I Want To Finish Strong

I want to finish strong.

I went to a funeral today. It was a man who use to know God in a very intimate and personal way. He raised his family in church and was a leader in the church. But something happened and about the time his kids were leaving home, he made a decision to walk away. Walk away from his wife, his home, his kids, his church and his God. It was a decision that hurt a lot of people. It has been years now. He has paid the ultimate consequence of his actions. Only fifty years old and his life is over. Yes, he turned to God in his death and yes, thankfully, we have a loving Father full of grace and mercy who lovingly welcomed him back home but I couldn't help but think as I left that funeral how sad that though he started out strong, his finish was weak. His testimony was marred. People were hurt. His latter life was a life of ruin.

I'll say it again.....I want to finish strong.....

Small Differences

Last weekend while going through Abilene on my way to the women's retreat, I stopped at the mall and did some shopping. I bought myself several tops that were on sale at Dillards and also bought my hubby 4 new shirts. I was very excited about my purchases and couldn't wait to get home to show Mike and let him try them on. haha! Here it is a week later and the bag is still laying on the floor in the closet waiting for someone to come along and take a peek. I have suggested at least 3-4 times that he needs to go try his new clothes on and he always says "Oh yeah, I will...I just keep forgetting"

On the other hand, I have already worn every new piece of clothing that I bought for myself. I would never leave new clothes just laying around in the shopping bag for a whole week! No way! I have been known to get out of bed at midnight to model something new!

It just occured to me that this is just another one of the small differences between my amazing man and me!

Of course if I had bought him some new golf balls, they would have already been used! Yep!

Quiet Place

There is a quiet place
Far from the rapid pace
Where God can soothe my troubled heart
There in that quiet hour
I sense God's might power
And all my fears just fade away
I feel his holy kiss
And know the loving bliss
Of a God who knows my name
Then when my time is spent
I leave with just a hint
Of His sweet aroma in my soul
And a longing that will stay
Until another day
Returning to that quiet place.

~Dawn Benson

Old Friends

I just recently got reconnected with a couple of friends from my past. One was a good friend in Jr. High and the other was a good friend in High School. Wow! If you know how old I am you would know that was a very long time ago! It was another life ago! How can it be that I can feel a strange connection with these friends that I haven't seen in many years? My life is nothing like it was back then......I feel like I'm a different person and I am sure that they are too. Friendship is something that I would never want to throw away but unfortunately it isn't hard to let it fade away from neglect and disconnection. Will I ever really build on those friendships from so long ago? I'm not sure....It remains to be seen ,but I will give it a shot. I am hoping to see both of them in the near future. We will talk, we will reminisce, and then we will see if our friendship is more than just a thing of the past. Very few are blessed with friends that remain friends for life. I would love to have that blessing!

Practicing His Presence

I love the presence of God. It seems easy to enter into His presence when I am at church and the worship leader ushers us all right into the Holy Place with wonderful praise and worship. It's a little harder on my own, when I am not surrounded by other believers. There are so many things to distract me.......so many thoughts invading my mind-space. At the retreat that I went to this past week-end, I really fought for God's presence. His presence is awesome and when I finally get there, I always find just what I need. When I need peace, He is my Jehovah Peace. When I need grace, He is my Jehovah Grace. When I need comfort, He is my Jehovah Comfort. Everything I need, He is to me. I need to learn to practice His presence more. Go there often. It's worth the fight.