Bible

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Influenced or Influential?


How can we be an influence?

Every day I come across parents making hard choices.  They do not want their little children influenced by the world.  We talk about it in S.S., at my job, with family members.  The world has gone mad, it is crazy, it is evil.  How do we protect ourselves, much less our little ones?  Decisions, decisions … what do they watch, read?  Who can they play with and where do they go to school?  Christians are taking their children into protective environments.  If they all leave where will the Christian influence be in PTAs, Boosters, Athletics?  Will we be able to influence them if we are not there?  Will they lose double influence by not seeing our children and ourselves as we interact with the world daily?

The Bible says in Mark 16:15:

Then He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.”

It is the same prepositional word battle throughout all the ages.   IN the world and not OF the world.  If we and our families are only where we are safe, then how will the world hear?  How will they see the difference in our lives that Christ makes?  Yes, our children are small and innocent and we are responsible for what they see and hear.  But, do we remove ourselves from the world until they are five, six, ten, sixteen?  In protecting our young from being influenced are we becoming influential?  Are we loving the sinner and not the sin or putting a wall between us and them?  Is that what Jesus did?  Jesus walked with all types as Jesus, not as they walked.  Yet He was where they could see Him and how He walked.

We are told in Proverbs 22:6 to:

“Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Have we forgotten that evil is WEAKER and that satan* has lost?  Do we live like he is weaker and lost the battle?  What do we fear and why?  Training ourselves and our children in the ways of the Lord while IN the world will only make us stronger.  No one would go into a championship game with years of training yet not one game under their belt.  It is the day to day interaction in the world that God uses to influence HIS world (it is NOT satan’s* world even if he is running around like he is in charge).  We can complain all we want about politics, school boards, etc. but, if we as Christians are not in the arena, how can we complain about what went on at the fight or the outcome?

“Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’),and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. ~ Matthew 16:18

Nothing is more powerful than God.  You have nothing to fear of the world.  Let us get out there and be an active influential part of the community where you live.  Be the ‘trouble maker’ that takes back the ground surrendered to satan* in the public venues.  One Nation Under God, NOT under satan*.

“Some wish to live within the sound of Church or Chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.” ~ C.T. Studd

*satan – I know people capitalize the “S” 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.
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G.R.I.T.S.


My sister-in-law from Chicago taught my niece and nephews to call me “Aunt Scarlett”.  Being raised in Atlanta, you were considered a Georgia Peach, a Southern Belle … and the fact my last name was “Belle Isle” added to the stereotype.  I enjoy being Southern … the gentile way of life, the courteous speech, the hospitality and the way the men treat the ladies.  It is a sign of respect to be called “ma’am” and “sir”, to open doors for ladies and the elderly, to remove your hat in a woman’s presence or stand when she enters the room.  I think in today’s hustle and bustle, we have lost so much and I believe the lack of respect for others stems from our lack of respect for ourselves, which is simply disrespect of God, the creator.  It is funny to me that the ‘spell check’ wants me to change my word ‘ladies’ to ‘women’.  Even the computer wants to do away with gentile-ness.

As Christian parents we need to raise our children in the gentleness of the Lord; teaching them respect for others and themselves.  We have to teach them to respect God first though.  To do this we need to understand all that He gives us.  We need to get down to the basics, the nitty-GRITS-y.  With that in mind I would like to submit for your consideration another meaning for the acronym G.R.I.T.S:

Grace – God’s grace is sufficient.  Teach a child this truth and they have security for a lifetime.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”

Righteousness – God’s righteousness is infallible; you cannot hedge on righteousness.  Things are righteous, or they are not.  There is light or there is darkness.  There is right and there is wrong.   Teach a child that and they have integrity and wisdom to take them through their life.

Intercessor  = God gave us the Holy Spirit as a guide and Jesus as our High Priest.  You need nothing else.  Once you teach them this truth, they can face life’s circumstances in His Power, not their own.

Talents – Everything they have is from God.  Just as they are God’s gift to you, your children need to be taught they all their talents, spiritual gifts, material processions …. everything they have in this life, is from God!We are stewards, raise them to be stewards.  When they learn this truth they will allow God to be in control of their life with no strings attached.  Take care of what He gives you and give back your first fruits.

Salvation – God sent His son … a gift of salvation given freely.  When you lead your children in the ways of the Lord and teach them about Jesus, you have not only given them a lifetime of truth and guidance, you have given them eternal life.

I am a G.R.I.T.S. girl and proud of it and I pray that God uses me in my husband, children, and grandchildren’s lives. May I be used as well to all those I come across, as an example of God’s G.R.I.T.S. of spiritual living.

RBGreenDesigns.com 2021

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Need to know basis …


Curiosity killed the cat …. curiosity gets us in a pickle …

When we think we need to know ... we don't.

(ask the cat in the picture to the right).   Growing up I heard these sayings and I repeated them to my children as I raised them.  You probably have said them yourself.  My other favorite comment was, “that is a need to know basis, and you don’t need to know.”  We know these truths on one level but on the spiritual level we do not live them.

Sometimes we treat God with the attitude of “I NEED TO KNOW … and I NEED TO KNOW NOW!”.  It is a struggle of will power, of who is in control.  I would be lying if I said I do not struggle with wanting to know God’s plan NOW.  Waiting is hard.  But, He says in  Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” ESV

We are like the reader that wants to look ahead to the back of the book to see how it ends.  We look for the answer sheet to the crossword puzzle in the paper.  We want to cheat because we want to know.  We think we NEED to know.  We have to know or …. or what?  Truthfully, there is nothing you or I can do to hurry God’s plan.  All we are doing is adding to our anguish by not letting go and letting God.

God is on a need to know basis … He gives you His word for guidance.  You have prayer and the Holy Spirit to lead you in His will for your life.  If you are in control and demand to know … if you are constantly striving to figure things out on your own, then you are going to get yourself in some pretty tight jams (just ask the cat).

All we need to know is He knows.  Trust Him and wait upon the Lord…

“but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 ESV

remembering that in His time (not yours), all things work together for good. Romans 8:28 says,

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” ESV

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When God closes a door ….


“When God closes a door, He opens a window!”

CLOSED Do Not Enter

Ever heard that?  It always bugged me when people said that because it was as if they thought God sneaks us out a side window, the backdoor, or through the attic and onto the roof for a jump ….

Huh? I don't think so.

What I think is that we are facing the wrong path, which is the side window, the backdoor, the attic; and God is closing all exits but the front door.  We are turned around, not Him.  We place God where we want Him and tell Him that is the door.

When Phil lost his job through the buyout of his company, God shut a door.  We did not shut it, God did.  Through the past three years as Phil has looked for work and been interviewed we have asked God to show us His path.  Each time the door has shut.  Sometimes there is NOT another way out because God has not opened the front door YET.  Sometimes you stay where you are and WAIT.  We do not wait well as humans.  We are impatient.  We want our fingers in the pie and we want to stir the pot.  God has plans for our lives and if we allow Him to direct our path, then IN HIS TIME He will show us the front door.

Waiting on Him is the hardest part.  Three years seems forever to us, but, considering it was over 2000 years ago He promised to return, well … three years is nothing in the light of eternity.

Are you faced with choices?  Are your children needing direction?  Tell them to BE STILL and WAIT on Him.  Accept WAITING and enduring as lessons of patience and character growth.  It is not always what we think, feel or want.  However, when we do wait and He closes all the doors, windows, and steps to the attic … the front door will be in front of us and it will be opened in His time.

Psalm 46:10 (HCSB)“Stop—and know that I am God,exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”

1 Corinthians 10:13 (HCSB) “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it.”

Psalm 37:4 (HCSB)“Take delight in the LORD,and He will give you your heart’s desires.”

When we are willing to allow Him to have His will …. “Lord, help me to delight myself in You.”


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What do you fear?


What Do You FEAR?

What do you FEAR?

Face it … we all have FEARS! However, we do not come here with fear … we learn it from others and/or events.

My daughters were 10 and 14 when my brother’s plane crashed.  We all were gripped by fear of flying from that day.  Mine was debilitating to the point of being tranquilized so I could fly (a funny story for another day).  There came a point where I had to face my fear or not see my daughters.  Fear is an evil spirit you can vanquish.  My mother always said, “God is in control, on the throne, loves you and cares for you, is all-knowing … NOTHING surprises Him.”  Kinda sounds like what the Bible says doesn’t it?  Then why do we live in fear?  Why do we allow fear to cripple us?  Why do we teach our children our fear?

I will not say it is easy to get on a plane.  I had to send my oldest daughter and precious granddaughters on a plane Friday.  She has the memories of her uncle’s crash and she does not like to fly, but she does.  She always asks me to pray.  I then had to put my husband on a plane to an interview.  He needs the job … he had to fly.  I cannot and will not let satan* rob me of God’s blessings because of a spirit of fear.  I will not allow satan* to rob me of His joy in my life because of the fear of the unknown … jobless, foreclosure, what is going to happen next?

Fear is what YOU LET IT BE!  What fears are you facing today?  Do not allow satan* to lie to you?  Does he tell you that you are alone? You are NEVER alone, you have the Holy Spirit … YOU HAVE THE VICTORY!  Will your walk today be victorious or will you pass on a new set of fears to your children and those around you?  God is in control – always has been, always will be! Are you walking like He is in control of your life today or are you walking in FEAR?

Isaiah 41:10:
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.” HCSB

Romans 8:15:
“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” ESV

1 Corinthians 2:12:
“Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.” ESV

*satan – I know people capitalize the “S” 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.