Critic's Choice =)

 A post dedicated especially to my sweetheart is way past due! I sit here now filled with unexplainable gratitude to God for blessing me with such a wonderful, handsome man! Aaron Guy. That name means the world to me! He gets up every day and greets me with a kiss on the forehead and tells me good morning. He works hard all day to make sure he is providing for our family. He comes home looking for a hug, and before he falls asleep, he takes my hand and we pray together. He helps me with all my housekeeping responsibilities, he's giving, he's genuine and kind. He wants to go to church with me, and once we're there, I watch him get in and worship the God I love. He treats me with respect and listens to my opinion. And he knows how to balance that with gentle, yet stern, guidance.

I have watched, firsthand, as marriages have fell apart. I've seen men treat with their wives with absolutely no respect. I've seen men who act selfishly with no regard for anyone but themselves. I've watched as men put their wives down... as a form of comedic entertainment. There have been countless conversations I've had with other ladies who admit that their husbands do nothing to help them around the house. It's broken my heart to hear other women cry over how their spouse refuses to attend church with them, despite the many pleads they present.

Ladies, if you have a man that tries his utmost best to be what you need him to be, be thankful!  More importantly, show him that thankfulness! One of the sweetest parts of our relationship, at least I think, is the fact that we send texts to each other throughout the day, every day! We're going on 7 years, and I still feel like we've just begun dating. He's let me know how much he appreciates the texts from me. The more random, the better.  It lets him know I'm thinking of him.  And, I try to remember at least a couple times a month to make sure he understands how grateful I am to him for wanting and striving to live as Christ would have him live.  In this culture, things are hard, especially for men.  I don't take it lightly that my husband avoids every avenue of temptation possible.  That shows his moral character, his love for me, and his devotion to Christ. I've noticed that when I tell him how much I appreciate him for that, he tries even harder to make his respect and loyalty to me more apparent. That's how we are still so happy and so close! We both try to make the other feel as special and as important as possible.

He makes me smile... quite often.  And, when I make him laugh, I feel like I've accomplished something so wonderful!  So, we keep each other laughing a lot!  I listen to him when he talks about fishing poles, and hunting rifles, and how he installed an a/c unit at work... even though I don't have a clue about hardly any of those things! But you know what, he's noticed that... and he listens to me when I'm being an emotional woman, or I'm talking about a cute shirt, or some amazing shoes.  We are best friends... and I wouldn't trade the closeness we have for anything or anyone or anywhere in the world!  I feel that every day is a dream because of this man. I am very grateful for him, and so thankful that God led me to him.  I don't know how my life would have been without him. I don't ever care to find out!  He's so precious... so sweet. He's talented.  He's incredible.  He's mine!

Just a Little Something to Nibble On

*****Working for an eye dr- I see people lose their sight more often than others. I see the fear when you inform them they have a disease that could potentially blind them. I sense the hesitance when you tell them surgery on the eye would make them see clearer. I see them stubbornly refuse because they're afraid of possibly losing the sight they have NOW. They don't realize they can see even better!! They've gotten so used to their view they've had forever, anything different, well, just has to be worse. On the other hand, I see those that do get treated, and vision is restored. They smile and laugh, and point at things they didn't realize "were so bright blue!" Its amazing. Makes me even more thankful to JESUS for opening my eyes! I once was blind... BUT NOW... I CAN SEE!!*****

This is a facebook status I posted yesterday- and the thought has stuck with me.  I am overwhelmingly thankful for: #1- Jesus' sacrifice and #2- God's grace.  It's so humbling to think that the Creator of this world knows every awful thing about me... and STILL cares about me, forgives me, uses me, and believes in me enough to bear His name. What an unconditional love.

I remember something that happened a couple months back.  I was at work...  It had been a long and eventful day.  Everybody's nerves seemed to be frazzled.  We had been short handed, had several grumpy patients, and it seemed like everyone of us made one mistake or another that day.  Some people were literally on the verge of tears, others were griping, and some, like me, were just silent and obviously tense. Then, the office television (which had been on all day- and completely ignored by all employees) suddenly got my attention.  I could hear the sobering sound of bagpipes bellowing beautifully the melody of "Amazing Grace."  Beyond all my control, tears began to fill my eyes.  Instant peace flooded my soul.  As the soloist began to sing, and a few saw my tears, everyone else that was still in the office stopped and watched-  and listened.  Really listened.  As each stanza was completed you could hear sighs and a few gentle laughs.  When the first chorus was repeated to end the song, I said aloud, "Isn't it just awesome how the thought of the amazingness of God's grace can cover a multitude of frustrations?  And better yet... a multitude of sins!" 

I was so convicted and refreshed at the same time.  Convicted because I was JUST NOW remembering that verse in the Bible, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee."  Why is it that we let POINTLESS things take over our thoughts for any amount of time.  Just a few minutes is too long!  We must remember God's blessings outweigh any bad thing we think we may endure. 

Then I was refreshed... because I knew, I had found God's grace.  I had experienced it.  Grace is a gift He gave, and I accepted.  I'm thankful that when I was lost, He sought me and He found me!  And after years of living in darkness, He allowed me to see His light and the beauty that comes when living for Him.  I was blind.  Now, (thank God) I see.

Grace.  Grace.  God's grace.

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within.

Grace.  Grace. God's grace.

Grace that is greater than all my sin.

Eat Dessert First?

I will never forget what a co-worker's daughter said to her when she moved out on her own, "Mama, being an adult is great.  I get to pick my own bedtime and eat my ice cream first."  As funny as that is, it got me to think. Why is it that the majority of the world's population really would choose pie over pasta?  Or a milk shake over a glass of milk?  Why do kids want to skip the green beans and potatoes and dive into the chocolate cake? 
We love to eat the sweet stuff... the sugary, rich and creamy, delicious stuff.  Forget about the dietary fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Let's indulge ourselves with fats and starches and the sweet sugary goodness.
That's just the way we roll.  As much as we use the cliche, "Save the best for last," 95% of us really don't want to.
Okay, as you have probably already figured out, I'm leaving the "food talk" behind.  Now, I'm discussing bigger and better things-  our life  -and the things we must do to make it count.
If you noticed in my last entry, "Why Just Now," I used a Bible verse in Psalms.  (A verse I often quote and cling to.)  What stood out to me here recently is that this verse is in proper order.  The best IS saved for last. Or, if you will, the "dessert" is served after the "meal."
We would love to always skip to the end and get the desires of our hearts handed out first.  Wouldn't that be nice?  But, just like the "real world," you have to work for your reward.  However, when you're following the Lord, you KNOW without any doubts, His promises are guaranteed.  Your hearts dreams?  They will come true.
"How do I delight myself in the Lord?" -- There's really not a list I can give or an outline I could make up.  Not because the answer is too complicated, but just the opposite!  The solution is extremely simple... LOVE HIM MOST.  When you do, the delight... ...it just comes.  I love seeking His Word to find direction, rather than asking the advice of others.  I long to read His letter He's made available to me, rather than calling up a friend on the phone when I feel lonely.  I am thankful each moment of my life that He saved my soul... and He gives me peace and joy.  I am overwhelmed by the awesome fact that if I take one step, He'll take two!  He opens doors that I didn't even know were there.  Has it always gone the way I thought it should??  Honestly, more often than not, it's went the exact opposite of what I was thinking. But once everything was said and done... I looked back and breathed a sigh of MAJOR RELIEF that His ways are higher than mine.  There are so many things I asked for... and things I just "knew" I needed- that if they were to have happened... wow.  My life would be so different than it is today... and I DON'T mean for the better.  All I can say is, God is so good to me.
Since I'm going with this "menu" theme-  I'm going to bring up Olive Garden!!  The greatest restaurant EVER!!  When I go there, no matter what I order, I know it's going to be deeeelish!!  If I'm in the mood for salad, spaghetti, or their amazing chicken scampi... or if I decide to fill myself with their fantabulous breadsticks and just eat their dessert of the day-  I have no doubts whatsoever that I will savor, and thoroughly enjoy, every single bite. 
With that example of truth above, I will say this, with NO disprespect at all-  Jesus totally beats Olive Garden when it comes to what He has to offer.  Hands down.  I know that no matter I choose, whatever it is He brings to my table, it's going to be amazing.  Even in the hard times we can experience hidden blessings. Everything in our life, when HE'S in control- is destined to be wonderful.  That's my point.  That's the bottome line.
Why do we want to always skip the filling stuff??  The stuff that makes us what we need to be?  Those things are what make the dessert so mouth-watering.  We're ready for it.  We've done our part.  Our plate is clean.  Now, there's only room for the sweet stuff. 
Don't keep waiting and solely focus on what He can serve you!  Instead, this time you do the "cooking" and offer Him something that will fill your soul and satisfy your heart and life.  That's what it's going to take.  Don't try to please all your peers.  Don't even think you're going to make EVERYONE proud.  Don't strive for silly little things that seem big in the eyes of "some" that really don't matter at all.  If you want the happiness, joy, zeal, drive, confidence, freedom, and relief that I've just experienced in such a wonderful way-  give your life wholly to Jesus.  100%.  Surrender it all.  From here on out-  worry about pleasing Him, no one else.  Do what He says do.  Do what makes you and Him happy- and let no one - EVER - take that from you.  That is a blessing He wants for His children.  A gift He wants to give you. 
This is a treat so good- that instead of keeping it all to myself, (like I would a box of oreos), I want to share it with everyone that will take it. 
This feeling I have in my heart-  it's the choice of the day.  Every day.