Counting My Blessings

Would You Rather

 

 Would you rather go to the doctor or the dentist?

Would you rather be popular or smart?

Would you rather have a root canal or a colonoscopy?

Would you rather eat a brownie or broccoli?

These were just some of the questions asked at our Women's Retreat this past weekend during a game called (you guessed it), Would You Rather . . . 

We laughed until we ached as we learned about each other, and maybe even a little bit more about ourselves. 

There was one question that had us talking long after the game had ended. 

Would you rather be alone on a deserted island or
with someone you really don't like? 

The group was pretty equally divided. Interestingly it depended on our interpretation. 

Those who, like me, assumed that I would be found and rescued were more comfortable with the idea of being there alone. 

Those who thought they would be there for the rest of their lives, thought they would rather have someone with whom they could interact even if it was less than friendly. 

Some were used to lots of alone time, so they weren't concerned about the solitude. 

Some thought about doubling survival skills by having the additional person along. 

Truthfully, I think it depended on personality . . . 

• The Sanguine - couldn't imagine a party by themselves.
• The Choleric - couldn't imagine all of their leadership abilities going to waste.
• The Melancholy - couldn't imagine perfection with someone they didn't like. 
• The Phlegmatic - couldn't imagine giving up their need for peace and dealing with all of that tension. 

My favorite response came from a dear friend who would choose to be with a person they didn't like. She said, "I'd just learn to like them."

How cool is that?!

We often believe that our personality gives us an excuse to give in to our strengths and weaknesses; when we should be striving to thrive in our strengths and improve our areas of weakness. 

Praise God for His loving patience! 

We are blessed that the Lord never gives up on us. He faithfully provides opportunities for growth. I can't say that I'm always a fan of the lessons He provides, but I am always thankful when a debility becomes an ability. 

One of the many lessons I learned at our retreat is to listen carefully and keep an open mind. It would be much better to end up with a new friend than to be stuck on a deserted island all alone. 

The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life;a wise person wins friends. Proverbs 11:30

Photo Credit

How Do You Define It?

 Solomon asked for it.  

It is defined as: The ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting.

Countless individuals have talked about it, fewer actually have it. 

What is it? 

Wisdom. 

Wisdom is more than knowledge. More than experience. More than deep thoughts. 

It is the ability to know the truth, choose what is right, and value that which is eternal. 

Where do you get wisdom?

Solomon said:

 My son, accept my words. Store up my commands inside you. 
 Let your ears listen to wisdom. Apply your heart to understanding. 
 Call out for the ability to be wise. Cry out for understanding. 
 Look for it as you would look for silver.
 Search for it as you would search for hidden  treasure. 
 Then you will understand how to have respect for the Lord. 
 You will find out how to know God. 
 The Lord gives wisdom. 
 Knowledge and understanding come from His mouth. Proverb 2:1-6

Paul said:

 It is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of those who are wise. 
 I will do away with the cleverness of those who think they are so smart." —(Isaiah 29:14)
 Where is the wise person? Where is the educated person? Where are the great thinkers of this world? Hasn't God made the wisdom of the world foolish? God wisely planned that the world would not know him through its own wisdom. It pleased God to use the foolish things we preach to save those who believe. The foolish things of God are wiser than human wisdom. The weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:10-21,25

Wisdom is a gift from God, grounded in Christ, given by the Holy Spirit. It is shown through behaviors and words. It looks like the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22

All of the knowledge in the world will not make a fool wise. Wisdom grows as a disciple asks, searches, and knocks . . . Jesus said, "Everyone who asks will receive. He who searches will find. The door will be opened to the one who knocks." 

I am not someone who has lots of knowledge, and that's not something with which I concern myself. On the other hand, I do long for wisdom . . . to be able to discern those things which are true, right, and lasting. 

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Are You Popular? Do You Want to Be?

When I see depressing creatures
I  remind them on their own behalf
With unprepossessing features
To think of Celebrated heads of state or
Specially great communicators
Did they have brains or knowledge?
Don't make me laugh!He,he!
They were popular! Please -

I can hear Glinda singing now, Miss Popularity, from Wicked.

How about you? Are you popular? Were you popular as a child? Do you crave popularity?

How do you define popularity?

Webster's Dictionary defines it as: widely accepted, commonly liked or approved.

I believe on some level we all want to be accepted, liked, and approved. The question becomes what are we willing to do, and who are we willing to become in order to make that happen.

Here are a few quotes I like on the subject of popularity:

Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, and riches take wings. Only one thing endures and that is character. ~Horace Greeley 

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Suess

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. ~Eleanor Roosevelt

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

It's tempting to compromise our beliefs and our character in order to be popular, but I wonder if its worth it.

Do you think popular people are really any happier, or might they be living in fear that their popularity will pass?

Jesus has something to say to His disciples about popularity in Luke 6:26-30:

"There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them.

Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular.

To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life." (MSG)

So, for those of us who long to have the most popular blog, the most friends, the largest church, or fame and riches . . . maybe that's not what life is all about.

Rather than popularity may we pursue truth, character, and integrity.

What do you think?

Praising the Creator

And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. Genesis 1:24

In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. Job 12:10

How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Psalm 104:24

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. Isaiah 40:28

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17

Father, We praise and thank You for the diversity of creation. Sizes, shapes, colors, and textures. Beautiful. Interesting. Fascinating. Funny. Help us to take our focus off of our stuff - televisions, computers, phones, etc. - to pause and see the things You continue to create each and everyday. May we notice sunsets and sunrise. May we listen for chirping and chattering. May we praise You in the silence of snowfall and the glow of rainbows. Forgive us for the way we hurry through life, failing to stop and notice. Help us to see You in the things You have made. We praise and glorify You our Creator and Lord. Amen.

The Flood - Miracle or Myth

Do you believe the "Bible Stories" you learned as a child?

Are Noah, Jonah, and Sodom and Gomorrah just nice fables/myths written by ancients who were trying to come up with ways to get their children to obey? Or are they actual accounts of factual events?

I guess the question is . . . do you believe in miracles?

Big miracles?

Creation sized, flood sized miracles?

I've done a little research, and there are geologists and archaeologists who are using advanced technology to find evidences of the Genesis flood.

The Flood - Miracle or Myth

Some of the resources I found:

5 Secrets to Finding Personal Peace

Peace - we all want it! Still sometimes our circumstances are such that feelings of peace seem completely beyond our reach.

 We live in a hurry, late for everything, behind on payments, racing toward the next bigger and better . . . it's no wonder peace seems to elude us.

I often find myself getting a double dose of a singular message during my quiet time with the Lord. Today was one of those days. One devotion focused on the many ways materialism robs us of our peace. The other shared some of Paul's words from prison, words that communicated peace and joy even when "most of life's freedoms and privileges had been taken from him." (Your 100 Day Prayer)

Paul must know a secret we don't know, or at least one we have trouble applying. Let's see what he says the secrets to finding personal peace are:

1. Rejoice - "Always be full of the joy of the Lord."  - Well that one certainly isn't easy. Of course we aren't told that it's going to be easy, we're told that it will lead to personal peace. Rejoicing doesn't mean we are necessarily happy about our current circumstances. Rejoicing means that we trust God enough to find our joy in Him. Knowing that He is our Provider and that He loves us completely and perfectly.

How Do You Feel About Discipline?

My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when He corrects you.  For the Lord corrects those He loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom He delights. Proverbs 3:11-12  

I'd like to say I have a great attitude about the Lord's discipline, but I probably look more like this little girl than I'd like to admit.

• Arms crossed - closed off.
• NOT happy/pouting.
• Stubborn.
• Certain - it's not my fault.
• Thinking - I'll sit here, but I'm upset . . . really upset.

I hated "time out" as a child and I'm still not a fan.

I'd think: "I'm trying to do it right. I didn't mean to disobey. Don't my good intentions count for something?!"

Discipline is defined as: training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character; in athletics it is intended to improve strength and performance. 

I Refuse to Believe that Society Determines My Value

 It's hard isn't it! You can't check out at any grocery or discount store without the reminder that you're not skinny enough, beautiful enough, rich enough, sexy enough, cool enough, or popular enough . . .

All you're trying to do is buy a box of cereal and a gallon of milk, and you're faced with the fact that you just don't measure up.

I've been asking myself lately why I allow the message of the masses to influence how I feel about myself.

As a people, we have placed our value on things that cannot possibly last, and I refuse to believe lies any longer. (At least I'm working on it!)

No where in Scripture is value placed on appearances or possessions. In fact, the message from Jesus is just the opposite.

He never said:

Praise, Prayers, and Pics - Joy

I've decided to continue praise and prayer posts, but this year in order to force myself to work a little harder at perfecting the skill of using my new camera . . . I'm going to feature a picture as well.

I took this photo on January 4^th, at the Missouri Botanical Gardens  - Gardenland Express Exhibit:

 

 

Joy = the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires. (Mirriam-Webster Dictionary)

In the Beginning the First Miracle

In the beginning . . .

God spoke and things happened. Big things. Indescribable things.

Things beyond our explanation or comprehension.

Things that have been a stumbling block for many who struggle to accept them on faith.