Am I Listening?

A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions. Proverbs 18:2

So what does this mean? Well for a start, people are more likely to listen to us, if we have first taken the time to listen to them. 

I told my son one day, "you never listen to me!" He replied, "I do mom, it's just you have so much to say!" Lesson learned.... 

 This picture was taken in Charleston, South Carolina when we visited March 21, 2013.

Be Kind

Just recently someone asked me what I thought they should do about their circumstance. It involved another individual and I really did not know the answer. I explained to them that right now there was no clear direction to the situation but for the moment I had some advice. First of all, pray that God would reveal the right answer and second of all while waiting for the answer, be KIND!

Kindness is always the right thing to do in any circumstance. I believe it has the power to heal. 

A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers! Ruth Bell Graham 

 

Who is our Enemy?

 Written March 1, 2014:

Every day we blow it by blaming ourselves or others for our circumstances. We need to realize that the true enemy of our lives is not each other but instead we need to blame our true enemy - Satan. He walks around seeking whom he may devour according to the scriptures. We are attacked through problems, circumstances, disappointments, etc. When Satan cannot get to us then he works around us through others such as our family and friends to defeat us and mess up our life.

We all need people in our life to pray for us during these difficult battles. The worst days of my life I have reached out to friends to pray for me in order to make those days tolerable. Some days I just need a friend to listen to me when I am struggling emotionally and confused. There are people I can count on for support for my own personal tragedies because we are not meant to bear these burdens alone.

My church is a safe haven to me of family and friends I know will pray for me and be there in my time of need. I have a Bible Study group of young people that also pray for me and care for me. I serve in ministry with people that encourage me and love me in spite of myself. It is a community of grace!

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”  Ecclesiastes 4:12

This picture was taken on Captiva Island during my niece's wedding, May 2001!