Deep & Wide

Today marks one week without our precious little guy, Scooby.  Each day the grip of grief eases just a bit more and allows happy memories to take the place of pain.  That God gives us hearts that can love so much amazes me.  Can you imagine what the depth and breadth of His love must be since we only reflect a portion of what He is?  What He must feel when he "loses" one of us?  Wow, huh?

It was a nice weekend.  We didn't do much, really.  Saturday was snowy and bitterly cold.  Tim got more blood work done first thing.  He has yet another doctor appointment on Wednesday.  I'm not sure what all is going on. He said they told him is liver count was up and to quit taking his cholesterol medication.  He hasn't taken it in months, so that can't be causing it.  He said the doctor is worried about his bladder, too.  Why??  I can't take off work to go with him Wednesday so our friend, who is a pediatrician (but hey, that's still a doctor) is going to go with him to see what's going on.  The steroids they gave him for the pain in his shoulder haven't helped at all and I guess it isn't one of their biggest concerns, but I wish they could find out why he's always so tired.  He goes to work and works hard, but at home unless there is something he has to do all he does is sleep in front of the television and wake up now and then to eat.  At 51, he's too young to be like that.

Saturday night we went to church.  We were blessed by some of the young adults leading worship and rather than a message we had a program from missionaries to the Philippines, which is where our missions money is concentrated as our church began life as a Filipino-American fellowship and we have several Filipino members.  It was very interesting to see pictures of things we've been hearing about.  I've now got a list of foods to avoid when I go there one day.....pig face (yes, FACE!), deep-fried one day old chicks, grilled chicken intestines, and I will especially not be eating chicks one day before they hatch.  Ugh!  I know it's good to accept your host's hospitality on a mission trip so it is good to know that Filipinos are enough like us to not expect those dishes to be eaten.  In fact, many of those I know look decidedly green at the mention of some of those.

The sun came out on Sunday and warmed things up enough to melt the snow.  Tim did some work on the church building, installing electrical boxes and setting windows.  I rearranged our bedroom and did a major cleaning of it...getting rid of a lot of junk.  We also took down the big gate between the kitchen and living room that we used to confine Scooby to the kitchen when our granddaughter was here.  That was a little sad, but I managed.  Later in the afternoon we all took a walk together.  It doesn't happen much any more that we all do something together so I really enjoyed that.

The promised sunshine is not materializing outside my window this morning, but it's still a good day and I am counting my blessings, these earthly ways God shows His love for us:

171.  A happy memory that springs suddenly from nowhere and pushes the pain just a little bit farther away.


172.  My heart jumping in recognition of God's Spirit during worship.


173.  An unexpected and sweet compliment with a kiss and gentle touch.


174.  A snow-laid blanket of diamonds shimmering in the moonlight.


175.  Jobs, when so many are losing theirs.


176.  Finding a half-started and then forgotten prayer journal and writing in it again.


177.  The smell of "clean" when the scrubbing is done.


178.  An ear, nearly perfect again, after being "glued" together with liquid band-aid.


179.  A chat with a dear sister-in-law and good friend.


180.  Sliding into a bed freshly made with clean sheets and snuggling in.

What Would Chuck Norris Do?

I know I've been ignoring the Titus 2 woman....at least on here.  In real life, I'm thinking about her and how to be her, all the time.

Last night was a ladies' night out for some of the women from church.  It was such a fun time of fellowship and laughter (you should see a bunch of middle-aged women getting into their roles as royalty...we are all princesses, you know, daughters of the King).  It was also a great chance to see some Titus 2 women in action and be ministered to by them.  Now, I'm not a newbie in my faith journey and I can and do mentor to younger (physically and spiritually) women, but that doesn't mean I don't need some mentoring, myself.  We all do.  We're never done growing in the Lord.  If we are, then something is very wrong!

Anyway, it was such a joy to have these two women listen to our prayer requests and offer advice on a wide variety of topics.  I'm pretty sure had our group had more time we could have solved all the world's problems.  LOL  Not really, but the conversation was dizzying!

My prayer request was for strength to withstand the enemy's attacks.  The last few months have been a time of incredible spiritual renewal and growth for me and as usually happens when we grow closer to God, Satan gets busy.  I shared that I know what I am to do to withstand, but when there are days that you feel buffeted from all sides...you can get tired, your guard can slip.  And I was feeling particularly vulnerable because taking my beloved pet was a new low and it nearly brought me to my knees.

Source

I woke up this morning feeling strong and energized.  I knew those Titus 2 ladies hadn't been playing lip-service to the I'll-pray-for-you thing.  They really had gone to the Father on my behalf.  Then with this refreshed, strong attitude I got to thinking about most of the action movies I've ever watched.  The fight is going on, the hero is getting his butt whooped, and then the bad guy makes a fatal error.....he hurts the thing closest to the hero....his dog, his girlfriend, his buddy, his kid brother, etc.....and then the hero sees red and goes all Chuck Norris on the bad guy.  So, I was thinking, Satan....you messed with my dog.  Be warned, I'm getting my Chuck Norris on.  You will NOT make me angry at God, nor drive me away from Him.  You don't have that much power over me.  No, you don't have any power at all over me.  So there.

Told him.

This seems the perfect time and frame of mind to revisit what I started in Tending the Garden.  I talked of the importance of knowing who you are and promised my own list.  So, this is my list.  This is stuff I know to be true about me.

1.  I am a princess.  A daughter of the most high King.  My inheritance comes through his Son, Jesus Christ, who took my place in death and forever opened the temple curtain allowing me to come into God's holy presence.

2.  I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, a friend.  I might not be the one you think I should be, but I am the one I was created to be and I strive for all that God has intended.

3.  I am creative.  Not in a crafty way, but I write, I have lots and lots of ideas, I decorate, I draw, I take pictures.

4.  I am a planner and organizer.  I dream up big things.  I make them happen.  From parties, to youth rallies, to community bingos, to weddings....I can do it.

5.  I am forgiving.  You may wrong me and I may get angry, but I am good at seeing what motivates you.  I may not like it, but I can understand and forgive you.  That doesn't mean I will let you do it again.  I am forgiving, but I am not a doormat.

6.  I am discerning.  This is one of my strongest spiritual gifts.  I recognize what is true and what is not.  I also have a way of putting things together.  People call it intuition.  Mine is strong.  It makes gigantic leaps...correctly.

7.  I am a learner.  I love to read and study.  Teach me.

8.  I am a reader.  I love books.  Always have.  Always will.  I am always reading something.

9.  I love animals.  I have never not had a pet.  I've had dogs, cats, birds, fish, turtles, rabbits, a goat, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, a ferret, and even a fawn.  There will always be an animal in my home.  I don't think a house is a home without a pet.

10.  I am introspective.  Most of the time it's easier and more comfortable for me to deal with my thoughts than to reach out to others.  Small talk and chit-chat are something I've never gotten the hang of.

Why I'm a Dog Person

Please check out this beautiful post by my friend Dawn @ Beneath the Surface.  She is a wonderful writer and she dedicated this post to me...and made me cry, but it was a good cry.  She explains better than I ever could the God/dog connection and why I will always be a dog person.

Grateful

Well, life goes on.  One day at a time.  I want to thank everyone for the words of comfort and sympathy on the loss of my fur baby.  No one will ever convince me the social media venues are a bad thing (if used right).  Yesterday could have been a very lonely and much sadder day if not for the overwhelming outpouring of sympathy from friends here and on Facebook....where the outpouring actually continues today.  We are doing okay.  It all happened so fast.  He got sick on Thursday and died first thing Monday morning.  It doesn't even seem real yet, so that ongoing support is a blessing.

Today is an unused snow make-up day for the school district I drive for so I have this one last day of a 4-day weekend to focus on something more pleasant.  Megan and I are going to visit my aunt at the nursing home this morning.  She is my dad's only sister and the only family, other than my mom, that I have in the area.  We were very close and she is 87.  As I told Megan, I want no regrets there.  And that is something I think I've gotten out of this whole business.  I've always said tomorrow's not guaranteed, but I never really owned it.  Now I do.  Life is precious.  Time is short.  Live in the moment.  Tomorrow is a gift.  Don't put things off.  All apply.

More things to be thankful for:


166.  So many caring voices reaching out in comfort.


167.  Being able to minister in a very relevant way to a friend who also lost her pet suddenly yesterday.


168.  Finding two new friends.


169.  A new dimension in the mother/daughter relationship.


170.  Intensified appreciation of life.


Scooby, even your death has been a blessing, bringing out these gifts from God.  I wish there could have been another way, but am grateful in my grief.

Finding Thankfulness in the Pain

Thankful is NOT how I am wanting to feel this morning.  What I want to feel is anger (maybe even rage) and deep, gut-wrenching grief.  I want to scream and wail and sob until I can't cry any more.  You see my dog died at 8:00 this morning, just an hour and a half ago.  I watched him go downhill all weekend till he was too weak even to lift his head.  My daughter and I spent the night with him between us in the bed, loving on him, talking to him, petting him....and telling him it was okay to leave us, that we'd miss him, but we'd be okay till we see him again.  He took his final gasping breaths in my arms.  And my heart crumbled.

So, here I am with a heart in pieces and a hole in my life where my faithful companion used to be.  I have to fight the natural inclinations.  It's okay to be sad, but God doesn't intend for us to get lost in the mourning and I know Scooby would want me to carry on and be happy.  He was a happy kind of guy.

How do I dig out from under the pain?  The only thing I can do....start remembering the good and counting the blessings.

161.  10 years we did have together, not the ones lost.


162.  Unconditional love.


163.  Companionship.


164.  Happiness and laughter.


165.  A big brave heart that fought to the very end.


Goodbye, my precious friend.  You take a bit of my heart with you, but you've left a lot of yours here with me.

Saturday Share - February 18, 2011

Feeling a bit down this morning.  My poodle, my buddy, shadow, and constant companion is very sick.  He is listless, woozy and stumbling, not eating, drinking very little, and his urine and vomit (not that there is much output of either) are bright orange.  He just stands in one place with his head hanging.  The vet, hoping it is just an infection or a case of having eaten something he shouldn't have, gave us three kinds of pills to give him over the weekend.  If he isn't showing any improvement by Monday, however, x-rays and blood work will be scheduled to look for tumors or kidney failure.  Both of which, the vet tells me there isn't much that can be done for.  He's currently standing and staring at the bowl of food he can't eat.  I hate watching my little buddy suffer and not being able to do anything.  It's going to kill me if I lose him.

Well, can't sit around moping all day, even if it is what I feel like doing....so here are some links to good stuff found around the blogospere this week.

Beth at Looking for Tigger had a great post about learning to trust God in the hard stuff.

Ann Voskamp wrote of The Perfect Valentine's Day Gift for a Mother.

Kris at Always Alleluia wrote If I Have Not Love.

Kristen of We Are THAT Family writes about the importance of asking your spouse questions.

And a fantastic idea I found on Pinterest (link leads to the original site and directions):

Source

Encouragement Comes

On Monday I wrote about the importance of "tending the garden."  The garden being our minds.  It was spurred by a post I read on another blog about how life, situations, and people can sometimes cause us to doubt if we aren't vigilant.

Maybe you don't know, but regular readers know that I have been dealing with some family drama in recent weeks.  Without getting into it here, I can tell you that some horrible, hateful, hurtful things were said to me and about me.  I know all about tending the garden and all the things I am supposed to do to keep doubts from creeping in, but it still happens.  A particular thought will sneak through the armor and plant itself firmly in my mind.  Then it will sprout, sending tendrils out into my thoughts so that it is constantly coming to mind.  And after a while I begin to wonder and doubt.  I pray, I read the Bible, I sing praise songs...anything to focus on God, but all it takes is one second of letting my guard down.  So, that's where I was on Monday....wrestling with doubts and my post was as much for me as for you.

Then a very cool thing happened.  The mail came.  And in the mail was a package for me.  Yea!  I got mail!  And it wasn't a bill.  Yea!Yea!!  It turned out to be Holly Gerth's new book, You're Already Amazing: Embracing Who You Are, Becoming All God Created You to Be.  Holley is a counselor, a life coach, a speaker, and a writer.  She co-founded (in)courage, keeps up a blog, and is in partnership with DaySpring.

I didn't remember at first but I had actually signed up to get Holley's book in exchange for a book review on my blog back in October at Relevant '11.  The timing was perfect!  There I was, in a funk and moping around feeling really bad about myself and here's this book out of nowhere with the message that I'm already amazing.  I've started to read it.  It's wonderful.  You'll have to wait until next month for the review, though.  Sorry....publisher's choice.

Then Tuesday evening at Bible study we were talking about the armor of God and fighting off the enemy's fiery darts.  We talked about how when one slips through it causes exactly what I've been writing about and the only defense is found in the Word, in prayer, in focusing on God.  I shared with the class about my struggles and about the package in the mail.  It was good for me to think about how God gives us encouragement when we need it and it was good for the class to see an example of that.  As an added bonus gift, the sweetest older lady leaned over, wrapped me in a hug, and said simply..."I love you."

I know who was sending me a message.  :)

The words in the card that accompanied the book:

You are a woman of strength-

more than a conqueror,

able to do all things,

a warrior and princess

in the kingdom of God.

You are called 

to persevere,

to minister, to pray,

to change the world.

The Lord has given you

all you need

and made you

all you need to be for victory.

So go forth,

strong sister, 

with a smile

on your face,

a heart full of hope,

and a determination

to never stop

until you receive

every blessing 

God has for you.

A Presidential Hodgepodge

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for Wednesday Hodgepodge courtesy of Joyce at From This Side of the Pond.

1. George Washington-Abraham Lincoln-Thomas Jefferson...who would you most like to meet and why?
~ Wow, that's a tough one.  Washington was around for the beginning.  He was a warrior.  Can you imagine the things he saw, the stories he could tell?  Lincoln steered the country through it's biggest test and preserved the Union...and putting an end to slavery wasn't too shabby, either.  Jefferson was around for the beginning too, but as a statesman rather than a warrior.  All were incredible patriots.  I'm not sure I can chose, but I know what I'd ask all of them.  What do you think of our modern day interpretation of the Constitution and the way this country is being run?  What advice do you have to put us back on track?

2. What's your favorite chain restaurant?
~ I don't get to go very often, just a couple of times a year, because the closest one is an hour away, but hands-down it's Joe's Crabshack.

3. I spied this question on the Bears at Home blog last week and she gave me permission to steal borrow it-

When you look back on your life, do you imagine you'll think about the goals you failed to meet with regret? Or will you look at what you accomplished and say: it was good?

~ Okay, I'm working on this.  I want to be able to say I'll be positive and call it good, but right now I'm still learning to let go of regrets.

4. Grapefruit-take 'em or leave 'em? Given the choice between an orange and a grapefruit which would you choose? Would you prefer it served as is or squeezed into juice?

~ I'd pick an orange over a grapefruit every time and I'd just peel it and eat it.  When I do have a grapefruit which is rarely, I prefer Ruby Reds.  I love Ruby Red grapefruit juice.

5. When was the last time you cleaned out a closet? Is there a closet in your home that currently needs cleaning? What are you waiting for?

~ I cleaned out the closet in the spare room right before Christmas...mainly because the female offspring kept shoving stuff she couldn't part with but didn't want in her room into said closet.  As for one that currently needs cleaning....that would be the one in our bedroom.  Finding a pair of shoes is a major project.

6. You get to have lunch with three famous people...who would you like to see round your table?

~ George W. Bush, Steven Colbert, and Toby Keith.

7. On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your ability to parallel park?

~ Yikes!  About a 7.  Maybe.  I can do it better in a school bus than I can in my car.  Is that sad or what?  I could probably get better, but I will park a mile away from where I'm going if it means avoiding parallel parking.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

~ Sometimes I think we should apply punishment to criminals using the "eye for an eye" standard.  A big news story around here this week has been about a man who beat an 11-year-old boy to death over the weekend.  Horrible, right?  But listen to this....he hit the boy with sticks.  When the sticks broke he'd make the boy clean the wood up.  Then he'd make him go get another stick.  The boy had a gash on his arm that the guy sewed up himself with a needle and thread...because he wanted the mom to lie and say it happened in a car wreck when doctors saw him.  The abuse lasted an entire day.  Officials say there was plenty of evidence of past trauma.  If you ask me, jail is too good for this guy.  The death sentence is too good for him, too.  Find a big ol' stick and whoop his butt to within an inch of his life every day for the rest of his life!

Believe It or Not

Hey, I've actually posted on my diet and exercise blog.  Check it out!

Happy Valentine's Day

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Yeah.....so not really a fan of Valentine's Day.  I do give cards and a small gift to the kids, but as for the grand gesture, date-to-end-all-dates, fabulous jewelry, and other crazy hoopla.....not so much.  That doesn't mean I've never done any of that or wanted it, but I think I've grown past the insanity of the commercialized holiday.  If you really want to give me roses, do it some day it's unexpected and doesn't require taking out a loan.  A nice dinner is welcome any time, but I'd rather go when the place isn't packed to the gills and the hostess isn't timing how long it's taking you to chew because someone else is waiting for the table.

I guess my two big peeves about today are the thought that saying "I love you" because it's the expected thing to do doesn't mean much and that going broke living up to expectations is stupid.

On a smaller peeve level, I just think the whole day cheapens love and what God intended it to be.

Still, if you get all excited about it, good for you and Happy Valentine's Day!


If you don't have a sweetheart to celebrate with, here are some pick-up lines to help you meet that special someone.

Tending the Garden

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I read a great post by Kelly at Chick N Charge yesterday.  It was about how we sometimes get battered around by life and a person or situation may make us question who we are.  I'm sure you've all been there....had some thoughtless comment thrown out at you that maybe meant little or nothing to the speaker, but hung around and haunted you.  Those words whispering over and over again in your head, knocking you back down each time you think to get up.  If you don't beat those words you wind up questioning everything....did I handle that situation right?  Have I been handling other situations wrong?  Am I acting the way God would want me to?  Are they right?  Am I a horrible person?  And in the worst case you might come to wonder, am I even saved?

Kelly's post really resonated with me because of the family stuff I've been going through lately.  When someone says horrible, hateful, destructive stuff to you it's really hard not to take it to heart.  It's especially hard when it comes from a family member.  We have the expectation that our families love us and like us and understand us and would only tell us the truth about ourselves.  That's not always the case....especially with those who are family through marriage.

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It doesn't matter where the ugly seed of doubt comes from.  Once it's planted the result is the same.  If we aren't vigilant in tending the garden of our minds, that seed will sprout and grow and multiply.  It will takeover and choke out the good fruits.

We need to heed the words of Paul to the Ephesians and Put on the whole armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes (Ep. 6:11).  Make no mistake.  The doubt that settles in our minds is one of the devil's powerful schemes, meant to separate us from God.  The good news is that God is bigger than anything Satan's got.  Anything.  So, put on the armor.  Read the Word daily.  Pray all day long.  And when doubt tries to wheedle in you will have the ammunition to send it scurrying back to where it came from.

Remember you are God's creation:

• So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.  Gen. 1:27
• For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.  When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.  Psalm 139:13-16

God loves you:

• For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  John 3:16-17

God has plans for you:

• Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  John 14:1-3

All of these things and more are in the Word.  Get lost in it.  Savor it.  Devour it.  KNOW it.  All the promises of God are in its pages.  Everything we need to know about how to live is within its pages.  Who you are meant to be is in its pages.  Know it, so you know yourself.  So you know God.  So there is no room for Satan's doubt.

** I wanted to make a list as Kelly did, of who she knows herself to be, but this is long already and I still have to add my counted blessings for today.  I can't help it, when God gives me inspiration I can get a little carried away.  Guess the list is a post for another day this week.**


Blessings abound....


154.  Chicken noodle soup on a cold winter day.

155.  An aide on the bus.

156.  Daylight at 6:30 AM.

157.  New tires to go in the snow.

158.  A song that makes you rock out in the car.

159.  A baby's chubby-cheeked smile.

160.  Finding the perfect card to say to a good friend what you couldn't write yourself.

Saturday Share

Good morning!  Sitting here in the kitchen this morning watching the snow come down.  Beautiful and we haven't had that much of it this winter, but I'm happy to be inside looking out at it.

Tim is up and off already.  He had to get some bloodwork done this morning at the hospital (just routine) and then he was going to get new tires put on my car.  Yea (!!!!), because much like the tires on the dad's car in A Christmas Story my tires were getting to be tires in theory only....they were round and once made out of rubber.  LOL

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I'm kind of hoping Tim will also make a stop at the ER while he's at the hospital, but I'm not holding my breath on that one.  Stubborn man!  He went all Van Gogh yesterday....backed into a piece of metal at work and cut his ear pretty bad.  It really should have stitches, but he refused to go last night.  I glued it together the best I could with liquid band-aid and steri-strips.  It has stopped bleeding and is sort of holding together this morning, but he's going to have an ugly scar.

Tonight I think we're heading to the bar down the street.  I can hear the collective *GASP.*  It isn't something we normally do, but a friend from high school is in a band and they are playing there tonight.  He asked all of us on Facebook to come out and give them a listen.

My mom leaves for Florida at the butt-crack of dawn tomorrow.  Sigh.  Life is just sooooo unfair sometimes.

On to the shares:

Pondering with a Purpose, Marti wrote a wonderful post about how far technology has come in her lifetime.  It had me thinking about the changes I've seen.  A great trip down memory lane.

Ann Voskamp reminds with her Best Advice for Hard Times that we are never alone.

Simone shares what happened when her heart stopped beating and reminds us of the value of the moment....even 8 Seconds.

Rochelle made me laugh!

And here are some amazingly awesome things I've seen on Pinterest and am totally going to do....right after I win the Powerball lottery tonight.

I would have loved this as a kid.
Actually, I'd probably still love it.

All the fun and far fewer safety issues.  This is a GREAT idea!

Does this even need an explanation?

I can totally picture myself enjoying a book or a nap here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And the blessing count continues.....

146.  The moments of lightness right after a "funk" leaves your spirit.

147.  The pristine beauty of a snow-frosted world.

148.  An ear that is cut, but will heal.  

149.  A relationship not severed.

150.  The sweet, caffeine-laced fizz of Coke first thing in the morning.

151.  A mom who is healthy and independent.

152.  An unexpected hand on a shoulder when you need it most.

153.  Wise teachers.

Have a great weekend!

Still Here

Hey, y'all!  I haven't kicked the bucket or abandoned the ship.  I just haven't been in a writing mood this week.  Nothing much has been going on and I haven't felt inspired.  I'd rather post nothing that something sub-par.

Check back in tomorrow for Saturday Share and links to some of my favorite things seen on the internet this week!

Easy for You to Say - Titus 2sday

So far on this journey to becoming the woman God has called me to be, the woman modeled in Titus 2:3-5, I've studied and reflected on what godliness is (holy, reverent and sacred) and how to live in a godly manner (worshipful, pious, focused on God, inspiring to others).  It's been a time of peace and wonder as I've learned to focus more on God in each moment.

But starting today it's going to get messy.  And uncomfortable.  Today I start looking at the things I'm called to be and seeing how I measure up.  This is where God's going to show me the things I do wrong.  It would be discouraging if I didn't also know that with the rebuking comes loving guidance and the opportunity to get it right.  With that in mind, let's look at the next thing a woman is called to be...

1. Godliness
2. Godly Speech


Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers...Titus 2:3

**Some ideas pulled and paraphrased from the book A Woman's High Calling by Elizabeth George**

It all builds upon itself.  We are called to be reverent, to conduct ourselves in a manner that reflects God as being at the center of our lives.  If we're doing that, we'll be loving Him, thinking about Him, and talking about Him.  That preoccupation should show in everything we do from the way we act, our manners, how we dress, and how we talk.

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Okay, we're not to be slanderers, but what is a slanderer?  Slanderer comes from the Greek word diabolos, which means "malicious gossip" or "false accuser."  Diabolos is used 34 times in the New Testament as a title for Satan, one time about Judas, one time to describe hardened unbelievers in the end times, and two times in reference to women.

So, check this out....a woman who slanders and gossips is lumped in with Satan, Judas and hardened unbelievers.  Is that the company you want to be in?  It sure isn't who I want to be hanging out with.  It isn't who God wants us to be with, either.  He calls us to a high standard of godly speech.  He expects us to grow in this area, to mature, and to strive for it.  In 1 Timothy 3:11 the women who are in church leadership are told to use their tongues for ministering goodness instead of gossiping.

How we use our tongues serves as a precise measurement of our Christian maturity...How we use our tongues reflects on everything we do and affects everything we do, and every person we come in contact with. ~ Dr. Gene Getz in The Measure of a Woman


What causes us to slander?

• An evil heart (this is why we must fill our heart with things of God).
• Hatred.
• Foolishness.
• Idleness.

None of those things have a place in the life of a godly woman so we must be on guard against slander and remove ourselves from it.  If we don't there are many consequences, both public and private.

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Publicly, gossip separates friends (think of how it felt when someone said something unkind or untrue about you) as the injured party seeks to be removed from the slanderer.  It causes strife.  Here, think of a time when something was said and had it been dropped the matter would have ended, but the gossip continued, batted about like a ping-pong ball agitating everyone....it's what we all call "drama" these days.  Gossip causes problems within the church, too.  Sadly, Christians are not immune.  And lastly, God says gossip is the same as murder.  Wait! What??  It's true.  Gossip kills....it kills friendships, ministries, leaders, marriages, churches...

On the personal front, gossip puts a serious damper on our ministries.  We're supposed to minister to each other and teach the younger women.  Let me ask you, if you witnessed a woman in the church gossiping and telling all the juicy details of some bit of scandal would you take seriously any advice she might be inclined to give you concerning your behavior?  Would she be someone you'd feel safe and comfortable going to for help?  Not likely.  If you're that woman, do you think anyone wants you to minister to them?  On top of that, what happens if word gets back to the one we're gossiping about?  Then we've driven a spike into the heart of the very one we're called by God to minister to!  Gossip also costs us our dignity, respect, character, and our spiritual growth (we're not growing if we're knowingly gossiping).  If we can't minister because of our losses, we lose our usefulness, too.

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The last thing to remember is this, GOSSIP CAN NEVER BE TAKEN BACK.  You can apologize from now until your dying breath.  You can try to make up for it.  But no matter what you do, the words once spoken are out there.  Even if you are forgiven by the target of your gossip, the harm and hurt remain.  

Think before you speak.

Do your words about others bring healing.....or harm?

In Awesome Wonder

O Lord my God,

When I in awesome wonder

Consider all the world 

Thy hand hath made,

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I see the stars,

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I hear the rolling thunder,

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Thy power throughout

the universe displayed,

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Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!

Continuing to count blessings....

138.  The love, support, and prayers of family and friends.

139.  Always enough to share with others.

140.  The soft, wispy, fluffiness of a freshly bathed and brushed poodle.

141.  Open doors.

142.  The wonder of being able to have fresh fruits and vegetables in the winter.

143.  Good that comes out of the bad.

144.  Biscuits and gravy for a winter's supper.

145.  A husband who is still my best-friend.

Saturday Share - February 4, 2012

It's nice to share some linky love so, here for your weekend reading pleasure are some things I've seen this week I think you'll enjoy.

Dawn (a soul sister if ever there was one) from Beneath the Surface has a great post today about how her writing and ADHD have intertwined.  It's like she's in my head!  The Poet I Know Not

Ann Voskamp touched my heart again (but then, she always does) with her post, What Is the Best Gift to Give to a Man?

Recipes for your Super Bowl feast from Gooseberry Patch and their readers.

Gina of Keepin' It Real is having a Valentine's Day Giveaway.  Head on over to see how you can win a couple of great books and some Valentine's Day goodies.

{Dear Mr. Welch}: On Love Letters has me thinking.  The Mr. and I used to write letters and notes all the time.  When was the last time?  When did we stop?  We need to start again.

Tight budget?  Check out these frugal ways to celebrate Valentine's Day

I reconnected with an old classmate on Facebook.  He was an amazing musician when we were kids.  He still is.  Give him a listen.

Enjoy your weekend.  See you Monday!