December 20 2014

December 20 2014 Greetings My Friend Peanut butter fudge made, shortbread is baking and clothes are picked out for todays gathering of women at church. This is one of the functions I have been able to get to and stay with. It is my chance to mingle with other Christian women, to donate to missions and give food for a basket for someone in the community. We do a study and share prayer requests for those we know in need and we pray for them also. For many years I felt that if I was involved in a Bible study, attended a meeting on missions and volunteered at church that was all I needed to do to be involved with God’s kingdom. Many are called to do this and some are also called to do other things such as being a minister, teacher, missionary and such. Some go on short term mission trips and all of these are truly good. For me I think what got me into wrong thinking was that if all my mission work was only involved with a church building then that was enough. Not necessarily so. The longer I walk in faith I learn that the best sermon is one lived and not words. My response to life in general speaks my beliefs more than my words ever will. The only way I can learn to be a sermon in action to study God and His desires. His love is what has made a profound effect in my life. Today I am able to love more fully with His example to me. My own thinking clouds true love because I have a need and try to fill it without God’s love. Right now I am learning to love Chiari one of the new puppies we have. He is all over me as I try to write. He walks across the keyboard which means messed up words that need to be corrected. He nibbles on my fingers and in general he is a struggle. At one time in my life this would have meant I would get frustrated and finally yell at him. Today I have learned to redirect him and to take time to cuddle with him. He is now quiet in my lap and I am on my way once more. Jesus is my example. I see Him being patient with the woman who touched his robe and received a healing. I see Him loving the unlovable of the day. I also see Jesus telling it like it is to the religious leaders of His day. Being loving can be tender or it can be honest and upfront not backing down so as to not create a scene. On my own I would rather not create a scene regardless of how strong I felt about something. With Jesus I sense His leading as to when to speak up or to walk away. With this in mind I learn to build Junior up with my words and actions. Lately that is making him meals so he can work on renovating and not concern himself with making his own meals. I love to tell anyone who will listen about what a great job Junior is doing, how I find him so wonderful. When I am out shopping my goal is to treat people in the store with kindness so if a lonely person seems to need to talk I make time to stop and talk. I try to be silly and friendly with the sales clerk to make their day a bit less hairied and the list goes on. I am learning those types of actions speak much more than words do. My idea of evangelizing in the past is someone holding a Bible and shouting “all are going to hell unless.” Today I see that evangelizing is quieter than words and makes more of an impact with actions. This opens the door for me to tell of the hope I have much quicker and isn’t as intimidating as a strong Bible thumping person is. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet