I'm Not Asking, I'm Telling

Recently I have discovered another version of the Bible that I absolutely love.  I'm a pretty big stickler for staying with the basics (KJV, NKJV, maybe NIV) but I love GNT!!  This is the Good News Translation, formerly the Good News Bible.  A particular scripture that has come to my attention lately has made me love this translation even more.  Remember Joshua 1:9?  Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid nor dismayed, for The Lord your God is with you wherever you go. 

GNT version:

Remember that I have commanded you to be determined and confident!  Do not be afraid or discouraged, for I, The Lord your God, am with you wherever you go.

I love that exclamation point after the first sentence.  God didn't say I really want you to be confident.  He didn't say would you please be confident.  He didn't say be confident if you feel like it.  He said I command you to be determined and confident - exclamation mark - and then like the wonderful God he is, he tells me why - because He is with me wherever I go.  Wow! God's not asking me to be determined and confident, He's telling me, end of story.

Granted, I don't always FEEL confident, but since God is with me everywhere, i.e., all the time, I can still BE confident in Him.  No matter what's going on in my life or going on around me, no matter how many times I may feel rejection, no matter how many times I may feel overlooked, I know at the end of the day I can be confident in who I am, because I am His and He is with me always.

Have you been feeling rejected, dejected, small, or just plain down?  Look to God and remember He is with you everywhere and by his grace follow his commandment and believe in your worth.  You can be strong and of good courage, determined and confident.  After all, the God of the universe loves you and He's telling you to!

Until next time ~ L.

Re-post and Re-learn!

Originally unburied this post for one reason but have decided to repost for another reason.  After looking at it several times I knew the Lord was talking to me.  It seems that I have been this particular proverbial fly this week and my head hurts:

I Don't Know Why I Thought of the Fly

A few days ago I was driving my car when all of the sudden I heard it, and then I saw it - a really big fly buzzing around, frantically trying to escape my moving vehicle. Bug splats on the outside of the windshield are annoying enough, but live bugs on the inside of the windshield is just a big NO in my book. However, I took pity on him and figured I'd roll down the side window and let him out.  So while movin' on down the road I began opening and closing car windows - I rolled down the passenger window but he wouldn't leave, I rolled down the driver's side window, but he wouldn't leave, I rolled them both down together, and he wouldn't leave - all while trying to stop and go on Florida Avenue with a million traffic lights.  The one thing that fly wanted most was what I was trying to give him, but he was bound and determined to get what he wanted his own way.  He wanted to go through the front windshield, and he was so blinded by his own focus that he completely missed his opportunity.

Ever feel like this? I'm certain I've been guilty of it. Lord, I want what I want, when I want it, how I want it! I'm working so hard to accomplish my goal, but maybe the way I'm going about it won't work. Maybe God's saying - "Hey, over here!"  "Psst!  That window's closed, but this window's open!"  Maybe if I decided to stop my frenzied flight it would give me time to look around and see that God has already made a way - it's just not the way I expected. Life has so many roads to choose and paths to walk. It's good to stop and get some directions from the Master. If I'm enclosed in sorrow or grief, troubles or despair, and I'm looking for a way out, He can show me - and that definitely beats slamming my head against a closed glass window over and over any day! ~ LL

Live and learn - and learn again.

"I know the plans I have for you - Plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

Seeking

So I've come a long way in the last three years and thus have not needed to be here very often anymore putting my angst and conquering spirit down for cyber posterity, but I've missed writing and have begun again to pick it back up.  I have recently entered the dating world this month to my own chagrin, and I can see that there may be many an interesting thing to write about concerning this.  No one need fear, I will not be naming any names!  I will start by poking fun, however, with my very own personal ad:

Christian damsel not in distress seeking Prince Charming of like mind.
Damsel is not a princess, nor does she wish to be queen.
Prince does not need to be descended from royalty but must be adopted by the King of Kings.
Chivalry is expected and appreciated.  Kindness and care will be given in return.
Looking to fill this position post haste as damsel has grown weary of independently fixing her own castle.
Prince Charming will not be sorry - Damsel is loyal, likable, and looking for true love.
Only serious inquiries please.  Don Juan's need not apply.

All I can say about it is this, if I don't laugh, I'll just cry, and I think in the last three years I've already cried enough.

~L