Author: kstrick7

Chocolate Revelation

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I don’t know about y’all, but my Mama could cook.  She made not only wonderful meals, but she made fantastic desserts.  One that she used to make us was a chocolate eclair dessert.  I thought I would attempt to make one for my family. So, I got all the ingredients together & set out to fix it like Mama would.  There was, however,  a certain ingredient, that I had not used before.  It was Baker’s unsweetened chocolate bars.  When it got to the part to melt those babies up, I was gettin’ all happy & excited.  I had a big ‘ol smile on my face.  Just smelling the chocolatey goodness brought thoughts of yumminess to my mind.  I’m not sure what kind of cooks y’all are, but I like to take a “taste” of whatever I cook.  You know, just to make sure everything’s going alright.  I stuck the tip of my finger in the bowl full of chocolate. Then, I could not wait to have a taste.  But when I did, I could not get that strong chocolate out of my mouth quick enough.  It was awful!  It had no sugar whatsoever in it.  It was bitter & nasty!  The claims that the label of the box had of “unsweetened chocolate”.  They really meant that.

 

That incident got me to thinking about what Jesus tell us about sin.  Just as I had realized about the chocolate, I thought, will I stand before Christ in judgment & say the same thing, “Wow, He really meant that?”  There are several sins pointed out directly in

Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are :adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, v. 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, v. 21envy, murders, drunkeness, revelries and the like: of which I tell you beforehand just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

I know that we understand adultery & fornication are wrong.  But do you mean lashing out at people in anger is a sin?  I know we understand killing someone is not right. But do you mean being jealous is catagorized on the same list of sins?  What is the other thing the apostle Paul says about a person who makes these things parts of their lives?  Verse 21 in Galatians 5 says they will not go to heaven.  So, what does that mean for me?  I have to keep my heart in check at all times.  Knowing that when I stand before God on the day of judgment, I will be accountable for these kinds of sins.  Let’s make sure we are watching our actions, controlling our mouths, and keeping our lives acceptable in the Lord. Otherwise, we may have that awful taste of sin in our lives before we know it.  There are consequences to all of our decisions we make. Whether they be good or bad.  Always knowing that when God says thou shalt not……He really means that.

The culprit-when it says “unsweetened”, they really mean that.

What I want to be when I grow up- take 15

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So, my 8 year old Miss Neenee announced to me Saturday, again, “I know what I want to be when I grow up.”
“Really?” I say, “What would that be?” Typically it’s a doctor, actress, veterinarian, dancer, etc.,.
“I want to be a pharmacist.” she said.
“That sounds nice.” I say wondering if she actually knows what she’s talking about.
“Yeah,” she begins, “You know they mix up medicines & hand them out to sick people. That’s the way they help them.”
Hmmmm, well how about that?
“You do know you will have to go to Ole Miss.”, I say.
“I thought about that.” she replies very matter of factly. ” I just don’t think if you go to Ole Miss, you have to be for Ole Miss. But I want to go there, because that’s where my family goes.”
I did not know if we were having a Michael Oher & Leigh Ann Tuohy moment or what… I suppose some of the Mississippi State brainwashing is just something we have to deal with being from the South!

Mother’s Day

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Sunday is Mother’s Day.  A time to honor our mothers.  For those of us, who’s mothers are passed away, it sometimes can be a difficult time.  I have so many fond memories of my mother.  I don’t want to make you cry, like Bubba Watson did, when he won the Masters.  But if you saw it, who was the 1st one out to him once he made that last putt?  His mama.  He hugged her & bawled like a baby.  I can appreciate that.  I loved my Mama like that.  That’s why I suppose Mother’s Day can be so hard. Because I do miss her just as much now, as when she passed away.

I have been fortunate to have been loved by many mothers.  My own, of course, but my Mamaw, my Mama B., special aunts, & my mother in law.  All these wonderful ladies were & are strong women.  They taught me how to love my kids & other kids, too.  They gave me values, & taught me how to act. They made sure I did not shame my family by leaving home, without knowing how to cook.  They went to church, they loved their neighbors, they took meals to the sick, shut in & those that lost family members. They gave spankings & hugs.  They feared God. They have all been fine examples of what a wonderful Southern mother should be.

In Proverbs it tells of a virtuous woman.  It says:

Proverbs 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman?  For her worth is far above rubies.

In the following verses it tells what she does:

    1. She is good to her husband.
    2. She works.
    1. She provides food for whoever is in her house.
    1. She strengthens herself.
    1. She helps the poor.
    1. She speaks words with wisdom.
    2. She watches over her household & is not idle.
    3. She has her children & husband’s respect.

v.30       She fears God.

This is a terrific description that we should try to live by.  The ladies that I have spoken of above have conquered this list.  My prayer is that every lady strives to be as the virtuous woman.  It makes our houses much better to live in.  It brings happiness to our lives & the lives of others.  We should respect others & respect ourselves.  We should practice peace & love toward others.  The attitudes we cultivate can have a powerful effect on others.  Ask God to help you find reasons to rejoice instead of complain.  Respond to difficult situations with calm faith & trust God’s will.

May 24th, 2012 will mark 10 years since my Mama has passed away.  She was a remarkable woman.  I only pray that I can carry on the way she & my other female influences have taught me.  The author Rick Bragg said in a Southern Living article, “You never outgrow the need for your mother’s love.”  Whether you are a mother, grandmother, aunt, or friend, make a way to show that special mother like love to others.  If your mother is still living, please make an effort to see or talk to her this Mother’s Day.  I know she will be glad you did.  Happy Mother’s Day to all!

I hope you have enjoyed this post . Maybe it has inspired you in some way.   I would love to write more, but right now I have to go, because I should be washing clothes……

           Me & Mama when I was about 6 years old

Stumbling block inventory

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Finding faults in others is a popular pastime.  Unfortunately, a lot of us find it’s easy to join the fun. Concentrating on the flaws of others can be a great way to feel better about ourselves.  That’s typically, the problem!  Avoiding the faults that need to be fixed in our own lives, not only dampers our spiritual growth, it too gets in the way of God’s work through us. God’s effectiveness through our lives is made better or is hindered by the way we live.

In Romans 14:13 the apostle Paul tells of the character we should have.

Therefore, let us not judge one another, anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

Back up in verse 10 he states:

But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

We are all in this together.  Why be so petty about things?

If we want to be authentic & useful for the Lord, we must continually take a stumbling block inventory.  At times stumbling blocks are things that in and of themselves may be real.  Yet in certain contexts, may be inappropriate.  But sin is clearly a stumbling block to others.  Gossip, slander, boasting, bitterness, greed, abuse, anger, selfishness, and revenge all close the hearts of those around us to the message God sends through us.  Just to think, our lives, may be the only Bible some people ever see.  Now, that’s a big responsibility that we have.  To keep ourselves clean & unspotted from the world. (James 1: 27)  You may say, “but you just don’t know how mean this person is or how hurtful they have been to me.” I do know this, there is no problem too big that you & God can’t work out. Let God have His way with people.  In life people will be mean, rude, unfair, gossipy, hurtful, and greedy.  Pray for those people.  Don’t let their hatred consume your heart & make you the same things they are. We must be the bigger person.

In Matthew 5:43-44, Jesus preaching his sermon from the mountain said this:

“You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. v.44 But I say to you, love our enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” 

Now, that’s a tough pill to swallow!  Pray for someone who has said bad things about me?  Pray for someone who has embarrassed me?  Pray for someone whose selfishness has caused me to hurt?  You may ask,”Why does that person deserve my prayers?”  If you look at it from God’s perspective- these prayers are for your benefit.  For you to keep a heart that’s willing to mention a person who does not deserve God’s graciousness.  Those people are the ones who need it the most.  And it’s hard to keep bitterness locked up in a heart full of prayer.  God does not want us to be angry.  He wants us to love.  And what better way to keep that love in your heart, than to lift up someone in prayer? It’s hard to be selfish or mad when you are asking a blessing over someone who’s wronged you.  Get the picture?  God loves us & does not want us to be someone who lets a situation eat at them.  He wants us praying for each other & not being someone with so much emotional baggage that His work can’t be seen in us.

I Cor 13: 4-5 says thatprov love is kind, does not envy, does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil.

We should strive to condition ourselves to be kind, no matter what.  God says in order to love, we must be kind.  In the end, our kindness is what matters the most.  We have to be responsible for what we have done in our lives, how we have acted & treated people, not how they have treated us.  God will have His day with those folks! He even says so –

Romans 12:19…”Vengence is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 

Now, don’t you think God can handle these hard to deal with people better than you?  Of course He can.  A dear friend of mine has said her mother used to say, “Kill them with kindness.”  I think that is a very good lesson.  When someone hurts your feelings, just be kind.  When someone says mean things about you, be kind.  When someone is rude to you, be kind.  That way, they can see God living in you.  That will either turn them toward God, or just make them mad.  Either way, you have done your part by being what God wants you to be- kind.

So, let’s replace our faults with the wonderful ways of Jesus.  This will help others to see our Savior more clearly.

Some of this message was taken from an Our Daily Bread article written by Joe Stowell.  I have so many thoughts about this subject.  Maybe I will write more about it later.  But for now, I have to go because I should be washing clothes………..

Respect for Someone wiser

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My 17 year old daughter, just recently, had the privilege of being a Page for the Senate of our awesome state! When she got back home, she told stories of how she met all different kinds of people, how she heard many opinions & witnessed bills being turned into laws. She got to meet the governor & have her picture made with him. She got to have a great experience learning about how our great state functions, in the heart of the capital. One thing that really made an impression to her was how the house of representatives & the senate conducted themselves. She said at times, there was yelling, squabbling, and even a representative doing a compelling depiction of a snake (to get his point across about how he felt regarding other representatives votes). It was very entertaining. However, she noted there was one senator, that had the floor when he spoke. She said it was as if everyone was in awe of him. That their respect for him was great & no one would fancy the idea of being anything less than attentive when he made his thoughts known. She said it was if when he spoke, he imparted wisdom.

Jesus is the perfect example of someone people wanted to listen to. In Luke 6, it is told how the multitudes followed Christ.

In verse 17, “He came down with them, and stood on a level place with a crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases.”

Can’t you imagine such a large group of people listening & hanging on every word of Jesus? Following Him around, just to see what He was going to say next? These people were hungry for the Lord’s words of wisdom. They fed on his righteous teachings. That’s why where ever Jesus went, there was always a crowd. Sometimes He would have to “withdraw” from the group of followers, just to get some rest. (Luke 5: 16) Those folks were longing for the love & saving grace Jesus had to offer to the lost & dying world.  It says in Luke 4:32 that Jesus’s word was with authority.  These people knew they had someone magnificent in their presence.

When did we quit wanting to listen to Jesus? Was it when we got that job that takes up so much of our time, that we hardly have a minute to spend reading the Bible? Was it when we bought that new car or house or boat, that we think we paid for with OUR money? We get too worried with what I can gain, what I can do, what I can be, to remember, we would be nothing, have nothing, or even be in existence without our Lord & Savior. Let’s take a minute to be like these multitudes, that followed Jesus around, in awe of His presence. We should respect Him, when He speaks to us through His word. By faith, we can be like these weary people, who’s main concern was listening to Jesus. In Luke 4: 42 it tells how the crowds sought Jesus & tried to keep Him from leaving them.  Their hearts were in the right place.  Is yours?

Needing strength

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I Samuel 30:6     David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

Sitting in a hospital room, after the car crash of my son & girlfriend, I began to realize how drawn I was to God’s word.  I knew my son & his girlfriend had a long road to recovery.  I sat & read devotionals & studied my Bible.  I firmly believed I was gearing up for the ride of my life.  My 17 year old son was coming back to live with me.  He had been out of church for 2 years.  During that time, his life had been filled with those who had been less than good examples to him. I knew he would be hard to handle.  Probably pretty resentful for awhile, too.  I had my work cut out for me.  However, I knew with God’s strength & with His hand over me, that I could do anything. (Philipians 4:13)

Christ frequently drew nigh to God for strength.  After being tempted by Satan, angels came & ministered to Him. (Matthew 4:11)  In the garden of Gethsemane He prayed to God- “..not as I will but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39) When Lazarus died, Jesus went to his tomb.  In John 11, He lifted up His eyes and said,

v.41 “Father, I thank you that you have heard me & I know you always hear me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe you sent me.”

Jesus would not have prayed this if He did not believe God would come in & make believers out of these folks BY HIS POWER.  Jesus knew the answer to His issues was receiving strength from God to endure.  Shouldn’t we have the same faith? Just as Christ taught by example, we should draw near to Jesus for strength & He will draw near to us. (James 4:8)

 

Understanding baptism

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When my rockstar son was about 5 years old, he always loved going to Sunday School.  It did not hurt that his Sunday School teacher was young & beautiful.  She was so sweet & had a great way of teaching the younger kids.  All the kids loved her.  One Sunday after church she pulled me to the side.

She said,”You know you have a very bright little boy.”

“Thank you,” I say.

She went on, “I think he has a good way of looking at things.  Today, I was talking to them about baptism.  I told them it was when you go down into the water & all your sins are washed away.  Once I said that, your little boy’s hand went up.  I asked him did he have a question?  He said ‘I sure do.’ So, I told him to go ahead.  He said,’If when you go down in the water & all your sins are washed away, won’t they get on the next one that gets in the water?’

“I tried to keep my composure,” she laughed, “But, I guess I had never thought of it that way!”

It’s always so funny, how kids see things.  If you have any funny things your kids have said or any youngster has said- send me a comment.  I would love to hear about them!  And just so ya’ll will know, I have been washing clothes all afternoon & I am tired!

Lessons from my youngest

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One Sunday night, several years ago, we had gotten home from church. I pulled into the garage, so tired, from a full day. I had 6 kids with me. (Mine & 1 other!). Needless to say, it was total chaos.

As I got out of the truck, Miss Neenee (who was 4 years old, at the time) said, “Can I go outside & blow my bubbles?” I said, “Sure,” knowing that she would just be a few steps away from me, out on the sidewalk. I finished cleaning everything out of my truck & went inside the house. About 10 minutes went by & my teenage son brought Miss Neenee back to my bedroom ,where I was at.

He said, “Do you know where she was? Outside ringing the doorbell! You left her outside!” It was summertime & her face was hot & bright red. She was mad. I got down on my knees & hugged her.

I said, “I am so sorry! I would NEVER leave you outside by yourself!” In which she returned, “Yeah, but you just did.”
Point made……

What we leave behind

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A friend of mine wrote recently, “If we died tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days.  But the family left behind would feel the loss for the rest of their lives.  Why then do we invest so much in our work & so little in our families’ lives?”

Why do we sometimes exhaust ourselves rising up early and going late to rest “eating the bread of sorrow” Psalms 127:1-2, busying ourselves to make our mark on this world, and overlooking the one investment that matters beyond everything else-our family.

We should strive to love our families.  I Cor 13 says a lot of things that love is.  Love suffers long & is kind v.4  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, & endures all things v. 7.  That’s a lot of wonderful things we should be willing to share with our loved ones.   On the same token, here’s what love is NOT: Love is not rude v. 5 Love is not prideful v.4 Love is not provoked & thinks no evil v. 5  We should always be mindful that our families ought to be the most important people in the world to us.  We should not be rude to them, think we are better than them, provoke them, or cause evil to come from them.  This is not the behavior that the Lord sets before us as love.  However, are we nicer to the people we work with than our own families?  I know I have been guilty of bringing frustrations & aggrivations, from work, home with me.  I must keep in mind the verses in I Cor 13.  I should strive to be more like the person in this chapter, to make sure I am showing Christlike love.  In the end, it all hangs on these three things: And now abide faith, hope, & love, these three, but the greatest of these is love. v.13  Loving our family is the most worthy thing we can do.  There is no need for “anxious toil”, working day & night, for the wise man Solomon proclaimed, for the Lord does take care of us (Psalms 127:2 …for so He gives His beloved sleep)

I have seen love in action, so much through out my life.  My Daddy’s love for my Mama in her last years, their unconditional love for me, my  wonderful in-law’s love for me, my husband’s love, my children’s love, my brother’s love, my niece & nephews’ love, and the list goes on.  I want to be sure that I have returned that special Christ like love to them, as well.  When my days are over, I want them to know that God is most important over everything.  We must live a life acceptable to God, to receive that crown of life.  I pray that they will understand that the Lord will provide for us in all ways, if we trust in Him.  We must be determined to leave an investment we will never regret.

(Parts of this was taken from “Our Daily Bread” devo book – devo written by David Roper)

This is something to think about & to ready ourselves for.  However, I will think more on it later.  Because now I should be washing clothes….

 

 

 

O ye of little faith!

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With the natural disasters going on, I thought it appropriate to blog about how God takes care of us.

In 2004, the Tsunami that ravaged the seashore of India was devastating.  People were killed, homes destroyed, the land in total chaos. I heard some interesting facts, not long after this happened.  Supposedly during this time, there were about 150,000 people in dozens of countries, that lost their lives.  However, there were very few animals found dead.  It is said their natural instinct told them to seek higher ground.  Eyewitnesses reported elephants screamed & ran for safety.  Dogs refused to go outdoors.  Flamingos abandoned their low-lying areas.  Zoo animals rushed into their shelters & could not be enticed to come back out.  The believeth that wild & domesticated animals possess a sixth sense is intriguing.   It is completely amazing to me how this happens.  How God takes care of animals.  Christ clearly states in Matthew 10:31 that we are more valuable than many sparrows.  In Luke 12:24 He says for us to consider the ravens.  God feeds them.  Of how much more value are we than the birds?  Aren’t we more important to God than birds?  Of course we are!  And from reading about how he takes care of animals, why, we must be really special to Him! 

 Luke 12:27-28 Consider the lilies, how they grow, they neither toil nor spin: and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O ye of little faith!

God has divine purpose for us all.  He would not forsake us.  He loves us too much.  Whenever you get down & you think things are hopeless, remember you are loved by the One who created the moon & the stars!  If God had a refrigerator, He would have your picture on it!  Our Father is a king!  That’s quite an inheritance we have there.  We should go out & see that we live up to it .  Always mindful that our Lord cares for us.

How good it feels to know I have a Lord that takes care of me & my family!  I could blog about God’s love for us, all day.  However, I have got to get going, because I should be washing clothes!