Monthly Archive

I pitched one of my famous tantrums the other day. My kids have seen them. Most of my friends have not. My computer got a virus, the electricity went out in half my house, and I’m having some financial issues right now. I’d just had enough. I was slamming doors, knocked the dog food over and yelling about anything and everything.

As I calmed down, I wondered why it is we’d rather slam a door than say a prayer. Imagine if more people stopped to pray before they let anger take control. There would be far less crime, less child abuse, and Congress might actually get something done.

We need to control our emotions and not let them get the better of us. Getting angry is just one step away from hurting someone else. Afterward we can apologize, but there’s no guarantee it will be forgotten.

We need to stop and allow God to take control of our emotions. Psalm 37:8 reads, Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil.

If I had taken a deep breath, counted to ten and prayed, I wouldn’t have had to clean up the dog food that went all over the floor. That would have given me one less thing to be angry about.

Times change and people move in and out of our lives. We don’t always want that to happen but it does. How many of you have had a child move away or you were the one to leave? Moving isn’t easy for the person leaving or the ones left behind.

My youngest is getting ready to go off to college. We spent two days at orientation. I feel better about it now that I’ve seen what they really have to offer. It will still be hard to let her go. She’s my baby and always will be.

I also have a friend who is moving to New York in another week. She doesn’t want to leave, but due to her job situation, she has no choice. We’ll all miss her but we need to remember God must have a plan for her that we can’t see yet. When he uses her, he’ll get a good helper.

God knows what the future holds for each of us. In Jeremiah 29:11, it reads, “… For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Losing people, even if it’s only temporary, is hard but through the internet we can always stay connected. And I’ll pray for both my child and my friend. I know in the end they’ll be fine. I’m sure I will be too.

I need to look on the bright side. When my daughter goes off to college there will be no young ones left so I’ll have more time for things I enjoy. Things like spa treatments and chocolate I no longer will have to share.

In the past week, the news has been filled with the story of another politician who got caught with his pants down. Is there a magnetic pull that causes these politicians’ zippers to lower? It’s not just a democratic problem, republicans do it also. It’s not just politicians. A lot of married people have affairs.

Why is having an affair becoming the norm? If you ask some high ranking Christians, they’d tell you liberals are to blame. It’s easy to point a finger at others. Do you want to know who’s to blame? Look in the mirror. It’s Christians who talk the talk, but don’t walk the walk.

God never intended for marriages to be easily discarded like day old bread. In Matthew 19:6, it reads So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate. Married couples are 51% likely to get a divorced whether they are Christian or non-Christian. Could it be the church leaders aren’t doing their jobs? There used to be some sort of shame when you broke your vows. Now all seems to be forgiven.

A man will have an affair, divorce his spouse and then bring his mistress, who is now his new wife, with him to the same church he used to bring his first wife. (Women do the same thing.) His fellow Christians just smile and say nothing. Maybe if Christians weren’t trying so hard to be politically correct, they’d take these people aside and let them know what they did was wrong. Forgiveness is one thing, acceptance is another.

There are reasons for divorce. Addiction and certainly abuse are two. However, being bored and wanting something new and different is not one of them.

We can blame unwed mothers, homosexuals, and Hollywood all we want. But if we don’t fix what’s wrong inside the church, we can never fix what’s wrong outside the church.

There’s a television show on called The Good Wife. It’s based on the premise of a woman whose husband, a politician, had several affairs. I can honestly say I’ve never seen the show but I’ve seen previews and it does seem interesting at times. One of the things teased about in the commercials is whether the lead character (the good wife) will sleep with a co-worker. Answer me this. If she does sleep with her co-worker while married, will she still be considered The Good Wife?

I spent the past two weeks cleaning my house, including getting rid of a bunch of stuff for when my mom arrives for Jessica’s graduation. I didn’t go to church on Sunday just so I could finish up. That’s when it hit me. Why am I working so hard to impress someone else when I should be trying to impress God?

Where’s your heart? How many times have you caught yourself saying you wish you had more time for your children? Or to pray? The one thing that is taking up all your time is where your heart is. I’d be curious to know how many of you would be afraid to admit that you know who won American Idol, but don’t have time to read your Bible.

All these things take your time away from God. He wants us to put Him first. In Matthew 6:33, it reads, But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you.

Imagine if we gave God 40 hours per week and our employer the time we currently give to God. Would your life be better? Most of you shout yes all the while thinking about the repercussions of how it would affect your finances. I understand how hard it is to give God time, but if you were to get up just fifteen minutes earlier and stay up fifteen minutes later with your Bible, you would see a difference in your life.

I’ve decided to quit cleaning. My mom won’t care about the dust bunnies. She’s coming to see us. I have more important things to do with my time today than spend it with the vacuum cleaner.