Begun Well Is Not Finished Well

What's the Lord saying to you? God encourages us in very unique and personal ways.  It may not look like encouragement at all.  It may look like...conviction.


Beginnings Are Important
I've come to realize that how I begin the week is important, and that the week begins on Sunday.  There's a battle for Sunday.  Weekends are usually busy.  I find myself wanting to "pamper" myself, to make myself feel good, by Sunday evening, not wanting the weekend to end. (Pounding on that one note, "Me me me me me!")  Hanging on to the weekend by dragging it out, often staying up too late. I've had to work at getting to bed at a decent time.


Flesh or Spirit
I've found myself trying to artificially work up a "relaxed" and "away-from-it-all" feeling through some "experience."  (The brainwashing of the world is so insidious.)  I've tried escaping by watching movies.  Feel-good family movies, comedies, and Jane Austen romances.  Occasionally we've watched a movie that challenged us as Homeschoolers to a vision for holiness.  Sometimes I've curled up on the couch to read a good book. I've made special "treats."  A big bowl of buttered popcorn should make me feel better, right?  I've even eaten ice cream in a "special dish."  I've spent hours reading blogs and searching Craigslist.  I've played games with my family, watched Christian stand-up comedians (ever seen CPR?), laughing hysterically. (Ok, laughter is good medicine.)  I've gotten into my comfy pajamas. I've read my Bible for hours, or listened to a teaching tape.


"Duh"
Actually, I would have to say, when I've read my Bible or listened to a teaching tape, that has quieted my heart and started my week off the best. (Do I hear a resounding "duh"?) But, it seems that that's the hardest thing to do on Sunday.  Especially after having rushed around to Graduation Open Houses (which is what we do at this time of year), or other events which frequently happen on Sundays, and taken care of the myriad responsibilities which typically fall into Sunday's domain.


"My Time" or "His Time"
The Lord's been speaking to my heart about how I spend my "free time," which includes that "after-the-busy" time on Sunday.  He's been drawing me to spend more time with Him.  In recent weeks we've been challenged at church to do some self-evaluation and ask ourselves, "How are we doin'?"  As individuals and as families.


"Begun Well Is Not Finished Well"
This probing question was presented to parents, "Do we have the same fervor and tenacity at the end as we had at the beginning? That heart that says, 'I'm not going to let Satan steal the soul of my children!'  Many of us may be letting our guard down, especially large families."  (This said by a father of 11.)  He went on to say that it seems to be a common malady to start with solid convictions and high standards (in areas such as music we'd listen to, and dress) and to have a lot of determination and zeal for the Lord, but to get tired and slack off later on.  (I don't think it's only true of large families.)

Evaluation Time:  How Are We Doin'
How am I doin'?  How are you doin'?  This word picture really hit home for me:  We cannot say we are neither going forward nor backward, for in order to keep coasting we have to be going downhill.


The conviction came in the form of encouragement that I must pursue hard after the Lord continually, or I will go backwards. I can not let up.  I must not abide (put up with, allow, tolerate) sin in my life that God points out to me.  I cannot point at others and say, "How can they do that and call themselves a Christian?" and then blithely go along in the same old way, ignoring His Word and the Spirit's conviction in my own life, overlooking, covering-up, or excusing my own sin. Are we making excuses for our behavior and why we won't do what's right?


Glad, Rejoicing, Encouraged and Thankful
Mondays Are Great (glad, rejoicing, encouraged and thankful) especially when my Sundays are lived well, and I have spent time with the Lord...I mean really listened to Him speak to me.  When I have obeyed His command to not forsake "the assembling together of ourselves" (we're told to gather together to worship), when I have examined myself and confessed sin, and not participated in the Lord's Supper unworthily, and when I have committed myself to pursue after Him, to follow after righteousness, and to hound holiness.


How is Monday for you, my friend? Is the Lord speaking to you about anything? No link up today, but feel free to leave a comment of encouragement.  Did this strike a chord with you? Please share with me.

Just a note to all you friends.  You know, the note that lets you know what's going on with me?  (It's also Food Friday with a recipe for Cilantro Grilled Corn--check it out!)


Full of gratefulness
The Lord has so lifted the weight off of my shoulders that I have been full of peace, gratefulness and calm.


Today is actually our anniversary, too!  He took the day off today, but we celebrated earlier, knowing we'd be in a remodeling mess today.  I'm grateful for 33 years together and for a wonderful husband--a gift from God.  In honor of that, please read this post on the Meaning of Wedding Traditions!


The wood floor installation was finished Tuesday.  Wednesday we were away most of the afternoon and evening with cousins in town.  I am getting my days all mixed up, but I guess it was Tuesday that besides painting and giving my son a haircut, I linked up with Raising Homemakers for the first time!  Check it out, and then hop on over there--last day today.


Remodeling Saga
Yesterday the carpeting partially went in and the installer/friend just arrived to finish the job--Praise the Lord!  We really love the way it all looks!


More Lessons Learned From Laying Flooring
Two thoughts that have come to mind as I've watched the meticulous work of our friend/installer, and watched my husband work so hard to prepare for the work to be done:

"Excellence is never an accident."

We must prepare our hearts to walk in God's ways.  It is never an accident that we walk a straight path and follow the Lord.  Intentionality.  Preparedness.  Prayer.  In order to put down a straight beautiful floor you need a firm and straight line to follow.  My husband always says, "Preparation is 90% of the job."  It's a reminder to me that in order to live a straight beautiful life you have to prepare your heart and lay a firm foundation of faith in Jesus Christ.  

Link up below! and
Grab the button

I always think I know myself so well, full of firm faith, believer in prayer, encouraging others, marching onward!  So I'm always surprised when I've been blind to something.  Especially this.  Recently, God had me hop up on the examining table.  It was like looking down upon an operating table from above--as though it were someone else's body.  He shone His light down into my heart, searching and as, together, we peered, He said,


"There, do you see it?"


Though my eyes squinted to see what He wanted me to see, I was blinded to it, so I asked,


"What is it, Lord?"


He looked at me.  His look was tender, and drew me to look deeper with Him to see what it was He saw.
Wide-eyed, I looked deep within my heart.  Finally, I saw it:  a wide band.  It was wrapped 'round and 'round my heart.  Constricting.  Tighter and tighter.


"Lord?  That can't be...it isn't...Worry?  Fear?  But...I'm not a 'worrier'!"

Once diagnosed, it took no time until God had faithfully performed the surgery needed.  There were actually several bands, each one relatively small, but left unchecked, had been able to be woven together into one large band.

"The patient" is recovering, taking the prescribed doses of love, faith and hope, ("Perfect love casts out fear") applying prayer and supplication (Philippians 4:6) with the salve of thanksgiving, daily as needed.  God is so loving and kind.

"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth
take heed lest he fall.
There hath no temptation taken you
but such as is common to man:
but God is faithful,
who will not suffer you to be
tempted above that ye are able;
but will with the temptation also make
a way to escape,
that ye may be able to bear it."

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

He fed my heart the food of friendship on earth, and let me walk with Him and talk with Him and pour out my heart to Him.  The Great Physician humbled me so that grace could be poured out, removed what pride, envy, bitterness, or other impurities were clogging the arteries enabling the blood to flow, and revived my sin-sick heart.

"My soul, wait thou only upon God;

for my expectation is from him.

 He only is my rock and my salvation:

he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

 In God is my salvation and my glory:

the rock of my strength, and my refuge,
is in God.

 Trust in him at all times; ye people,

pour out your heart before him:

God is a refuge for us. Selah."

Psalm 62:5-8

"What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee."

Psalm 56:3

Encouragement comes in many forms.  How did God encourage you this past week or weekend?

Please leave a comment or link up your post on Mondays Are G.R.E.A.T.!

(I am Glad, Rejoicing, Encouraged and Thankful!)

Are you anxious or worried about anything?  Take it to the Lord in prayer.  There is none like Him, Who is so faithful.  He will hear you when you call and answer your faintest cry.  You are not alone.

"Courage doesn't always roar.
Sometimes courage is the

 quiet voice at the end of the day saying,

'I will try again tomorrow.'"

Mary Anne Radmacher

Today is Memorial Day, and as we remember those who have fought and sacrificed their very lives for our freedoms, I am reminded of this quote,

"Courage is not the absence of fear,
but rather the judgment that
something else is more important than fear." 

Ambrose Redmoon

We honor you today.

Hidden and Safe on Thankful Thursday

Firm Faith Needed

Lessons learned through remodeling continue to abound.  A faith firmly planted on God's Word is indispensable at times like this.  The mess is making me feel a little overwhelmed.  But, I know this "trial" is meant to teach me something. 


Redoing all the flooring on the whole main level of our home at one time might have been a little too much, though.

Reading my Bible this morning, I chewed on each verse and savored the meaning of one of my very favorite Psalms, Psalm 27.

For in the time of trouble

he shall hide me in his pavilion:

in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me;

he shall set me up upon a rock...

therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy;

I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

Psalm 27:5, 6

Now, I realize that this isn't really "trouble."  (Read this post, if you are going through a real trial.)  It's not like when I had cancer or anything.  But, sometimes blessings are more difficult "trials," because we think we should be "just fine."  In any case...


I am hidden.  Hidden away from harm.  I picture a turret (something like what Rapunzel must have lived in) within a fortress or castle.  Within that fortress, there is a tabernacle, and in that tabernacle, His tabernacle, I will be singing praises.


Throughout the day today my thoughts kept returning to that verse, and I would tell myself, "I am hidden away in His pavilion." And pondering the precious promise that I was ...safe.  Guarded.


It's easy to think when trials come, "I just have to get through this."  I don't want to just "get through" this project.  I want to ride high above the storm where all is calm.  It's not only this project.  There are 3 or 4 big things going on in my life--remodeling is only one of them--and that's about 2 too many.  Like a computer, when there are too many things required of my brain at once, it locks up.


Yesterday, my brain locked up.  Today was a better day, because of bathing my brain (and soul) with the promises of God.


It reminded me of John 15:7:

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you,

ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit;

so shall ye be my disciples.

My deepest desire is that I will bear much fruit and be truly His disciple.

Visit Laurie at Women Taking a Stand to read other thankful hearts. Thanks, Laurie, for hosting this month!

Just on a side note, I'm hoping to be able to post my own videos on my blog in the future!  I've been not only learning heart lessons from the Lord, I've been learning new skills.  Today I learned how to edit a video using Windows Live Movie Maker.  Just the basics.  But I did it.  I don't know if I will post that one, but I have an idea for another one that I will definitely post.  So, be looking for a video soon!

Remodeling Thoughts and Photos on "Thankful Thursday"

We're remodeling.  As I look around me, I see packed boxes, empty boxes, the thirteen 12-foot-long boxes of new flooring lying in rows on the living room floor becoming "acclimated." There are painted walls in the living room, primed walls in the family room, and partially-prepped walls in the kitchen awaiting the next step before painting them this weekend.  (Meals need to be very simple right now, using tried-and-true recipes.)

There's no furniture in the living room now.  What furniture there is still in the family room is surrounded by boxes and tarps and lamps out of place.  Bedrooms and closets are in process of being packed up. (Laundry baskets full of clean laundry await someone with time and energy to put them away.)  Because we are laying carpet and new flooring on the whole main floor of our house, every room is affected right now except the two bathrooms.  Before we're done, they, too, will be torn up.  Right now, I affectionately call my home "Chaos Central."

"Before" Family Room

"Before" Living Room with railing

Remodeling is stressful on a family.  Change is not easy.  Impatience, irritability and inflexibleness have all made an appearance. It's tiring.  Energy flags, stamina lags, sleep is disrupted.  It's not always clear what should be done when, or in what order, to finish in time.  I want it done now.  At times, it's discouraging.  We have to be able to step back and see the big picture, envisioning the finished work which we hope will be beautiful.

If you can see past the debris and destruction, and the miserable mess, there is evidence of progress and even completed work everywhere.

A week ago "During" painting

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6

A week ago "During" LR painting

The process of remodeling reminds me that God is doing a work in me and He's not finished yet.  He's changing me into the image of His dear Son, Jesus Christ.  The work is huge.  At times very messy.  I'm often impatient and discouraged with the process and tempted to think it will never get done.  But, God is a Patient Carpenter and Wise Master Builder.  He knows just what needs doing, and when, in order for all the work to be accomplished.  He knows precisely which tools to use.  He can see the goal of what He's going to make and He's able, skilled, and won't stop til' He's done.  I'm so thankful for "this house's" foundation of Jesus Christ, and that He was willing to move in and live in the house while the remodeling's going on.

Living in the mess of remodeling our home, I am awestruck at the patience of my Lord, to live in the mess of "remodeling" me, and I'm so grateful that He promises He will complete the work that He's begun in me.


To participate and read other thankful hearts, please visit Laurie at Women Taking A Stand.  Thanks, Laurie, for hosting this month!

Needing Encouragement? Mondays Are Great! Linkup!

Glad Rejoicing Encouraged And Thankful!

Feeling a little beaten up? Feeling your work might be all in vain?  Wondering if it's all worth it?  Discouraged? Press replay and watch again this last week and look for God.

He was there.

Do you see where He was helping, encouraging, perhaps molding you into Christ's image?  Write it down. Post it. Share it.  Be encouraged and let God use you to encourage someone else.  Don't delay. Write that testimony down now, post it, and link up.

This was a rough week, for half a dozen reasons, and at the end I felt in need of the encouragement which I'm trying to foster through this linkup.  On our 45-minute drive to church this morning, I was praying.  Feeling discouraged, I said, "Jesus, help."  Immediately these words popped into my head: "Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice." That was the Lord, alright, reminding me that I should be led by the Spirit, not my emotions. I thought of all His goodness and rejoiced in thankfulness.

Singing the hymns during the church service, I knew God was answering my questioning heart.  Is my blogging worth it? Does what I do here really matter? I'm trying to be a Titus 2 older woman, but is anyone listening?  "Not I, but Christ."  He softly spoke, "If what you're singing is truly your heart's desire, your heart will fill with joy." These are the words we sang:

Not I, but Christ, be honored, loved, exalted;
Not I, but Christ, be seen, be known, be heard;
Not I, but Christ, in every look and action;
Not I, but Christ, in every thought and word.

Refrain:
Oh, to be saved from myself, dear Lord,
Oh, to be lost in Thee;
Oh, that it may be no more I,
But Christ that lives in me.

Not I, but Christ, in lowly silent labor;
Not I, but Christ, in humble, earnest toil;
Christ, only Christ! no show, no ostentation!
Christ, none but Christ, the gatherer of the spoil.

The next hymn put the period on the message Christ spoke to me:

"Channels Only."
"Thou hast saved and cleansed and filled me
that I might Thy channel be...
But with all Thy wondrous pow'r flowing thro' us
Thou canst use us every day and ev'ry hour."

Reminded that I must keep my eyes on Him, just obey and do the work He's given me to do, and not worry about the results, but leave that with Him, I'm encouraged that He will use me as His channel in this world. My labor is not in vain in the Lord. And yours isn't either.


How did God encourage, help and speak to you this week?
Write a post (or a comment). Include a link back here to my blog and "Mondays Are G.R.E.A.T.!" Publish your post, then copy the url of that post in the lower space of the Linky box below. Put your name in the top space and hit Enter. That's all there is to it! If you have a blog, please tell your readers about this linkup.

No blog? No problem!

Just write what God's been doing in a comment here!

Where did you see God this week?

Mondays Are G.R.E.A.T.!

G.R.E.A.T. = Glad Rejoicing Encouraged And Thankful!)

This old brain and emotional heart were overwhelmed this week. Decisions and planning, concerns for the future and thoughts of the past collided.  The week before Mother's Day, thinking about my mom and about being a mom brought many thoughts of the past. Concern for the future came from contemplating my mom's age of 89 years, and worrying over the future work and marriage dreams of my children.  Shopping for carpet and hardwood flooring for the main level of our house and entertaining guests for dinner, overnight, and here for Home Church, all in one week, required innumerable decisions and thoughtful planning.

It all seems silly now. The Lord gave peace. The Lord will work it all out. But here is what I thought we were going to have to do in the space of the next 3 weeks: unload all the dressers, bookshelves, china and computer hutches, paint the living room, family room and one bedroom and completely empty out the rooms on our main floor (3 bedrooms, LR, FR, kitchen and eating area), take up the old carpet, prep for, pick out, buy and have installed new carpet and wood flooring. And then put everything back again.

I've looked forward to replacing our now-25-year-old carpeting and linoleum for years, yet when I thought about accomplishing it in 3 weeks time, and the major upheaval it would be to our home and family, it was easy to become overwhelmed. In light of the really serious problems which people face, it is truly nothing.   But, God knows me and is wondrously able to encourage and strengthen His children.  He knows just what we need.  He is gentle when we feel near our breaking point.

A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench. Isaiah 43:3

He is always there to lean on, guide and hold us up.
The help is there.
Everything we need.
We just have to go to Him.
Help is often found, for me, in prayer.  It's amazing, isn't it, that God allows us to speak to Him as though He were a human being. With our finite minds we are unable to think in any other way! Yet, He is not a human being.

He already knows everything that will happen in our lives. He is completely, absolutely in control of every circumstance and situation. He is so big that He can hold the whole galaxy in the palm of his Hand.

Yet, in Exodus 33:23 He is so gentle that He sees Moses' need and lovingly states that He's going to put Moses in a special place and cover his eyes with His hand and pass by and then tells Moses he will see "all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy...

And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts:  but my face shall not be seen."

Because no one can see the face of God and live. It is completely incomprehensible that the God of all the Universe has "back parts," a "face" and "hands."  He's too big.  I stand in awe that a God this big condescends to talk to me. That He allows me to talk to Him.

In the middle of my overwhelmedness this past week I listened to a message by Elisabeth Elliot entitled, "A Quiet Heart Means Confidence in God." (You can listen to this message by going to the bottom of my blog, where you'll see the title Moving Messages. Then click Elisabeth Elliot, and when you get to the BlueLetterBible site, scroll down to "A Quiet Heart Means Confidence in God" and click to either stream or download. There are many messages to be found there.)

In this message, she quoted a prayer:

Lord, give to me a quiet heart
That does not ask to understand
But confident steps forward in the darkness
Guided by Thy Hand.

I often ask to understand. I don't like stepping forward in darkness. I don't like not knowing what's going to happen. God says, "Trust Me."

Elisabeth Elliot went on to state that in this world, physical quietness is impossible, but "it's always possible to keep a quiet heart. Quietness begins with a long, steady, earnest, sustained gaze at God Himself, at the life of Jesus."

I'm realizing the great need for us to keep a quiet heart.  I'm learning to keep my eyes on Him, and to trust. I'm learning to step forward in the darkness guided by His hand.

Mondays are G.R.E.A.T.!
(Glad Rejoicing Encouraged And Thankful!)

How did God encourage and strengthen you this week? Write a post (or comment) including a link back here to "Mondays Are G.R.E.A.T.!" Tell all your readers to link up, too, and then don't forget to link up your post below. Post a word, a Bible verse, or about anything the Lord did to strengthen and encourage you. No blog? No problem! Just post a comment!

Get Your Encouragement Here! Mondays Are G.R.E.A.T.!

Mondays are G.R.E.A.T.!

(Glad Rejoicing Encouraged And Thankful!)

Where did you find a little God-sent encouragement this week?

  Write a post (or comment) including a link back here to
"Mondays Are G.R.E.A.T!" Then link up and 
Get Your Encouragement Here!

Link up Below!

 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God:
yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
Psalm 68:3

It's encouraging to realize that God has helped us through another week, sometimes in little ways.  What did God use to keep you going?  Did He let you know He was there? Speak to you through the Word? Send someone to help at just the right moment?  Here are 3 things which encouraged me this week:

• One of my daughter's friends spent the night and spread sunshine through our home with her pleasant and cheerful ways.
• A real-life friend who also blogs showed genuine pleasure in just being with me, sharing conversation over lunch.  When she got home, she remembered something I'd said and sent a follow-up email with information she thought might help me.
• A radio broadcast was exactly what I needed to hear.  God used the Scriptures shared in the radio Bible Study to speak directly to my heart.  I rarely have the radio on, and almost never at that time of day, but the Holy Spirit prompted me to be in that place at that time so I could hear that message.

The quiet everyday promptings and interventions of the Holy Spirit often go unnoticed or unrecognized.  What "little" encouragements did God send your way this past week?


Post a word, a Bible verse, or about any little thing which the Lord did this past week to strengthen, encourage and keep you hangin' in there, pressing on and looking up, and then link up below! No blog? No problem! Just post a comment!

Have you ever noticed how many times in His Word God says something like, "Let the righteous be glad!"  Glad is a word which has lost much of its meaning, so I looked up the definition:

Here's what I found "Glad" means:

a : experiencing pleasure, joy, or delight : made happy

b : made pleased, satisfied, or grateful —often used with "of" (e.g. "glad of your help")

c : very willing

Gladness isn't something we can conjure up, but we're "made" glad in the Lord. So, God is saying:

• Be "experiencing pleasure, joy, or delight" in Me.
• Be "made happy" in Me.
• Be "made pleased" in Me.  Be "satisfied" with Me.  Be "grateful" to Me.
• (See Ps. 32:11)

Are you glad? Are you great? Or are you "fine"?

Often when asked how we are, we automatically answer, "Fine." 

But fine may mean "Feeling In Need of Encouragement"!

Change your

F.I.N.E.

To
G.R.E.A.T.!
Glad Rejoicing Encouraged And Thankful!

God always enables us to do what His Word says.  He often sends people to help us!  That's what I've found in you:  a great-big-wonderful Encouragement with a capital "E"!

Join me, and spread the word! 

Mondays Are G.R.E.A.T.!

Where did you find a little God-sent encouragement this week?

Write a post (or comment) including a link back here to
"Mondays Are G.R.E.A.T.! 
Then link up, and let's all be glad in the Lord and Rejoice!