Plank Filled Eye

Matthew 7:3 says "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"

I've heard this verse a million times and Chris August's new song has a line in it that strikes me every time I hear it, "from the painted sky to my plank filled eye, He is God of all, He is everything."  The heart of it is that we as Christians are not to judge others.  It sounds so easy huh? But our humanity doesn't allow it to be easy.  We want to look at others around us and say you're doing this, that or the other when we're doing it ourselves.  It's human to want to deflect blame or point fingers so others don't see who we truly are.    It amazes me that as Christians we want to turn a finger on someone and we forget the old adage, 3 are pointing right back at us.  Sometimes the cause is fear.  What if someone gets close enough to me to discern my internal sins?  Or worse catches on to what I'm doing externally.  Sometimes it's just flat out Satan knowing that the best way to hurt the other person is with judgement. His favorite thing is to isolate us so he can pick us off.   How many times have we heard that someone is doing this that or so and we don't approach, and worse we distance ourselves?  How often are these not true or half true? When the proper response is to pray that God will convict that person in what they are doing or to approach and ask an honest question. I certainly prefer the former, less conflict in that, but that of course is my humanity speaking. 

I've held onto the idea that I don't care what others think about me because no matter what I do they are going to think what they want to think, but honestly it still hurts when I hear something not true or someone makes an assumption and doesn't ask me.  I learned a very painful truth during my divorce, that some people would rather place blame and make assumptions, than love and show the love of Christ.

I try to live by what my Grandpa Vaughan taught me, love others in spite of themselves, show them Jesus by your actions, let them see a difference, and that will be what leads them to the cross.  I apologize to those that I have judged, I cannot promise it won't happen again, but I can promise that I will try to do better.  I'm just a sinner saved by grace trying to strive to be like the Jesus that I serve.  That is the mercy of Grace.

12 Things God Wants Us to Remember

God is for you.
God loves you.
God will guide you.
God will not fail you.
God will be with you.
God will provide for you.
God will bless you.
God will give you rest.
God will strengthen you.
God will answer you.
God will uphold you.
God will keep you.


Not original to me but I need reminded of it continually.  Thought others might as well.

God Leads His Dear Children Along

1. This is a the one song I would consider a family song.  I've been told many a time that this was my Great-Grandmother Vaughan's favorite hymn.  It has been sung in happiness and sorrow.  It has continued to bless every generation of my family.  Me tonight especially.  This last week has been one of sorrow.  We are laying to rest the last of that generation on my grandfather Vaughan's side.  They were all truly great examples of Christ's love, grace, and were servants of the Most High, above all else.  I am so thankful for the heritage I can look back on.  The loved the Lord with a passion.  I see them all as humble servants never wanting recognition.  They worked tirelessly for the Kingdom.  I believe they all heard, "Well done my good and faithful servant."  I pray that I can live a fraction of the life they lived and carry on the tradition of faith.  Their footsteps are huge to fill and they are missed...
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4. In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet,
   God leads His dear children along;
   Where the water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet,
   God leads His dear children along.
   • Refrain:
     Some through the waters, some through the flood,
     Some through the fire, but all through the blood;
     Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,
     In the night season and all the day long.
5. Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright,
   God leads His dear children along;
   Sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night,
   God leads His dear children along.
6. Though sorrows befall us and evils oppose,
   God leads His dear children along;
   Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes,
   God leads His dear children along.
7. Away from the mire, and away from the clay,
   God leads His dear children along;
   Away up in glory, eternity’s day,
   God leads His dear children along.

Broken

This is a night where I feel so broken...I wonder if I can ever really be fixed.  I screwed up today for what feels like the zillionth time and I can't seem to make it right.  The pain I'm in is unceasing.  I just want it to stop and the only thing that will take it away is punishing me for what I did.
I hate weeks like these.  I had a mountaintop experience with my spiritual mentor and our group last week and now it feels like nothing has gone right since then.  I want to be under His wing, but it doesn't stop the bad.  He doesn't promise that.  I long for rest...I pray Psalm 91 and read Psalm 139...I want so badly to be able to simply rest under His wing. I sit here and weep for I have no clue how to do this. I read His words over and over...beginning to feel the pull the refuge...

Profound Thoughts

God created you, and he has a plan for you, a plan that leads to your divine
destiny. He has put within you the “right stuff” that can, if you choose to
utilize it, enable you to defy defeat and accomplish that destiny. – (Jer.
29:11) Marilyn Meberg and Luci Swindoll

Wait for me at the Rainbow Bridge

I had to say goodbye to not one but two of my furry children. My sweet Cayenne and Milky Way went to wait for me at the bridge today with their sisters.  Cayenne had a brain tumor that was taking it's toll on her physically and Milky Way had an oral tumor that was inopperable and causing her to be unable to eat.  Over the years, living with a veterinarian and loving these animals, I have come to believe that these animals will be present in our mansions when we arrive in Heaven.  Until we get there though there is an angel with an eternal supply of tennis balls, squeaky toys and furry stuffed mice.  KB and Milk Way I loved you while you were here and will miss you now.   You will never be replaced. 

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Human/Animal Bond--When to Say Goodbye

I'm sadly contemplating sending one of my babies to the rainbow bridge tonight. She's not been acting eight for quite some time, her seizure activity seems to have increased, and now, the worst, she is attacking the other dogs. This is the worst time for a pet owner. Deciding when it is time. The feelings of guilt begin to set in... Then the questions... What should I could I have done diffferently? Was I a good enough pet parent to her? Is this my fault? Should I try to medicate? Should I just let her go? When is too much too much?


Some would say she's just a dog. I would say if you believe that you may not really be my friend. I watch the whole gammit of emotions when this is playing out at the office. Some wail, some cry, some wipe their eyes, some detatch completely. This may be the most difficult part of the human animal bond trying to determine when it's time to let go. Trying to determine how compromised their quality of life actually is. Animals will try to please their owners to the very end, even to the point of attempting to comfort their owner with their final breath. At what point do we owe them the dignity of a quiet death and an end to their suffering? Did I do enough that she knew how much pleasure and joy she brought me during her all to short life?