Shalom.  I am in desperate need of peace...in my mind, body, and soul.  And so is the whole wide world.  My mother broke her hip this fall....and since then I have had more troubles and met more people with troubles than I think I ever have.  So many hurting people.  So many alone and desperate and afraid.
Kind and Godly people came to us when my mother fell and ministered to us in practical  and simple ways that blessed us more than they will ever know.  I cannot do everything....but I can do something.....I heard this somewhere.....and now I am living proof of this wisdom.
I am committed to do something to help where I can.  I am determined to do a little thing....rather than nothing because it is small.  I want to be a small light.....a candle that burns with God's love.  Lord,  help me to act instead of only think.  Help me to see where I can meet a need and be that little support that means so much.
 I want to thank Dee who just came and sat with us and spoke to us when we felt so alone and afraid. For her phone calls and attention when we knew she had her own father to think about.  I want to thank Juan and Trish for the pizza that came on the night we were totally spent.  We thanked them...but they do not know we cried in joy and thankfullness when they left.  Your kindness were small giants to our hearts.  I want to bless others like you all blessed me.
Shalom

What are you waiting for?  I have asked myself that question many times this summer.  Not that there has been much down time....no it has been very busy.  But there is a nagging in my soul....there is more.  As I prayed over this,  I felt impressed by the Holy Spirit to step out in expectation....not for vacations or prosperity...... not for success or honor........ not for anything but more of God.  "Lord, give me ears to hear...and opportunity....to cast my line.......put me in the game.....and get me off the shore."  

“And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.

Psalm 39:6-8

Righteousness and Holiness....Two Different Things

Righteousness is only ours through faith in the substitionary work of Yeshua (Jesus) on the cross....but holiness (set apartness) is ours by obedience.  God said "Be ye holy as I am holy".  God is different.  We are to be different!  Obeying God's laws will definitely make you different.  If you choose to live a holy life you will quickly find out how uncomfortable your differentness is to others.  This does not make you better....we are all sinners saved by grace.  We all get our righteousness by faith.  But holiness.....now that is a conscience choice about how we live made many times throughout every day.  What are you willing to change or do to be holy today?  Don't avoid holiness because your salvation is not dependent upon it......Jesus said "if you love Me you will keep My commandments".  Do you love Him today,  will you chose to be set apart to holiness.....to be His in every way.  Shalom......may peace, joy, and holiness be yours today.

Tell the Truth

Tell yourself the truth.  Someone preached a sermon about this to me recently and it has deeply impacted my life.  Now I don't think of myself as a deceiver.....but after much contemplation I came to the disturbing conclusion that I am honest without exception .......except when it comes to myself.  That's right, I lie to myself daily.  Mostly about relatively unimportant things like how hard I am working on my diet or how hard I am working to get the bedroom remodel done.  But there are some more important ones too.  The object of the lie is important,  but less important than the willingness to live in less than the truth.  I want to look into a clear mirror not a cloudy one,  to see a true reflection.  We are told to live in the light......lies can't live in the light....and neither can we to the extent we lie.  Without getting to philosophical.....just tell yourself the truth.....and deal with whatever it is.  You might have to adjust something in your schedule....or change a habit......or repent....but tell yourself the truth.  Chances are you are the only one believing your lies anyway.

The Sabbath is coming in just a few hours and I found this on the Shorashim website and wanted to share it's wisdom......



Yehudah Avner who served on the staff of five Israeli Prime Ministers once asked a Rebbe (Rabbi), "As a Jewish leader, what are your ambitions?"

"Yehudah, " said the Rebbe, "What we call a candle is piece of wax with a string down the middle. When does it really become a candle? When a flame ignites the string!" the Rebbe continued, "The wax is the body of the human being, and the wick is the soul. When the flame of divine wisdom ignites the soul, the person becomes complete. That is what I am trying to do..... ignite souls." Mendel Kalmeason



May this Sabbath bring you rest and illumination to your soul. May you find yourself complete in HIM. Shalom.

What do you do when someone hurts your feelings really badly? Personally, I cry. I wish I were not a crier, it is such an inefficient way to deal with just about anything. The only solace in that is knowing God saves our tears (or so I have been told). I recently went through an experience where I was wronged, really wronged and justifiably angry......until I opened my spiritual eyes and let God show me what I would have missed without this experience. I cannot go into the above mentioned offence without entering into Lashon Hara. That is the Hebrew word for gossip or speaking ill of anyone. Judaism takes Lashon Hara very seriously, it is in the same category as murder. They believe that to assassinate a persons reputation (even if the words are true) is no less of an evil than assassinate the body. The only reason to speak ill of another person (even if the info is true) is to protect human life. So next time you feel offended watch what you say and watch for God to show you what He can do in your situation. I am sorry to say that I did do a little Lashon Hara before I let God get a hold on my heart. Today, I am able to laugh and release my offender mainly because I am so very sure of how much I am loved. Walk the Ahava Road, the Love walk, it is steep and narrow sometimes but the view is great!

Well, here it is my very own blog spot. I had no idea how vunerable I would feel doing this , not knowing exactly who would read this and where in the internet world it would go. I am a wife, mother, and grandmother. My husband and I are in a wonderful hard won place in our marraige, where irritations and frustrations take second place to respect, love, and a common life history. We will indeed see this relationship to the end of our lives and are busy making sure it is as good and full as we can make it. Make no mistake in some ways we are making up for lost time, but we both feel blessed to married to one another. Three adult children we are so proud of and love so dearly, they are now old enough to actually think we know something about life (or maybe we are actually old enough that we do ) and we are friends and prefer their company to anyone we know. We have three grandsons and I do mean GRAND!!!! This has got to be the best part of life and the sweetest inheritance of a life well lived. I notice that I changed from "I" to "we", after so many years it just feels like "we", but I am reminded today that just as we come into this world naked, raw, alone, and undone, so we shall each stand at the foot of the cross. Each of us alone, answering God without excuse or cover or alibi or accomplice, Oh the wonderful richness of Amazing Grace, God is better to me than I deserve. May you be blessed if you choose to visit me here and be patient with me as I get used to this blog thing. Shalom