Late night thoughts: I remember the first time I saw my husband. My first impression was “he’s a wonderful father. “ This fact mesmerized me. I wanted more than anything to be with a man who would be a loving father who put his family first. He did. He always has. Is he perfect? No! Does he have issues? Yes! Do I have issues? Definitely! Marriage and family is not about perfection it’s about forgiveness and love. It’s about giving, trying, understanding, selflessness, willingness to work together, willingness to do what is best for others. Self cannot be more important than everyone else. Should we practice self care? Yes! Should we live a selfish life? No!
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves. Philippians 2:3
When I was around 14 years old we had free range chickens in our back yard. Hens and one mean obstinate rooster. He was a full fledged bully! He loved to torment!
Day after day this devilish rooster would chase me when I came home from school. Constantly trying to flog me, jump on me and attack me.
Finally one afternoon I had enough. There was a straw broom propped up outside the back door. When rooster “Red” came charging after me I picked up the broom and began swinging with all my might. I was tired of his intimidation. Exhausted from his relentless bullying. I had had enough! I began to fight back instead of running in fear.
The Devil is a tormentor. He is a bully. He loves to find weakness in us and pick and peck at us until he destroys our faith and hope. He loves to beat us down and he will as long as we allow him too.
How long will you keep allowing Satan to steal your peace and joy?
Take up the Word of God and begin using it to swing at the devil. Let him know you will not be defeated. You will not be destroyed for you are a child of God!
Swing your broom!! The Word of God!!
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12
Go to God in prayer search His word and let the devil know you will not be bullied and intimidated by him. If you don’t my friend your life will be filled with constant confusion and torment!
Unfortunately Mother’s Day is not a wonderful day for all women. It is actually a day of great torment and agony.
Many mother’s look around their tables and see empty chairs. Chairs left unfilled due to the death of a child, others due to the being ostracized by a child and others because a child is incarcerated or hospitalized.
Mother’s Day is also extremely hard for those women who have longed for children of their own but have never been able to bear a child to full term.
Then there are women whose children are missing and they have no idea where they are or if they are dead or still alive.
Mother’s Day will be a hard day for many. A reminder of the aching pain within that we try to keep hidden as best we can. On Mother’s Day we will be reminded of the reality of the rips in our heart.
Be kind this Mother’s Day. Remember all women and share your love, support and understanding with them. Perhaps the greatest gift you can give is acknowledging them through a loving jester.
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
“encourages mutual intercession, a core Christian practice emphasizing the importance of praying for others’ well-being and needs,” James 15:16
In the early 1970’s my Grandpaw had a lake and a pond dug out on the farm in Looneyville. The lake was for fishing and swimming. The pond was for the cows to wade in and drink from.
He built a fish fry/barbecue pit pavilion next to the lake. The lake also had a T shaped dock.
I have wonderful memories of many barbecues, fish fries with family, friends and neighbors there and of summers canoeing, fishing and swimming in the lake with my cousins.
I think back now and realize how incredibly blessed we were. I thought we were poor, but have come to understand we were rich beyond measure.
So many times we think being “rich” means having lots of money and material possessions. We fail to recognize the true blessings God has given us. The most valuable blessings in life cannot be bought.
Love
Loyalty
Faithfulness
Friendship
Family
Generosity
Respect
Time Shared Willingly
Moments of Joy
Encouragement
Forgiveness
Acknowledgment
Affection
Prayer
Listening
May we be willing to give gifts of great value. Gifts that require more from us than what money can buy. Gifts that require God’s love, understanding and mercy. Gifts that require us to have a close relationship with God.
Before vascular dementia had weaved a web of confusion around Momma’s mind, she loved to share a Looneyville Sunday morning memory.
Dressed in shorts and sleeveless shirts Momma and Aunt Peggy were sitting on the front porch swing when a station wagon stopped in their dirt driveway. A tall dark-haired man dressed in a suit got out and came to the porch. They soon recognized him as Preacher Kesler of the Jefferson Holiness Church. He asks them “Would ya’ll like to ride with us to church?” His wagon was already filled with his wife and their children, but he was inviting them to ride along.
Momma and Peggy replied to him, “We ain’t dressed for church.” Preacher Kesler told them they were dressed just fine. God didn’t care what they wore to church. Despite her dementia diagnosis, Momma remembered this memory until a few years ago.
Preacher Kesler had a love for others and did not pick and choose who God would or would not accept. He did not care if you were poor or rich, young or old, or how you dressed. These actions were the reasons that she recalled that Sunday morning and all the subsequent Sunday mornings when she and Aunt Peggy attended church into adulthood.
When Preacher Kesler moved from the Jefferson Church to the Nicholson Church Momma and Peggy were married with homes and children of their own living back in Looneyville. They took us Looneyville children to church. All of us. They filled up whatever car they were driving and off to church we would go. Aunt Peggy didn’t work a public job so she made sure we went every Sunday morning, night and Wednesday night.
A wagon load of youngins. No seatbelts. No carseats. Only faith in God. Praying the love and protection of God over our lives. Planting the seeds of God’s word.
Load up your wagons my friends. Load up your wagons.
My brother DeWayne was known for his comedic talent. He could quickly respond with funny remarks. If Momma was mad about something and fussing and yelling, He could have her laughing in just a minute. Not me. If ever opened my mouth all I ever did was make her angrier. One day after he had calmed her down with one of his quick thinking remarks I ask him “How do you do that?” his reply was “You just have to remember Momma ain’t happy if she ain’t bitchin so don’t get yourself all bunched up.”
Now, I know some of you may find that word of advice a bit unsavory and unchristian. I admit it is yet; it holds a ton of truth.
We all know someone who is always fussing or complaining about something or someone. They are always unhappy. It seems as if they dwell on finding something wrong with everything and everybody. They love to be miserable. Sometimes we allow their attitude to affect us. The key as DeWayne said is “don’t.” There will always be negative, bitter, anger and unpleasant people in our lives. Some will be family, some co-workers, school mates, committee members, church members and even our own friends. In mine and DeWayne’s situation our Momma was not a person who chose to be miserable. She was simply a stressed working wife and mother. Many people, however, chose to continually live their lives in bitterness and contempt.
First, ask yourself – am I one of those people? Am I constantly complaining about something or somebody. I will be honest by nature I can be negative. All throughout the Bible many of the people God chose to use had been betrayed, abandoned, mistreated and forced to live incredibly hard lives. When God sent Moses to rescue the Israelites from slavery in Egypt you would have thought they would have been grateful. No! They were constantly fussing and complaining about this and that. Never satisfied. Because of their ungrateful hearts, negative attitude and words, they never saw the Promise Land.
Second, Ask do I want to live a life of promise and hope? Or are you content living in the desert of discontent and complaining?
1 I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. 2 I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3 Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. Psalms 34
If we fill our hearts and mouths with worship and praise, it’s difficult to complain about everything. I must focus on this every day. When I pray, I ask God to bridal my tongue. I do, because I know how deadly it can be.
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord , my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalms 19:13
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, Philippians 2:14
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:16
We all have days when we are grumpy but choosing to be “Negative Nancy” all the time gets old to everyone around us. Choose joy. Choose thankfulness and remember the goodness of God everyday so you won’t be happy complaining.
I had struggled for years with a neurological disorder. The symptoms became worse with stress so I resigned from my position as a director at a local hospital.
The first two years at home were extremely challenging. No longer the ninety mile per hour driven woman I had always been I sank into a deep depression. The new medication I was taking made me sleepy and it wasn’t long until my weight began to climb. I mean I really blew up! My little 5’ 2” self got up to over two hundred pounds.
I was miserable! I couldn’t stand the thought of anyone seeing me. I wouldn’t go anywhere or talk to anyone. I just lay in bed watched television and surfed social media. My home in Looneyville had become a den of self-pity, hopelessness and envy.
It’s amazing how easy it is to get sucked into the “Am I?” torture tornado when scrolling through social media.
Everyone looks so happy and beautiful. Going on vacation here and there. Buying this and buying that. Perfect teeth, perfect kids and perfect spouses! Agh!!!!
The torture starts:
Am I ever going to have this …..?
Am I ever going to be…….?
Am I ever going to see…….?
Am I?
Am I?
Am I?
The wrong “Am I?”questions will drive you into a miserable state of discontent, resentment and anger. I know this from experience.
How can we keep the “Am I” tormentor defeated?
Be grateful!
Look around you.
Seriously, look.
You have things others can only dream about. You have accomplished successes in life others are still struggling to achieve.
In the book of 1 Samuel King Saul began to focus and fixate on David. His jealousy and envy of David blinded him. David was fighting for Saul, winning battles in the name of Saul, but all Saul could hear and see was the roar of the crowds shouting “Saul has killed his thousands, but David his 10,000’s!” His “Am I?” torment destroyed his life.
Focus on your relationship with God.
This can be hard.
Life has a way of stealing our time. Pulling us into a hundred different situations. It’s so easy to get caught up in emotions, battles of will and just plain survival mode.
God knows. He does, but He also is there with the Holy Spirit bidding for our attention and request for wisdom and direction.
Turn those “Am I?” torment questions into:
“Lord, show me…..?”
I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. Psalms 34:4
When we truly only desire what God wants in our lives our significant “AM I?” will be Am I pleasing you God?
In the 1960 ‘s it was uncommon in most rural homes to have central heating and air systems.
In Looneyville none of our houses had air conditioners in the summer. We would use boxed fans to stir hot air around just for a breeze of relief from the Georgia heat.
Screen doors with spring hinges allowed air to flow into the house and also served as a barrier to keep insects out of the house.
Most people had a spring on their door with just enough pressure to pull the door closed without great noise.
My Grandpaw on the other hand had a completely different approach to keeping unwanted pests out of his and Granny’s house. Their back door had a spring on it with enough power and pull it could slam you into February of the next year in the middle of July.
Lots of people had to go around yelling “shut the door you’re letting the flies in” at their house. Not Grandpaw! He kept keeping the flies out seriously! His screen door was full of enough spring power you couldn’t hardly get it open, much less hold it open if you even tried it felt like you were being pushed backwards by a thousand pounds.
Do we take what we allow into our mind, heart and body seriously? How strong is the spring on the screen door of the house of our spirit.
Is it loose and stretched out? Can someone or something hold it open far enough to let a whole swarm of flies of doubt, wasp filled with stings of fear and other creatures determined to steal our peace come right in?
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” Proverbs 4:23
We had heard and read this scripture many times but how serious do take the instruction?
I struggle with depression. I have for years. I tried for years to try and be “happy.” Just pray and trust the good Lord I was told by others. I am sure they meant well but the truth is swatting down the flies of the enemy requires more than just prayer.
After years of struggling I now know constantly have to say to myself “close the door you’re letting the flies in.” If I don’t keep check on the spring of the door to my thoughts by reading God’s word, resting, praying and fellowship with close godly friends I would have a back door that stayed wide open all the time. Leading to depression and anxiety constantly.
Our thoughts and heart need a powerful spring. The power of the Holy Spirt lives within you. He is the strongest barrier to Satan’s attacks against our minds.
“And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. “ Romans 8:27
We have an interceder. We have someone working on your behalf.
“The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. “ Exodus 14:14
You have a guard and a protector. So keep that door closed and don’t let the flies in. Be like my Grandpaw and take keeping your house pest free seriously. You have everything you need in His word! Just call upon the name of the Lord and place an order for a heavy duty spring!
Nothing is more humbling than to see your picture on the front of the Bad & Busted especially when you have been a minister of the word of God for years.
I found myself in this very situation a few years ago, not once, but twice. Drinking and driving. Me in my sixties an ordained minister, wife, mother and grandmother.
How did I get to such a low point after all God had blessed me with? Simple really, I began to believe the lies of Satan.
O I began to believe because of a doctor’s diagnosis my life was over. I began to believe because my children had grown up and left home I had no life. I believed my husband did not love me, never had and never would. I began to believe I was a failure. I became convinced I had no hope and no future.
Have you ever felt any of these feelings? If so, I want to tell you Satan is a liar. He comes to kill, steal and destroy. He wants to kill your hope. Steal your joy and destroy your dreams for victory In Jesus Name.
If you are struggling don’t isolate yourself! Don’t cut yourself off from praying friends. Don’t be ashamed. PM me I will be there to pray for you.
A Today after eating lunch I rode with Bre to the Costco down in Oconee County. You know where all the stores THAT use to be in Athens moved. Oh my word!! The parking lot looked like the Atlanta Airport! There was at least 1000 cars there and 1500 – 2000 heathens running around in Costco acting like they was giving away stuff for free! By the time me and Bre finally got out of there we couldn’t even remember where we had parked at! Unfortunately, unlike the Atlanta airport Costco did not have the parking rows alphabeticalized! The wind was blowing like a South Georgia tornado lifting the boxes we had in our shopping cart out throwing them everywhere. Bre don’t weigh 90 pounds wet hardly. Here we are running through the parking lot – me and my big self trying to hold on to the buggy why she is chasing down the boxes and pressing the alarm for the car. Suddenly we hear a woman screaming out and waving “Y’all right here! Rit here!” She looked at me and said “I can’t never find my car unless I bring my teenagers with me either!” Bah ha ha ha 🤣 Bre just laughed knowing she is 34 years old! 😜 As they say “we may not make a lot of money, but we always have a lot of fun!”
For Real, Elaine?! 