Psalm 103 ... How Will I Spend My Dash????

   The girls and I have been memorizing Psalm 103. Today we came to the following verses, so I spent the quiet of my morning thinking about these words....
...As for man, his days are like grass;

...As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

...For the wind passes over it and it is gone. and it's place remembers it no more.

Simple right??...we're born, we live a short life, and then we are gone....
...But God never seems to teach me things so simply..He always makes me think!!My references led me to this passage, and I am always soooo amazed at how God weaves all of life together!
1 Peter 1:22-25..."so see to it that you really do love each other warmly, with all your hearts. For you have a new life. It was not passed on to you from your parents, for the life they gave you will fade away. This new one will last forever!! for it comes from Christ, God's ever-living message to men. Yes, our natural lives will fade as grass does when it becomes all brown and dry. All our greatness is like a flower that droops and falls, but the Word of the Lord will last forever!!"


Ohhhh how that ties in with so many things I have been thinking about and discussing recently!
1. Discussions with friends about building our lives on the foundation of Christ..and so much of what we build on top of that will not last!
2. The thot that only 2 things in this world are eternal...people..and Gods Word...so where should my focus be??
3.  A book the girls and I have been reading The Jesus Creed,, ..based on the greatest commandment of Loving God with all your heart, mind and soul, and loving others as much as you love yourself!!

... Last night as I was reading the book, it asked me to consider my "Top Four". What are the top four desired things in my life??? in other words, what is REALLY important to me..what do I spend my time and energy on..what drives me in life???...my honest answers were these...
1...God's Word...intimacy with God
2. Wanting to raise children who know and love God
3. Relationships...the desire, need, longing to be loved, accepted, approved of , and enjoy life with others (and lets be honest, dont we all desire this?)
4. Independence...I need my own space, dont like to be controlled, and need lots and  lots of alone and quiet time
5. Physical Fitness

Ok...I gave 5..but these are the things that I find drive me..how I spend my time and energy revolves around these things! This all made me think of this...How will I spend my dash?  August 8, 1962 - ?...you know, the time between when I was born and when I die...my dash!! What do I REALLY want my priorities to be and what should my life be about??

   Life continually keeps coming down to this for me. Live simply...love generously! Love God > love others!  

Lord, show me how that should look in every day life....

1.  Love God..spend time in His Word, spend intimate time with Him...breathe life in and out all day long to please Him and to walk with Him

2.  Love Others...live life so others are dazzled by Christ...Christ should shine through, not my works

3.  Do that by loving in this order....God > My Family > those who God has given me intimate, close relationships with -who I love deeply > others God nudges me to love in some way

.... AS for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it and it is gone. And its place is remembered no more. Psalm 103:15,16

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of the Lord stands forever!!..Is 40:8

* Thank you Mikayla Autumn Amick, for your beautiful photography!

Who is on the Throne???

   I logged onto my blog and realized I needed to do some updating!!!  I have a new grandson...Charles Luke Amick! Born on December 24, 2011!  It is one of the greatest joys in my life to see Amber enjoy being a big sister!!

   I was reading something this morning that has stuck with me all day...one simple little line of scripture!!  I was reading in 1Samuel, and the children of Israel wanted a king...so they got Saul. It talked about Israel whining because they wanted a king, and in The Message it said these 6 little words...."And God was already your King."

   I have thot about those 6 words all day today. I looked up a few verses about God being my King....

Psalm 10:16...The Lord is King forever and ever!!

Psalm 29:10...the Lord sat as King at the flood; Yes, the Lord is King forever and ever!

.....Hmmmmm, isnt something missing.... somewhere between the flood and eternity?????  God was King of ALL in between!! It got me thinking about my own life. God IS King of everything in between....He is King, the One Who reigns, the One Who is in control of ALL that I am concerned about in life!!!

     I am like Israel when I whine about life, when I worry...when I wish for something other than what He has given me!  Soooooooo...what exactly am I worried about, angry over, discouraged about, discontent with, afraid of, fretting over ???????  The Lord is my God...and my God is KING! He is in control, He loves me and loves these people that I love dearly! He will reign forever and ever...and one day I will be with Him..... so in the meantime I can just trust Him!!!!

Matthew 6:13...For Yours in the KINGdom and the power and the glory forever and ever! Amen!

Breathing Souls!

   I have been working on memorizing Psalm 103 with 2 sweet ladies! What a blessing for soooooo many reasons. As we memorize we take time to study each verse. We have memorized and discussed the first 12 verses, so I thought this week would be a good time to review..not just the memorizing, but what God has taught us along the way! I came across a verse in The Message recently in Psalm 42. It says, "When my soul is in the dumps I rehearse everything I know about God!" I have realized what a great benefit this is, and why wait til my soul is in the dumps to rehearse!
   As I began reviewing Psalm 103 today, the neatest thing happened. I planned to rethink all that God had already taught me in the first 2 verses, but instead the word "soul" jumped out at me. Bless the Lord, O my SOUL. So I did a little searching.
   The word soul comes from the Hebrew word "Nephesh" and it literally means a breathing creature.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
As I BREATHE I should bless God!
Like I BREATHE prayer, I should BREATHE blessing...(to bless God is to kneel before, worship, and adore Him!)
   The breath of life is a very precious thing to me right now. It is so easy to take breathing for granted. God continues to give Amber the breath of life!!!  I do not take breathing for granted in Ambers life. I wake up every day and say, "Thank you Lord, for life and breath for Amber today!" And I spent this morning asking the Lord, "Oh please Lord, give baby boy Amick the breath of life!"
SOUL...the dictionary definition...a persons total self
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and ALL that is within me bless His holy name! ALL that is within me...my soul....my total self...breathing blessing to God!!

This is the first time I held Amber. Lord willing, within this next week I will be doing the same with my new grand-son! Thank you Lord, for the breath of life for Amber. I praise You, and thank You, and BLESS You, for she is fearfully and wonderfully made. Please breathe the breath of life into baby boy Amick. I trust You with his little life.

 God HAS given me the breath of life today. I will breathe blessing God!

One Touch.....

"But Jesus came over and touched them. "Don't be afraid." When they opened their eyes and looked around all they saw was Jesus, only Jesus."
...Amber touching my face with her precious little fingers
...Mike greeting me out of the shower, wrapping me in my towel, and hugging me long
...Cindee wrapping her arms around me just when I needed it and many years ago how she tenderly took my hand as we wept and prayed
...the way Mikayla runs her fingers through my hair
...Paula and I holding one another and praying
...Peggy's warm and wonderful hugs
...Sara reaching over in church and holding my hand
...Camey's warm embrace having not seeing her in so long
...The way Noah holds me when he knows I'm hurting
...Mom and Dad's hugs whenever I see them

Live simply...Love Generously...Don't be afraid to touch the people you love! (you may never know that it will be like the very touch of Jesus!)
One Touch!...click here..!

Smack Dab in the Middle!

   I usually run in the country. Today I ran in town. As I was running down Market Street in Bloomsburg, I came upon two older ladies who were out for an early morning walk with their dogs. They didnt see me. I ran up behind them and startled them.. The one dog jumped 2 feet in the air, the lady jumped 4..and here we go again with me frightening people and creatures while I'm running!!!

   I apologized, kept running, smiled about the whole scene, and then behind me I heard loud footsteps! Another woman much younger than I, and MUCH faster than I trotted past . We continued to run down River Road....she far ahead of me. The whole picture of the morning played out before me and just made me smile!! The older ladies walking slowly behind me, the younger woman trotting quickly ahead of me..and where am I in this season of life???? Smack dab in the middle!!!! And it is a comfy, enjoyable place to be!!!

My Best Friend

   It is the most precious book I own, or will ever possess.  My Bible.  God's Word.. King James, NIV, New American Standard, The Living Bible, The Amplified Bible.  These versions all occupy a place on my shelf or in my reading basket.  They get used often. One for the comfort of everyday language, another for it's variety of references, and yet another for it's depth and descriptive wordiness.  But none are treasured as much as my New King James.  It is my best friend.  Not because of the version, but because of how God has used it in my life over a specific period of time.  It has been my comfort, my teacher, my joy, my rebuke, my guide, my strength, me rest, my refreshment.  It is my cherished companion.
   I love to hold my Bible in my hands.  The soft leather...beginning to wear where my fingers have held it so often.  The pages...delicate, thin, and silky.  Pages unlike any other book I have ever opened.  I love the way they whisper as I leaf through to find my place.
   Memories flood me as I notice my markings...penciled words reflecting thoughts and feelings of days gone by.  Words in black and red, underlined so that my eyes will rest quickly on them again.  Words of hope, promises of God's faithfulness and unfailing love for me.  How can these words be new every morning when I have read them so many times before?
   The very pages within teach me to not store up treasures on earth.  Don't place value on things that can be purchased, or items that will fade away when I am no longer here.  My Bible was purchased.  It will one day pull apart at the binding.  The leather will be worn, and the pages may tear.  But it is my earthly treasure whose value can never be estimated.  It's words are written in my heart, and all that has been contemplated within the pages will live within me for eternity!  One day, rather than living by faith according to the words in this book, I will realize the reality of all that has been written!

...Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror, then we shall see face to face.  Now I know in part, then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known!...1Corinth. 13:12

   I wrote those words on 1/25/2010. They are penciled in the front of my NKJV Bible.  I was reading them and thinking about them this week, and realized I have a new best friend!!! The Message! Last September I went to a Women's Retreat with my mom at Sandy Cove. The Worship leader used The Message as she spoke.  She read Psalm 100. I loved it. She read other passages...I could relate. While I was at Sandy Cove, I purchased a small copy for myself. I couldn't put it down, and very quickly read through the entire New Testament. It has become my reading Bible. It goes wherever I go....beside me during my quiet times in the morning, to bed with me for reading at night, to the store, to soccer games, when visiting a friend, in the car whenever we go somewhere, with me in a hot bath, and it would go with me in my purse if I had one..ha ha!!

   I love God's Word. I love each and every translation as God has used them in different seasons of my life. I am thankful that during this particular season God has given me a craving for His Word. 

Psalm 63...The Message

God-You're my God!

I cant get enough of You!

I've worked up such hunger and thirst for God,

 traveling across dry and weary deserts.

So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open,

drinking in Your strength and glory.

In Your generous love I am really living at last!

My lips brim praises like fountains,

I bless You every time I take a breath;

my arms wave like banners of praise to You!

"Bittersweet"

Finished reading a book this week......Bittersweet, by Shauna Niequist
I picked up the book because the review and the theme reminded me alot of One Thousand Gifts , which is my top book choice of the year. The book was not at all what I expected, and very different than One Thousand Gifts, but as I read I jotted notes in the back of things that I wanted to think about. What good is reading if it doesn't initiate change in your life?...So here are my bare thoughts - written for me to ponder, and for you if you care to read!

Quotes I'm Thinking About

...."When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate.  And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow."
..."It's not hard to decide what you want your life to be about.  What's hard is figuring out what you're willing to give up in order to do the things you really care about."
..."I live in daily, honest, intimate community with a small group of people.  I give my time and energy and prayer to my immediate family and close friends.  To a slightly wider circle of people, I give love and friendship..." 
..."Share your life with the people you love...there is really nothing like good friends, the sound of their laughter and the tones of their voices and the things they teach us in the quietest, smallest moments."

Other Thoughts

...Entertain more..I miss having friends and family and food and fellowship around my table often!

...Show grace to others like candy being thrown in a parade...grace, for you, grace for you, more grace for you....

...Think thru life..What am I good at, what do I enjoy, what are the gifts God has given me and what are my priorities in life?  Then organize life to live in light of that!

..."Thin Places" - the place where the passage between heaven and earth is a short one..where God's presence is almost palpable... places when because of circumstances God is very real and His presence is sooo close.

...SAY Something.....When you know someone is hurting dont just say nothing. And DO something - send a note or make a meal or find some way to show love to the people you care for.

...God meets us at the kitchen table! Cook for people, invite them in, laugh and talk and share life with others!

..Watch or read "The Notebook"

...Work harder on my marriage..it is never too late. Dont slide into the routine of being a couple who live together, raise a family together, but dont have a deep level of trust and dont connect deeply with one another. "The best gifts we can give one another are apologies and acceptance!"

...Quit being consumed by things that waste time and are meaningless.

...Who is my "Home Team"???..the people closest to me - close, comfortable relationships that deserve my openness and my time and energy??

...Blueberries...What will MY children and grand-children remember me for?? What do I convey to them about my priorities in life? I want my family to know that I love Christ, that I want them to know HIM intimately. I want them to know that I love them, pray for them, and that they are a priority to me. And I like blueberries, but I love pizza!

...Share my story with others - What has God done in my life and what is He teaching me now?..leave out the cliches and religious talk and just be me!

...What I need most during the bittersweet times of life is the comfort of Christ. Christ IS my comfort!  God IS good.  His simple blessings are many!!...kisses from Amber, dancing with joy at my son's wedding, giggles with my girls, a call from my boys, catching the breeze on the motorcycle with Mike, 2 new daughters , laughing with a friend, good food and warm fellowship, a grandson on the way.....
.....Dont get caught up in the bitter and overlook the sweet!

Lord, teach me to LIVE SIMPLY and LOVE GENEROUSLY!