Pre-determined Responses

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 28. Here is what I learned.

Unto You do I cry, O Lord my Rock, be not deaf and silent to me, lest, if You be silent to me, I become like those going down to the pit [the grave]. Psalm 28:1 (AMP)

Don’t turn a deaf ear when I call you, God. If all I get from you is deafening silence, I’d be better off in the Black Hole. Psalm 28:1 (MSG)

When I pray do I turn off my ears? Think about it. How often do we ask God for something, but we have a pre-determined response which we want. And if we don’t get the specific response, we figure that God didn’t hear us. So we repeat the request over and over.... waiting for our pre-determined response. 

Yet, God hasn’t turned a deaf ear to us.... rather we have “turned off our ears” to hearing and receiving the response that God has chosen as the best. 

“The whole meaning of prayer is that we may know God.” Oswald Chambers

When I change my prayers from “all about me” to “all about God”, then my pre-determined responses are discarded and I’m open to receiving God’s amazing blessings that will accomplish His will and purpose. 

“I want to tell you a growing conviction with me, and that is that as we obey the leadings of the Spirit of God, we enable God to answer the prayers of other people. I mean that our lives, my life, is the answer to someone’s prayer, prayed perhaps centuries ago.

It is more and more impossible to me to have programmes and plans because God alone has the plan, and our plans are only apt to hinder Him, and make it necessary for Him to break them up. I have the unspeakable knowledge that my life is the answer to prayers, and that God is blessing me and making me a blessing entirely of His sovereign grace and nothing to do with my merits, saving as I am bold enough to trust His leading and not the dictates of my own wisdom and common sense.” Oswald Chambers

To create a positive day, I need to discard my pre-determined responses and listen to God as He responds to my prayers... and changes me and my heart to accomplish His will. 

Out of the Pits and Back on Track

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 27. Here is what I learned.

That’s the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world, The perfect getaway, far from the buzz of traffic. Psalm 27:3 (MSG)

Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. Psalm 27:3 (NIV)

There’s a old commercial.. “Calgon. Take me away!” The concept was a Mom who is overwhelmed by caring for her family, escapes all the chaos, by taking a bath with calgon soap. 

There are times when I’m overwhelmed, by what’s happening in our Nation, my pain, or just life in general—paying bills, taking care of the home, car, etc. I feel that chaos has taken control and I just want to escape. 

The best place to not just escape, but get a new perspective and be refreshed, is in the house, or presence of God. God first provides peace and calmness. Then once my spirit is calm and at peace, I can then make sense out of the chaos that had so overwhelmed me. 

I think of my 2 different experiences at Chicagoland Speedway, 2012 and 2013. My perspective in 2012 was from the pits. I saw only a small portion of the track, and my main focus was on just one team. Where as in 2013, I perspective was from a higher view point, and I was able to see the entire track and know what was happening, as a whole. Both perspectives offered a good time, and both were exciting. 

In life, so often I get focused on just one problem or one difficulty, I don’t see the bigger picture. I lose sight of what God is doing. I get so focused on the problem, that literally become “stuck in the pits” unable to get moving again. But, if I take the time to enter God presence and spend time with Him, He reminds me that there is still a long race ahead, and that if I just trust Him, He’ll make sense out of the chaos. He will get me out of the “pits and back racing again”. 

To create a positive day, I need to change my perspective and allow God to get me out of the pits and back on track.... moving forward to finish the race! 

A Good Description?

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 15. Here is what I learned.

Who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts  and does not change their mind. Psalm 15:4 (NIV)

In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he who honors those who fear the Lord (who revere and worship Him); who swears to his own hurt and does not change. Psalm 15:4 (AMP)

On April 19, 2013, I wrote about “Lionize” Lionize.

Lionization: to treat a person as a celebrity; to pursue celebrities or seek their company; to visit or exhibit the objects of interest of.I like that word, lionize. I’m to lionize those that fear God.

As I read Psalm 15 today, I started wondering could the description, “those who fear the Lord” apply to me? 

Do I fear God in private? Do I fear God in public? Do I fear God when I’m with friends? 

What does it mean to “fear God”? Revere and worship Him. Respect Who God is and be in awe of Him. 

If I’m fearing God, holding Him in high esteem and respecting Him, than it should be evident in my words, actions, attitude. Fearing God should have an impact in my life. 

To create a positive day, I must ask myself the question, “One who fears God—is that a good description of me?”

Each One

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 1. Here is what I learned.

Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. Psalm 1:1 (AMP

God’s blessings follow you and await you at every turn: when you don’t follow the advice of those who delight in wicked schemes, When you avoid sin’s highway, when judgment and sarcasm beckon you, but you refuse. Psalm 1:1 (VOICE)

God’s blessings. The sign on my front door says, “God blesses us every day,  It’s up to us to notice.” Some of God’s blessings are hard to miss... like the wonderful blessings God gave me while at Chicagoland Speedway. 

Some of God’s blessings are more subtle. It could be something that makes me smile, like Max flying to my shoulder and saying “happy”. Or a phone call, letter, email from a friend. Or a verse that reminds me that God loves me. 

Not all blessings are showy and create a fan-fair. Often it’s the every day and often “ordinary” blessings that I overlook, yet those are the very blessings that remind me that God loves and is caring for me. 

To create a positive day, I need to take notice of each one of the blessings God gives me every day. 

Chicagoland Speedway 2013 Blessings!

Wow... where do I begin?  (If you click on a photo, it will open larger in a new window.)

On Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, I won tickets to Chicagoland Speedway for the weekend. I was so thankful to be able to spend some time at the track again this year. 

Just being at the track and enjoying the atmosphere, people, races was enough of a blessing for me—but God added some extra blessings each day. Here are a few highlights of my weekend at the Track. 

Friday, Sept 13, 2013

Arrived at the track and was able to get "my parking spot". This is the perfect spot as I can walk back to the car, or catch a ride in one the golf carts. That allows me to rest and ice my back throughout the day. 

Throughout the day, I enjoyed meeting people and watching the practices and qualifying. Since is was Friday, I had on my RED Remember Everyone Deployed Fridays shirt. And that drew the attention of some of our GREAT Heroes. Was an honor to meet them. 

I headed home early, since I knew that the next 2 days would be long. Arrived home and was able to go through my pain treatment routine several times before bed, all while smiling as I thought about the great day I enjoyed. 

Saturday, Sept 14, 2013

Once again arrived at the Track and was able to get ... well the parking spot next to "mine". lol Still a great spot to enable to be return to the car to lie down and ice my back throughout the day. 

On Saturday, I once again enjoyed the atmosphere, people and practices throughout the day. I was able to meet up with a "Twitter Friend" who works at the Air Force booth. Was great to meet Sharon, and also several of our Air Force Heroes. 

When I returned later in the day to say "hi" to Sharon again, she and the Air Force offered me an Infield Pass for Sunday! How awesome!! And I didn't think that my weekend could get any better. 

Sharon was even able to join me to watch the Nationwide Race Saturday afternoon. 

I arrived home, tired in pain... but smiling ear to ear as I thought about the great day I enjoyed.

Sunday, Sept 15, 2013

Woke up very sore and moving very slowly. So took a extra time for a few extra of my pain treatment routines, before leaving for the Track. 

Arrived at the Track and was now two spots from "my parking spot", but still in the front row and close enough to return to the car as needed throughout the day. 

Enjoyed the atmosphere and people again as I waited for the Infield festivities to begin. Including meeting Michael McDowell at the K-Love booth. 

Late morning it was now time to head to the Infield. On my way, I stopped the Air Force and 43 Air Force Show Car for RPDE  booth to say "Hi". (They are the ones who gave me an Infield pass for Sunday.) 

When I arrived at the Booth, a Recruit was there who needed to go to the infield but didn't know how to get there, so invited Josh to follow me. 

I was able to get Josh to the steps leading to the Infield, and directed him to go on, and I'd have them call for a golf cart, and take me the long way around. (I try to avoid steps whenever I can.)

Well, I finally made it to the Infield, and as I neared the track area, there was Josh with the other recruits and all the Air Force Officials. Josh thanked me for getting him the area on time, and told his Recruiting Officer that I helped him. That's when the Officer said, "Then join us!" So I was able to stay in the Infield—are you ready for this—DIRECTLY AT THE BOTTOM of the STAGE—waiting for their Swearing In Ceremony. 

But, due to the rain, they changed the order of events and Introduced the DRIVERS first! So, yes, I was AT THE STAGE, as the drivers walked across—I know WOW!

Then I was there for the MOST amazing Swearing In Ceremony of new Air Force HEROES! It was a GREAT honor to be there and hear the Oath and watch them as they took this step. WOW!!

After it was over, I was "stuck" as the infield was now closed, and I didn't have a Pit Pass. But not to fear—a HERO was there! I had my own private escort of an Air Force Master Sergeant through the Pits. What an honor to talk with him as we walked. 

Since the Race was under rain delay. I was able to return to my car, eat and ice my back for a while before the Race started. That was a much needed break. 

I went up the my "seat", which really I never sat in, as I was able to find perfect places to stand each day. Another blessing that God took care of well in advance. 

Enjoyed 101 laps of NASCAR racing before the rain delayed the race again. I waited for the rain to stop, for while, even got some pictures and video of the Jet Dryers! lol But I decided that when the delay was going be at least 2 hours, (turned out it was over 5!) it was best to head on home. 

I have to say, that although my pain level remains high, the weekend was amazing. Each day God added another blessing to an already amazing weekend.

God blesses us everyday, it's up to us to notice. I have to say that God SHOWERED His blessings upon me this weekend. Creating a positive day was so easy, as I simply enjoyed God goodness.