Wilbur, The Little Box Turtle

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Holy Spirit, Loving Father, Psalms

There once was a little box turtle named Wilbur…

One day, as my Hubby and I were driving, we saw this little box turtle in the middle of the road trying to cross. As the cars went by, the little turtle would stop and draw his head back into his shell. Poor little turtle. He had left the cover of the grass along the road, and had crossed a boundary into dangerous territory.

Seeing the little turtle made me think about a little box turtle named Wilbur. He lived in our basement for a long time when I was a little girl. He seemed to be very content. He had the run of the basement and all the lettuce, bugs and water he could consume. He had nothing to fear. He could only travel so far, until he ran into the boundary which was impossible for him to cross over (it was a concrete wall). Every family member watched carefully not to step on him. We moved away from our home on Madison street for a while, so we decided to move Wilbur to the backyard while we were gone. There was no way he could fend for himself in that basement for a long period of time. When we moved back to our home on Madison street, we were amazed to find Wilbur still living in the backyard. You might say, “maybe it wasn’t Wilbur, just another turtle“. But we knew it was Wilbur. We lived with him for a long time. Why was he still there, in that backyard? I guess he lived within the boundaries of that basement for so long, that when he was placed in the backyard, he was secure in traveling just so far. He was surely getting all his little turtle needs met in that backyard. So why should he cross over into dangerous territory? I know he didn’t reason all of that out, but you have to admit the ‘little turtle decision’ to stay in that backyard was a good one.

We’re like that little box turtle trying to cross the road sometimes. When I was young I crossed many boundaries, crossing into dangerous territory. My ‘Sis’ and I were talking one day about some of the boundaries I crossed when I was young. I told her that there is no way I could cross those boundaries today. What was I thinking? I was crossing the boundaries of God, into dangerous territory.

Since the beginning, God has been setting boundaries for His creation. Just like Adam and Eve found out, there is a price to pay for crossing God’s boundaries. Just as with that little box turtle crossing the road… he may have made it across the day my Hubby and I saw him, but if he continues to cross he will pay the price. We all need to be more like Wilbur the turtle. Become VERY aware of the boundaries of God and be content to stay within them. There is reason for God’s boundaries.

The Word is a very good place to start, to learn where God’s boundaries are. The Word will infuse our hearts with His righteousness and His standards for living. Listen closely for the Holy Spirit, because he will touch our hearts and souls with the ways of God. He will clearly identify those ‘yes we shoulds’ and ‘no we should nots’ in life, and get us off that middle of the road line.

Thoughts to Ponder: We find authority in God’s Word. The Holy Spirit springs into action in our lives through The Word. The Word helps us to discern right from wrong. We find security within the boundaries of God, just as Wilbur found security within the boundaries of that basement and backyard.

Scripture to Ponder: Psalm 119 ~ An instruction manual devoted to aligning life with God’s Word!

Father, Let Me Not Forget

Tags

Loving Father, Prayer, Psalms

Psalm 103:1-5 ~ Let Me Not Forget

I praise you Father, with all my inmost being.  I praise your Holy Name.  I will forget not all your benefits.  You have forgiven all my sins and have healed all my diseases.  You have redeemed my life from my pit and crowned me with love and compassion.  You satisfy my desires with good things, so that my youth is renewed like the eagle.

Our lives are going to become very busy, and it is a time when we are certainly going to become more mobile.  There will be Grand-babes running in and out for the summer.  We will be coming and going~here and there.  I ask for your wisdom and guidance, and stamina as we play and mentor our Grand-babes this summer.  Give us an extra measure of protection through the golf camps, water fun at the lake, and fun in the sunshine.  I ask for protection for Ed and I as we do some extra, much-needed, time away together.  Thank you for these times we are able to just get away to experience places we have not been,  and the ministry opportunity to go and lend a helping hand and heart.

Help me to relax and to not worry, within the busyness of summertime ~ especially with the small nothings that can wait.  Let Me Not Forget You, within the busyness of summertime.

Be with our Children and Grand-babes as they come and go this summer.  Keep them safe and healthy.  I pray for their daily needs.  Give them their daily bread, Father.

Psalm 103:8-10 ~ A Beautiful Description of Your Love, Father

We are so thankful for life, your compassion, and your graciousness toward us.  We thank you for your abounding love for us.  We thank you for your Word, that so beautifully describes your love and grace for us.

Psalm 103:17 ~ Everlasting 

Father, thankyou for your everlasting love!  Hold my family up, keep us safe, keep our eyes open to the needs around us wherever we are this summer, and Let Us Not Forget You ~ In the busyness of summertime!

Your Daughter, Pam

To Inspire Courage

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Friendship, Matters Of The Heart

My Hubby and I have taught Gary Chapman’s, The Five Love Languages, many times.  We have taught it in our home church, many places across the U.S., in Haiti, Asia and Mexico.  We normally write and teach our own material, but, The Five Love Languages has truly been a remarkable tool for our own relationship.  And, we love to teach it.  We have our own unique way of teaching our participants, by practicing each love language, and we have created many visual aids.  We have taught these Love Languages to singles, couples and I have taught them at women’s conferences. Our Children are well versed in The Love Languages, and our Grand-babes benefit from our knowledge of their primary love languages.  One thing Ed (my Hubby) and  I have become more skillful in, is giving love to one another in our primary love languages.  We are not experts, but we have made it a priority to be students of one another and to place honor and respect on the other’s needs.  The reason I tell you these things, is because I believe in the principle of The 5 Love Languages~Because it will enhance your life and bless those that you love.  ”The objective of giving love is not to manipulate, but it is a proven fact that when we lift one another up (fill one another’s love tank), our loved one (the receiver of our love and encouragement~whoever that may be) will respond and possibly reciprocate.” ~ Gary Chapman, The Reciprocal Principle

When we make a change in our lives, those around us have to make a change (in some way) to respond to our change!  Believe it! So be careful in what you say and do, and watch the attitude!  It has been said that attitude determines the color of our lives!

My primary love language is Words of Affirmation.  I find that many women are blessed with this primary love language. Believe it or not, it is one of the easiest love languages for a husband to learn to speak.  One of the first, and most important, things you need to know about the Love Language of Words of Affirmation is that non-affirming words are extremely hurtful to a Words of Affirmation kind of gal!

One of the ways in which we give Words of Affirmation is through encouraging words.  I believe that it’s really important to understand what it means to encourage someone.

What does it mean to encourage?

To encourage means to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope; as in encouraging one another with kind and inspiring words.  Many times when we attempt to encourage someone, we forget that encouragement is meant to inspire and nurture (to care for and encourage growth).

Yesterday, as I sat sipping a cup of coffee along side a friend, I had the awesome privilege to encourage her.  She and her husband are in the beginning stages of a new and exciting ministry.  This is a ministry that has led them, somewhat, out of their comfort zones.  Isn’t that just like the Lord to lead us outside our box!  What a blessing it was for me to listen to my friend share how the Lord has been leading them step by step, allowing them to help others in need and all the while, the Lord is doing a work in their own hearts.  It’s so exciting for me, to know that my friend feels comfortable in sharing all of this with me, and to know that she knows I WILL ENCOURAGE her and AFFIRM that she has heard the voice of God!

Today, someone I love very deeply called me, to encourage her as she faces the possibility of losing her job because of state budget cuts in programs for children.  My encouragement to my loved one was for her to remember how God has always been faithful in her life.  I inspired her to allow God to inspire her, as she remembers and thanks Him for His faithfulness.

Several months ago I witnessed, online, one Christian author horribly un-inspire a fellow Christian author.  Let’s just say the un-inspirer was adding her two cents when it was un-called for.  When we speak words to inspire someone, we must remember that we are inspiring this person to give her/him courage, spirit, or hope as to something that is personal to them. It really has nothing to do with what we want for this person, or our opinions.  It may be something they want to accomplish, something they are needing, or to be inspired to step out in faith to do something, or speak up about something.   Many times, adding our two cents is saying, “that was a real good attempt by you, but I am going to add this or inject this, because quite frankly I can do this better than you can~and you are wrong because I don’t totally agree with you“.  There may or may not come a time and place when we can add to or give advice, IN LOVE. If not…

…Perhaps, Simply Encouragement is Enough!

“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.  Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”  1 Thessalonians 5:9-11

Just as you are doing~just as Paul is encouraging (inspiring courage to keep on doing) as he did in 4:1, 4:18 and 5:11~I want to encourage you,and I, to …

…Simply Enjoy, Inspiring Courage ~ Encouraging One Another, in Love!

Amazing Women of the Bible~

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Girls of Faith

Reblogged from Shandra Harris With Heart Wide Open:

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Orphan To Queen

Gleaning with Ruth

Celebrating Mothers today with three more of my Favorite Amazing Women from the Bible~they could see the bigger picture, called to put themselves aside, blessed because they obeyed. Meet Esther, Ruth and Abigail.

Seems that Mother's Day creates a desire in many of us to glean from the faith, wisdom and courage of inspiring women. Here are three women who have made an impact upon the life of my friend Shandra Harris. Enjoy!

Lydia ~ Receiver And Responder

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Girls of Faith, Lydia, Sharing Christ

Lydia ~ If You Have Judged Me To Be Faithful

From My Butterfly Bible Study ~ Girls of Faith ~ Faith Coming Into Focus

The Lord Opened Her Heart, and She Responded

Several years ago, I had the privilege of being in the ancient city of Philippi on my birthday. I will always remember that day because my “Hubby” took my picture at the river spot, where it is said that Lydia was baptized. It is possible that this was not the exact spot where she was baptized, but it would be very close as it is not far outside the city walls. There was no Jewish synagogue in Philippi (this was a Roman colony), so it was likely that the Jews (and others) would meet near this spot, at the river (near running water).

“…we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. Lydia said, If you consider me a believer in the Lord (the King James translation says, if you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord), come and stay at my house. And she persuaded us.” Acts 16:12-15

What do we know about Lydia?

We know that she was away from her hometown, Thyatira.  Thyatira, a city of Asia-Minor, was about 300 miles away from Philippi.  This city was famous for its purple dye.  The dye was very expensive.  The cloth this dye was used on would have been very expensive.  We are told that Lydia was a dealer in purpole cloth.  Her business was probably a competitive one, because she would have catered to the wealthy class of Philippi.

When Lydia’s family is spoken of, a husband or children are not mentioned. So, we know little of her situation other than, she and the members of her household were baptized.  It is very possible that she was supporting herself and the members of her household.

We also know that Lydia was a worshiper of Jehovah God.  She was probably a Gentile who converted to Judaism.  In verse 14, the word for worshiper in the “Greek is Sebomai.  It means she was a worshiper of the one true God (quoted from The Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible).”  Apparently, Lydia was faithful in her worship of Jehovah God, because she had made the choice to observe the Sabbath instead of selling her purple cloth in the Agora (market place) in Philippi that day.

To Po n d e r. . .Write down your 1st thoughts about Miss Lydia. What do you think of her, personally?

I can close my eyes and imagine the scene as Lydia and her friends sat along the banks of the Gangites river. It was here that they found peace and quiet on the Sabbath, away from the noise, the conducting of business, and the worship of other gods in the city of Philippi. What a beautiful account the Scripture gives us as to why Paul and his companions came to be at the very spot Lydia and her friends were at that day (see Acts 16:6-10).

Their presence there that day was not by chance. It was by the power of the Holy Spirit and Paul’s vision from the Spirit that led him, along with Silas and Timothy, to the banks of the Gangites river that day. I believe that Lydia, a Gentile, must have had a great desire to know the God of the Jewish people. The Holy Spirit must have orchestrated Lydia’s presence at the river that day ~ that very day and hour that Paul and his companions would be there. 

As Lydia listened to Paul preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, her heart was opened by the Lord. Several years ago I was with a person who was sharing the Gospel message with a woman. After this person explained the Gospel, this person said, would you like to go home and think about it before you accept Christ?  My thought was, why does she need to think about it and if you believe the Holy Spirit has drawn this women to seek you out to share the hope of Jesus, why would you even ask her that question?  My point is that I don’t believe Lydia needed to think about it at all, and Paul certainly was not going to ask her to.  Do you?  It’s obvious that the Holy Spirit is at work here, and the messenger of the Gospel was unashamed and confident.

Lydia made her decision without any hesitation. She was so certain of her decision to follow Jesus that she quickly converted her whole household. I would love to have been there that day to hear her explosive heart for Jesus, speaking boldly, entreating her household to follow her lead to make the right choice, and be baptized.

I’m sure that Lydia not only wanted to care for the needs of Paul and his companions, but also to know more about Christ and His truth. The Scripture says that after all were baptized, she invited Paul and his companions into her home. She said…

…if you consider me a believer ~ if you have judged me to be faithful ~ if you have faith in my conversion, come and stay at my house.

She persuaded them to do so.  Lydia must have radiated with the Spirit of God and showed perseverance in her commitment.  After being set free from prison, Paul and Silas headed straight for Lydia’s house (see Acts 16:40).  I would say that when Paul and Silas walked in the door of her house, they were met with many new Christians waiting to hear of how the doors of the prison flew open and their chains were loosed (see Acts 16:26).  After all, (I believe) Lydia and her household had prayed continuously for Paul and Silas, while they were in prison.

In Lydia, I see a heart and a home that will always be open to the followers of Christ. Her heart and home will be a haven, supplying needs and comfort. We can judge her, the first to be converted and to be faithful. She was the first to be baptized and the first to open her house, at Philippi. We would never see her hiding her light under a lampshade. Her light shines, not only in her household, but still today for us to see. (see Matthew 5:14-16)

To Po n d e r. . .Lydia was a receiver and a responder. She didn’t have to think about what she was going to do. She accepted Christ and His message, and the messenger.

She responded immediately. She didn’t have to wait for something special to come along, to do for Jesus. Everyday is special with the Lord. Allow Him to open your heart up to the daily world around you. Are you a receiver and a responder?

Is your heart open daily to the world around you?

Lord, that our hearts would be opened to your Holy Spirit, as receiver of your direction, re-sponder to the needs of others and imparting your message of hope! We long for that simplicity. We do not wait for something special to come along. That something special is already here!