Manners.....part 3

Love Favorably Interprets Another's Motives—Charity “doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil” (1 Corinthians 13:5). Christlike love places the most favorable construction on the motives and acts of others. It does not needlessly expose their faults; it does not listen eagerly to unfavorable reports, but seeks rather to bring to mind the good qualities of others.—The Acts of the Apostles, 319 (1911).

I keep running across quotes on Facebook that speak of manners. So much more to these quotes but I do see a theme lately. :O) 

Manners....part 2

Christ's love is deep and earnest, flowing like an irrepressible stream to all who will accept it. There is no selfishness in His love. If this heaven-born love is an abiding principle in the heart, it will make itself known, not only to those we hold most dear in sacred relationship but to all with whom we come in contact. It will lead us to bestow little acts of attention, to make concessions, to perform deeds of kindness, to speak tender, true, encouraging words. It will lead us to sympathize with those whose hearts hunger for sympathy.—Manuscript 17, 1899.

Maybe you don't see the connection - but I do. Ponder it a bit - maybe you will see it as well. 

My Book Study Groups Currently

Right now my Sabbath School is reading Morris Venden's books "To Know God"  Clicking on this link will take you to Amazon where you can check it out - give you the opportunity to get it on Kindle as well. Here is another place you can get a newer copy of the book To Know God  at the Adventist Book Center by clicking on it. And of course - if you would like a book but don't want to order one from either of these places - if you leave me a comment and let me know you would like one I would be happy to send you one. :O)

And when we get done with the book "To Know God" we have already picked out our next book~ Let God Be God .   You can click on the link to check the book out at Amazon. No I don't get any credit or what ever if you click - I just wanted to give you a link just in case someone wanted to check the book out. You can look through the photos that they give and it gives a table of contents. The chapters look very interesting. I think it will be a great book to read and discuss. 

I am still working through the Elijah book that we are doing at my Woman's Wednesday Morning group. This book is by Melissa Spoelstra  you can click the "Elijah" and it will take you to the Christian book. com site to check out this book. It has been very interesting and it has expanded my knowledge of Elijah and how I can apply these lessons to my own life. We are on a bit of a break - beginning again on January the 8th I believe.

Manners?

"Manners: making others comfortable around you" 

 I found this written on a piece of paper in the last book we were studying in Sabbath School. I can't remember why this came up - but I do know that when someone said this I thought it was profound. 

Look up the word Manners on Google and this is what you will find: 

 1a way in which a thing is done or happens.

2 a person's outward bearing or way of behaving toward others.

You also find questions like:

What are 10 good manners? 

What are some good manners? 

What does having manners mean? 

What are good manners? 

Bad manners? 

I think the quote above best answers the questions - what does having manners mean? 

If we have manners we will make others comfortable around us. So it could also be said that having bad manners make those around us uncomfortable. I think this gives us all something important to think about. Are we behaving towards others in a way that makes them comfortable or uncomfortable? We need to be willing to look honestly at how we treat those around us and how they feel around us. What do we need to change in order to use good manners? These are just some of the things that I am pondering at the moment.  

There's a Story Here

This was me back in  Jan. 2014. I had 3 favorite hats that I liked to wear. I bought several more but none of the others worked for me. 

Day after day I would pick which hat worked the the best for that day. In June I was starting to get some hair growth and it was awfully hot wearing a hat so on a camping trip I took it off and never wore them again. 

Several times in the last 6 years I would try the hats on to see what I thought. Each time I just didn't feel like I felt good enough in them to wear them. Then Friday I I just happened to look behind my bedroom door where they are hanging and grabbed this one and put it on. I took some photos and I thought - hey this doesn't look to bad. 

Then I switched to my black denim one because it went with my outfit better. I thought this was the perfect thing to wear on that drizzly, cold day. So I did!! That night was the church choirs Christmas program and I wore my black hat to it. I think I am rockin' the hats now! Might not wear them all the time but I am sure I will pull them out from time to time! 

I have changed a lot over the last 6 years. I am so glad I am able to see and experience the changes.

Hope you all are doing well.

 *By the way- I am not that white - I just had the bright lights on in the bathroom so I could get a good photo.

Some Rules Have Changed

I'm not the same person I was a year ago. So much has happened this year, I had no choice but to learn some hard lessons. I am a pretty naive person- sometimes it's good, sometimes not so much. Sometimes it just takes me an awful long time to pick up on things. Especially things that are foreign to me.

The last year has caused me to change some of my own rules for myself- rules I wished I had have picked up years ago- it would have saved me a lot of heart ache for sure. This is one reason why I just haven't posted as much lately because I have been processing my thoughts and feelings.

"But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given him." James 1:5 NET Bible 

I love how the NLT puts it:

"If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking." 

I pray that I comprehend the important lesson that I need to ask God for more wisdom.

I love how this verse points out that God will give us the wisdom without reprimand or rebuke. HE knows we are only human and He wants us to go to Him with all that we need and He will provide.

So although it's been a painful year, with many lessons recognized, I know that I can depend on God to give me wisdom to use the things I have realized this year in order not to have to circle those lessons again. Some lessons are just too painful to have to learn again- it's just easier to implement what I have discovered even though some of them go against what I have done in the past. I am not an old dog that can not learn new tricks. As I continue to seek the Lord He is faithful to teach me the things I need to learn- some lessons are painful but the results in the end will be worth the pain.

A New Addition

Many times you will find an "My Best Deal" post here on Sundays. But today I could not title this post "My Best Deal" because I don't know if I got an awesome deal or not. But I do know that I love this new addition that will go in my workshop area in our garage. The red handles to the right - when turned will open the two piece of wood on the table. It can fold down to fit in my car as I found out after I bought it at a local Goodwill store. 

A couple of years ago my husband and I had a shed built in the back yard - it has a storage area over head and the main floor my husband has taken over as his workshop. Well we have a section in our garage where there is a workshop area. Only problem is that it is overrun with all sorts of stuff. I have already begun working on organizing it. When you have a vision of what you want to accomplish you will begin to take it one step at a time to reach that vision. And this job has certainly taken that from me. It has been overwhelming because the stuff is mostly things like tools, electrical stuff, plumbing stuff and some things I have to take a guess at what it is in order to place it with like things. I can not wait till I am able to get finished this big job. There are a few things I have not figured out how I will organize it or set it up but I am sure that as I work towards having a nice little work area in the garage I will come across things that will help me in my endeavors to organize.  If I think of it I will post photos when I am finished. I just wished I had have gotten photos of it to begin with. It is already about 50% better and I have a LONG ways to go. 

Behind the Times

 I don't know exactly when knee boots came about to be in fashion - but I do know that these are the very first knee high boots I have ever owned. About 10 years ago or so I bought myself a pair of ankle boots and I loved them. But I just had never been able to get myself any of these boots before. So this year around my birthday I had a little extra money so I ordered myself a pair from Amazon- well actually I ordered 2 pairs. The first pair did not work for me - but these are great, I love them!!! They are comfortable. And they go very nicely with my birthday velour leggings that I got with the coupon from Lane Bryant for my Birthday. I am very happy to have them. I have 2 other pairs of leggings but they are a bit faded and not quite as fancy as these. When I wear these - I feel like I am dressed up - plus they are warm! Today the temps were about mid 40's when I went to church and I did not have to wear any jacket or anything my great long vest was just the right addition to the outfit for looks and warmth. I bought with from the consignment store that I take my clothes to that I no longer wear. It would have been 7.99  or 8.99 but I was able to buy it with credit - so no money out of pocket. The only problem with this topper is that it has the tags cut out of it -so I have NO idea what the brand is. And I wish I knew - because I love the style of it. I will be on the look out for more pieces like this to add to my wardrobe. I am so happy to  have finally caught up with the times when it comes to having knee high boots! I wonder how many other things I am behind the times in? 

Not Good Enough/ Less Than

We live in a world where the influences of TV, computers, magazines, etc have a way of making us feel like we are not good enough. Sad thing is that sometimes we even get that message from those around us, but I am here today to remind us all that we are "loved with an everlasting love." (Jeremiah 31:3b)

"...It doesn't matter if you are Jew or Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters."

 Colossians 3:11 

"But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his outward appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 

I Samuel 16:7 

Jesse's oldest son Eliab had an impressive outer appearance but God wasn't concerned with appearances. He isn't that shallow. 

"The Lord looks at the heart" 

"God can give a new heart(10:9) touch hearts(10:26) and peer into the deep motivations of the heart (Ps 139:1) God sees what people cannot see- a person's true character." 

NLT Illustrated Bible notes for 1 Samuel 16:7 

We live in a world of sin where we are constantly being judged by our outward appearance, but we don't need to be concerned with that or let it make us feel like we are not good enough or less than. The One who created us and redeemed us loves us SO much. 

"For this is how God loved the world; He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 

"God's love extends beyond the limits of race or nation, even to those who oppose him." Illustrated Bible notes for John 3:16 

He doesn't get hung up on our appearance and I am So very thankful for that. Our true value comes from the fact that God loved us SO very much that He gave His only son so that we might have eternal life and spend it with Him!!! 

There was a little story I heard once that was about a donkey that got stuck in a pit of some sort. I don't remember all the details but it seems that the owner started to throw dirt into the pit. Those around him thought he was burying the donkey but as they continued to watch they realized that as the donkey moved around he was packing the dirt down and lifting himself higher and higher out of the pit. And soon he was freed. 

In live we will have those around us that toss dirt on us - and it isn't always to help us - but we can still choose to pack it down and rise above. That is one reason I am writing this post today. 

Shake it off 

Pack it down 

and rise a little higher 
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You probably noticed me mention the NLT Illustrated Bible. 
This is my new Bible. I love it!! It is great and pretty reasonable price. I got it from Amazon for a little less than $40. Well worth the money. It is a large Bible measuring about 2 1/4 inch or so thick. Not surprising since it has lots of notes and pictures! 

Trust and Faith

I ended up with bronchitis ~ went to the Dr and have some antibiotic. Hoping I feel better soon. Today there was a great devotion in my Streams in the Desert book that I just had to share: 

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Trust in the Lord and do what is right! Settle in the land and maintain your integrity! —Ps 37:3

The word trust is the heart word of faith. It is the Old Testament word, the word given to the early and infant stage of faith. The word faith expresses more the act of the will, the word belief the act of the mind or intellect, but trust is the language of the heart. The other has reference more to a truth believed or a thing expected.

Trust implies more than this, it sees and feels, and leans upon a person, a great, true, living heart of love. So let us “trust also in him,” through all the delays, in spite of all the difficulties, in the face of all the denials, notwithstanding all the seemings, even when we cannot understand the way, and know not the issue; still “trust also in him, and he will bring it to pass.” The way will open, the right issue will come, the end will be peace, the cloud will be lifted, and the light of an eternal noonday shall shine at last.

“Trust and rest when all around thee
Puts thy faith to sorest test;
Let no fear or foe confound thee,
Wait for God and trust and rest.

Well Hello There~

I have not totally forgotten about my blog. I have just been so very busy. Oct and Nov had probably about 25-30 appt. that I had to take my MIL since she has been pretty unsteady on her feet. This month I have taken her to 2 appt and she has one later this week as well. And then I will need to set up an appointment with another Dr- hoping it will be the appt that he releases her- it will depend on her CT results- we will find that out on Thursday. With all of that and my own activities and things I have been SO very busy. Anyway this morning I read in my Streams in the Desert devotional to end my quiet time and it was just too good not to take the time to share it with you all. :O)
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or this our light and transitory burden of suffering is achieving for us a weight of glory (2 Cor. 4:17). (Weymouth)

The question is repeatedly asked--Why is the life of man drenched with so much blood, and blistered with so many tears? The answer is to be found in the word "achieving"; these things are achieving for us something precious. They are teaching us not only the way to victory, but better still the laws of victory. There is a compensation in every sorrow, and the sorrow is working out the compensation. It is the cry of the dear old hymn:

"Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee,
E'en tho' it be a cross that raiseth me."

Joy sometimes needs pain to give it birth. Fanny Crosby could never have written her beautiful hymn, "I shall see Him face to face," were it not for the fact that she had never looked upon the green fields nor the evening sunset nor the kindly twinkle in her mother's eye. It was the loss of her own vision that helped her to gain her remarkable spiritual discernment.

It is comforting to know that sorrow tarries only for the night; it takes its leave in the morning. A thunderstorm is very brief when put alongside the long summer day. "Weeping may endure for the night but joy cometh in the morning."
--Songs in the Night

There is a peace that cometh after sorrow,
Of hope surrendered, not of hope fulfilled;
A peace that looketh not upon tomorrow,
But calmly on a tempest that it stilled.
A peace that lives not now in joy's excesses,
Nor in the happy life of love secure;
But in the unerring strength the heart possesses,
Of conflicts won while learning to endure.
A peace there is, in sacrifice secluded,
A life subdued, from will and passion free;
'Tis not the peace that over Eden brooded,
But that which triumphed in Gethsemane.

As before - Crosswalk  shares the devotion for each day. It is an excellent book. I really don't like alot of devotional books but this one stands head and shoulders above most of the others.