TRANSFORMING THURSDAY
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I have given myself permission to post this on Friday morning. To God, time looks a little different than to us. In fact, this post has been on my mind for a few days. The last few days have been soooo busy! Since I'm working full time right now at a part-time job and organizing my time is at a premium. Then, it seems there comes a time when "just one more thing" tips the scale and "overload" has arrived!
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Today, Friday, is Steve's birthday! Steve is by make-up a "solitary man" who is gifted by God with many people skills. He does not have a job that is designed for a "solitary man" and he is usually neck deep in people and their lives. Over the years, one of the best gifts to give Steve is some time away some place in a cabin for him to have alone time with God. A few months ago when someone from church offered him their condo for a few days, they did not realize that there would be roofers there roofing on those days. Steve came back home early.
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Yesterday (the day before his birthday) he woke up to this note on the bathroom mirror. It was a TRANSFORMING THURSDAY!
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Steve,
No roofers today
When you stay at Cape May.
The LaMer has booked you
With a wonderful ocean view.
Check in is at one.
It looks like you get 24 hours
of sun and fun with the ONE!
Happy Birthday!
I love you,
Patti
.We live in a hurry up society... stress all day long... Do this! Do that! Why didn't you do it this way?!? This planet seems to be spinning faster. Yet, I know that things have always been fast. God did create the speed of light. By my calculations "the speed of light" has been around since the beginning in Genesis 1:1-5. God has designed many things with speed, yet He doesn't expect us to "hurry up and do it all". In fact, He'd like us to "be still and know"...
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Psalm 46:10
"Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."
.This week, as we look at MERCY and GRACE, I think of all the things that are going on in our world right now. For many, there is a great degree of panic. I have had several friends loose their jobs just this week. As I observe in the schools daily, I have teachers tell me that things are really different with the children. Many children are stressed to the max.
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Why does it seem that so much is out of control? Some of it has to do with living in the Information Age. There are a few sobering videos that I have watched recently that are true. Yet, the videos have left out encouragement for the discouragement or how to rein in the wild horse of information overload...the videos have certainly left out the GRACE, MERCY, LOVE, AND POWER OF OUR GOD.
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You've heard the newscasters tell us about how important it is to stay informed. Sisters, once you watch the video that I have posted below, you may find it to have to much information about information. Whew! Yet, it may put things into perspective for you or/and...
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- you may feel overwhelmed and anxious
- you may get on your knees and pray for God's GRACE and MERCY for this planet...
- you may even grow in compassion for what your children go through each day at school...
- you may get a little glimpse at what your husband is dealing with
- you may begin to think twice about the person that cut you off in traffic or the cashier at the grocery store...
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Do we need more information? Or, do we need MERCY and GRACE!?!! I know in our family, there are several who get on information overload more quickly than others. It can add stress and zap one of energy. Just this week I've had 3 of my FB friends delete their FB pages because for them "it was too much distraction"...
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I ask you to watch this video and then take a minute afterwards to read what the apostle Peter has to say below the video. May the Spirit of God guide you in all wisdom as you ponder and pray about letting His MERCY and GRACE TRANSFORM you and your thinking today... I'll post a second video in a few days....
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2 Peter 3:8-18
"...with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. 11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
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14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in PEACE, spotless and blameless, 15 and regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation;...17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the GRACE and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."
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