular website, they tried to unplug for 5 days, failed miserably and gave in. They traveled to a resort in the Caribbean, after a few days, they had to check email. They couldn’t stand it, on top of it, they journeled their feelings and published in an article. The first thing that came to mind was “you shall have no other idolsbefore me”.God says you shouldn’t have other idols (Gods) ahead of me, when is idolatry. How self-absorbed the iGeneration hasbecome, and weak humans get addicted for other peoples attention.

Poem
Waking up one morning next to the lake
The water is as still as glass

A mountain in the background
The reflection of it shadows on the water perfectly

A person sitting on the porch
Drinking their favorite coffee in the morning

Pondering what is ahead for that day
Or thinking of the problems they’ve overcome

Rocking back and forth in their swing
Trying to muster enough energy to get around for the day.

No TV, No Internet, No Radio, No noise
Just sitting in the swing listening to Gods Creation

At this very moment, a deep breath is taken
This seems so perfect, so simple, why don’t seek this more often

We hop on the highway of life
One problem after another, one distraction after another

Days, Weeks, Months, Years go by
We get in the routine of hustle and bustle

Forgetting the time of simple, calm ways
We long for this and when we attempt to slow down

Our mind is still in the fast lane thinking of life’s problems and distractions
The small still voice is still trying to get through all the clutter

When that person was sitting on the porch
The small still voice was heard loud and clear

In the hustle of everyday life
Our idols, problems, distractions all take a higher priority

Only when something stops us abruptly
A death, loss of a job or some other impactful situation

It forces us to stop and take a breath from the fast pace of life
The enemy uses distraction as one of their tools to take our focus off the creator

The greatest commandment mentions we shall give our mind, hearts (love)and attention to God
Not a portion of them, but all of them

When we are distracted by the world, that necessarily isn’t a bad thing
It’s when you put the world before God is when it turns to a bad thing

Where are you at in your walk with the creator?
Do you have idols? Do you have habits you can’t give up?

Take a moment to reflect, unplug as the iGeneration calls it
See who you are really focusing your attention on and who you are watching

If you are worried about others business
Need to check on what others are doing

Worried about what they think of you
Or feel the need to check in

Forcefully take a break from the fast pace
Read the Greatest Commandment and ask for guidance!

It probably will feel awkward, uncomfortable and have this nagging feeling
The feeling will quickly pass and

Put you back when you can see reflections of the mountain in the water
And the creator small still voice providing guidance in our lives.

The heart left unchecked with no moral compass, will produce selfishness, hatred and anger with no remorse, the only way to overcome is unconditional love

With all the strife in the world, this saying came to mind on a variety of situations that seemed to apply. Look outside yourself and in the mirror when a difference of opinion conflicts with your being. Keep pondering!

Pondering Thought of the Week : Alone

Here is an previously unpublished store I wrote called Alone…Enjoy

Absent, Void, Bare
Feelings of loss

Single, Peaceful, God Fearing
Feelings of refreshment

Time away, Time to reflect
Thinking about what really matters

Reflect about the past
Review the present

Contemplate the future
Planning for the best

We are not alone when born
We are not alone when death comes

We alone face judgment from our maker
Hoping for the magic words

“Well done good and faithful servant”
We are only one step away from meeting Jesus

Make sure while on earth
You pray a lot, pray often, pray hard

Ask Jesus for guidance
About every task, every question, every problem

He can help provide guidance
So you do not end up alone

With Jesus in your life
You are NEVER alone

When driving to work
When going on a trip

We are designed to be social
The world glorifies going at it alone

You are on the earth maybe 4 score
You are in eternity forever

Man can’t imagine forever
They can imagine 4 score

Jesus, thank you for coming to earth
So we are not alone everlasting

Amen!