Cavalier Days and the Champion Advocate

So you want to do this or that. What is that or this?

We wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t important….or would we?

Repenting of my useless, wasted energies, God assured me he uses everything.

Lavish fun, destructive music and movies, and squandering God’s money on the junk food of life are a total distraction. And to think in our youthfulness we knew it all…..yeah right.

Our cavalier and reckless days add up to empty hearts, no satisfaction and debt. The order may be reversed depending on how much you spent on life’s ill-fated pleasures or the extent you went to in revenge for Don Juan who broke your precious heart.

As you whine, “I will never date again!”  Or “You just wait you little eaves dropping adulterer, your days are numbered!”

Oh, give me a break.

How often do we tangle our own webs? How often do we muddle our gluttony by jumping into the fire ourselves? If we aren’t careful the enlistment will backfire.

The enemy uses whatever is available to distract us. And we are so easily allured into his devilish antics we forget or lose our way. He is a cunning, deranged creature who needs to be thrown under a few buses, but it won’t happen if we don’t push him. Or yank his so-called wickedness with real authority.

Wrong people and activities waste our time.

Yes, you know the fun people, all-about-me people or the hedonistic, miserly gourmets of popularity. These are the lost souls of propriety. Run away.

Destructive circumstances aren’t always lost in our foolish captivity. God is the source of freedom but only if asked.

Once you run away, seek God before the excess baggage of your blissful pleasures drop on your head. He is the beneficiary of our expensive and often painful negligence.

Psalm 50:20 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

No matter what we have done if we seek God he can take our egotistical, self-seeking greed and use it for his purposes.

How? By allowing us to reap what we sow until the veil is removed. Days of amusing revelry get old fast often resulting in dreadful circumstances.

Yep. All the misbehaving, rule breaking attitudes can be used as examples for the kingdom of God in the hopes others will wise up before gratifying their unholy aspirations.

The recommendation is to avoid at all costs the feasts of poisonous entertainment to start with. If you have joined in the foolery of many, turn it over to God and get out.

Allow God to turn the pampering of your sinful nature into a new creature in Christ. He uses evil for good showering us with a fresh start.

God wastes nothing. His clever techniques of deliverance far outweigh our mistakes.

He is a master vindicator working behind the scenes justifying the innocent.

The world is in enough disarray as it is without our own disregard for authority.

Use your God given common sense and guidance in how you spend your time.

After all, we are only passing through.

“Remind me that my days are numbered.” Psalm 39:4

http://birdmartin.wordpress.com/2012/05/19/birds-spiritual-learning-disability-god-grades-bird-on-a-curve/

http://longingsend.com/2012/05/19/saturday-psalm-psalm-18/

http://godspeaks-i-listen.com/2012/05/19/time-has-come-today/

http://jesuscarriesme.com/2012/05/19/my-struggle-with-the-story-of-the-canaanite-woman/

Copyright @ 2012 All Rights Reserved

Gospel Carriers in Rare Form

Craig Farmhouse

Our family reunion was wonderful once I got there. Sometimes life throws a curve and you can be so close yet so far away.

Craig Farm, my family homestead is off the beaten path down a nice, quiet road of farmland, grazing cattle and horses. The house is on the National Registry of Historical Landmarks since 1989. The home is refurbished, and is used for social events of all kinds including concerts, dinners, luncheons, and receptions. Across the street is the Kilburnie Inn on Craig Farm which is a bed and breakfast. The Inn sits on family land and is also used for many social events especially weddings.

Driving the scenic area would not be a typical place for what you may think as a trouble spot. There is a church at the end of the road where you turn off to the left to get on Craig Farm Road that leads to the farmhouse.  Mostly open fields and woods line the road giving way to a serene and peaceful ride. Until Saturday.

About 200 feet from the turnoff I was stopped and wasn’t going anywhere until the police moved out of the way.

One officer had parked his car in the middle of the road as did his partner on the other side of the street blocking any cars from going anywhere. There was no right turn unless you decided a quick trip into the woods full of trees was your best escape route.

More policemen showed up. Blue lights flashing as they parked their vehicles as if to set up a blockade.

All I could think of is they are looking for somebody. We had all these family members trying to get to Craig Farm and every police officer in Lancaster County had another idea altogether.

Going either way would have cuffed me for trying to drive through an army of cops. A dramatic movie scene was in the making as the police gathered in force as if protecting the road.

The only trustworthy instrument was my cell phone in case I needed to call the police. Oh. What police? They were all in front of me, around me, down the beaten path. They were of no help!

I turned my car off and sat. Maybe it was a license check. No.

There were too many officers for such an easy job.

Suddenly, the fear crept in my car. I could feel it climbing up my spine. The darts, no, the swords of evil penetrated my brain with thoughts like,

“You’re going to die.”

“A drug lord has escaped prison and is on the run.”

“A wanted murderer is on the loose and is armed and dangerous.”

All I could think of was what kind of ill fated hoodlum would dash out of the woods aiming a rifle ready to shoot at anyone or anything in front of him.

Prayer was the answer. I don’t carry a concealed weapon because I consider God’s angels who ride everywhere with me as ammunition. If this thing went off big I could make a run for it, or dive under the dashboard to avoid the onslaught of bullets.

In the mood for some great food, family intervention and a walk around the grounds of Craig Farm, a spirited cop feast searching for an escaped convict was not on my agenda.

The next few minutes appeared at least 15 more police vehicles. Many were motorcycles riding in a formatted line.

Behind this obvious police escort, rode one biker after another in a peaceful parade. Motorcycles of all shapes and sizes following each other in a show of respect were called the Faith Riders of South Carolina. A ministry of over 100 bikers making their way out of Lancaster most likely on their way to the grand strand for bike week at the beach.

The reverence in which these “gospel carriers” rode was intriguing. They were on a mission; a mission to preach Jesus.

I realized after they were gone, how quickly the devil attacked me. In an instant, he had thrown evil at me from all sides filling my mind with fear.

As quickly as the misery of evil converged on my soul it was all of a sudden, gone. The roar of the bikes; the code of conduct and awesome presence of God that surrounded these men and women of God ran him off with his tail in between his legs.

The way I see it is the devil is no match for a flock of Bible toting, motorcycle riding, faith filled bikers. In fact, only a fool would mess with that bunch.

2 Timothy 1:7

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

www.kilburnie.com/

Kilburnie Inn

http://samuelatgilgal.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/how-may-faith-be-illustrated/

http://fromafarcountry.wordpress.com/2012/04/30/the-bible-needs-to-be-updated/

http://jennifershope.wordpress.com/2012/04/30/the-word-is-good-and-perfect/

http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/2012/04/29/sihs-think-on-these-things-heb-1123/

Copyright @ 2012 All Rights Reserved

 

Craig Reunion Photos 2012

Please enjoy a few photos I took at our family reunion this weekend in Lancaster, SC.  The above Header is a picture of the Craig Farm. The back pavilion is where we always enjoy this annual event. Family totaled around 50.

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Copyright @ 2012 All Rights Reserved

The Sanity of the Sorority Sisters

Work. Work. Work.  God says our busy work gets in the way of his work. What?

I read an interesting word this morning from the daily inspirations of “God Calling.”

“When Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” he did not mean he was to do all things and then rely on Christ to find strength. He meant that for all God told him to do he could rely on his strength.

God says we wear ourselves out becoming tired, and nervous chasing the Holy Spirit away doing that which he never asked us to do.

Jesus rested. SO DO YOU THINK HE IS TRYING TO TELL US SOMETHING!

Folks, the world will rob you of everything including your sanity if you will let it.

Learn to say no! God has not given us to do half of what we do. And for that half we do of our own accord….Well, he just isn’t there. Maybe he is resting then.

God has enough to do without having to follow us around while we line our calendars with Sorority Parties, benefit lunches and trips to satisfy our lust for travel.

Besides producing entertainment for our egotistical self indulgence think of all the money saved that could be used for the kingdom of God? What? NO?

Much of our daily overload is for our avaricious distractions like the green-eyed monster living under our beds. What about the stingy vainglorious attitudes of “oh, I’ve been there” or “yes, we had lunch on the Rivera.”  So what.

If we go and do just so we can say we went and did, what good is that? Was it God’s idea? Did you ask him before you spent his money on an expensive meal of eel?

http://samuelatgilgal.wordpress.com/2012/04/26/the-home-and-god/

What about that trip? Did God send you to the Bahamas? Were you there to promote the Gospel or to vacation among the blue waters to satisfy the “I deserve this trip” mindset? We don’t deserve anything and if you think you do, then you either have never been to the cross or you haven’t spent enough time there.

God wants to reward us, but in his way, in his time and with his resources.

http://highlyfavored74.wordpress.com/2012/04/25/proverbs-1618-a-servants-heart/

Praying for a long time about the shape of the church, our nation and myself, God has revealed to me his longing for people to get to know him. He has shown me he can get more done in one hour of our time than we can in a year. In other words, when we spend time alone with God, he can do multiple times over what we can do and in a much shorter amount of time!

The church wants to bring people to Christ.  What if people prayed for the unsaved as much as they did churching them through this dinner and that project?

Recently God revealed to me how effective prayer really is. We can’t be everywhere. We can’t be in two places at once unless you know something I don’t. So if that is the case, and John Doe is 500 miles away and needs prayer, do we have to travel to him to pray for him? Ok, that is pretty elementary. Of course not!

God knew this. He created us. If he made us to be in one place at a time, then he gave an alternative to do more through prayer! So start praying.

http://throughhimwithhiminhim.wordpress.com/2012/04/24/wholeness-lived/

Psalm 107:20 “He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.”

First and foremost God wants personal relationships with his people.  His presence is transferred to us as we learn his character, personality and faithfulness. It is in his presence where miracles occur and prayers are answered.

http://godspeaks-i-listen.com/2012/04/26/god-please-dont-take-away-my-good-tears-part-2/

So, if you really want to get to know God, stop your 24/7 gratification ceremonies and sit down and rest with God. Alone. With no distractions. Just you and God.

Copyright @ 2012 All Rights Reserved

Oriental Lily by Randy Harrison
http://www.pbase.com/jrandyh

Shady, Lifeline Idiosyncrasies

Lifelines are necessary. Lifelines can be categorized through our parents, families, friends; maybe our pets? Ok….

We have to hold on to something. By nature some of us hold onto a lot more than others, (like my husband’s collections of collectibles) but I won’t expose those culprits.

Do we define ourselves by these lifelines? I have.

Heritage/ family history often shapes our existence. God created families so that must be a good thing? Well, yes and no.

A good family history is a blessing. Not so good may leave scarred, torn and pained descendants who wish they had another lifeline.

We don’t have to accept that which has crept into our blood that is rotten, soiled or needs fumigating. In fact, we should dispose of traits we find going against God’s word.

I wasn’t so sure I interpreted that to mean my family  imperfections may need tweaking? Or addressing? Or a complete overhaul!

Unfortunately the latter converted itself to the forefront of deliverance.

Well. Let me tell you something about God.

IF YOU DON’T WANT TO CHANGE, DON’T ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU HOW.

DON’T ASK GOD TO POINT OUT YOUR PROBLEMATIC FAMILY ISSUES.

Isaiah 40: 31 “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Why? He will. He is faithful in all areas even the ones you don’t want him to be.

In fact God is so faithful, he gives overhauls for free!

I can vouch for this as his daily classrooms have been tedious, heart wrenching, oh so painful and embarrassing.

And to think I thought I had it all together. Ha! What a joke!

So, you ask, “how’d he teach you to unload evils, flaws, faults and shady, lifeline  idiosyncrasies?”

Well. He isn’t finished. We are still in class. The work seems infinite.

Categorically the grandest lesson I have learned had nothing to do with any negative, ancestral curses.

What started out, as a revolutionary, deep-rooted investigation of my war-wearied soul has turned into a long-lasting, thirst for his presence.

What I began as a marathon of ridding myself of  unsightly traits became an awakening of who I could be through him.

His presence grows while life hits you.

His presence creates a supernatural atmosphere surrounding you.

His presence is an all-encompassing, 24/7 offering of all he represents.

His presence flows like water through your veins like rain in a desert.

Isaiah 58:11 “The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land  and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,  like a spring whose waters never fail.”

His presence frames you with his character, personality and joy.

What I viewed as a boring, long-winded professor opting to drag me out of my lingering delirium has been the proverbial walk in the park; the light at the end of the tunnel.

What I presumed to be a dredge on my day is presently my highlight, food and lifeline.

As I learn who he is, I change. As I read his word, I gain knowledge and wisdom.

As I sit quietly before him, I just want more.

As I move forward in his faithfulness, mine flourishes.

Are you afraid of allowing God to have all of you?  Get over it.

It doesn’t matter who your family is or the generous doses of generational strongholds they may hand down.

God can stop them with you.

http://kellylevatino.com/2012/04/17/telling-god-no/

http://justmyfaithtalking.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/am-i-any-less-blessed/

http://mrkstevenson.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/brokenness-the-missing-link-to-holiness/

http://godlywomengettheblues.com/2012/04/15/hanging-on-the-edge/

Copyright @ 2012 All Rights Reserved

“To Like or Dislike” (Brussel Sprouts)

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a dislike button? On facebook, WordPress, email, in your home?

Brussels Sprouts (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Benefits of a dislike Button:

No comment required.

You dislike it whatever it is.

Your expression is a simple opinion to deter fights, bickering or assault. Or not.

For the most part you are safe from physical attacks unless they track you down.

You can dislike but not hate.

The result may change your life.

Examples for the use of a dislike button:

I don’t like brussel sprouts, licorice and deer meat. (yuck)  Instead of having to describe in detail my disgust for these non-edible, detestable so-called foods I can press the dislike button. The nasty deer meat aroma cooking on the stove makes me feel guilty my husband killed Bambi. So if pressing a button eliminates my emotional trauma so I don’t have to ponder the suffering of poor Bambi, I am released from one less debilitating distraction.

Or….facebook Timeline (I didn’t opt for it)

Or…Football. No comments please.

Or…..Horror movies, Harry Potter and his un-soulish goonies or I can’t even speak it.

Or ….Dr. Pepper (taste like cough medicine), camping or anything the government runs. Or tries to.

These buttons might make life in cyber space a little easier, less complicated or formidable foes depending on how you take it.

Who’s to say pressing the “dislike” button won’t end a friendship because you disagreed with their recipe for meat loaf?

Who’s to say disliking one’s political views won’t start WWIII?

If you dislike another culture, does that make you intolerant?

If you dislike one soft drink over another is that discriminating?

What if you dislike my blog should I be offended?

If you dislike your spouse, does that make you an ogre?

If you dislike Charter schools does that mean you like public schools?

If you dislike Baptists, does that mean you like Presbyterians?

“To like or dislike, that is the question.”

Either way, it doesn’t really matter. What counts is God’s truth.

We either like it or we don’t. Whether we like God’s truth or not doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

Rationalizing God’s truth is as silly as believing God is counting how many brussel sprouts I’m not eating.

The atheist/agnostic can argue the non-existence of God all day long; it isn’t going to make God go away.

The worldly skeptic rationalizes the validity of God’s goodness by asking “If God is a good God, why does he allow bad things to happen?” I don’t know. Go ask him yourself. Ya think it may have to do with the fall of man? Duh…..

Then you have the eroded soul of Christ. The saved soul who believes the Bible condones living with someone outside of marriage. Sorry……you either like what the Bible says about marriage or you don’t.

You either like what the Bible says about stealing, lying or taking another life or you don’t.

God formally set his rules in place to be “liked” not “disliked.” The Bible is clear on how God determined for us to live from the Ten Commandments to gossip, to how we treat others. Believe me; he didn’t leave a single sin out.

God doesn’t give waivers. He isn’t going to make me eat brussel sprouts and let my husband off the hook.

God is no respecter of persons. No waivers. No Deal. No Bargains.

Got it?

Exodus 20 The Ten Commandments

¹ And God spoke all these words:

² “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

³ “You shall have no other gods before^[a] me.

⁴ “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. ⁵ You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, ⁶ but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

⁷ “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

⁸ “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. ⁹ Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. ¹¹ For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

¹² “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

¹³ “You shall not murder.

¹⁴ “You shall not commit adultery.

¹⁵ “You shall not steal.

¹⁶ “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

¹⁷ “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

http://larrywho.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/are-we-pawns-or-knights/

http://samuelatgilgal.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/the-mountain-of-god/

http://goldenbible.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/following-the-shepherd/

http://refusingtotiptoe.com/2012/04/16/sharing-sunday-taking-care-of-business-before-its-too-late/

Copyright @ 2012 All Rights Reserved

Do you love your waitress Mr. Banker?

Wealthy Banker Reportedly Tells Waitress To ‘Get A Real Job’

by Claire Gordon , Posted Feb 27th 2012 @ 9:52AM /Foxnews.com

Shocked by this article published but glad it has gone viral is the epitome of our culture’s lack of consideration for others.

The banker left a tip of $1.33 for a $134.87 lunch. Now I can’t imagine what he ate for lunch but maybe it was his words.

Not only did he under tip her by a load, he tried to belittle her with what is yet to bite him. or maybe it already has.

As I wrote recently about cashiers, waiters and waitresses are people too. People trying to make a living, carrying trays of food around for hours and listening to complaining, griping customers. These hard-working Americans should be treated respectfully and paid decently for not throwing food in your face Mr. Banker.

I wonder if Mr. Banker had any idea of the precedent he has now set for his fellow Mr. and Mrs. Bankers when they go out for lunch?

Did he have any idea or care for that matter that his “fellow bankers who have a real job” may get hot coffee spilled on their brand new suit or skirt?  or a plate in their lap or worse have to wonder who spit in their food?

Now don’t get me wrong here. I do not condone that behavior if done on purpose, but Mr. Banker had better watch his steps now. He might want to check behind him also.

He opened his own door for the devil to crawl in and wreak havoc not only for himself but others.

If being a waitress or waiter is not a “real job” Mr. Banker what is?

A housekeeper? a welder? a Professor? a teacher? a postal worker? a writer? what is your definition Mr. Banker of a “real job?”

Those who serve food are subjected to difficult customers, long hours and little pay. Tipping is the responsibility of those served for a job well done. Tipping a server is the consideration we as patrons should give to them to show we appreciate the good meal we have been blessed with.  Complimenting their job performance adds to their self-esteem and may just make their day.

Having had many jobs in my life where I was treated as one who didn’t classify as having a “real job” (according to him)I know the pain of demeaning actions and words even when trying my best. There is no excuse for it.

When a person works they should be paid accordingly. Romans 4:4 says, “Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. “

I can honestly say for some of the jobs I have had, I was not paid accordingly. My job performance was riddled with additions to my job description that were never discussed. As a single parent, who had to work, I was taken advantage of, ridiculed and dumped on. I was viewed as one who had “no other choice.” Therefore, anything went.

My heart goes out to those who serve in the food industry who are exposed to such grief and peril for trying to make a living. or survive. or put food on their tables.

Mr. Banker, your performance as a recipient to being fed in public is questionable to say the least.

Your disregard for your fellow bankers and their desire to be served in restaurants may wane hurting the economy further.

Your negligence to realize the “ripple affect” of your actions should keep you up at night. or better yet give the waitress an apology and the tip you owe her plus some.

Unfortunately, this type of attitude reflects many who frequent restaurants. Our society has forgotten or were never taught “good manners.” But, again I say, “why can’t people just be nice?”

If the service is bad, or the food questionable then tell the management.

If you don’t want to tip a server who does their job well,  do us all a favor. Stay home and cook your own food Mr. Banker and get a taste of what it is like to have a real job!

Related articles

• Banker Leaves Waitress One Percent Tip With Note “Get a Real Job” (themoderatevoice.com)
• A Generous Tip and an Advice (neatorama.com)
• Rich Banker Tips 1%, Tells Server To ‘Get A Real Job’ (businessinsider.com)
• http://rebecaurora.wordpress.com/2012/02/27/never-again-list/
• http://twirlygirly.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/coexsist-is-this-the-best-we-can-do/

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Copyright @ 2012 All Rights Reserve

Sorry Moses. Starbucks is closed.

So this Moses guy. You know, Moses the guy standing on “Holy Ground?”

Well,  I have a confession to make. My husband is hunting so I don’t have to worry about his take on the subject.

Moses is my kind of man. Yep, if there was a character in the Bible who could have my heart it would be him. Not sure why but  Charlton Heston may have had something to do with it.

Image via Wikipedia

His story has always intrigued me. Why wouldn’t it? He was born a poor Hebrew until he floated upstream and just happened to land at the feet of royalty? yea, right. Like God had nothing to do with that.

He grows up in the Egyptian palace of the Pharaoh believing he was something he really wasn’t. No one told him any different so he lived the high life.  Now Moses’s brother was Yul Brenner. Together they made a pretty good team even though Mr. Brenner was a spoiled brat.

They grew up only to find Moses was not Egyptian but Hebrew. Moses was more shocked than anyone. Can you imagine? Finding out Yul Brenner was not your real brother?

Moses’s life was turned upside down.  He gets kicked out of the house. out of Egypt. into the desert.

No restaurants. No shoe stores. No Rodeo Drive. No Starbucks. No Cokes. No Happy Meals. Worst of all, no Dasani.

What was he going to do? How could he live without that first cup of coffee?

He’s in the desert for who knows how long, (God) so how does he survive? (God)

Did you get that last part? That was the lesson.

The next 40 years Moses was a sheep herder.

One day he decided to climb Mt. Sinai where he saw a “burning bush” that wasn’t really burned. Yea. Go figure that one out.

God spoke to him and told him to deliver his people out of Egypt into the Promised Land like it was just another day job.

Let’s take a “Coca Cola” break and think about this.

Up until now Moses’s life had gone from the Palace to the Pit. or the desert. Gold, silver, lobster, wine, Armani Suits. Ants, bugs, rags, worn out sandals and dirt. Then God tells him to go tell Pharaoh to “let his people go.”

“What? You want me to do what? “

“and take your staff with you; it will come in handy.”

Handy? Ok. Moses wasn’t too keen on this whole “deliver the people” idea so he asked God to find someone else.

Sure! I don’t think God does that.

As the story goes, Moses and Yul Brenner go to the palace. Only Moses wasn’t wearing his Armani suits so they didn’t recognize him at first.

Pharaoh laughed at him in his rags and long, dirty hair.  He wasn’t about to let the slaves go. Who would serve him? Who would be there to wash his feet? duh…

Pharaoh deserves the ‘Most Stubborn Stupid Award.”

Finally, after much prodding along with many plagues of horror he let them go.

Moses had delivered the people. Only he had no idea what he had gotten himself  into. The Israelites were lets just say, “not the easiest bunch”  to deal with.

God performed miracle after miracle for the Israelites. Yet, their unbelief remained. Complaining and whining all the way home.

My admiration for Moses exists due to his humble courage to take on a job no one would want. It is apparent by his longing for God to strip him of this plight that his driving force was God. A right minded person would  run off the mountain if they saw a burning bush.

Moses believed God. There was no doubt it was God all the way. He knew God had spoken to him. He knew God was leading him. He knew God understood the misery and suffering of such an endeavor. He knew God would never leave him.

Moses succeeded because he was convinced God was God. He had his moments, but his heart was set on the call. His heart was set because Moses believed God.

Oh, that I would have that belief. Oh, that we would all be so convinced. or courageous. or humble.

BTW: God wants you to pack your bags, lightly.

We may not be Moses, but he has some modern day Red Seas for us to cross.

Related articles

• How to recognize miracles (successful-blog.com)
• Egypt (brentsquest.wordpress.com)
• Remember Moses – Part: 1 By: Janaya Richards (livesharp.org)
• God’s trump card… His presence! (ilifejourney.wordpress.com)
• http://thewayeverlasting.com/2012/02/17/quote-succeeding/
• http://thewayeverlasting.com/2012/02/17/quote-fingerprints/

Copyright @ 2012 All Rights Reserved

Do you love your cashier?

My visit to the grocery store this morning was a usual enlightenment. The produce man was sitting on the floor dividing up the apples from the oranges. The cake baker was counting her cakes. The number of shoppers like myself were only a few including the woman who graced our presence by wearing her pajamas.

What struck me though was the one and only cashier up front. She looked tired. Unhappy.  She never smiled and her “how are you” was one of “I don’t really care how you are.”

I felt compassion for her as she looked down the aisle at the long line that had grown. Why didn’t they bring another cashier to help her or a bag boy?

Cashiers have a tough job. Theirs is one most of us never want.  It is a thankless position. A part time job for extra money or the full time cashier trying to make a living.

Cashiers:

Stand on their feet for hours at a time.

Are subjected to abuse of all kinds.

Are expected to know everything from what row the coffee is on to “why isn’t it still on sale?”

Are exposed to raw meat, filthy money and dirty  hands.

Are exposed to unruly, screaming children at the hands of parents who do not discipline them.

Are open targets for thieves, drunks and a few nice people.

Endure long lines of aggravated, impatient customers due to cuts in personnel.

The following are a few everyday occurrences in the life of a cashier…..as I have witnessed….

Customer: “Is this ice cream on sale?”
Cashier: “I’m not sure. You can check the weekly specials.”
Customer: “What? You oughta know that?
Cashier: “Ma’am, it will also show on the door of the frozen food section where you found it.”
Customer: “Just ring it up and it better be on sale.”
Cashier rings up ice cream. “No ma’am it is not on sale this week, that was last week. Do you still want it?”
Customer: “Yes, but only at the sale price.”
Cashier: “I’m sorry but it is not for sale.”
Customer: “Fine. I don’t want it then. And you shouldn’t be working here if you can’t do any better than that.”

or this one…..

Customer: “How much is this 6 pack of beer?”
Cashier: “I’m not sure ma’am.”
Customer: “Oh, it don’t matter anyhow. I got food stamps. While you’re at it get me a carton of cigarettes too.”
The cashier watches as the customer gets in their brand new BMW.

Cashiers are people, not sitting ducks for us to throw rocks at. or steal from. or verbally abuse.

Cashiers usually work because they need to.  I can’t imagine anyone subjecting themselves to such scrutiny for the heck of it.

Cashiers paychecks are usually based on minimum wage. They aren’t paid to know everything.

Cashiers have feelings just like we do. Give them a break.

The next time you are in the presence of a cashier, be kind. Be nice.

Smile.  Give them a tip. Ask how they are doing. Treat them like you want to be treated. Show them respect.

Show appreciation for the job they do everyday. Show concern for their well being in the midst of chaotic and hateful people.

Take up for them. Show them understanding of the daily grind they are subjected to as they try to make a living.

Who knows. Maybe they will think Jesus paid them a visit, not just another customer.

Luke 6:31 “Do to others as you would like them to do to you.”

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Copyright @ 2012 All Rights Reserved

Sugar Cane Blockheads

Blocks of cheese. Lego blocks. Blockheads. Cell blocks. Building blocks. How to block Websites. Road blocks. Blocked lists. Blocks of wood. Toy blocks.

Blocks of ice. Alphabet blocks. The Judge blocked your testimony.  Writer’s block. Quilt block designs. Heart blocks. House blocks. Senate blocks. H & R Block.

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Code: blocks. Text blocks. Jail blocks.  The block down the street…..what was that last one again?

The block down the street. You know. The one you use a lot. The one that leads to your house. or school. or church.

What do these blocks represent?

Confinement. Education. Learning. Prison. Falling. Stubbornness. Cold hearts. Stopping. Jail. Defiance. Circles. Building. Governing. Taxation. Creativity.

Blocks can be good or bad depending on how we use them.

In the case of the Israelites, they were not happy in Egypt nor when they left. So, they ended up in the wilderness much longer than God planned. Kind of like us.

We are masters at going around and around and around the same block.  The Israelites may have started this winding road journey but we latched on to it without a hitch.

Unfortunately,  I could teach this subject.  Learning the hard way always came easy for me and I didn’t realize at a young age when I started this pattern the Israelites had already perfected it. Well, it would have been nice to have been the first at something.

The wilderness journey they took exhausts me thinking about it. Why do we have to be so stubborn? It’s not like God didn’t lay out a plan. We just think we know it all on our own. Yes. I am talking to you! and me.

The quote, “I’ve been around the block a few times” has a lot of different meanings but in this case it really is what it says.

How about going around the block of greed? selfishness? doubt? fear? unbelief? worry? The Israelites were very good at doubting and unbelief even as the manna fell from Heaven everyday. Even as they were led by a “pillar of cloud” by day and a “pillar of fire” by night. Lets just say they saw the cup half empty. The miracles in front of them didn’t dissuade their complaining and defiance.

Exodus 13: 21,22 “By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.”

You would think they would have gotten the message. What message?

The message we haven’t gotten yet. The one about the Holy Spirit leading us. The Holy Spirit doesn’t  leads us around the same block; that is unless we haven’t learned our lesson.

In other words, when we don’t listen, he allows us to jog around the same block until our shoes are worn out. Do I sound like I have done this before?

I see him waving  as we venture around “forever street” over and over again.  He motions for us to follow him instead of following the “yellow brick road”  or running a virtual marathon around ourselves. The Holy Spirit waits for us to chase after him.

One thing for sure. God is a patient God. Sometimes too patient. He  allows us to ferment our doubt and fears with more vinegar until we find the sugar. And for some of us the sugar is still in the cane.

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Related articles

• Oh Sugar! (bakingitreal.wordpress.com)
• We Can Learn From Blockheads (kellylevatino.com)
• Into the wilderness (thebereanway.wordpress.com)/
• http://iambecomingme.wordpress.com/2012/02/19/my-surrender-poem/

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