Highs -n- Lows Living with the Disease

Another Beautiful Morning! It's going to be another great day...temperatures starting out in the 50's.  Our highs are expected to be in the 70's again.  Yesterday turned out to be very enjoyable.  It was so nice I left our windows open all day and will leave them open all day again today.  :-)

Tim, Connie and Joe will enjoy the cooler temperatures... :-). Arizona has be in the 90's...I'm not sure what Kentucky's temps have been...

I woke up with a headache this morning...I ate a few peanut m & m before bed so it is probably my blood sugar. :-( 

Today I babysit the granddaughters, I need to pick up my medicine & a few more groceries and finish cleaning before company.  I'm hoping I get everything done before the company arrives...
I also wanted to run over to Faribault to visit grandmas but not sure I'll get over to visit them today. :-(

I am so thankful for all I can do...

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Today's Bible Study

Our Casual View of Sin
By Charles Stanley
Read | Romans 6:1-7

Believers recognize the depravity of sin, but many continue to have a careless attitude about it. We hear people argue, “Everyone sins at times, so don’t worry about it. Confess, and God will forgive.”

If we are honest with ourselves about the nature of disobedience, we know the issue isn’t that simple. God is faithful to forgive (1 John 1:9), but His gracious provision isn’t designed as license to transgress. Commandments are in place to protect us from enslavement, which is the natural result of persistent wrongdoing. Each choice to break God’s rules, even for “little” sins, adds another link to our slavery chain, which eventually is long enough to wrap tightly around our heart. When that happens, it hinders us from enjoying the Lord’s blessings.

Any sin, no matter how insignificant it seems, is rebellion against the Lord. God didn’t come up with the idea of scales for wrongdoing; we did. We think a lie weighs only a little, whereas stealing is heavy; we view adultery as hefty but less substantial than homicide. Likewise, we reason that a lie needs only a small bit of forgiveness and grace, while murder requires generous amounts of both. Yet God’s perspective differs from this man-made notion. Jesus still had to die on the cross to forgive a lie. Though different sins cause different amounts of damage, it takes the same sacrifice to pay the penalty for theft as it does to pardon murder.

We are privileged to have a Father who breaks our human chains. However, we are not freed so that we can disobey; rather, God offers us freedom from the domination of sin.

Looking forward to another great day....

Key to Freedom - Joel & Victoria Osteen

Keys to Freedom
“I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
(Revelation 1:18, NIV)

Have you ever been locked out of your car or house? It can be very frustrating, not to mention inconvenient. Not having your keys can keep you stuck and unproductive. It steals your time and can steal your peace and joy if you let it.

On a spiritual level, we need keys to access what God has for us — eternal life, peace, freedom and blessing. But, we don’t have to stand on the outside of blessing, living in frustration. Jesus holds the keys, and He has opened the way for us to walk from death to life. We don’t have to live in defeat, mediocrity, sickness, sin or any kind of bondage any longer. He has given us the keys to abundant life!

Today, if you feel stuck, locked out or defeated, remember, Jesus is the one who holds the keys to your freedom. All you have to do is call on His name and He will answer. He promises to hear you and deliver you. Receive His salvation, receive hope, and receive the freedom and victory He came to give.

Father, today I come boldly to You. Thank You for giving me life through Your Son, Jesus. I surrender every area of my heart to You and ask that You make me whole and complete. Set me free and show me the keys to every blessing You have for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.
— Joel & Victoria Osteen

Freedom in Contentment - Joel & Victoria Osteen

Freedom in Contentment
“...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”
(Philippians 4:11, NIV)

In life, sometimes it’s easy to get so focused on our dreams and goals that we tune out everything else. We can get to the point where we’re not going to be happy until we see those things happen. But I’ve found that if we have to have something in order to be happy, our lives are out of balance. When our goals and dreams start to frustrate us, and we lose our peace and don’t enjoy life, that’s a clear sign that we’re holding on too tightly. What’s the solution? You’ve got to release it. Freedom comes when you say, “God, I’m turning it all over to You. You know my desires and what’s best for me. I’m choosing to trust You and Your timing.”

When we learn to be content whatever the circumstances, it takes away the power of the enemy. It takes away his ability to frustrate us. Not only that, but by our actions, we are showing our faith in God. When you choose to trust His timing, you can live in peace, you can live in joy, and you can rest in Him knowing that He has good things in store for your future. Today, find freedom in contentment and rest in His everlasting peace.

Father, today I choose to trust You. I release frustration over the dreams and desires in my heart because You know what’s best for me. I choose to trust Your timing knowing that You are faithful. I will bless You in all things in Jesus’ name. Amen.
— Joel & Victoria Osteen

Freedom in Forgetting - Joel & Victoria Osteen

Freedom in Forgetting
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”
(Isaiah 43:18, NIV)

The Bible tells us that every person, no matter how much faith they have or how good they are, will face disappointments. It may be something simple like not getting a promotion you hoped for, or not closing a business deal you worked so hard on. Maybe you didn’t qualify for a house you really wanted, or maybe something more serious happened like a relationship not working out, the death of a loved one, or some kind of illness in your body. Whatever it may be, the reality is that we’re all going to suffer some setbacks. No matter what has happened, one of the main keys to overcoming disappointments is learning to let go of the past.

If you feel “stuck” today, you may want to examine what you’re holding on to. Be willing let go of past disappointments by choosing forgiveness. Who hurt you? Who wronged you? Release it to God. Do you need to forgive yourself? Do you need to receive God’s forgiveness? Let go of the past so you can overcome disappointments and experience the bright future God has in store for you! There is freedom in forgetting!

Father, search my heart and mind today. Show me any area where I may be holding on to the past. Help me receive Your forgiveness so that I can extend forgiveness to others and forget the former things and move forward in Your blessing in Jesus’ name. Amen.
— Joel & Victoria Osteen

Highs -n- Lows Living with the Disease

Another Beautiful Morning!
Another great night sleep and another day to get things ready before company.  :-). Temperatures are in the 50's this morning...I have all our windows open to air out the house.  Really nice day ahead...highs are expected to hit around 73. So nice...

I've been having a lot of tingling in my legs, feet and body core :-(
I still have swelling and pain but I'm trying to get everything cleaned up anyway...the cleaning is something I needed to get done for a long time...
I usually move things around when cleaning and wash all the walls and knick knacks...it always feels great to get that task completed...the spring cleaning.  It's on my must do list and so far I've been able to do it myself...so happy for that.  I may need to sit and rest in between projects but I am so thankful for all I can do...

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Today Bible Study

Failure to Listen to God
By Charles Stanley
Read | 2 Timothy 4:1-4

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul solemnly charges him to preach the Word and to reprove and rebuke with great patience (2 Tim. 4:2). A pastor could hardly have a more difficult assignment than this, because few people respond well to correction. What you do when you are criticized is a good indication of the maturity of your faith. The Bible tells us that “he who neglects discipline despises himself” while “he who listens to reproof acquires understanding” and “will dwell among the wise” (Prov. 15:31-32).

Every time criticism comes our way, we stand at a crossroads of possibilities for good or evil. We can either embrace correction and grow up or reject it and start down the slippery slope described in 2 Timothy 4. In this passage, Paul outlines the behavior of those who become tired of reproof. He says they will reject sound doctrine and instead embrace the teaching of those who “tickle” their ears (v. 3). This means they’ll hunt for churches or religious teachers who fail to apply the whole counsel of God. Then they “will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths” (v. 4). Most people in this state probably couldn’t trace how they went from truth to myths, but it may have started when they rejected some hard saying from the Bible or ignored good advice from a critic.

We can’t afford to “turn away our ears”—not even from critics who are immature, ignorant, or evil. Remember, if God spoke through Balaam’s donkey (Num. 22:28), He can speak through anyone. Be mindful to keep your ears open to God’s voice, regardless of the form it may come in.

Looking forward to another great day....

Highs -n- Lows Living with the Disease

Another Beautiful Morning!
Wow I slept good last night...this morning I woke up at 6:30am.  I feel rested...

Today, my day consists of cleaning the house and getting ready for company.  My brother, Tim, his wife Connie are coming from AZ and Tim's Son, Joe and his three kids are coming from Kentucky.  It will be very good to see everyone...

I am so thankful for family and friends...

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Today's Bible Study

Filling God’s Gaps
By Charles Stanley
Read | Genesis 16:1-6

Has God given you a vision that is as yet unfulfilled? Has He assigned you a task that remains incomplete, though you've done everything you know to do?

When the Lord creates “gaps” in our life, such waiting periods are designed for His specific purposes. Sometimes they are meant to prepare us for His pre-ordained answer. He may be waiting to fulfill His plan, because in the meantime there is something He needs to take care of—perhaps a rough edge that must be smoothed or a relationship that must be restored—before He will fully accomplish His purposes. He may also be testing our faith by plumbing its depths and expanding its borders so He can prove Himself faithful. Or He may be using a dry period as an occasion for correction: God will not reward a saint who is living in rebellion.

Oswald Chambers advises us to wait upon the Lord while He prepares us for His answers. It is imperative that we pray and trust God during these periods. We should not act until we’re certain that we have heard from Him. In fact, it can be dangerous to listen to others instead of the Lord. Even people with godly intentions can be wrong—look at Abram’s poor decisions after listening to the seemingly solid logic of his wife. The result was that Sarai’s handmaiden Hagar conceived Abram’s child, which certainly was not part of the Lord’s preferred plan.

Anything other than God’s plan carried out God’s way and in God’s timing amounts to self-reliance. Depend on His Spirit when deciding how to proceed; any other course of action can lead to serious and lasting repercussions.

Looking forward to another great day....