by

“The Rest of YOUR Story ….”


What kind of books do you like?  How about movies? Like music genres, people like different types of entertainment in their books and movies.  But, one thing most people like is a good ending. Let’s face it, we want good to win, the good guy to win the girl, all the problems solved. You know how you hate it when something is left undone, unsaid, loose ends? All the questions have to be answered, the problems solved. the-rest-of-the-story

Many of my readers may not remember a radio classic and evening news commentator, Paul Harvey (click his name to hear his 1965 Rest of the Story on America).  He was famous for “The Rest Of The Story”.   So many times we get ‘blurbs’ of everyday events unaware of what “The Rest Of The Story” was.  He told the details with such detail and interest that he kept you hanging on until the end.

Sometimes our lives get going so fast that we are constant “blurbs” and nowadays, “bytes”.  The rest of the story is lost on those around us.  No one knows what our story is and sadly many do not care.  Sometimes you feel you’re in a romance novel, sometimes a travel adventure.  Often you’re in a mystery and sadly sometimes a tragic melodrama.  Our books are written day by  day, the story line going who knows where.  Characters come and go, tension mounts, tragedy enters or high adventure.  Your heart rates goes up and down and you wonder if the roller coaster will ever end.  You want the story to end happily ever after like your story books of your childhood.  You would be okay with everything no matter what if you could just get a peek at the end, to know that everything turns out all right.

Well, you know that if you’re a Christian.  You do not have to get impatient with the twist and turns.  You may not know the ending but, you know that it ends all right. You KNOW the Author.  He’s the Author and the finisher of your faith.  Sit back and trust in the end and don’t miss a second of the story worrying about how things are going to turn out or what is going to happen next.

Jeremiah 29:11(NASB) “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”

RBGreenDesigns.com 2020

by

Daydreaming ….


Everyone has a favorite daydream.  Some of us have several.  One of my favorites is I have all the money I need to fly some very special friends to my favorite spot.   I call them and tell them to drop everything, grab their purse and ID and head for the airport where a ticket will be waiting for them.  A limo will meet them at the airport and bring them to the beach house that has all the amenities they could want.  They will not need bags, they will shop for everything they need.  I take them to all the best places to eat.  There is room service to clean for them daily.  We will laugh and enjoy all kinds of fun together.  I have planned a whole week to be stress free.   I hired people to stay at their home and take care of the love one they are the caregiver for, so they have no concerns while they are gone.daydream-2

Sigh.  If only right?  I had a teacher (and I am sure my mom and others as well) that always said, “if wishes were horses, beggars could ride.”  It is a wonderful daydream.  But, you know one day that is exactly what is going to happen with these ladies.  And it will not be for just one week, it will be for eternity.  One day, they will get that call.  They will take no bags, they will have no worries and leave no concerns.  They are all Christians.  In Heaven, they will have all they need.  You cannot take anything from here so no bags are needed.  There will be joy and laughter, and every need will be met.

We may never get that get together here on earth, but, one day … oh what a party in Heaven we are going to have and it won’t be a dream.

Revelations 21:4 HCSB “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away. “

by

Life’s Not a Fantasy.


Fall and football … the games, the cheerleaders, the bands.  I grew up with them, I participated in them and I raised children in them.  Now I live in fantasy … Fantasy Football that is.  Yes, you read that right.  I am in a fantasy football league with my daughters, SIL’s and one of their parents.   I have scored the most points so why am I NOT leading the league?  Because I have also had the most points scored against me.  In other words, on any given game, my opponent has an all time high game.  Actually, I have won the last two weeks … so I am no longer on the bottom rung … I’m climbing.Goal

Life can be like that … on any given day you have everything go wrong.  Everyone around you is having a great day.  However, you may have the garage door break, your AC or heater breaks, the car  breaks down, the stove starts acting up, the house needs paint, or you are running low on food, gas, sanity.  I have friends in all those game plays.  As a Christian you cannot sit on the bench with your head in your hands (unless you’re praying :-D) or run to the locker room.  You have to stay in the game.

Likewise, you are not going to win simply because you stand under the goalpost and wait for the game winning ball.  You have to go to the bench between innings for words from the Coach.  Often you will have to go between every play if you haven’t listened to the Coach and know what to do.  Going to the bench for instructions is always for the best.  “Take a knee” and listen.

Also, while you are in the game, you have to huddle with your fellow players.  You need their support.  (Go to church and Sunday School, Bible Studies, and Life Groups).  You should not play the game by yourself.  The crowd will overwhelm you with their shouts and confuse you.  Tune them out.  Listen only to your Coach and team mates.

Stay in the game.  Keep tuned in to the “Coach”, the “Play Maker”.   At the end of the game of life … regardless of penalties, injuries and bad calls, you have won the prize, you have won the game.

Isaiah 40:28-31 NASB  “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired.  His understanding is inscrutable.  29 He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. 30 Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, 31 Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”

by

Stinkin-in and rotten-in!


As toddlers our girls were spoiled rotten (yeah, I know, they still are).   But, we would tell them they were rotten to the core; stinking and rotting.   Now, when they would tell it back to us it sounded more like … stinkin-in and rottin-in.   Their dad still tells them they are rotten in the toddler terms.

Truthfully, things that are rotting are usually stinking and it is anything but cute.   stinkWhen something stinks, it usually has sat around awhile, soured and rotted.  Unfortunately, many Christians become rotten from sitting around and souring.  They get upset, get discouraged and get down.  Instead of going to their knees, seeking fellowship and prayer partners, they just sit and stew … and stew … and then they sour and after a while they just SMELL.  You would think they would get the message when people start avoiding them.  You can not stand to be around them.  They are sour on the world.  Nothing is going right for them; nothing is going their way.  As the saying goes, “misery loves company” and they want you to be miserable with them.  You just want them to get “washed in the blood” all over again.  All you can do is bathe them in prayer.

2 Corinthians 2:14-15(HCSB) “14 But thanks be to God, who always puts us on displayin Christ and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.15 For to God we are the fragranceof Christ among those who are being saved  and among those who are perishing.”

Hopefully, you are not the one stinkin’.  Each day you make a choice.  You get up and you choose your attitude.    In Matthew 5:3-11 you will find the Beatitudes:

BEatitudes = Attitudes To Be (a previous blog)

 

If you are going to “smell” … smell sweet!

 

by

ShockLESS!


If you go to the beach (or watch an awards show) you should be shocked.  I do not just get shocked but disgusted.   shock1Bikinis and thongs do not belong on anyone much less expectant women.

What does it take to shock you?  What bothers your sensitivities?  What makes you stand up and speak for the Lord?  Sadly, most Christians now are taking the low road … don’t want to be confrontational.  Well, today I’m being confrontational.  Getting up on my soapbox as it were.   Many will cry out over the Right to Life, but we do not want the microscope on the real issue … Christians.  That’s right.  Men and women who sit back and do not want to say anything until it’s a full-blown issue.

Let’s take the microscope to the heart of the matter.  That would be the Christian heart, where we allowed satan’s* big toe in to worm in his big foot and then take over.  Former generations called it “winking at sin”.   So how  did we get so far away from valuing life?

Look back to the Old Testament.  The command was issued because there were those that sacrificed their first-born to the idol in hopes of future prosperity.

Leviticus 18:21(NASB)  “You shall not give any of your offspring to offer them to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God; I am the Lord.”

Barbaric right? But, wait … is that not what modern women do?  Put off by abortion a child for the sake of a better career, further education, travel, money considerations, or just plain inconvenient? Is that any less sacrificing of a life to an “idol”.  How, did we get so far in modern times to viewing life so meaningless.   Christians.  We allowed it, we took on the world’s views and devalued life ourselves.  We did not walk worthy of our high calling and set the bar high, a light in the world.

Ephesians 4:1b-2a “…walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness,”

Okay here comes the part you are not going to like.  If you are walking in a manner worthy of your high calling, in humility and gentleness, then you are treating life and motherhood with the utmost reverence and respect.  The world is not going to respect life if we do not by our actions and words … our lingo should not be the world’s and our dress should not be the world’s.

LET ME SPELL IT OUT FOR YOU:

  • Motherhood is a gift from God … a M I R A C L E.  That’ is why it is called the miracle of  LIFE!
  • That miracle is a BABY, A MIRACLE, not a “peanut on an ultrasound” a “bump” in a picture.
  • Motherhood is NOT about YOU.  It is about the precious LIFE God is giving you as a gift for you to be the STEWARD of, not shame.
  • Baby bump pictures, exposed belly’s are NOT “with all humility and gentleness”, not to mention modesty.
  • Help the expectant mothers you know in taking the stand to be Christlike and not world like as they prepare to care for their Gift from God.
  • Let the world see Christians treating motherhood and life with awe and respect as God intended instead of “trendy”.

Proverbs 31: 10  “Who  can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.”

vir·tu·ous  adj 1. Having or showing virtue, especially moral excellence: led a virtuous life.2. Possessing or characterized by chastity; pure: a virtuous woman. See Synonyms at moral.

Will you stand in Christ, or follow the world to be “cool and trendy”.  Will you write this blog off as an old woman out of touch with the now and today?  Or, will you seek Him in how you can be a light to someone about Life through respect of His creation and miracles?

*satan, devil – I know people capitalize the “S” or “D” but, I don’t.  I refuse to give him any status of importance.  He’s a snake, so satan, devil, etc. are lower case, as he is one.