Ripples

By Pat

As a child, I loved to skip rocks across water. I was never very good at it, and usually lost the "rock-skipping" contests, but I still had fun doing it. Although it's been a long time, I still remember that each time the rock skimmed the water, it left a ripple wherever it touched, so that the ripples were plentiful all the way to where the rock would sink.

Our lives are like those rocks. No matter where we are or what we're doing, our actions make ripples. What we might think is insignificant just might not be. It affects others in some way, who will affect others in some way, and so on and so on, thus creating ripples in the world. God's world. For you see, God uses each of us to make the ripples that make or break the lives we touch.

Never be afraid to skip across the water and make positive ripples in your life, for you never  know who you are affecting, or in what way. Be a shining light. Spread God's love and goodness wherever you go. If were were each mindful that every word we speak, every deed we do, is a ripple, we can as a team make this world a much better place.

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise you Father in Heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.

Wait for God's Moves

By Pat

I have just recently begun playing an interactive word game very similar to Scrabble, with my phone, that I just love. My opponents and I take turns making our moves against each other at our leisure, each trying to out-score the other. It's great fun for me. I love the challenge and I go to great lengths searching for just the right spot for my letters, especially the high point ones.

There have been several times I have had my eye on a particular spot, one that I am determined to use... lots of points! I wait, just like a spider for the perfect time to move in for the kill. I want that spot! I wait for just the right letter. And wait... sometimes in vain. The opportunity never pans out. But if I move my eyes around and check to see what else is available, many times I see chances for my words to be made in different spots, maybe not exactly what I had in mind, but even better! If only I would just shift my focus.

I have been the same way in my day-to-day living and I know I'm not alone. I see my life and the moves I should make MY way, while more often than not God sees it entirely differently. What looks perfect to me becomes my focus, and God has to remind me to shift my focus and allow Him to make the moves. His ways are always better. He knows just where to place me, and when. It's not always easy to let go of my focus, but if I allow God to move me, I win every time-for Him.

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." (Proverbs 19:21)

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.

God is in Control

By Pat

The past several years have been very trying for my family, and I know I am not alone in this. Many of my friends have also recently had some very difficult, stressful, and in some cases life-changing situations. And my mother, once vibrant and healthy, has had some serious health issues that continue daily, with no end in sight. We have all asked ourselves and God why... it just doesn't make sense. We can easily become discouraged. We want answers and resolutions. We seek the missing pieces of the puzzles that are our lives, forgetting that we are not the puzzle-makers. God is.

It's at these times we need to remember that no matter what it going on, God is in control. Always has been, always will be. We do not walk alone, and these times of turmoil can and should be used to draw closer to God. No one builds muscles by continually walking downhill. Personally speaking, it's through the deep struggles that I grow closer to God.

This life we lead and our reactions to the problems we face are what will determine our future in God's eternal kingdom. Instead of constantly trying to make sense of our circumstances, we should just accept that sometimes there IS no sense, and just use our struggles to become better children of God. Someday...someday it will all make sense, and it will all have been worth it!

"Therefore we do not lose hope. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.

Letting Go

By Pat

I have been having a mighty struggle during the past week with anger, resentment, bitterness, and even feelings of hatred. Someone has caused my husband and me great hardship and financial loss because of a very stupid and inconsiderate act. We are now dealing with how to resolve the problem, and once again worrying about an unexpected lump of money we will have to come up with. And this is not the first time we have had to clean up after this person. Most likely it will not be the last. My feelings are justified. I have a right to feel furious, worried, angry and resentful. But do I have permission?

In James 1:20, James says, "for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." And he is right. God created us to take His light into the world no matter what our current circumstances might be. We were not given terms and conditions; no disclaimer on how we distribute our forgiveness. I am holding onto my ugly feelings, in part, because I don't want to let this person "off the hook" and make her think she has won and all is well. I want to have the upper hand. And it's wrong. I know it's wrong, and therefore I carry the additional burden of guilt for feeling this way. Boy, that Satan. He certainly knows our Achilles heels, doesn't he?

But Jesus is stronger than Satan, and He will not let me go through this alone. I know I must let go of this, and that the only way I can is with the help of mighty God. I must replace these feelings I have with kindness and forgiveness, and that doesn't mean when I'm good and ready. It means NOW. I must release my righteous indignation. I must be willing to let go of my desire to win, remembering that the only winner in all of this should be God, because when I am obedient to Him He wins. That's all that matters. This is NOT about me.

And so, the only thing I can do, the only weapon I can utilize, is prayer. I have been praying for the hardness in my heart to be softened and the anger to dissipate. I have been praying for God to help me as I wrestle with Satan, and I already feel the changes happening. I have given it to God. I have asked the One who has forgiven me to help me to forgive also. I am letting go. I have decided that pleasing God is more important than harboring my ugly feelings, no matter how justified I might think they are. I have only myself  and my own actions to answer for when I stand at the judgment throne, and I want to have the Lord smile at me, not shake His finger. It's hard. But it's worth it. After all, if forgiveness was good enough for Jesus even as He was crucified, it's good enough for me. God said it, I believe it, that settles it!

"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven."  (Matthew 18:21-22)

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.

Don't Worry!

By Pat

Another winter is here, and although we have been blessed with a mild one so far, it's far from over. I have a good friend who detests cold weather, and especially snow, and she watches the weather forecasts each day, practically holding her breath, just to make sure no winter storms are headed her way. She frets and fusses from November till March, and though the occasional snow storm does come her way, she gets very little snow. So in the end, all of her worrying and waiting has been, for the most part, for nothing, and all she has really done is to rob each day of the joy it might have held. Her days are wasted and she has failed to see the lovely parts of the winter season.

I have also ruined many days of my life worrying, mostly about things that never happen. I think we have all been guilty of that. As soon as the dark clouds of life begin to roll in, we start worrying, and in so doing, we weaken ourselves and find that we are unprepared for the actual storm if and when it does hit. We forget that sometimes storm clouds blow the other way, or even dissipate and so we worry, usually needlessly.

Instead of anticipating problems that may never happen and hiding from the storms of tomorrow, we need to prepare ourselves so that, no matter what comes our way, we're ready. We need to put tomorrow out of our heads and rejoice in today, remembering that most of what we waste our time worrying about never happens anyway. If we live our lives in a proactive way, we need never fear tomorrow. We need not worry if, instead of infesting our heads with concerns, we fill them with Jesus. Pray and praise, find pleasure in each day, each moment. And be grateful. Use your spare time to further your walk with God. Trust Him. The One who holds you now will hold you always, so why worry? Stock up for your storms with Jesus, and you will always be prepared. Don't worry!

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" (Matthew 6:27)..."Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:34)

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.