It Is Not For A Man To Direct His Steps Jeremiah 10:23

"I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps." Jeremiah 10:23

This is part of a prayer in which Jeremiah asked to be corrected-but not with anger-because in anger God might reduce him to nothing.

I'm thinking that we all need correcting now and then. Some of us more often than others. And some only in certain areas. Some people have no problems with drinking or drugs or any of the 'big' vices but still have problems with 'smaller' things like gossip or eating too many sweets.

It is also hard to know sometimes exactly what God wants. Some things are easy...we know not to commit murder or adultery, and we know not to lie, and we know that stealing is bad.

It is the other things like just how many potato chips is too many? Is it gossip to tell my mother what my friends are up to? Just where does conversation turn into gossip? How much money is it ok to spend on things not actually 'needed' but only 'wanted'?

Which books are really really bad to read and which are ok? Of course pornography is definitely out and anything that incites to hatred but what about many of those young adult books that are so popular these days?

It is not easy to know. And sometimes that 'still small voice' is hard to hear. You have to actually stop and be still. I'm going to have to work on that. I need to listen.

My Grandmother Died October 18th

My grandmother died Tuesday Afternoon October 18th. She was 84 years old.

I had lived with her for at least half my life. While I was in school I spent weekends, holidays, and summers at her house. As soon as I graduated high school I moved in her house and never left...till I got married.

I miss her but am keeping in mind what Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 "Brothers we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope."

We have a sure and certain hope. We will see our loved ones again someday. God send the day be soon.

According To Your Love Remember Me Psalm 25:7

Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O Lord. Psalm 25:7

I was reminded of this by a song I remember from when I was little. Do Lord, Oh Do Lord, Oh Do Remember Me! I looked up the lyrics this morning and posted it on my lyrics and poems site.

I want to be remembered. But definitely not my rebellious youth. I was very rebellious and downright stupid sometimes. Foolish for sure about many things.

I would really hope that part would be forgotten. I have asked for forgiveness so I'm pretty sure it will be. Unless I forget something that should have been confessed...I expect God will point it out to me eventually if so.

It is a really good thing He loves us though. Otherwise we would be in deep deep trouble.

Something else to give thanks for!

Gods Creation Is Amazing

God created some truly amazing things!

I have been sick again this past week and feeling down. But then my husband hollered at me to come out and look at something on the porch. He had seen some frogs hiding in one of his roses. They were so cute!

My husband was so busy looking at them that he didn't even notice what else was lurking in the same area.

He nearly freaked out when he did see it. I had to look it up and show him pictures online before he would believe it wasn't dangerous too. It is just a garden spider. They build huge webs sometimes and you can walk right into them if you are not paying attention.  They have pretty yellow markings.

 My pictures still do not come out that well either. But you can see how easy it would be to just go past and not even notice these creatures. You have to look around and pay attention. The Lord made some wondrous things when he created this world.

And all for us! Isn't that amazing?

I felt much better after seeing them. So grateful for all the wonderful blessings. I need to be reminded...especially when I'm not feeling well.

Do Not Love The World 1 John 2:15-17

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." 1 John 2:15-17

I've been working on this one for a long time now. I'm not entirely sure how well I'm doing. I know improvement has been made...but still...there is more work to do on this.

This is difficult because you don't even notice half the time. You get so used to things like the computer and the tv and the telephone...and these days folks seem to think they can't live without a cell phone.

And of course there are other things like refrigerators, stoves, washer/dryers, and air conditioners that modern people are so used to. It has gotten to where people in the United States at least seem to think these things are REQUIRED....and that everyone is ENTITLED to them.

Then of course you have clothing and jewelry and makeup and all the personal items that commercials claim everyone needs to keep themselves smelling good and looking good. And we are told that if we don't have these thing no one will like us!

Then there are the causes...save the whales! save the homeless! save the environment! Save the trees! Lots of things to save. And all are good causes worth supporting. But not to the extent that we LOVE that cause more than God...because ultimately...we cannot even save ourselves...no way can we save the world. Only Jesus can do that. And he will. In his good time.

We just need to keep in mind that all we really NEED is God. Easy to say...hard to do. Working on it!

How are you doing with that?