inlovewiththelord's Open Salon Blog

Think You Deserve Better?

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 14:07:01 -0400

More . . . More, and then still more . . . that seems to be what society focuses on. "It" is never enough. "It" is never good enough. "They" seem to be one-up on "us" and . . . gasp . . . we can't have that! So what do we do?

we complain
we blame "them"
we make a list
we call a meeting
we write a report
we complain some more
wonder why
we drink

Stop! Look! Listen! I can remember my first grade school teacher, Mrs. Reardon, teaching my class that rule. It's a simple one. How is it that as we "mature" we forget this "simple" rule? How, as well, is it that we think that whatever our shiney much desired "it" of which we seek actually is, we really believe that all this nonsensical time spent in envy, in meetings, in complaining, is ranting on the sidewalk and puffing a cigarette, in grumbling in the bar gulping a beer or six . . . how is it we think this will actually accomplish anything positive in our lives?

I got a mail order catalog the other day. For a sum of $$$$$ they assured me I could go beyond miraculous. Isn't that the truth? We want it. We are certain that "it" is something we badly deserve. We are certain that "they" have it and don't even deserve it. We believe we can spend money and "it" can be ours. Later, we find "it" isn't all that we wanted, all that we thought it was, and surely "it" was not enough. Do we ever learn?

We never do seem to learn our lesson, since as soon as we have "it" we begin the unhealthy cycle, the quest for "it" all over again. STOP! Take a breath. In . . . Out . . . In . . . Out . . . listen to the sound of your own breathing. Now, look around you. Really look closely to all that surrounds you. Reality check! No matter how "rough" you think you have it, you're wrong. You're reading this article I've written, aren't you? That means you have technology devices, power to enable them to work for you, time to spend using them. I could go on. Believe me, I could. What is it you're really seeking? Do you still believe the elusive "it" is out there?

A friend was telling me of the old dog he used to have. Big dog . . . mixed breed. Along came another dog. Yippy little thing. The little critter would stomp across the room, sit up close to the big dog and "yip, yip, yip" away at him. What happened? The big dog ran in the other direction fast! Whatever "it" was, the little dog had it and the big dog sure didn't. One lick and the big guy could have ended the discussion between the two. Instead, he was reduced to a stressful, quivering, running mass of fur and bones. That's not chasing your tail, that's must worse. We do the same thing. We have no more sense than a dog. Less, actually, since the little dog in my illustration had "it."

Maybe what you're looking for isn't "out there" at all. Consider the likelihood that it's INSIDE YOU and you just need to bust down a few hastily built brick walls of foolishness and find "it" there waiting for you to seek it?

Olympic Gold Metalist!

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 12:07:32 -0400

You! It can happen! It’s true!

I know, the thought of something like that, to many of us, is ‘OH, yeah, but . . . ” However, I am merely stating facts here. You have it in you to have your very own Olympic GOLD metal around your neck. It’s there. You – you’re already a winner and you didn’t have to get sweaty. You didn’t have to fly to London, work through the crowds in the London airport . . . Jesus Christ won the GOLD for you. He’s holding the prize in His hands and it’s got your name on it. YOU = Winner of Olympic Gold?

Sounds crazy, but what sort of Olympic event are you facing right now? For what BIG challenge are you trying to find strength? In which event are you thinking “not sure I have it in me”

Philippians 4:13

^\”13I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Read more by this award winning blogger at http://inlovewiththelord.wordpress.com/

FACE IT, MY FRIENDS – YOU’VE GOT IT IN YOU!

Is Our Celebration of Independance Day Just a Bad Joke?

Wed, 4 Jul 2012 16:07:50 -0400

Seems to me that everywhere I look I see negativity and anger. The print media, online media, television, radio, restaurants and bars . . . we sure do seem to love to rant about all that's wrong in our neighborhoods, our towns, our nation, and the world. We look for whom to blame for it all. What's up with all this?

So many of our military men and women put their lives on the line to preserve our quality of life, our freedom, our independance. Many die in performing their duty just as so many did all those many many years ago when our freedom was won in the first place. Was it all in vain?

Where you focus defines you. Do you look toward light or darkness? Perhaps it is time for us to redefine community, freedom, independance, and success! Let us begin now! God has indeed blessed America and He STILL does!

Celebrate Freedom!

Wed, 4 Jul 2012 12:07:43 -0400

Here is what freedom really means!

AMAZING GRACE – MY CHAINS ARE GONE by Chris Tomlin

‘

Finding Eden

Tue, 3 Jul 2012 20:07:07 -0400

Isaiah 51:3

³The Lord will surely comfort Zion
    and will look with compassion on all her ruins;
he will make her deserts like Eden,
    her wastelands like the garden of the Lord.
Joy and gladness will be found in her,
    thanksgiving and the sound of singing.

How are things in your world? Gosh mine can sometimes seem like a wasteland . . . the sun still rises and sets and yet do we appreciate the sunrise or sunset over our wasteland? It seems that when we are caught up in the muck we only look down, occasionally look around, but rarely look up and so the splendor of a sunrise and the beauty and hopeful expectation can’t seem to reach us, for its avenue to do so is through our own focus. If we can only focus on the waste, it’s stench is all we know. How sad!

We want to be free of the desolation around us. We “wish” it would be different, yet somehow we get caught in it. The weeds grow tall as on an unkempt lawn and we become overwhelmed. Voices we don’t want to listen to shout at us that we should “do something” and save ourselves . . . we are told to have faith . . . we are reminded to have a positive attitude and it can seem as though we are trapped.

Does anyone know how it really is?

Does anyone care?

Do they not get what we’re going through?

How can they make it sound so simple?

Do they think this mess is my fault?

Hello???? Did you forget about me?

Read the quote from Isaiah again. Are things out of control? Is it truly hopeless? Is there even the slightest suggestion of abandonment? Any note of rejection? No, there is not. I don’t think so. The wasteland was real, but just for a time. The Lord’s promises are real and what He promised to Zion He also promises to us. He is in the wasteland with us. We will not remain there, though. For look at the promises He has made to her . . .

Comfort

Compassion

From deserts to gardens

We have Him with us and in us. We cannot effectively get ourselves out of the mess . . . but His arms are strong and as we find ourselves stuck in this wasteland, we know His touch. We have His strength and His love. His strong arms will pull us up and out and as we leave the wasteland and the desert becomes His garden for us we dance! We sing! We are filled with Joy and Gladness and Thanksgiving! We do not have to know the answer, only to know the source of the answer. He is the source and He is with us. He is in us. So, let us look up at the sunrise! Let us not look down to the wasteland that’s all around us, but let’s sing a song of joy and thanksgiving from where we are right now! We are not alone. We are His. This is reason enough to sing His praise! Sing with me . . . You don’t even have to know the words to my song. The song is in your heart and He hears its beauty and He delights in it!