Month: September 2014

I am grateful for…

I was recently challenged by a friend to write out and share 3 things I am grateful for everyday for 7 days, and at the end of each day, nominate 2 other people to do the same.

Day 1 was a breeze.  Day 2 wasn’t too difficult either.  Day 3, took a little thinking.  By Day 4 I spent quite a bit of time in front of my computer screen.  It’s not that I don’t have a lot to be grateful for, it was trying to put it into words and not sound like I was saying the same things over and over and over.

I hate to say this, but when Day 7 arrived, I actually breathed a sigh of relief. It’s not that I didn’t feel I had anything left to write about that I was grateful for, it’s that I was afraid of leaving someone out, or not being spiritual enough, or sounding, forgive my wording here, but like an airhead.

it wasn’t until the challenge was over and the next day arrived when I felt like I was letting myself off the hook for not having to write about what I was grateful for anymore.  So, as part of my routine (and I am trying to make it daily, but I’m not beating myself up about it if I miss a day or two) I pause for a few minutes to reflect on all that I have that God has blessed me with, the good, the not so good and the “oh Lord help me through this!”

While I reflect on those things, I imagine what my life would be like if I didn’t have these blessings – and I include the good, not so good… I don’t consider myself to be materialistic or superficial, but I know that there are so many things I take for granted each day.

So, with this in mind, I challenge you to write out and share 3 things you are grateful for each day for 7 days and nominate 2 others to do the same.

Happy writing and God bless you!

~Briggie

Words, Do Yours Bless or Hurt?

God’s Word says that “…the tongue has the power of life and death…”Proverbs 18:21.  We can brighten someone’s day with a kindly spoken word, or cast a dark cloud with a bitter and harsh word.  Sometimes we mean harm with our words, sometimes we don’t even realize we are doing it.  Words cut like sharpened steel, or strengthen us like rock.

I always thought that my children knew that I was their biggest supporter and that I always felt that honesty is the best policy, no matter the situation.  Then, one day, my son approached me and said, “Mom, I don’t think you realize the impact of what you say.”  This wasn’t meant as a compliment, it was meant as a criticism.  I had relayed my feelings about a situation which were up front and honest and were not said in anger or with a bitter tone, however the effect of my words had a cutting impact on my son, which was not my intention.

This evening, I was the one who was being spoken to, and while what was said was not in itself meant to be hurtful, the way it was said was.  I took what was said as a way of being put in my place, and to stop talking.  It cut me to the core and had me paralyzed.  After some time had passed, I felt myself just sitting and staring and wondering what I did to deserve such words and treatment.  It took me about an hour to realize, as a society, we have become so desensitized to what other people may think or feel, that we do not think before we speak.  We have this need to have the last word, to set ourselves above and feel superior.

jesus NEVER did this.  He put others before Himself.  He prayed long and hard before He spoke.  He carefully thought out what He said, how He said, to whom He said it to, and what the outcome of His words would be.

Lord, I pray that I can be more like Jesus when I speak.  Let my words by a sweet sweet sound in Your ears.  Let my words be full of blessings, not cursings, bring healing, not pain, be uplifting, not discouraging, and be full of praise and not complaints.

I am inserting one of Joel Osteen’s messages: Both Death and Life are in the Power of the Tongue,

God bless you,

~Briggie

Do You Know?

Do you know just how precious you are to God?  Do you know His love?  Do you know that His mercies are there for you everyday?  Do you know that He knows you by name and that He sent His only Son to the cross for you?  Do you know that there is no amount of money or good deeds that are needed to please Him as He simply wants you to know Him, accept His Son as your Savior, and have a personal relationship with Him?

As I awoke this morning, the song, “Mary did you know?” was running through my head.  There are many versions out there, but my personal favorite is sung by Donny Osmond.  The song got me to thinking that there are so many people out there who just do not know God, and this includes those of us who have accepted Jesus into our hearts – including me.

We think of God with our earthly minds, and try to figure Him out,  There is no need to figure Him out.  All we really need to do is talk to Him, make Him part of everything we do.  Tell Him our plans, our hopes, our dreams and ask Him what His plans, hopes and dreams for us are (even though He already knows the plans that He has for us).  When we sin, or do something that we know is wrong, we try to figure out how we can make up for it, or get back in His good graces.  We have to stop thinking this way.  There is no way our earthly thoughts can ever come up with the right words or actions to take our sins away.  We have to get out of our own way and let God guide us, direct us and lead us.  At least that is what I believe.

I pray that today, and everyday, that you know that you know that you know Him.

 

God bless,

~Briggie