Dancing with Simplicity

Simple Living, Walking by Faith
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Where Does Your Help Come From?

  • February 23, 2021 12:52 pm

Psalm 121 (NIV)
A song of ascents.

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Covid lockdown weary? Revisiting this entry from several years ago.

Anyone needing some help with things?  Having a bad week, month, or year? Most of our home’s windows look out on some beautiful mountains.  I gaze at them quite often.  I think of this Psalm.  The mountains speak of His greatness. As majestic as they are, He was behind their creation.  And He watches over them, and me.  He never sleeps.  I need His help this month, this week.  And He is there. If the mountains split, or parted, He would be there. My help comes from the Lord.

Help us Lord, when we are tired, stressed, worn and weary. Help us to see the majestic mountains, instead of the mountains of problems. Your glory shines through that which you have created.  You are our very help.  Now and forevermore.

Suggested Online Christmas Services

  • December 22, 2019 1:24 pm

If you have no plans or places to go for Christmas services, may I suggest:

https://www.viewpointchurch.org/

Viewpoint Church.  Author/pastor Becky Tirabassi’s church from Southern CA, USA. Becky has long been a  mentor. I have used her Change Your Life Daily Bible and other resources for years, and now she and husband Roger pastor a church. Visit her church site or find her on Facebook. More resources:  http://www.changeyourlifedaily.com/. Coming in January, read through the Bible in one year…with Becky on Instagram.

 

Saddleback Church, Pastor Rick Warren from CA.  https://saddleback.com/

I’m a member of the online community on Facebook, and serve on the online prayer team. You will find many online Christmas services and a new church-wide event begins in January 2020. Watch live, watch the archive or You Tube services. The Worship team has to be one of my favorites, from just anywhere!

Sprinkled Hearts

  • April 3, 2019 5:31 pm

I’m working on digital products. You can obtain this poem in a few ways. Here’s one link for some nice tea glasses.

Your Business is His Business

  • December 5, 2017 4:17 pm

As a small business owner since 1986, I am on occasion under attack from those forces of darkness that we are warned about in Scripture.  I run as ethical a business as is humanly possible.  We all make mistakes, but as so many of you do in your business, we try to do the right thing.  In today’s world however, an anger is raging.  A Me First mentality is invading our lives while many of us are struggling just trying to keep their businesses going and to make ends meet. To do the right thing.  I know this is true, many of my online friends have expressed it.  Their prayer requests are filled with God honoring desires that seem to be thwarted.

Social media has made the business owner an open target for attack.  Maybe sometimes criticism is justified, and it can be welcome and put to good use.  But when your peaceful day, where you are simply struggling to do your job, pay your bills and care for your family, is disrupted from an other-world force of rage, or anger or subtle threats then what do you do?

He came to bring peace.  He came during this Christmas season to do so.  He is here to offer that, along with hope and His never ending love.  He told us to ask, to pray and believe He will answer.

Are you struggling with your career, your employment, your business?

Prayer requests welcome. Please feel free to post and share.  I’ll be adding some verses or share the ones you stand on.  Don’t let things ruin your day, your joy your peace. And if you do not know Him, please read the section on the sidebar that addresses that. This is unedited for the most part.  Real honest talk.  God knows your struggles, and I might just understand them too.  If you work hard, if you work to provide for your family.  You gotta keep hope alive. I don’t know much, but I know Him.  He truly is all in all, all that matters.  Keep fighting, keep serving, keep believing.

1 Timothy 4:10 (NIV2011)
10  That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

 

And God Sent Mindy: Lessons From a Rescue Dog

  • August 1, 2016 9:56 am
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Mindy, the Heaven sent Bichon Frise

And God Sent a Mindy…

Matthew 6:8- (NASB77)
8  for your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him.

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It’s been said that sometimes God doesn’t give you what you want; He gives you what you need. Such was the case in March 2010, when a scraggly puppy entered our world. Mindy came from an animal rescue. In her scrawny, disheveled state, she was what my husband wanted, but not the right dog to fill the hole in my heart. It was bleeding from a massive hole created by the recent death of our Golden Retriever Boris. The rescue could not deliver us a Golden, so they sent us Mindy. Or God did.

She was a curly little mutt. A real mess. (It wasn’t until later, that we determined she might be a Bichon Frise.) It wasn’t too long after her arrival that Mindy became sick. A little cough moved her from the Golden I wanted, to the pup I needed. A cough contracted from life in the shelter. I was beside myself until I knew she was going to recover. Yes, she was becoming what I needed to heal. All five pounds of her. She was in fact, what the whole family needed. She infused joy back into our home. She delighted everyone including two cats and our other Golden, Morgan.

This was our first little dog and we quickly learned that she could get into places we could not. She liked to hide under the bed, beneath the couch, under the table. Taking her to the vet was a challenge. We had to lift the sofa to force her out, or stand guarding either side of our bed in hope that she would exit and we could scoop her up. The only thing we found that sent her directly into our arms was a big bath towel. With every storm, her fur wet and muddy, she would readily walk into a waiting towel. Security. Rest. Comfort. To this day, it remains our solution for her sassy or fearful, hide- under- the-furniture state. Love replaces her fear.

The Christian life is like that. We hide in spots where no one can touch us. Physically. Mentally. We cower, rebel, or refuse to budge. And God waits to catch us with open arms. Sometimes He will lift us out of our hiding places. He moves walls to shake us loose from our stubborn stance, isolation, fear. Often He waits patiently for us to make the move, to step out into the light. And when we are in life’s storms, He is there to wrap us in that blanket of security, rest, love.

Though Mindy was not what I wanted, she has long since proved she was what I needed. To heal from the loss of a noble Golden. To demonstrate how God stands waiting for me. No doubt when He sees the pup He sent, He smiles. Just as we do, day after day with Mindy. Joy bestowed. Lessons learned.

Has a rescue dog or cat changed your life for the better? I’d love to hear about it! I believe God hand picks our pets.

 

September 11

  • September 10, 2015 4:14 pm

fourth-200x246Never forget…….

 

 

 

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What Are You Waiting for? Hoping in God

  • April 24, 2015 12:23 am

Today God delivered a healing to my husband. A suspected kidney mass, became a cyst. A word from the doctor that this was an urgent situation, became a call from the nurse who said there was nothing at all to worry about. A lot of prayer went into this situation, and the end result was a huge relief and a blessing.

What are you waiting for? Financial help? An end to sickness? A relationship to be mended? A family member to come back home? Waiting is never easy. It can involve hope and expectation. It can also harbor fear, anxiety and worry. I worried all through this incident, and am not going to pretend I didn’t.

The wait actually reminds me of when I was a little kid waiting for my Dad to come home from work. I knew he would be home, and I couldn’t wait for him to show up in the driveway. Well, sometimes I can’t wait for God to show up on the scene. I pace and pace, just as I did waiting for my earthly Dad. I’m thrilled when God shows up, thrilled with the gifts and blessings He brings with Him. Often my Dad showed up with gifts, but actually even if he came home without anything, it was ok with me. He showed up. Period. Just like God. Gifts are wonderful, but my Dad didn’t have to bring them to provie his love for me and my family. Unconditional, unrelenting, undying love. Gifts you could never buy, just like the gifts God bestows.

I don’t know what you are waiting for, or asking God for. I know it may be scary and probably is not easy. You may feel hopeless, helpless, or alone in the situation. I hope you have that eager expectation that God is going to show up. I hope you are wating for, and watching for Him. Here’s a promise to cling to:

Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV)
31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Are You Walking in Faith?

  • March 25, 2015 11:51 pm

Walking in faith. It’s the other half of this blog’s title, but last doesn’t make it least. It is the key. It’s the missing part of the equation. It’s the piece of the puzzle that you may struggle to place. When it is placed correctly though, you see the whole picture as it was meant to be.

Faith is inexplicable, but without it, it’s impossible to please God.

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Faith requires you to step out. It requires you to walk forward when you cannot see exactly where you are going.

Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

You may have faith that a chair is going to hold you up. Do you have faith that God is going to do the same? You may have faith in the love of a parent, friend, child, or spouse. Do you have that confidence in the one who died for you? Maybe your faith is in a weekly paycheck, your health, even your location.  What if those things crumble?

Hebrews 11:13-16 (NKJV)
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.
15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

If you need to know more, please visit my page Steps to Knowing God (click on the sidebar). Read Hebrews 11 for a glimpse into the heroes of the faith.

In addition, if you want some help on the journey, Proverbs 31 ministries is currently registering women for the next OBS (Online Bible Study).  All you need is a book, and your internet connection. You decide how many activities you want to participate in, and it’s all free of charge (except for the book.) Did you notice the title of the book?

Note: They have registration open now for the study’s conference call series (available for a small cost) and Facebook small groups.  The groups may be full, but they do keep a waiting list.  I’ll see you over there when the study begins.  Visit the OBS link for all the latest news and registration.  #WalkInFaith #P31OBS

 

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Keep walking in faith.  And as always, I welcome your questions and comments.

Quick note: It was a great study. There are archives available, all you need is a book to follow along. This quote from Lysa really moved me:

However distant your dreams may seem, God is working things out & today is an important part of that process.

Lesson Learned:  there is a place between now and my dreams. A place of growth. The waiting is often long, but the now moments need to be utilized, nurtured and not wasted. Between here and the dream there is much to do and accomplish.

 

 

 

What’s So Simple About Diabetes?

  • March 13, 2015 11:26 pm

When I started this blog, my theme was simple living, and living by faith. My desire was to get myself and others back to a more simple life. That life was to be centered on God, and the study of His Word. Along with that, my thoughts were toward family, crafts, cooking, and things that just felt less techno.

Of course, it was pointed out to me that blogging is technical, and so was owning anything like an iPad, Kindle etc. Social media was not simple.  Oh well. So I did not entirely make the transition to simple living. I’m still working on what that looks like.

One thing that isn’t so simple is my life with Type I diabetes. Diabetes is not simple or easy. After being diagnosed in 1970, I can honestly say that while technology has helped tremendously, it still has not been an easy journey. Where an insulin pump has made life a tad easier, it still requires patience and a life of constant adjustments. It gets in the way of some of those simple things I want to be doing. Diabetes presents a constant invasion of numbers, and musts and have to’s. It is not simple.  It marches in and over anything that requires my attention.  Activities and moments of real creativity and fun, end up trampled on at times.  Because diabetes is a real time snatcher, but that time is a necessary investment.

I hope if I toss this into my journey of faith, dancing with the simplicity of Christian living that you won’t pass by my blog. If you are a PWD (person with Diabetes) of any type, you know it isn’t simple.  You might shake your head, and walk away. Upset that such a topic might even make it into this kind of blog.  You might be angry with God, or with your circumstances. I for one believe that many people live in countries where diabetes care is less than perfect, and technology is not there to assist.  I don’t ever want to forget that.

I could not make the journey of faith without God, because I could not do the diabetes thing without God.

Psalm 119:114 (MSG) 114 You’re my place of quiet retreat; I wait for your Word to renew me.

My constant rock and source of strength through all that is diabetes, is God.

I can’t give you medical advice, but I can listen and share my own story. Yes, even in a blog about simple living by faith.  Diabetes can show its face, but it cannot win. It can build courage and determination, but it cannot take over.  It can cause your focus to shift to numbers, and meds, and carb counting and the like.  But your ultimate goal and focus can be built on faith in God and His call on your life.

We may live in different parts of the world, and our resources for dealing with diabetes may be quite different.  I hope to see you on the path of hope and faith.  He’s got your back through it all. Feel free to comment……..

What Are You Seeking in 2015?

  • December 31, 2014 6:14 pm

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

There is no greater goal, no greater resolution than to seek God more in 2015. The world is obviously a little bit stressed out lately. 2014 saw a whole bunch of chaos. No matter what your political views, there’s no denying the chaos was and is there even on this last day of the year.

You may have had a wonderful year, or one filled with struggles. In any event, the new year brings a new opportunity to set some goals and work toward some changes. Now you probably know from the past that most of these changes  just do not get done. It’s like decluttering your house.  How many times have you vowed to do it, and how many times have you failed? That’s what I thought…me too!

The only thing I can guarantee you and myself, is that seeking God first is the real solution for everything. Check out the following:

Matthew 6:25-34 (HCSB)
25 “This is why I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?
26 Look at the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?
27 Can any of you add a single cubit to his height
by worrying?
28 And why do you worry about clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or spin thread.
29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these!
30 If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t He do much more for you—you of little faith?
31 So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’
32 For the idolaters
eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Notice how the seeking part, is buried in the worry and the stress? Matthew has it smack dab in the middle of the mess.  Why? Because it works. The emphasis though, is on what to seek first. In the middle of 2014 and 2015, lies the chance to do some serious seeking. One day at a time.  It may be a little late to recover the time from 2014, but tomorrow is just a few hours away.  Start now, seeking Him in prayer as you offer Him your new year.

If you don’t know how to seek Him, or what it means to have a true relationship with Him, visit the Knowing God page on this blog. Feel free to research and discuss what it means to seek both His kingdom and His righteousness.

If Christmas taught you anything, it’s that all the stuff you may have been seeking either didn’t show up under the tree, or it didn’t make you happy.  I write from reality and I can tell you you will always have struggles and chaos in the midst of peaceful days. Happiness is never lasting. The choice though, is to seek Him through every year you have on the earth.  There is no other way. Seek Him first. Not Facebook friends, not alcohol, not drugs, not money. Seek Him first. Not status, not the perfect career, not toys and the fastest greatest car. Him. First. Above all. Right now before you land in the middle of a new year. And for the record, can you believe another year has come and gone already? Start now!

Ephesians 3:20-21 (HCSB)
20 Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—
21 to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.