Thorns among the Roses...

You ever wanted your life to be a bed of roses?

2 Corinthians 12

EVER HAD A THORN?

A SITUATION- A PAIN- A PROBLEM- A TEMPTATION-
A NEED- A SICKNESS- A PERSON- A BURDEN

Life is not about walking among the ROSES............... but learning to appreciate their beauty, while dodging their thorns.

Carefully handled        Closely guarded          Gently held

because of the THORNS.

If God didn't allow pain in your life, would you be dependent on him? Would pride take over? Would our own value be so elevated that we wouldn't need anyone else...because we got it all.......on our own. We wouldn't need comfort. We wouldn't need direction. We wouldn't long for something better, easier, less hurtful.

Where would I be if I had such a sense of ENTITLEMENT- ELITISM? Would I need a Jesus? Would I need a S A V I O R ?

2 Corn. 12 7-10

⁷ Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! ⁸ Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. ⁹And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰ Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Do I know that the thorn is there because God is teaching me to be dependent on HIM ALONE...his Grace. His Power. I can BEG for the thorn to be removed...............but the THORN keeps me closer to HIM. 

If we could see the end all, the "big picture", the PLAN.............. would I really want that thorn removed? If the END IS HEAVEN OR HELL, I think anything that keeps me leaning on Jesus.... is more of a blessing than a hindrance.

And perhaps, I should praise him for the thorns......

WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

     “Be still, and know that I am God!
      I will be honored by every nation.
      I will be honored throughout the world.”

Psalm 46:10 (NLT)

What do you KNOW?

This phrase was given to me more as a challenge than as a question.

"Without a shadow of a doubt...... without hesitation..... without having to even think about it................what do you know."

"Not, what do you think, or what do you feel...... but what do you KNOW."

Here is what I DO KNOW......... My reality is relative to me and me alone. What someone else perceives as reality for me, is merely a projection of their own reality.....thus... my own perceptions are in fact - only my reality.

Confused?
                   in other words...........
Real knowing comes through the one who created us, loves us, saves us, KNOWS us...

The only thing I KNOW is Jesus.

I know He is the way to KNOWING.....

There are times I may feel like I know something.............but in reality, I really do not know.... anything.


Go to the one who KNOWS it all. Jesus.

"O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive
my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
You are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue You know it
completely, O Lord.
You hem me in- behind and before;
You have laid Your hand before me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

For You created my inmost being;
You knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise You because I am fearfully and
wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from You when I
was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths
of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in
Your book before one of them came to be."

Psalm 139: 1-6, 13-16

STRENGTH

Phil. 4:13 " I can do everything through him that gives me STRENGTH"
As 2011 comes to an end, I began thinking about a New Year's resolution.
I didn't want the norm... Lose weight, save money, exercise more.....
I wanted a challenge to myself that had meaning behind it. One that would help me grow as a person, and inevitably benefit those around me.
I'm a cheesy kind of girl. Not a romantic, perhaps more a softy would be a better word. I love to create memories. The older I become, the more good memories mean to me. So a friend suggested that I pick a word. One word that would be the driving force, the reminder of good things, good times, good memories.
As I began thinking about my word, this scripture continued to come to me... Phil. 4:13.  And one word stood out...
STRENGTH.
When I think of strength, I think of sturdy, strong, support, and all these are things I need in my life, but they are also things I need to be to others.
So, my challenge to myself for 2012 is this..... Strength.
Whatever that means to me at any given time, It always reminds me of the one who gives it.... Christ.
Maybe He is leading me on this journey for a reason. I'm not one to believe in chance.
In the course of this new year, I'm looking forward to understanding and reflecting on the reason this word, and this verse stood out. Life is a journey. Life can be hard. We all need strength...but mostly for me it's a constant reminder of the source.
I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me.
Let the new year begin....

it's never too late to get it back....

Watch "Taylor Swift- Innocent (Live)" on YouTube

If Mary and Joseph Used Facebook.mp4

Putting life in perspective....

http://annefightsback.blogspot.com/2011/12/he-is-in-control.html

Read about my young friend, who's faith will inspire you...

She is 28 and battling breast cancer.  I love her blog title...

"Annefightsback"

When you do Change...

A friend loveth at all times.... Proverbs 17:17
I've changed a lot in the past few years.... not because I wanted to, but because I had to....
I've learned from the mistakes of others, but mainly from my own mistakes....
I can't change the past, but I can totally change the future, my future.
Let me share this revelation.... it's simple, easy to remember and true.
YOU CAN NOT CHANGE SOMEONE ELSE, BUT YOU CAN CHANGE YOURSELF.
I have shared my mantra over and over, "everyone has issues." People are going to hurt, be deceived, be let down, kicked around, saddened, lonely, burdened, frustrated..... because.... Everyone has issues. And since the fall of man, we will continue to have issues while we are on this earth.  [Gen. 2 & 3]
I get so blown away when someone tells me that I did something that I unknowingly or unintentionally did that hurt someone's feeling.  I want to raise my hands and say..
Really....(because I am in total shock)
What are you talking about?
Do you think I did that intentionally?
What, you think you have been a totally perfect friend.... ?
I want to "defend" myself. 
but......instead I say......I'm sorry.
Getting along with others is easy...... love them more than you love yourself.
I'm not perfect, unappreciative, or even mean, just for the sake of drama.  I don't need anymore drama... I've had enough for a lifetime.
I want earthly relationships, but I'm not going to be lashed out at, pushed around, bullied, bulldozed, and berated... because I did something that I absolutely did "unintentionally" and hurt their feelings. I have NO desire to ever cause hurt.
Either love me for who I AM, or don't. I am better off without trying to be a people pleaser. I am better off letting those hurt and devastated by my unintentional selfish cruel acts -off the hook.  Hey, here's your get out of the friendship free card....  You no longer are required to accept me for who I am... You've done your time befriending the pitiful, weak, woman that I was. Poor, thing.
I want a FRIEND to be a friend because of who I can become, not because of the devestating trials my life has had to endue. I don't want anyone's pity.
I want GRACE. I want someone to see me and realize, everybody has issues... and what people do or don't do, just forgive, extend the hand of mercy. LOVE.
Thank God, so many haven't had to experience even ONE of my life's trials on this 46 year journey.
You want to know real drop to your knees hurt, brokenness, defeat... just ask me to share....
Don't be numb to the pain of others... don't be petty.... love one another, forgive one another, look inside your own heart....Have you ever neglected by default, unintentionally said something that hurt another's feelings, or unknowingly upset someone else???

WWJD? 

Sweet and Spicy Pecans

Hunter's favorite Christmas snack!

5 cups pecan halves
1 cup sugar
1 tea. cinn
1 tea salt
1/2 tea nutmeg or pumpkin spice
1/2 tea cayenne pepper
1 egg white

Beat together one egg white and 1 tea. water until floffy. Stir in pecan halves and coat well.
In another bowl mix all other dry ingredients. Pour dry mixture over pecans and toss.

Spread on large lightly greased cookie sheet and bake at 325 for 20 mins.

Cool on wax or parchment paper and enjoy! YUM