Litany of Humility

This morning I helped at the SAT given where I work.  My job was to give periodic breaks to the test proctors.  I love "breaking" in this one particular room where Theology is taught.  The teacher and I share a sisterhood in Christ and she builds me up each time we have a conversation.  Thank you, Jesus, that I work and spent most of my waking hours in a place where you are celebrated and loved - out loud!

Today I noticed a new (to me) poster on her wall titled "Litany of Humility" and I share it here.  I need to pray this EVERY day - maybe it will inspire you as well.  Recall Micah 6:8.

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
From the desire of being loved,
From the desire of being extolled,
From the desire of being honored,
From the desire of being praised,
From the desire of being preferred to others,
From the desire of being consulted,
From the desire of being approved,
From the fear of being humiliated,
From the fear of being despised,
From the fear of suffering rebukes,
From the fear of being calumniated,
From the fear of being forgotten,
From the fear of being ridiculed,
From the fear of being wronged,
From the fear of being suspected,
That others may be loved more than I, 
Deliver me, Jesus.


That others may be esteemed more than I ,
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease,
That others may be chosen and I set aside,
That others may be praised and I unnoticed,
That others may be preferred to me in everything,
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.  

This is my prayer and I plan to walk into that room often to remind myself how to live in a community.

28 years

Today is our anniversary - Paul and I have been married 28 years!  That's a long time, y'all!!  I want to share here a poem I wrote for Paul on our 15th anniversary and I still feel the same. 

You Are The One


I wondered, as all little girls do, who I'd spend the rest of my life with.
And when I imagined being in love, "happily ever after" was not a myth.
Though we came to each other from different directions
We immediately recognized God's connection.
Love, honor and cherish - we promised to do.
So began our journey, at first just two.
Soon blessed with a son, we had found paradise:
Love, never more clear than in a child's eyes.
Almost half my life now I've spent with you
And I realize the joys and trials, too,
Which are part of God's plan for our life together
Serve to make us complete, stronger, better.
As outside activities compete for our time
I still treasure the moments that are just yours and mine.
As we celebrate the anniversary of our wedding day
I renew my commitment to you this way:
To be your helpmeet, strong by your side
Knowing as you lead, God is your Guide.
Why did we marry? God put us together!
You are the one for me now and forever!

Tonight at our anniversary dinner at Texas Roadhouse, I heard the country song "One Boy, One Girl" and the lines reminded me of our meeting:

One boy, one girl - two hearts beating wildly.
To put it mildly it was love at first sight.
He smiled, she smiled, they knew right away
This was the day they'd waited for all their lives.
And for a moment the whole world revolved around one boy and one girl.

We met in Sunday School at Sherwood Baptist in Albany, GA where I was a member.  Paul came in one Sunday morning visiting (he was working and living with his aunt and uncle who were also members) and we all turned around to see who was coming in the door.  I saw a very good looking young man who needed a place to sit, and I just happened to be sitting on the front row with an empty seat beside me which he took.  That was it!!!  We became friends but the Holy Spirit had already told me we'd be together.  Our first date - I asked him for a ride home with the promise of hot chocolate - was after a Christmas program we both were a part of and it lasted a llllllooooonnnngggg time - lots of talking and beginning to get to know each other.  I told my roommate after he left that I'd just been out with the one I'd marry.  And so we did, less than a year later.  When you know, you know; I knew then and I still know now.

"Tump" is so a word!

I grew up in Birmingham, AL and used to have a neat playground toy in the backyard called a whirlygig.  It was a round, 4 seater, merry-go-round type thing with handles and foot pedals at each seat.  A fanny goes in each seat, hands on the handles, feet on the pedals - push, pull, spin!  Loads of fun - when you have 4 people who can make it go.  I had a little brother and a little girl neighbor and a little girl across the street neighbor; as you can see I was a giant among little children in my back yard.  Every now and then we'd have enough kids to make it go and that was like going to a carnival!  But when I was on one seat and not enough weight directly across, it would tump over.  Does anyone NOT know what I mean?  I related this story once and was soundly laughed at.  "Tump" is so a word and evokes a great bunch of memories!

Prayer requests, no - pleadings

Had a friend thank me today for praying for her, and I have been.  Tests were coming back with good results, she was feeling better - but I knew I have not been the prayer warrior I should have been.  I resolve to do better.  There've been so many friends lately with serious needs that have been on my mind and heart. Sometimes it almost seems too much to think of.  I am so thankful, though, that my Father knows my heart's desires.  And that even though I may not mention it time and time again, He knows my prayer requests, no - pleadings.  And they resonate with Him.  This is the dialog I'm having in my mind:

Me: Father, I know you're busy.
God: What is it?  I'm not busy.
Me: My friend needs...I need....My family needs...The world needs...I want...
God: I know their needs, and yours too, but tell me anyway - and be specific.  I want you to come to me with anything and everything - and often.
Me: I know, God, and I'm sorry that I get busy and forget (now my mind is conjuring up pictures of Jesus and how He was never too busy and never forgot, even on the cross)
God: Don't cry, child, I know you love me.  I just want to hear it because I love you so much.
Me: I need a hug.
God: Me too. Come closer; I'm always here for you.  Just a breath away - even when it's your last, I'm here.
Me: Thank you - for all you do for me.  I so don't deserve it.  You're so awesome and powerful and loving and - you still have time for me and care about what I care about.
God smiling and shaking His head replies, I want to do it for you.  I want to do more, just ask.  I gave you the best I had; do you think I'd not give you anything else?

Oh, the resources I don't utilize!  I resolve to spend more time with Him in prayer and study.  I'd like to look as much like my Father, the King, as I do my earthly father. 

Life gets tedious...

I thought of my father-in-law today.  Albert Cardwell - loved him: great man, dad, grandfather, father-in-law, husband, friend, counselor, therapist, pastor, son, brother, uncle. He was gentle with tough love and always had time for...just about anyone and anything.  What made him come to my mind was thinking earlier that sometimes I just don't want to do what I need to do!  (Insert little whining noise)  Not necessarily a hard thing or really an undesirable thing, but just being lazy and not wanting to do (fill in the blank; I know you've felt the same way!).  Heavy sigh (I just had a Mork flashback).  I heard him in my mind as I heard him so many times say, "Life gets tedious!"  He was the epitome of 1 Corinthians 14:40, "let everything be done decently and in good order."  He wanted things to be done right, people to act right, stuff to run right - well now he's in the only place that really happens: Heaven with his Lord and Saviour.  I can't wait to see him again!  Life's not tedious now, is it Albert?

Coronation

I woke up thinking about Jesus the other morning and what I saw in my head was a crown.  Maybe some of you have, but I have never been to a coronation ceremony - watched Queen Elizabeth's on TV, but that probly lacks some of the pomp and pageantry the real thing had.  Can you imagine what Jesus' coronation must have been like?  All creation bowing before the King of kings at the ready to serve him?  Of course, when we see Him, He will have been King for all time and we'll be joining the reception after the crowning.  Remember seeing the images of the queen coming onto the balcony with her family after her coronation, waving and smiling for the crowd?  We're the crowd and in Heaven we'll see Him in all His glory and be praising Him for eternity.  Can't wait...

Wedding Music

I love weddings!  I think we've established that already.  I love knowing when someone's planning their wedding, love the shower and getting close to "their day" and then attending.  I wonder what does her dress look like, what will her bridesmaids wear and what will the mothers wear, what is her color scheme, what music will they have?  It all makes me remember my wedding, too - and what a happy celebration that was!  Marrying my best friend with all my family and friends around me - I'm smiling now thinking about it.  Yesterday I hear "Wedding Music" on EnLighten, the gospel radio station I love and the words got me thinking about another wedding I'm going to - and will be a part of - way more exciting than the ceremony I had almost 28 years ago.  This one will be located in Heaven and I will be the bride again.  Dream with me a little....

Is that wedding music I hear?
The bride's adorned and ready to appear.
There's heavenly preparation for the wedding celebration.
Is that wedding music I hear?


The family is preparing for a wedding. All have been invited to attend.
The bride is standing ready, waiting for the signal
When the groom says, my children come on in.


Soon we'll rise to leave this land of sorrow for that ceremony in the air.
The Father then will lead us thru the Holy Land of splendor.
Have you made your preparation to go there?

I had beautiful music on my wedding day: organ played, best friend sang, traditional wedding march in and out - but on that day, talk about a trumpet solo!  Trumpet voluntaire will not begin to rival that trumpet call!

I was determined to wear my mother's dress, and I did.  It was Wedding Dress of the Year 1957 and it was beautiful!  But on "that day" I will be clothed in white because of what Jesus did and who He is - and it will be WAY more gorgeous than any wedding dress we could manufacture.

Flowers - can you say Garden of Eden?  If God prepared that for earth, imagine what He will have ready for His Son's wedding!  Food - I only wanted wedding cake, mints and punch.  We'll be attending the Marriage Supper of the Lamb after this wedding!

I close with this thought: long ago my pastor, Dr. W.A. "Brother Billy" Smith told of a wedding he officiated for a groom whose best friend and best man was Elvis Presley.  Brother Billy said that was the only wedding he'd ever been to where all eyes weren't on the bride!  Of course, that day all eyes were on one of the groomsmen, but on THAT DAY in Heaven, all eyes will be on the groom, Jesus!  How marvelous that will be!

Porch Pals



Isn't this guy tall and healthy?



Trash can for 3, please, near the door!

 There are LOTS of advantages to living in the country like we do - I love it!  One of the disadvantages is not having company, so we take it where we can get it.  We regularly have 3 little friends come to our house, but not to see us; it's to eat!  We keep our dog food secured (or so we thought!) in a large garbage can with a bungee cord over the top right outside the front door on the porch.  Our visitors are very persistent when hungry and make lots of noise!  But our lazy dogs are so used to the visits, they don't even wake up.  See proof in the pics...

Father's Day vol. 2

I am so very thankful that God brought Paul Cardwell into my life to be my husband and the father of my son!  This is in his honor - a tribute to him from me.  Paul, I love you - Happy Father's Day!

The Strength of a Man ©

The strength of a man is not his hands though they may provide his living:
Tender instruments of love through a hug or caress,
Tough from endless hours of pitching.
The strength of a man is not his back though it bears heavy loads:
The weight of his son while wrestling with dad
Or his bride while crossing their threshold.
The strength of a man is not his legs though they carry him down life's roads:
Ever ready to serve the needs of a friend,
Marking trails for his namesake to follow.
The strength of a man is not his mind though his decisions can be life changing:
An eternal choice for Christ, his mate throughout life,
Transferring values with results far-ranging.
The strength of a man is in his heart:
Committed, strong, and true.
Following dreams, realizing goals
Building a future as God leads us through you.

Father's Day 1999

Father's Day

I am blessed to have my earthly father still on earth.  I love having him living so close to me after he traveled so much for so long.  I can be with him in less than 2 hours!  This is a poem I wrote for him several years ago - Daddy, I love you - more now than ever!  And I'm glad you're taking care of yourself cause I need you still!  Happy Father's Day!

The Bond of Love (for Daddy)

The bond of love between a dad and daughter
Is a precious circle of care.
Born of love, nurtured through time,
Bathed in constant prayer.

We find our places together through life
And the need for each other remains.
Through constant change our hearts beat strong.
The connection stays the same.

I look up to you now as I always have.
Is there anything you can't fix?
Time after time I've run to your arms
As to a home made of mortar and bricks.

Yes, the bond of love between us
Is a precious circle of care.
Born of love, nurtured through time,
Bathed in constant prayer.


© Linda Cardwell
March 3, 1999

A Godly Giant

 Albert Walter Dorminy, 1905-1984

My grandaddy and me, 1957


I was inspired to write about my grandaddy, Albert Walter Dorminy, after this past weekend's visit with my daddy in Fitzgerald.  And the timing's right, since it's almost Father's Day, so here goes a tribute to my grandaddy, a Godly giant. 

Albert was married to Ada and they had 3 children: Carolyn (the youngest and only girl), Alvie, and Gene (the oldest, my dad).  Alvie had 2 children (Mark and Lisa) and so did my daddy: me and my brother, Gary.  So there were 4 grandchildren for them.  I was the oldest.



Ada and Albert Dorminy



He was always bigger than life to me - he was a big man, especially paired with my petite little Granny (a very Godly woman in her own right!).  He was a farmer and worked hard, all the time.  He also worked at the town's icehouse in the evenings back in the day, and drove a school bus.  I loved coming to visit him.  My brother and I came mostly a couple of weeks in the summer and a week or so at Christmas, occasionally during our spring break.  Our spring break in Alabama was not the same as the break in Georgia, so when we came and school was in I got to ride the school bus he drove and visit with the "big kids" he picked up on his route.  I've been told that he took me on the bus even when I was very little.  Then when it was parked in the yard it was a great play area - I can conjure up the heat and special smell even now!  I remember when he had cows, going with him to feed them - yep, the feed smell is there now.  I went to a tobacco auction with him one time - I can smell the tobacco now too.  I loved riding on the giant fender of his tractor with him or going in his truck to town - once a week!  He loved dessert, too - when he leaned over to me and said, "Let's have some cream" I knew that meant the churn was coming out and we were gonna have homemade ice cream!  I can remember sitting on it while it was churning and yes, I smell the motor and the rock salt!  A big part of his life was the spiritual aspect.  He was a church-going man and that meant we all went when we visited.  I remember going with them to Old Prospect Baptist Church, further down the dirt road they lived on.  Small congregation, but I remember the laughing, singing, preaching - worshipping!  His Bible was prominent in their house and well-used - no dust gathered there!

I learned some things this weekend that prompted me to write.  Here I'll relate a couple of stories about my Godly giant grandaddy.



Once when my daddy was still in school the family visited relatives and Grandaddy looked up toward the direction of their house and remarked they needed to go, their house was burning again!  Sure enough it was burning and Grandaddy announced, "God's trying to get my attention.  We're not doing some things right and that's changing right now.  We'll be regular in church for one thing."  So from then on, evidently every time the doors were open, there were the Dorminys. 

Daddy also remembered to me that they would bring the preacher home for lunch after Sunday services and Grandaddy would add to the collection for the preacher's salary if he thought it wasn't enough.  I doubt the church ever knew that. 

A friend of daddy's came to him at church with a story to relate.  He told of an acquaintance of his who was a trucker and told this man of growing up in a very poor family in Fitzgerald and riding to school on a bus driven by a man named Dorminy.  This bus driver, every Christmas, brought candy to the families of the children on his bus as gifts.  Trucker related how some years this was all they got and he remembered the kindness of Mr. Dorminy and how fond he was of him. 

Of course he was talking about my grandaddy - only the prompting of the Holy Spirit leads a poor farmer with a family to share with other families.  My daddy didn't know of this practice before hearing about it recently and even repeating it brought tears to his eyes; then him telling me made us both cry. 



I remember later when Grandaddy was so sick and in the hospital.  I was visiting and so was my cousin, Lisa.  Daddy was there and remarked to him that he had both his granddaughters there, what would he want to tell them?  One word he spoke to us - Jesus.  I told him then that he would surely live with Jesus because he loved Him so.  A Godly giant, yes.  Follower of Jesus, yes.  Always serving and loving and leaving a legacy for his family and neighbors to see.  Thank you, Grandaddy!  I'll see you when I get to Heaven!



Another Music Message

The other day I got another message through a song on EnLighten radio station.  It took me awhile to google the lyrics because I don't think I heard all the song at the time.  But the phrase that was the title, "The rock's between the hard place and you" spoke to me and I've remembered it for awhile.  I once heard a pastor say that God never intended us to be "under the circumstances" and I believe He also never means for us to be "between a rock and a hard place."  I'm glad Jesus takes my place there too!  There are lots of references to Jesus being "the rock" in scripture, song, etc, but I think this is my favorite:

THE ROCK’S BETWEEN THE HARD PLACE AND YOU

Diane Wilkinson / performed by The Kingdom Heirs

There on the bed of affliction
Asking God for a miracle
You heard your trusted physician
Say, “You’d better get ready for the funeral”
Then you felt the touch of a Healing Hand
From the God Who can resurrect a lifeless man
Let me tell you what you already knew
The Rock’s between the hard place and you

One day you know you’re gonna surely be
Between the devil and the deep blue sea
If you didn’t have the Lord you wouldn’t know what to do
But there in the middle of the darkest night
You see God move, and everything’s all right
Cause the Rock’s between the hard place and you

There serving God in the bad times
Nobody cares if you sink or swim
Faithful in all of the sad times
You’ll always know you can depend on Him
When everyone thought that you would surely fail
God kept blessing and your faith prevailed
Everything He ever promised you is true
The Rock’s between the hard place and you

The lines before the title in all 3 places really struck me too: "Let me tell you what you already knew," "You see God move and everything's all right," and "Everything He ever promised you is true."  If I could just keep in the front of my mind and heart what I already know, I probly wouldn't have to be reminded so regularly.  But, since I'm a slow retainer - thank you, Father, for giving me reminders of just how You are there for me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHarojHgzqw

Crafting - wood

I love crafting - just about all kinds.  I've painted tshirts and sweatshirts (like everyone!) and done a host of other things - some might get their own post.  But just recently I did a repeat craft project - I don't do that very often because I don't want to give someone something I've done before, lest they think I don't think enough of them to make something original.  Plus, I'm getting old and I forget what I've done when and for who!  This wooden block project is something Paul and I did for our friends having children WAY back in the day when Alan was little.  Now our friends are having grandchildren and some of Alan's friends are having children so this one came out of retirement.  We use a plaque that Paul fashions in his shop and alphabet blocks - most are ones Alan had and played with, and I've added to the collection as well.  Then pegs for hanging stuff.  I love this, mostly because Paul and I make it together.  An oldie but goodie!  Anybody who wants one, help me find the blocks~

House of Fur

Alan and "Samuel" Spring 1990

It's official!  I live in a house of fur.  No, not the kind with luxurious fur of all colors and lengths - wait a minute, as a matter of fact, there are all colors, lengths and they are luxurious feeling! 

Alan and Butterscotch - Alan wanted him
so badly to ride with him!  Had to keep
a hand on him to keep him in.

Paul and I both grew up with dogs - I had Princess (toy pekignese) and he had Gigi.  When we got married we had a black cat (Kitty - I know, how original!) and then picked up a stray that wandered the Mercer campus (Nikki, a mix).  Kitty wandered away and Nikki took up with someone else on campus.  Alan's grandma gave him a cocker spaniel the Christmas he was 2, named Butterscotch.  Butterscotch was taken out of our yard one day and we never really knew where he was or what happened.  We got a golden retriever - the first of many - named Penny; what a wonderful dog she was!  Cochise belonged to above mentioned grandma and came to live with us too.  Alan was surrounded by human and animal love!  He even had 2 rabbits for a while: Hoppy and Samuel.  We rescued a border collie mix, Oreo, and found a tiny puppy, Bubba, abandoned at our local dump site.  They all lived with us for a time.  Penny, Cochise, Oreo, and Bubba are in Heaven waiting on us to join them.  We've laughed and cried with and for our dogs over the years.  Then came the twins: golden retriever puppies Dixie and Maggie and they have grown up with us - they're 9 years old now.  We still have Dixie, and Alan and his bride have Maggie with them (and they've added a male golden, Ruger).  When Alan went to college I got a little lap dog, Cookie.  She's a pomerschnoodle (dad was a pomeranian, mother was mini schnauzer/poodle) and is 7 years old.  Last month we fostered, with the hopes of permanently adding, 2 small white abandoned puppies of unknown mixed breed: Rhett and Scarlett.  They lit up our house for a couple of weeks, but ultimately could not stay.  Whew!  That brings the current count to 2 at our house: Dixie and Cookie, and 2 at Alan and Ashley's house: Maggie and Ruger.  Bring on the fur, cause with it comes unconditional love!



Cookie, Dixie, Maggie and Ruger.  As usual,
Her Highness Cookie is holding court and
Ruger is looking for something to get in to.



We're currently doggy-sitting Maggie and Ruger so our house is full of fur right now!  Guess we have to prove ourselves worthy with grand-dogs first!





Mother's Heart

I wrote this poem years ago for my mama on Mother's Day and used it on the program for her memorial service 6 years ago.  Today I offer it to her again - this time in her memory - and in honor of all the moms out there.

Mother’s Heart

Giving life, giving love
Beating strong, bearing pain
Lifting up, loaded down
Ever stretching never strained.

Working hard, weighing heavy
Holding family, healing fears
Steady pace, silent pleadings
Sharing troubles, shedding tears.

Feeling needs, following instincts
Storing memories, singing songs
Resting gently, recalling moments
Loving softly, living strong.

© Linda Cardwell
Mother’s Day ‘99

I don't know where the alliteration came from and once it started flowing, it just kept coming until...it was done.  I like it...hope you will too.  And if you're a mom, you know how true it is.

Royal Wedding

Today was the day - the royal wedding of Prince Charles and Kate Middleton, now Duchess of Cambridge!  It looked lovely from my vantage point - home watching on TV.  It had all the elements of any wedding PLUS some that only occur at a royal wedding.  I love weddings - anyone's wedding!  I love all the attention to details never thought of before - or after!  I love the talk about it before and especially the pictures after.  I thoroughly enjoyed my own wedding - in fact, as I walked down the aisle I remember looking around and thinking that it was just exactly as I always wanted.  And, believe me, I'd been doing some planning - for a long time!

I didn't attend this wedding, never have attended a royal wedding. But there's one in my future, yours too if you have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior.  We will attend the ultimate wedding - not just the wedding of the century - when we, the Bride, meet Christ, our Bridegroom, at the supreme altar!  It will truly be a wedding made in Heaven!

Talk about the dress!  He will be clothed in robes of white and we will put on immortality!  The designer will be God Almighty and there won't be any knock-offs made to rival it! 

I had a bride's cake, groom's cake, punch, sandwiches and mints at my wedding reception.  But on "that day" we will feast at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb - and no one will leave hungry or thirsty ever again.

Then - and this is the best part - the honeymoon will last for eternity!  We will be His and He will be ours for time and time and time forever. 

The invitations have been extended; hope you've sent in your RSVP.

An Easter Poem

Easter


A time of rebirth, renewal and growth,
A chance to begin anew.
We take our cue from nature's grand show,
Starting fresh as morning's first dew.

As Jesus arose with a promise of life
That morning from the grave,
We, too, will be granted freedom from strife
As His Spirit took flight from the cave.

Today our Lord gives His presence
And comfort when we feel alone.
He sends His Spirit, God's essence.
He claims us and calls us His own.

Easter reminds us to live every day
As the gift that we have been given.
Loving, serving, and living His way
Will give us a glimpse of Heaven.

© Linda Cardwell
April 4, 1999

Palms

I love working in a place where it's more than ok to share/show your faith.  It's celebrated!  God has put me in a place where I'm constantly surrounded with symbols of the Christian life. For example, it's Holy Week.  My office is just down the hall from our Chapel.  I can go there any time and, of course, it is full of the color of the season.  The purple draping reminds me of the Kingship of Christ and how we are, also, royalty because of Jesus.  The stations of the cross are on the wall - I'd like to devote another post to that.  Today I saw palms appear in the chapel and on the credenza against a wall outside my office.  Seeing them reminds me of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and all the celebrating that went on that day.  No one but Jesus knew how temporary that would be.  But for now, the palms are displayed.  These are the palms used in Palm Sunday services and will be blessed and burned, and their ashes used for next spring's Ash Wednesday services.  Looking at them reminds me of Jesus' entry immediately followed by his death, burial, and (PTL!) resurrection - then reminds me to look ahead to next year's Lenten beginning.  Really that is a picture of the cycle of the Christian's life: joy of salvation, repentance of sin, forgiveness and renewing, inevitable sinning again, etc.  But the best part is that Jesus showed the way through His death to life eternal!  Thank you, Jesus, for going through the humiliation and pain of the cross to lead us into your heaven!  See you there!!!!

Sensitive

I've been waiting all day to write this post because God clearly spoke to me.  I need to be more sensitive to the things I'm exposing myself to.  Example: I love going to the theater - especially love musicals.  I had tickets to "A Chorus Line" and went last night.  Should have done some research first - I left before it was half done - and that was an hour longer than I should have stayed.  It was raunchy - to me.  I felt myself being pricked by the Holy Spirit and Him saying to me, "this is not what I want in your mind, your thoughts, your memory."  I paid attention and my friend and I got up and left.  But the Holy Spirit wasn't through with me yet.  He prompted to my mind: TV, books - stuff I like to fill my time with.  "No," He said, "those things need a good cleaning too."  So I mean to pay attention and be more mindful of what goes in my mind.  There are lots of good books out there to choose from - they don't have to be of the wrong sort - or even questionable.  I have devotion books, Christian fiction, clean fiction and others to read.  And I can turn the channel or get up when I don't think what's on TV is edifying.  I am praying that if God gives me this conviction, He will also give me the strength to live it.  Hey, friends out there, check me on this - ask me what I'm reading.  I want it to be something worthy of my time and my mind.  I'm admonished by Scripture in Philippians 2:5 to "let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." 

It's Our Job!

Morning music message again!  I truly believe nature is alive and in tune with its Creator.  I wish I were as in tune with my Creator!  This morning's music message echoed what Jesus said in Luke 19:40,

“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

This was in response to the Pharisees wanting him to quiet the crowd welcoming Him into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  I can see around me all created, living things bursting with praise at their Creator in their own beautiful ways (blooms, growth, sunshine, rain) - but we who have a voice are so often silent.  And I can also imagine those created, living things bursting with praise aloud if we don't raise our voices to Him.  Can't you?  But it's our job to praise Him and lift Him up.  Jesus said if we would do that, He would do the rest by drawing all men to Himself. 

Lord, please help me not be silent when it comes to praising you!