Thrive in God's Mercy

Today is the 100th post on Thriving Christians. Back in late April Thrive Rich in Mercy was my initial attempt at blogging.

My heart was full and overflowing with all the emotions of my husband's sudden illness and then his death. You readers have been a blessing that still surprises me with rare joy. As a new widow I had a fear grab me around my throat that drove me to write and press to stay "alive."

Many years ago a widow close to me showed me how easy it was for her to "drop out" of living when her spouse of decades suddenly died. I desire to live fully until I die. That's what Thrive Christian's is all about.

Fears can hold us hostage to the adventure of living that is ours to embrace. Psalm 23 and many other scriptures use analogies of sheep to explain our relationship with God.

Shepherds' frustrations are usually centered around the fearful mindsets of sheep. It appears you can drive goats and cattle, but sheep must be led.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. {Psa 23:3b RSV}

The Hebrew word translated "paths" means "a well-defined, well-worn trail." Some shepherds say that sheep will even wander away when the trail is well laid out. The shepherd knows the trails from experience, and the sheep trust him.

All of us are facing uncertainty about our futures. I've had many decisions thrust on me, but I hear from many people that the events of our times is causing changes for everyone. How do we know that we are making the right choices? Decisions can be crucial, and frustrating!

In this new place I stand firm in my quest to thrive in this adventure of life. But I need wisdom. I need a shepherd. I need someone who knows the trails, someone whom I trust. I must be willing to say, "I'll go anywhere. I'll do anything. I'll be anything. I'll carry any load, live any place you want me to live, do anything you want me to do, Lord" I, like David, see the Lord as my Shepherd...the one I will follow.

God bless insurance professionals and financial planners. They have the difficult task of taking us to our death and afterwards. I've been blessed with wise and compassionate advisers, but it's amazing what you go through anticipating when you die. Developing strategies for all the "what if's" is daunting.

But verse 4 helps me: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

It seems when the shepherd is leading the sheep in the hills of Israel they sometimes have to go down through narrow gorges that have long shadows lying across the trail. In the Hebrew this is a "valley of deep shadows". The timid sheep are terrified at this part of their journey. Trusting the shepherd they have enough comfort to keep on the journey in spite of the shadows. For me in my "shadows" I hold onto "I will never leave you nor forsake you," Hebrews 13:5}.

Back in April I encouraged myself and readers to passionately embrace the adventure of living. Paul Tournier's book The Adventures of Living inspired me in this pursuit. May we close with his quotes:

"....being made in the image of God that man throws himself so eagerly into all the adventures God opens up before him....not only religious adventures such as those I have referred to, but all the others: the adventures of science, of the exploration of earth and sky, of art, of culture and philosophy."

"It is the adventure of God which is being worked out in every human adventure. The Bible is the book of adventure and must be read as such. Not only the adventure of the world and of humanity, but the personal adventure of each man and woman whom God touches, calls and sends into action."

"The Bible also gives adventure its true meaning, for from end to end it reveals what is at stake in all our work, all our activity, all our choices, and all our self-commitment."

Reflecting back to post 1 I am still passionate about the adventure of life God has laid out for me. I'm alive and that is a gift....here at number 100 I'm opening my gift and embracing it with gusto!!! How about you?

Fun Friday: What You DON'T Want to Hear on Mission Trips

"Oops....I forgot..."


Seems those leading youth mission trips break out in a cold sweat when they hear those three words. Enjoy this list today from true reports from frazzled youth leaders:

What You DON'T Want To Hear on Mission Trips from http://stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

1. "Quick, quick, quick, which snakes are the poisonous ones?"

2. "I know, I know, but I've always wanted to see what it was like to drive on the other side of the road and I didn't expect that to happen."

3. "Do you mind carrying this through customs for me?"

4. "Do you know the Swahili for 'I dropped my souvenir machete on my foot?' Because I don't, and I did."

5. "I don't own a tankini."

6. "It's so hot here. I mean I know we're in Africa, in the summer, in the desert, but I didn't expect it to be this hot."

7. "It's so cold here and no I don't want to wear that mission trip coat. I don't like the color. "

8. "Does anyone know how to fix a flat tire/put out an engine fire/completely rebuild a 1987 VW Vanagon?"

9. "Has anyone seen my passport?"

10. "I think it would be a cool sign of Christian brotherhood if we all didn't shave/bath with soap/brush our teeth while we're here."

11. "Sure, bug spray is nice, but the jumping spiders just consider that a condiment, so save it. "

12. "This time it is love. No really, this time it is love."

13. "I think I sprained my ankle."

Comments from other survivors of mission trips sent in these remembrances:

• 
  Has anyone seen [name of youth on trip]


• "Hey come over here" Said by man holding a gun. This is a true story. Now why the group crossed the street is beyond me.
• 
  
• "You do know that ice is made from water right?"
  
• "What is a typhoon?" (Another true story).
  
• "When I asked you to bring your birth certificates along, do you think you could have told me you were born in Africa BEFORE we got to the Mexican border??" This detained two of our youth directors for 5 hours!

• "Young man, were you aware that the punishment in South Nowhereia for looking at a woman is getting your eyes poked out with a sharp sick." (Through a translator).

• "Are rashes supposed to cover your entire body???!!"
  http://stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com/

Profit In Thankful Heart

Living in an attitude of thanksgiving pays.



The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!" - Henry Ward Beecher


"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." - Albert Schweitzer

Name those things you are thankful for....



Name those people you are most thankful for.....
Who are you thankful for?

Love What You Do: Discipline or Devotion

When you love what you do; excellence just comes naturally.

Thrive Christians, is a blog dedicated to encouraging me and you readers to thrive. I'm convinced that I make decisions that determine outcomes in my life including my physical, emotional, spiritual and financial health.

In a most challenging time a few years ago I prayed for God to keep me focused so that I didn't get lost in the situation I found myself. This word: Thrive came to me.

Of all things I expected to think on; thrive didn't even make the top ten on my list. But I made a conscious decision to thrive with all that was in me, no matter what. Remarkably I did thrive.

Widowhood has suddenly brought me to many new challenges including grief. I am praying for God's leading as I reinvent my world while I am holding on to that word: thrive.

Loughter and fun are dilberately stirred up here. If you hit this blog only occassionally it might appear that there is no focus or strategy, but I assure you I am in a fight for my best life: I am believing God is giving me a thriving life...even now. He is, but when negative urges pull at me, I have to make conscious decisions to pray and move toward thriving.

As I plan my time I have the advice of several people I respect. They independently have said the same thing to me. Make sure you love what you do, as much as you can choose what takes your tlme. I am doing what I love: writing, speaking, jewelry making and renovating my house. Much of the writing and speaking is Christian ministry. It is amazing how the work is my joy. What a gift to fill a need and love the work required to fulfill the need.

Chew on these quotes and comment if I've hit a chord on you thriving:

"The freedom to do your best means nothing unless you are willing to do your best." — Colin Powell

"People think I'm disciplined. It is not discipline. It is devotion. There is a great difference." - Luciano Pavarotti

Two Questions:

Are you willing to do your best?

What are you devoted to?

Whatever I do and wherever I spend my time all is done with the knowledge that God is present. Everything in my life is centered on this one verse:

Colossians 3:17: "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Hear me, I've Found My Voice

Can you hear me now? Yes, it's an ad, but there is some deep meaning of respect and hope in truly asking that question. On Saturday I wrote a post titled: Hope Can Change Everything .

I was asked to write a poem about a program for women with children trapped in poverty. I wrote:

You gave me hope,

and I found my voice.

No longer silent and afraid,

To believe in tomorrow, For me and mine.

I have discovered that to believe in yourself enough to believe that your voice: spoken and/or written matters enough for someone to hear or read your words is a sign of confidence. The forsaken, betrayed, guilt-ridden, and defeated have lost their voice and their fight.

I was talking with a young pastor friend on the phone moments ago. I asked him to pray for me as I try to write this post. I told him I was seeking words to express my heart on this topic. It's ironic that I'm searching for my voice as I speak on the power of opening up a place for people to discover "their voice."

Think about yourself: do you know your voice in writing or speaking? Do you live by leading of the Holy Spirit and your own convictions and unctions? Or are you speaking and living to fulfill someone else's dream? Do you believe you matter enough to be heard?

Stephen Covey writes on his blog: It can make all of the difference as to whether a person takes a higher road to his or her own voice or a lower road to where he or she is swallowed up by the priorities and voices of others.

Covey was talking on the power of mentoring. I have mentioned the great influence of my mentor on my life. I must say she cheers me on while I write here. She has helped me find my voice and she is not relenting in pressing me to speak from my heart. When I want to hold back, she encourages me to press toward the mark of speaking whatever Holy Spirit leads me to express.

Find your voice!!! God gave you a distinct, unique voice...we all need to hear you; you matter and we will listen.

Psalm 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry.

Ps. 120:1 In my distress I cried to the LORD, And He heard me.

Ps. 138:3 In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul.

Storms Can Redirect Life Policies

Gulf Coast, We Care



I noticed a headline, "New Orleans Can Exhale." Yes, you held your breath with the flashbacks of Katrina, Camille and all the other hurricanes of your past. When the news alerts began to warn of a possible hurricane coming your way I imagine your mind began the replay of 3 years ago. This hit not only the present residents, but those who have permanently moved onto higher ground.

Whenever I have had to go "again" into a crisis; I have had the life lessons of the first incident, but I also have the compounded problem of memories and pain plus the agony of the present crisis. Having had some tough dilemmas in my childhood all the way back to my birth I have had to face some things that I could not articulate into words. Later I would learn through family stories that as a baby hard things had occured. When I visited those geographical places I would have frightening feelings, but I had no words to express the feelings.

Little ones have to process some feelings that they cannot put words to the feelings because they were so young when Katrina hit. Now they have a brain that can process language and they have frightening feelings with no way to express it. Yes, to all of you, exhale.

Way back in the sixties my husband, six month old daughter and I lived in the Ft. Walton Beach area while my husband served in the Air Force. We had lived through small hurricanes while we lived in Charleston, SC. I "knew" all about hurricanes. While the news reports warned of hurricane Camille many of my friends flew home to escape it. I thought that was absurd. As the storm neared no one ever recommended evacuation. My husband had to go the base hospital because he was a doctor.

So, with a bathtub full of water, a pantry with peanut butter, bread, and saltines I was fine. I had a battery operated radio and several flash lights. I had covered all my bases. But I remember watching the storm on tv headed to our coast or possibly Louisiana. I remember thinking I was the foolish one while my friends, safely at home in higher ground, had made the wisest decision. Here I was in essentially deserted base housing on beachfront with my precious baby daughter. That storm changed my mind in light of possible disaster. I now always choose the more conservative and safer decision.

God, when the storms come in the natural and in the spiritual and emotional areas of our lives will You show us how to learn from them? We don't want to just survive; we pray to thrive from the vivid life lessons these storms offer us. We also pray for everyone impacted this week by these storms...bless them and restore them we pray. AMEN

Your Reputation is Showing

Happy Labor Day

Be careful, you can be working away in the work place, and bam! Your reputation can show up at any moment. Here is a good example in the courtroom:

Lawyers should never have asked a Mississippi Christian grandma a question if they weren't prepared for the answer.

In a trial, a Southern small-town prosecuting attorney called his first witness, a grandmotherly, elderly woman to the stand.

He approached her and asked, "Mrs. Jones, do you know me?"

She responded, "Why, yes, I do know you, Mr. Williams. I've known you since you were a young boy, and frankly, you've been a big disappointment to me. You lie, you are an adulterer, and you manipulate people and talk about them behind their backs which is to say you bare false witness. You think you're a big shot when you haven't the brains to realize you never will amount to anything more than a two-bit paper pusher. Yes, I know you."

The lawyer was stunned! Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the room and asked, "Mrs. Jones, do you know the defense attorney?"

She again replied, "Why, yes, I do. I've known Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster, too. He's lazy, bigoted, and he has a drinking problem. He can't build a normal relationship with anyone and his law practice is one of the worst in the entire state. Not to mention he commited adultery with three different women. One of them was your wife. Yes, I know him."

The defense attorney almost died.

The judge asked both counselors to approach the bench and, in a very quiet voice, said, "If either of you idiots asks her if she knows me, I'll send you both to the electric chair."

Thanks to this website for today's laugh:

http://www.idealbaptistchurch.com/