Dee2rites Blog

Tag: Daily life

  • BE VIGILANT

    Flip Wilson used to portray a TV character who would say “The devil made me do it” every time he (or she sometimes) did something wrong. It became a popular catch phrase imitated in commercials and in everyday life.
    For a Christian, such a statement would be Biblically incorrect. The devil cannot make us do anything against our own will. He tempts us with evil, but it still our choice to do it or not.
    A statement I hear frequently today from some Christians is that the devil caused this or that to happen.  Looking at what the Bible says about the devil, that may or may not always be the case. It is true that as believers in Jesus Christ, we have an enemy who works against us and we are cautioned to be on guard against him. But we are also given weapons to use and instructions concerning him.

    “In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].

    “Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.

    “For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.” Ephesians 6:10-12 (Amplified Bible)

    When I hear Christians give the devil credit for every bad or unpleasant thing that happens to them, I have to wonder why. The Bible says we are to put on the “God’s whole armor” and when we do, we are able to withstand any attacks of the enemy.
    God’s Word is greater than any evil spirit or demon. The Blood of Jesus is greater than all the powers of darkness combined. They tremble and flee at the very Name of Jesus.  The Holy Spirit is our teacher and He gives us direction. And as if that weren’t enough, God’s holy angels have been charged to assist us.

    “Are not the angels all ministering spirits (servants) sent out in the service [of God for the assistance] of those who are to inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:14 (The Amplified Bible)


    What I have observed is that usually what people give the devil credit for are things that are the consequences of their own bad choices or the results of the actions of someone else. If I speed on the freeway because I was late leaving for an appointment, and I get stopped by a police officer, it won’t be the devil writing the ticket! It will be the consequences of my actions.
    Sometimes bad things happen because we live in a fallen world. Sin abounds in the world; it’s not necessarily a personal attack against us from the devil.     I’ve decided that whatever comes my way, I will not give the enemy any credit, not for anything. Even when I know it is him attacking, I will not give him credit for hurting me. In Jesus Christ I am more than a conqueror. God orders my steps and He guides my life. God is my provider and my protector. When problems arise, I will seek my Father’s face. I will search His Word. I will call on His Name. And I will be vigilant.

    “Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.
    “Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset–rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world.”
    I Peter 5:8, 9 (Amplified Bible)


    Peace and blessings in Our Lord Jesus Christ.
    Dee

  • Catching Up

    I’m appalled how long since it’s been since I’ve posted anything but I have a very good reason.

    New Granddaughter

    Our new grand-baby, Kaylee Nicole came a week early – June 1 instead of the planned June 9.
    But she is here and she is healthy and as beautiful as her mother was when she was born.  So the first week, I was spending as much time as possible at the hospital getting acquainted with Kaylee. Then the following week and this week I spent 3 days of the week at their house helping.  Yesterday the doctor released Rachael to resume most of her routine, including picking up 19 month-old Braden, so I’m back home playing catch up. But I only have today.

    Tomorrow we’ll be picking up our 10 year-old grandson, Christopher, and having him with us for 2 weeks. Monday he starts swimming lessons, and there will be trips to Taco Bueno, the movies and the library.  And anything else we come up with that sounds fun.

    Can I just say I love being a grandparent! You get to re-do the fun stuff you did with your kids, plus add some things you missed. And without the pressure to be a “good” parent – you just get to relax and enjoy it.  The greatest blessing and biggest responsibility is humbly going before the Lord, thanking Him for these precious grandchildren and asking for His protection over them.

    Indeed, children are a blessing from God, and grandchildren are the greatest blessing of all!

    Peace and blessings from our Lord Jesus Christ,

    Dee

    Precious little girl.
    Precious little girl.
    Braden loves his new sister.
    Braden loves his new sister.

  • Learning from God

    Godly relationships are vital in our walk as Christians. The Bible is clear that we are to assemble ourselves together regularly to study the Word and for worship.


    “…not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching”. Hebrews 10:25 (The Amplified Bible)


    I just completed an 8-week ladies Bible study where we met each Tuesday evening. There were about 20 of us sharing what we’d learned the past week and with our group discussions, each one gave the others a glimpse into her life. As the weeks progressed, we all became very dear to one another and now we cannot wait for our next session to start again.

    In addition to corporate fellowship in church and Bible study groups, God brings individuals into our lives to encourage us and help us grow.


    ”As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 (New International Version)


    God has brought several such women into my life during different periods of my life. Those friendships are precious to me and I cherish the times we’ve spent together praying and sharing the Word together. They are all dear sisters and although some of us are separated by miles now, we are still one in the Lord. I continue to pray for them as they do for me.


    As much as I cherish those times, with individual friends and group Bible studies, the times I’ve grown the most spiritually have not always felt pleasant as it was happening. It was hard because I felt alone. Of course I had my church and my family, but I was missing that “Paul & Timothy” relationship I was used to having. Now, looking back I see those times too were God ordained. It was in those alone times I had to totally rely on the Holy Spirit to teach me the Word. When you have no one but Jesus to cling to, you learn to cling with all your might.

    In the Old Testament, before David became king, he was a keeper of sheep. Alone out with his sheep, he learned to totally trust in God.


    “My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation.
    He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken    . Psalm 62:1,2 (New American Standard)


    After God anointed him to be king, David went through some hard times. Saul tried to kill him, and later even his own son tried to kill and overthrow him. If David had not learned how to trust in God alone in the field with his sheep, it would have been hard to learn it when men were trying to kill him.

    Don’t despise the lonely times; listen for God’s voice and stay in His Word. We don’t always know what God is preparing us for in those times but we can be sure, everything God does in our lives is for a purpose. We just have to trust Him.

    Peace and Blessings,

    Dee

  • March 26, 2009

    I’ve been cleaning house and clearing out some clutter. I cleaned out the pantry and threw out some stuff that was stale or expired and probably not that good for us when it was fresh. All this cleaning makes me wonder how many of us are walking around with emotional garbage, that’s expired and bad for us. But like the ignored pudding mixes and stale crackers in my pantry, we’ve hung on to it.

    Many times we hang on to emotional hurts because of fear to let them out; we feel shame about them so instead of seeking help, we hide it and hang on to the hurt. It’s even sadder when those hurts were caused by someone else and we had no control over it. Like sexual assault.

    How many women have been either molested or raped and are like I was for many years, walking around, wounded and fearful. Afraid of being hurt again, afraid of someone finding out.  I was very sure that if I told anyone about what happened, they would say it was my fault. After all I was with someone my parents trusted and was a friend. I only told my husband after we’d been married many years and I felt safe enough to tell him. He was angry, but not at me. Then it happened to someone close to me. She did not have to tell me what had happened; I recognized the signs in her eyes. I knew her pain and tried to talk to her about it, but she was afraid to tell me. Afraid I would judge her. It took her a long time to finally admit to me what had happened. It was not her fault, but she took the blame and the shame.

    As women we do ourselves and other women a great disservice by continuing to carry the shame for something that’s not our fault. Let the men who did it feel the shame. Once we come out into the open and talk about what happened, we take back our power. If we are open about what happened to us, we will begin to heal. Once we’re healed, we will be in a position to help our sisters.

    According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Crime Victimization Survey there were 248,300 sexual assaults in 2007.  That means that every 2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. Sexual assault is the most under reported crime against individuals. One study shows that only 16% of all assaults are reported to the police. Another university study reported that 1 in 5 college women said they’d been forced to have sexual intercourse.  It happens to someone every 2 minutes.

    Bad things happen to us in this life, but God offers healing and help if we only cry out to Him.

    “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor;
    He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to [those who are] bound;
    To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,
    To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”     (Isa 61:1-3, NJKV)

    He wants to heal your broken heart. He wants to free you from the prison of shame. He wants to comfort you from mourning. He will give you beauty in living a joyful life for the ashes of despair. He will take that spirit of heaviness and give you a garment of praise. It will be a beautiful thing and God  will be glorified in you.

    Peace and blessings.

    Dee

  • Chaos to Calm

    We’ve been doing some remodeling in our house the past few weeks. We moved out a wall enlarging our family room, added some built-in bookshelves, repainted the walls and ceiling, and today will get new carpet installed. Meanwhile, all the family room furniture, including my husband’s big-screen TV, is in the living room, the hallways, and office. There are stacks of books and board games everywhere there is available space to stack. Not to mention that all the dust generated from the construction covers every surface in the house. To say my house is in chaos at this moment, is a fairly accurate statement. But once the job is finished, the furniture moved back in and everything is back in place, it will be beautiful. The room will be larger and more comfortable for family and guests when they visit. It will be more comfortable for my husband and me to sit and watch “Dancing with the Stars” together. We’ve had to endure the chaos to get to the improvement.
    I don’t like my house not being in order. I don’t deal well with clutter and I’m ready to get it organized. I’m tired of cleaning only to have a new layer of dust re-cover everything I just cleaned. I’m ready for everything to be complete and for the enjoyment of a new room.
    Sometimes God takes us through a re-construction phase.  Sometimes we need to have some things moved around or moved out in order to make way for the new.  Old habits need to be broken and replaced with new ones. Maybe instead of watching the morning news on television, we need to spend that time in the good news of God’s Word. Maybe we need to replace that bedtime snack of ice cream and a soda with a piece of cheese and some fruit, or some of us should just give up that late snack entirely.
    Maybe a job has become too comfortable and we’re looking to it for our provision, but God has something else He desires for us. When I left my job last October, I left a job I enjoyed with people I liked and enjoyed working with. But it was taking all my time and God called me to be a writer. I’ve known that for many years, but I kept finding other things I “needed” to do first. God made it very clear to me that it was time to leave my old job and to obey His call. It’s not been easy giving up a paying job in a climate where jobs are disappearing daily. But God is faithful and He is taking care of us. The blessings I have in being obedient are greater than any other reward on earth.
    The chaos of hurts, disappointments, and hard times come into all of our lives. Jesus said that as long as we are in this world these things will happen, but He also promised to get us through them all.
    “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NIV)
    Yes, He will take us from the chaos in our lives and to a place of calm, but we have to trust Him and keep moving through.
    Peace and blessings.
    Dee

  • WHY I’M NOT TOTALLY GREY – PART 2

    Last week on my post “Why I’m Not Bald and Totally Grey” I talked about praying for my children. It occurred to me that maybe I should share some of the scriptures I used in praying for them, and that I continue to pray for them and for my grandchildren. There are too many to list all in one post so here are some of the ones I used most frequently. I didn’t pray every scripture I knew every day; I just allowed God to lead me and prayed according to the need of that day.

    Both of my children came to know the Lord and made Jesus their Savior at an early age, but until they did, I prayed for their salvation.

    “They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.’” (Acts 16:31, New International Version)

    Then, I prayed for their obedience to God, and this one is highlighted in all my Bibles. “And all your [spiritual] children shall be disciples [taught by the Lord and obedient to His will], and great shall be the peace and undisturbed composure of your children.” (Isaiah 54:13, The Amplified Bible)

    “It is written in [the book of] the Prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught of God [have Him in person for their Teacher].’ Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to Me-” (John 6:45, The Amplified Bible)

    I prayed this over them every day, calling them by name, praying that they would be obedient to the Lord and taught by the Holy Spirit. I continue to pray this for my children and grandchildren still today, that they will be obedient to God.

    Next I prayed for their protection, that God would send His angels to watch over them as He’s promised in His Word. And again, this is one I continue to pray for them.

    “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:10, New International Version)

    “For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service]. (Psalm 91:11, The Amplified Bible)

    The most powerful thing we can do for our children is to pray for them. Cover them daily with our prayers, asking God’s protection over them – spirit, soul and body. God’s written Word is His perfect will. When we pray His Word, we are praying in His will. This is how we lay hold of His promises, but it has to be in faith. If we don’t believe His Word true, or that He will keep His Word for us, then it’s to no avail.

    The Book of James says, “Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who weavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:6, the Amplified Bible)

    There are times when we have to believe the Word more than we believe what we see. Our children may not always act saved, they may not always act like “disciples, taught of the Lord” but that is when we exercise our muscle of faith, and believe God’s Word is true no matter what. I know one young man who was delivered from drugs, all because his mother and father refused to give up. They continued praying and believing God. Today he’s a minister of the gospel.

    Beloved, God loves you and He loves your children. What He’s done for others, He’ll do for you.

    Peace and blessings.
    Dee

  • GOD OF ALL COMFORTS

    Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4

    I just learned that the sister of a friend passed away this week-end. Carol, my friend, and her sister Tina were in the same ladies Bible study I’m attending. Tina was an attractive, lively lady and will leave a hole in our group, as well as in her family. She had a son and grandson who’ll miss her.

    As I pray for Carol and her family, I thank God that her sister Tina was a believer so that while her family mourns their loss, they can be comforted with the knowledge that Tina is in the presence of Jesus.

    Peace and blessings.

    Dee

  • WHY I’M NOT BALD AND TOTALLY GREY


    “Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it.” Proverbs 22:6 (New Living Testament)

    Many years ago when my son was in high school, one of my neighbors shocked me when she asked how I managed so well to have a teen-age son who never got into trouble. She went on to say I always seemed so calm with my kids and not worried about anything. She wanted to know why, what was my secret?

    The surprise was not her thinking I had good kids. My husband and I thank God every day that they gave us few problems. But I knew all too well that we were NOT perfect parents. I lost my temper and yelled and screamed as much as any mother. I made impossible demands on them and had to repent daily. Too often I was anything but calm.

    After I had picked my jaw up off the floor, I tried to give her the best answer I could – “I don’t know. It’s not me.” That was the truth. It was not me. It was God and His faithfulness. I shared with her that I prayed for my children daily and then left them in God’s hands. My husband and I took them to church and taught them at home. That was the best we knew to do.

    It’s never easy being a parent, and being the parent of teen-agers is especially challenging. It was hard in the late 80’s when my son was in high school and it was harder in the 90’s when my daughter was in high school. The challenges and temptations that face our children today are even greater. But God does not change. He is faithful and His word is true. We can rely on Him to guide us through every situation. There were days when it didn’t look so good for one or the other of my children. Those were the days when I had to just trust God that His Word would not fail and that His promises to bring my child back would come to pass. I had to believe the Word more than I believed what I saw.

    Jesus said, “And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about what to say in your defense, for the Holy Spirit will teach you what needs to be said even as you are standing there.” Luke 12: 11, 12 (New Living Translation)

    Most of us here in the United States will never be brought to trial for the gospel, or be called to account before authorities. Sometimes the one judging us is an angry teen-ager. Maybe the one we need an answer for is a defiant child.

    My daughter Rachael thanked me a couple of years ago for something I’d forgotten had even happened until she reminded me. One Friday night she’d made plans to go with some friends to a party. When she came out of her bedroom to leave, I took one look at her and told her to go change clothes. She had on a skirt she’d borrowed from a friend that was so short no way could she sit down without exposing her backside. She pitched a fit, said there was nothing wrong with way she was dressed. I stood my ground and gave her the option of changing clothes or staying home. She continued to argue so I told her she was grounded. She stayed home and pouted the rest of the week-end.

    When my daughter and I were talking about this, she told me that she remembered telling me she hated me that night but how sorry she was now. She thanked me for not giving in because now she understood why I was concerned and that I was acting out of love for her.

    WOW! That’s the best gift any mother could ever have.

    Yes, God is faithful to His word. His Word is true. When we obey our part, He will do what He has promised. My job was to train them up. God’s job was and is to keep them on the right path. God is no respecter of persons, what He’s done for me He will do for anyone.

    “Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth” Isaiah 43:5, 6 (New International Version)

    It doesn’t matter where your child is, pray over them and put them into God’s hands. Remember God loves them even more than you do. Trust Him to bring them back if they’re gone astray. Trust Him to save them if they’re lost. God is faithful and what He has promised, He will do.


    Peace and blessings.
    Dee

  • HOW IS YOUR LIGHT?


    “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
    Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand and it gives light to all who are in the house.”     (Matt. 5:14, 15, NKJV)


    This is Jesus’ instruction to us who profess to believe in Him. As I have gone through life, I’ve met people I knew were Christian before they ever said one word about God, church or what they believed. Their character and way of conducting themselves or their business told the world who they were. Sadly, I’ve known others who professed loud and long they were Christian, some even boasting about their positions in their church. But after being around them in day to day business, I wondered. The first group of individuals were indeed lights set on a hill offering light to the world. The second group, no real light emanated from them.


    Jesus went on saying, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16, NKJV) The Amplified Version says “…that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds…”
    We are instructed to be light not only to show others, but to cause them to glorify our Father in heaven. Those who say they are Christian but don’t act like Christ, bring dishonor to God. How can we be a witness to the world and lead them to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ when we act like sinners ourselves? There is a reason that some nonbelievers complain about hypocrites in the church – too often it’s true.  Some even reject Christ because they were mistreated by someone who  professed to be a Christian.


    The apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 5:8-10 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.”


    “…finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.”  How do we do that? The answer starts in Matt. 5:17. Jesus goes from talking about us being the light of the world to the law. Yes, I know we are no longer under the law, we are under grace. However, Jesus said He did not do away with the law, but He fulfilled it. The rest of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7 deals with how we are to live. He teaches us how we can be the light of the world. The old saying goes “actions speak louder than words” and we know that to be true. When we live as He instructs us to live, our actions will speak in a way that glorifies our Father and our words will be heard more clearly when we do speak of the things of God.


    Father, I pray that I may become blameless and harmless, a child of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom I can shine as a light in the world. In Jesus Name, Amen. (Phil 2:15)

    Peace and blessings.
    Dee

  • Our Time to Live

    “Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;

    All the stages of my life were spread out before you,
    The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.” (Psalm 139:16 The Message Bible)

    I love history. I love reading about what life was like centuries ago and wonder what I would have been had I lived in another time and place. I imagine myself on a sailing ship crossing the ocean from my ancestors’ home in Wales to the new country. It’s easy to romanticize another time and place, forgetting the hardship they endured then. God put me here and now for a reason.

    Today’s society has its own hardships. There are cures and treatments for diseases that once killed people, but medical care is expensive and without insurance, it is out of reach for too many people. Our food is safer than ever but the grocery shelves are lined with junk foods to temp us and we destroy our bodies by eating the wrong kinds of foods. One hundred years ago more households had live-in help than in-door bathrooms with running water. Today Americans consider bathrooms and proper plumbing a necessity, not the luxury it still is in parts of the world today.

    God knew what our lives would be like even before we were born. He knew the generation we would be part of. He knew what would be required of us to live in this age. Our lives were planned by God before we were born and He equipped us for this time. He planned for us to be here, now, for a divine purpose and part of His plan.

    Teach me Your way, Father. Let my life fulfill Your purpose. In Jesus Name, Amen.

    Peace and blessings.
    Dee