I saw today’s Daily Prompt and had to participate. I am there.
You get to redesign school as we know it from the ground up. Will you do away with reading, writing, and arithmetic? What skills and knowledge will your school focus on imparting to young minds?
I would change things. Having worked in the Education and the Business Fields I have experience in both areas. Yes, there are systems that have been established for Education that have been used for years. And Teachers that have taught the same course – for years.
In my opinion, much of what our kids learn is not applicable once they enter the workforce. Yes, they can figure out square roots and learn about cell division and know what a preposition is. But how does that help them in the real world trying to get and keep a job in today’s market?
What are the Top jobs available to them once they graduate? Those are the skills they should learn. And why is there so much knowledge without wisdom?
Skills I Would Teach
God’s Word – it is Truth and Life and an Anchor in this thing called life. We all need some promises to hold onto.
Consequences. Not everybody gets a trophy.
Healthy Boundaries in any relationship. Not every boy that says he loves you is telling the truth. And lots of kids lie.
Learn how to balance a checkbook. Unless you learn to manage what God gives you, it will manage you.
Learn how to handle change. Things will not go as you planned – guaranteed.
Life isn’t fair. Deal with it.
Don’t believe everything you hear. Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet. Just because somebody said it – it doesn’t mean that it is true.
Right is right and wrong is wrong. Just because you can -doesn’t mean you should.
How to handle conflict. Pursue peace and avoid gossipers and slanderers. There will always be people who throw you under the bus. Shake it off.
Keep your peace despite the drama. There are lots of people throwing darts around. And tons who like to stir the pot.
Take a breath and trust God. He will lead the way. He will show you the path to walk in. He will hear and answer your prayers – He promised.
Where there is no vision [no revelation of God and His word], the people are unrestrained; But happy and blessed is he who keeps the law [of God]. – Proverbs 29:18 AMP
Write an ode to someone or something you love. Bonus points for poetry!
This is today’s daily post. I don’t really believe in Cupid. Some little fat dude with wings and arrows that shoots at you. Nope. Not real. I believe that love comes from God and He is the one who shows us what it is and what it isn’t. And there is no bow and arrow to make it all happen, lol! HeartStrings – they pull at you from beyond. Love never dies. God’s love for us, and our love for each other lives on. We are loved, and we are not alone.
Love gives
Love forgives
Love never dies
If I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such [a]as is inspired by God’s love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
And if I have prophetic powers (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God’s love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody).
Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love (God’s love in me), I gain nothing.
Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. (1 Corinthians 13: 1-8 AMP)
HEARTSTRINGS
I miss you like The stars miss the sun Walk down memory lane I know I’ll run Into you there
I hear your voice Echoing my name I wander in the wind And wonder if you’re still the same I come undone I come undone Your Heartstrings capture me
Smell the sea, feel the sun See the stars touch the night Your Heartstrings capture me Oh I come undone I come undone
Linger longer Rearrange my mind Please make room for you to stay As the days slip so quietly away I come undone I come undone
I hear your voice Echoing my name I wander in the wind And wonder if you are still the same Your Heartstrings capture me I come undone I come undone
Peace waves Hope stays Love lives forever Love lives forever Love lives forever
How timely. I just made a playlist this week of new songs to learn for our Praise and Worship Team at Church. Need a boost? Sit back, relax, and listen to these songs. Revive your passion, restore your soul, and be transformed by the King of Kings!
Your blog just became a viral sensation. What’s the one post you’d like new readers to see and remember you by? Write that post.
You are more precious than you know. If you are like me than sometimes we let others define us. I look back at old pictures and it amazes me how I changed my appearance based on who I was dating at the time. Hey, there is Diana the prep, Diana the biker, Diana the country chic, Diana the Professional, etc. Can you relate?
I have also accepted so many different labels in my life. Things that just are not true. I went through the 12 step rigamaroe – my name is____ and I’m a ____ and I will be forever. What a pile of garbage. I can’t believe I bought all that stuff at face value. No, I am not a ______ – not now, not then, not ever! God does not say that about me – so it is NOT TRUE! As you can see, I am not a fan of the 12 steps. I have found them to be pits of very unsafe people. You can read about it here:
It is true that our thoughts become our actions. But only if we allow it and take those words into our hearts. Just because someone says something does not mean it’s true. But if you tell an Eagle it is a Chicken – and it chooses to believe that lie, then it will not learn to fly. Tell a girl she is a victim and tell her she will always be that way – then she will attract abuser after abuser. Tell a person they have always been a drunk, are a drunk, and will be forever a drunk – and guess what? They go back to drink. If you tell someone they will be that way forever and they believe it, they will stay that way. How does that help anyone get better?How does that help anyone get better? Hence, my dislike for any ‘program’ that exalts itself above the WORD of God.
YOU ARE MORE PRECIOUS THAN YOU KNOW.
All those labels people tried to get you to wear – let them fall to the ground.
All those things people said about you – they weren’t true – let them fall to the ground.
All those words you said to yourself after believing those lies – let them fall to the ground.
Ok, now for my spunky part. Idk why I do this. I guess I am just not afraid to say what I feel needs to be said. And I have been on both sides of the street, so perhaps I am not ‘indoctrinated’ too badly.
Give grace, love without regret, and live – be happy – it drives them crazy!!
And a bit of advice for all the Finger Pointers, Accusers, Pharisees, and Liars out there:
Demeaning others and calling them names does not motivate people to change.
Telling someone they will ‘always be that way’ – does not motivate people to change.
Shaming someone and calling them their ‘sin’ does not motivate people to change.
Talking about how holy and righteous you are and how others just need to ‘shape up or ship out” does not motivate people to change.
Gossiping about others does not motivate people to change.
Throwing the ‘get right with God or else you’re going to hell’ does not motivate people to change.
God makes me new everyday – I refuse to accept your picture of who you think I am.
Your warped picture of me is not who I am. Those words you called me are bouncing right back to you.
I am a work in progress, and so are my brothers and sisters. I am more than what I do or don’t do. So is the rest of the family. We all have ‘stuff”. And guess what, God already knows about it! And He loves us anyway – stuff and all.
If you don’t have anything positive to say, do us a favor, sit down and be quiet!
I will put my trust in God and the Holy Spirit, my helper, will do the work in me from the inside-out. So put down your stick. It is not helping.
We are God’s chosen and His beloved children – that’s what He said. Who said you get to beat up on God’s kids and call them names?
You get to choose one gift — no price restrictions — for any person you want. The caveat? You have to give it anonymously. What gift would you give, and to whom?
Come with me to Bethlehem. Do you see the star? Something amazing is happening over there. I see the Shepherds. I see the Angels. Let us follow the 3 Wise Men and go see for ourselves. That would be my present. Let’s go see for ourselves, the Savior born in Bethlehem, Emmanuel – God is with us!
My prayer for you this Christmas
Is to receive what Christ has done
A baby born in a manger
Has come to save everyone
Let your sorrow be turned to joy
Let your ashes be turned to beauty
When Christ is born inside your heart
Even the Angels in Heaven sing
Open your heart to receive Him
Let the Love of God rush in
Unwrap the Gift of His Presence
Receive comfort, joy, and peace
An Event for Everyone
There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”
At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:
Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.
Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told! (Luke 2:8-20 MSG)
“Hey mom, I’m home”. The Prodigal Daughter walks into the door of the old familiar farmhouse. The smell of turkey and stuffing envelopes her like an old quilt. So many pieces of her past flood over her as she walks in the door. There’s the old wood cook stove that used to be the place where she placed the baby chickens when they came in the funny box. And the stove where she used to help her mom can all those tomatoes and pickles. In the corner was the old wood burning fireplace. Man, how many mornings did she and her sister and brother sit in front of that fire in their footie pajamas?
She breathes in and exhales as all the stress of the past year leaves her body. Her body relaxes as she sits down in the old rocking chair. “This is the chair you rocked me in, isn’t it mom?” Mom says, “Yes, and all your babies too!”
Memories flood her mind as she closes her eyes and rocks. “Man, I can’t believe I made it back here. I really didn’t think I would mom.” Mom, with her infinite wisdom, comes up beside her and puts her hand on her shoulder. “Sweetie, I knew you would come through those doors one of these days. This is your home. Besides my love for you never stopped. I love you when you are here and when you are not. And every day I prayed for you to come home. God is way bigger than our plans baby.”
The tears ran down her cheeks as she finally got it. Love. She had ran away years ago in search of it. Determined to find it like a buried treasure she searched for it in all the wrong places. Love wasn’t in people or places or things. It wasn’t based on what she did or what she didn’t do. It wasn’t found in where she went, or who she slept with.
Love was like the fragrance that welcomed her home. It was everywhere. She just had to breathe it in. It was there. It enveloped her with peace. It held her in the night. It rocked with her in the chair. It led her out of the darkness and back home. It was God.
We cannot move forward until we do. We are stuck in limbo. We cannot go back and change our pasts. We do not always see justice done. But take heart, God promises to repay.
If we do not forgive others for their wrongs and ourselves for our wrongs how can we be open to new things that God wants to give us? We can’t receive if our hands are full of our old baggage.
We can’t change what happened. There is no rewind button in our lives. No remote control. In order to finish our story we must push ‘play’.
Unforgiveness is one of the leading causes of sickness and illness. It will affect our bodies in ways that will hurt us. It’s not worth it.
We need to stop renting space to bad tenants. The past is the past. Let’s bury it. Remember the good and move forward.
Despite all the pain, it got us here. We are alive. We survived. And actually, it made us into who we are today. We are stronger for it.
Life is lived forward. More life, more love, more restoration. Everything the enemy has stolen from us God promises to restore double!
One of the best books I have read that has helped me with this is:
The daughter of American missionaries, Shelley Hundley was born in Colombia, and grew up on the campus of a seminary that trained leaders to serve in what was one of the most violent nations in the world. After suffering abuse at the hands of a minister in the community, she turns from God, angry and confused that He could allow this to happen.
In A Cry for Justice, Hundley uses her story as a backdrop to show how she found healing from the pain, guilt, and shame of the abuse she endured as a child and how she came to know Jesus in a new way: as a righteous judge who fights for His people and takes upon Himself the burden of our injustices and pain.
The story of Shelley Hundley’s journey from bitter atheist to wholehearted lover of God is unique. Yet what she learned on this journey is relevant to every person who has ever been hurt and has silently wondered, “Who will fight for me? Who can make the wrong things right?”
Discover how Jesus would change your world today.
This is my response to the Daily Post today: Unequal Terms
Did you know today is Blog Action Day? Join bloggers from around the world and write a post about what inequality means to you. Have you ever encountered it in your daily life?
(Don’t forget to tag your post with “Inequality” — or #inequality on Twitter — so that other participants might find it.)
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, God declares, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all mankind, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels] and your young men shall see visions (divinely granted appearances), and your old men shall dream [divinely suggested] dreams.
Yes, and on My menservants also and on My maidservants in those days I will pour out of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels and predicting future events pertaining especially to God’s kingdom].
And I will show wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth beneath, blood and fire and smoking vapor;
The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the obvious day of the Lord comes—that great and notable and conspicuous and renowned [day].
And it shall be that whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord [invoking, adoring, and worshiping the Lord—Christ] shall be saved.” (Acts 2:17-21 AMP)
If you could paint your current mood onto canvas, what would that mood look like? What would it depict?
Second Fiddle
Song Description
Living as a child with divorced parents is not always easy – especially when they both come to watch you play at a sporting event and sit on opposite sides. I have been the parent, and I have been the kid in this situation.
Like a rope pulled back and forth in a tug of war
Like a soccer ball bounced from head to toe
Like the fly away ball in a baseball game
His perfect family is up in flames
He hangs on believing things will change
He is only one play away
He’s caught in the middle
Playing second fiddle
Like a chess pawn sacrificed for the King and Queen
Like a quarterback sacked on the play
Like a basketball in a zone defense
He’s double teamed or else he’s benched
He hangs on believing things will change
He is only one play away
He’s caught in the middle
Playing second fiddle
Back and forth, back and forth
zero to love, zero to love
He’s caught in the middle
Playing second fiddle
Oh he’s caught in the middle
Playing second fiddle
He hangs on believing things will change
He is only one play away
He’s caught in the middle
Playing second fiddle
Song Length
2:59
Genres
Folk – Bluegrass, Country – Honky Tonk
Tempo / Feel
Medium Fast (131 – 150)
Lead Vocal
Female Vocal
Subject Matter
Divorce, Fight
Similar Artists
Alison Krauss, Taylor Swift
Era: 2000 and later
Lyric Credits Diana Rasmussen
Music Credits Diana Rasmussen
Publisher Credits InnovativeTeks
Performance Credits Diana Rasmussen
UNSAFE CONTAINERS – Which emotion(s) — joy, envy, rage, pity, or something else — do you find to be the hardest to contain?
Lately for me – the hardest one to contain is DISAPPOINTMENT. I find myself blogging about it more and more. And yet I know this is the field that God wants to plant in. Have you ever seen a farmer till the field? There may be leftover cornstalks from the winter or whatever. The farmer takes his plow and TURNS OVER the soil. Where there used to be weeds – he plants new seed – seed that will grow and produce a harvest of 30, 60, 100 times over. So today – I am done looking at my disappointments. I am going to let GOD turn over that soil in my heart and plant His Word as seeds. It will grow, and the harvest will be awesome!
If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at. We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us. While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best!
We’re not keeping this quiet, not on your life. Just like the psalmist who wrote, “I believed it, so I said it,” we say what we believe. And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive. Every detail works to your advantage and to God’s glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise!
So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever. (2 Corinthians 4:7-12 MSG)
Who do you think Paul is, anyway? Or Apollos, for that matter? Servants, both of us—servants who waited on you as you gradually learned to entrust your lives to our mutual Master. We each carried out our servant assignment. I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plants, but God made you grow. It’s not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow. Planting and watering are menial servant jobs at minimum wages. What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving. You happen to be God’s field in which we are working. (1 Corinthians 3:5-9 MSG)
I hate the two-faced, but I love your clear-cut revelation. You’re my place of quiet retreat; I wait for your Word to renew me. Get out of my life, evildoers, so I can keep my God’s commands. Take my side as you promised; I’ll live then for sure. Don’t disappoint all my grand hopes. Stick with me and I’ll be all right; I’ll give total allegiance to your definitions of life. Expose all who drift away from your sayings; their casual idolatry is lethal. You reject earth’s wicked as so much rubbish; therefore I lovingly embrace everything you say. I shiver in awe before you; your decisions leave me speechless with reverence. (Psalm 119:113-120 MSG)
Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around. (Proverbs 13:12 MSG)
When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. “Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” God’s Decree. “I’ll turn things around for you. I’ll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you”—God’s Decree—“bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it. (Jeremiah 29:13-14 MSG)
Pray with Simplicity
“And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?
“Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.
“The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:
Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best—
as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes. (Matthew 6:5-13 MSG)
I look up to the mountains;
does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.
He won’t let you stumble,
your Guardian God won’t fall asleep.
Not on your life! Israel’s
Guardian will never doze or sleep.
God’s your Guardian,
right at your side to protect you—
Shielding you from sunstroke,
sheltering you from moonstroke.
God guards you from every evil,
he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
he guards you now, he guards you always. (Psalm 121:1-8 MSG)
“What’s the price of a pet canary? Some loose change, right? And God cares what happens to it even more than you do. He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So don’t be intimidated by all this bully talk. You’re worth more than a million canaries. (Matthew 10:29-31 MSG)
Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,
or, whine, Israel, saying,
“God has lost track of me.
He doesn’t care what happens to me”?
Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening?
God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.
He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired,
they walk and don’t lag behind. (Isaiah 40:27-31 MSG)
God, my shepherd!
I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.
Even when the way goes through
Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
makes me feel secure.
You serve me a six-course dinner
right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
my cup brims with blessing.
Your beauty and love chase after me
every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
for the rest of my life. (Psalm 23:1-6 MSG)
Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. (Romans 8:26-28 MSG)
MY PRAYER FOR YOU:
Dear Lord,
Thank you for plowing the field of our hearts and turning over the soil. We love you and we trust You to turn things around. We come hungry, we come thirsty – for more of You and your Word. Your Word brings life – and life more abundantly. Thank you Jesus!
In Reason to Believe,, Bruce Springsteen sings, At the end of every hard-earned day / people find some reason to believe. What’s your reason to believe?
What a great prompt. Why do you believe? Well, let’s see. I lived 40+ years NOT believing in a God who cared about me – that ended in divorce, depression, suicide attempts, and hopelessness. And a husband who loved power and control and drinking and drugging. I had come to the end of myself. I didn’t have any more answers. Everything I thought I knew had lead me to a Dead End Road. I hated myself, I hated my life, and I didn’t want to go on one more day.
It was there that I had to admit I didn’t know it all. I didn’t know how to live. I didn’t know what love was. I didn’t know who God was. And that was my open door. For God to reveal to me who He really was, and show me how I could live in my own skin. And it was there, with Him, that I learned what love was – a person, Jesus Christ.
What do you do
when he just walks out?
And goes back to the hell
where you pulled him out?
What do you do
when he just walks out?
And goes back to the hell
where you pulled him out?
Booze and drugs have called to him
and He’s followed them again
And He’s flirting with death
walking on a dead end road
Yes He’s flirting with death
as he’s walking on a dead end road
He takes all the money
and turns off his phone
Disappears for days
will he make it home?
Yes he’s dancing with the Devil on a dead end road
Yes he’s dancing with the Devil on a dead end road
GOD’S WORD FOR YOU:
Reach Out to God
“Still, if you set your heart on God and reach out to him, If you scrub your hands of sin and refuse to entertain evil in your home, You’ll be able to face the world unashamed and keep a firm grip on life, guiltless and fearless. You’ll forget your troubles; they’ll be like old, faded photographs. Your world will be washed in sunshine, every shadow dispersed by dayspring. Full of hope, you’ll relax, confident again; you’ll look around, sit back, and take it easy. Expansive, without a care in the world, you’ll be hunted out by many for your blessing. But the wicked will see none of this. They’re headed down a dead-end road with nothing to look forward to—nothing.” (Job 11:13-20 MSG)
MY PRAYER FOR YOU:
Dear Lord,
I thank you that even when we end up on a Dead End Road you will meet us there. You knew we would end up here and You came anyway. Thank you for the hug and the promise that with Your help things will not stay this way. Thank you for the deliverance you provide for us and for those we love. Thank you for giving us fresh hope and fresh strength to turn around and walk with you to new lands and new opportunities, in Jesus Name.
