Several days ago, I discovered a small scorpion that had somehow been trapped between the screen and the glass portions of my back door. Fortunately, the species of scorpions that live here are harmless. They sting, but do not inject a fatal dose of poison. Relieved that it couldn’t seriously harm my kids or me I tried to figure out how I could kill it. Since it was an unusually cold day and scorpions are supposed to be hibernating during this time of the year, I determined that the safest way was to simply let it succumb to the elements.
Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice-Proverbs 24:17 NIV
When evening came, I knew that the scorpion would soon be a goner.
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“ restore…the years that the locust have eaten.” Joel 2:25
“Behold, I make all things new.” Rev. 21:5
There is a special weekend getaway that my husband and I like to frequent. It’s an old Victorian home that has been restored to its original condition and turned into a lovely bed and breakfast. We honeymooned there eleven years ago and ever since then it has held a place in our hearts.
It is almost difficult not to stare at its beauty. The moment you step through the front door you are transported back in time. Walking across delightful creaking floors, opening heavy wooden doors with their brass doorknobs and keyholes, and feasting on colorful wallpaper and stained glass windows that entertain the eyes.
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Times are hard for everyone. Evil is everywhere. Crime is rampant. The economy is falling apart. People are losing jobs. I turn on the news and am overwhelmed with the stories I see reported. And I don’t even have to go to the television to know people are facing difficult situations. I have friends with marriages falling apart, husbands who have lost jobs, children who are facing sickness; friends who are facing depression, the loss of a spouse, bankruptcy. We have faced our own share of problems recently with my son’s health. On the surface it seems there is much reason to lament and cry out that God doesn’t care; He’s not really in control of things or He wouldn’t allow such heartache.
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“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.†Psalm 23:1
It’s one of the most well-known verses in the Bible. But how often do we stop and think about the truth in it? How often do we look to other things in life to satisfy our wants?
Especially with holidays upon us, and the advertisements and store sales that are already going on, it can be easy to get caught up in the mode of wanting…
Wanting the new watch, the new shoes, the new furniture, the new TV…
It can be easy to get focused on all the things we wish we had, rather than being thankful for what we already have.
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Sometimes it’s difficult for me to notice the brand new life in things around me. I forget look at my life with fresh eyes each day. These are ongoing challenges of mine … looking for the fresh, new and positive in daily life as well as the people and things around me.
I am reminded of a popular verse; Lamentations 3:21-23
“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Isn’t it amazing how such a refreshing and uplifting verse comes from a book named “Lamentations”?
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Have you ever had a day where everything seems particularly loud? The kids’ voices, radio, washing machine, dishwasher and television all seem to about ten decibels louder than any other day?!
I think as a mom we’re simply going to encounter days like that sometimes. But, I almost think the bigger question is…how do I react to everyone around me on a day like that?
Ouch! I don’t know that I want to honestly answer that question, because the answer may not be nearly as pleasant as I wish it was!
So often I feel like I have to be perfect, but I really never react the way I wish I had looking back.
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Until six months ago, I had something in common with more than 4 million teenagers. Nope, there are no Justin Timberlake or Taylor Swift ditties in my iPOD, in fact I don’t even own an iPOD. Nothing in my closet bears an Abercrombie & Fitch label, and if I say something is “off the bone†I’m probably referring to a breast of chicken, not a party. So what could this über quirky mommy of two possibly have had in common with a fifteen-year-old? It was all in my grin. My tin-grin. I wore braces as an adult.
When someone with small teeth and sensitive gums dons the latest in orthodontic fashions she’s likely to encounter a few canker sores or other mouthy maladies.
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