just do it

"...make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love." 2 Peter 1:5-7

Just Do It

Nike made the slogan famous... getting contact lenses made it real.

"Oh, just put it in your eye...just get it closer to your pupil... just put it on your fingertip and it will JUMP off and onto your eye...just keep your eye open and look forward...  (and then, much later) just pinch it out... just look straight ahead and grab it... just slide it over... just just just just."

Smiles and advice... that's what i got from all the cool, confident contact experts.  But, let me tell you, for someone who has never experience anything like it -- it's JUST NOT that easy.

Fortunately, the office personnel watched, guided and corrected my motions... i read directions... i watched YouTube videos... and finally, i practiced.  It took a lot of preparation, patience and practice to gain confidence in my ability to do what others found so easy.

My recent ordeal reminds me of the sensitivity needed with others who are in the midst of a newness.  Sometimes even with fellow believers, we forget everyone is not at the same place in their walk with God. Some are enjoying the two-step, while others are struggling with baby steps.   

Father, before i say to someone,  "just trust Jesus... just pray... just have faith", help me remember if someone is not in the habit of living in faith, understanding how to do it is not easy, especially when a difficulty arises. Instead of just saying what to do, i should be modeling what to do.   May we live in a way to show preparation, prayer, patience and practice produce desired results and peace.

friend, we are loved and chosen by God,
veneal

a Mighty Word ~ trust

"My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only He will release my feet from the snare." Psalm 25:15

We can take the fear and anxiety out of the day, by keeping our eyes on God and not our circumstances.

friend, we are loved and chosen by God,
veneal

fighting for sight

"For we live by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7

Frustrated... Frustrated... Frustrated!

Unbelieving hope dominated my visits to the eye doctor.  I always hoped my sight would be better with new glasses, but lackluster results ruled. This year a change was in the air.

"Mrs. Williams, it seems we can't make you happy."
"I'm sorry, Doctor.  I'm just not seeing like i want."
"Maybe you should consider contact lenses.  In your case it might improve your sight."

I had a lot of anxiety with the thought of poking plastic in my eyes.  My aunt had lost 5 in one eye (they eventually showed up and out).  I expressed my fear to the doctor; he chuckled and assured me i'd be fine. Little did he/we realize just 30 minutes later he'd have to fish my "lost" contact out.   Dreams of seeing better started fading. 

It took 2 sweaty-palm trips to the office practicing how to put the contacts in and out.  The first night home with them was disastrous. Red eyed, i looked like i had been on the losing end of a boxing match. After 2 hours of jabbing at my eyes, i finally grabbed one lens and went to bed... the other one hid somewhere in my eye. The next morning produced a miracle as i snagged the rebel lens!  It took 4 days of rest to muster up enough courage to try again.  Refusing defeat, i tackled the contact project this weekend with better success. 

So, can i see better?  Maybe, maybe not.  The strength in my lenses might need to be increased. Some tweaking is necessary before a final decision is made.

But to be honest with you, physical sight is not the only sight i struggle with now.  I want to SEE more of God... SEE more of  His working... SEE more answered prayers -- my way, in my time, SEE more clearly His role for me... SEE more healing... SEE more loved ones operating in His Will... actually, to SEE more of myself operating in His Will and less out of my own.  I need better spiritual sight; i need more of God's strength in my life.

Father, I am living by what i see, and  i don't like all i see.  Also, i don't like a lot of what i don't see.   Am i seeing as well as i should?  Maybe, it's meant to be like this.  Maybe our spiritual sight is lacking, so we don't lack a relationship with You. Help me to cling to You even tighter.  I need greater guidance and strength from You.  May my faith be good enough to cover what i can't see by trusting You in what You see and know is best.  Thank You.

friend, we are loved and chosen by God,
veneal

bits and pieces

"She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue." Proverbs 31:26

679... that's how many strips of paper i had placed in our recycle bin. Each one measured 8 and 1/2 inches long and 1/2 inch wide.  When piled on my desk, it was quite a stack of paper, and recycling made sense... but not the way i did it.

"Mrs. Williams, when you have small pieces of paper to recycle, you need to put it in a bag before putting it in the recycle container. "
"Really?"
"Yes ma'am. When the recycle bin is emptied into the large container outside, the small pieces fly out and scatter everywhere."

Oh, my. I suddenly saw her reality. Hundreds, and i mean hundreds, of paper strips swirling in the air and all over the ground, covering it like a snow blizzard.  She could have stormed in and loudly announced how my thinking (or more appropriately, lack of thinking) had added to her already busy work schedule, but she didn't.  Instead, with gentleness she shared wisdom on better recycling procedures.  It's a lesson i will never forget... bag the scrapes and speak gently.  Thank you, Ms. Shelia.

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you make know how to answer everyone. 

friend, we are loved and chosen by God,

veneal

a Mighty Word ~ refreshment

"A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." Proverbs 11:25

It was the first day of Fall, but i was feeling somewhat light headed and flushed. A hectic morning along with no breakfast and no packed lunch provided the recipe for a long day.

BUT, it was not to be!

Walking into the library, i was greeted by a sweet surprise.  A beautifully wrapped box of delicious pumpkin muffins from some co-workers awaited us!

Aahhh... the joys of Fall.  Refreshed and revived, i'm falling in love with the  change of season and unexpected, needed kindness.  Father, help me to remember a season of giving is always right, needed and welcomed.

friend, we are loved and chosen by God,
veneal

just in time... pray

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians 4:2

If you missed the opportunity to pray with others around a school flagpole this morning, remember it's never too late to pray.  Just stop right now and pray for your school, it's entire leadership, faculty and staff, all the students and parents.  Your prayer will join the thousands of others and strengthen our request to God for favor, guidance, blessings, and protection for our children.  Obedience to our Father has a sweet sound to it... it's  called peace.

By the way, you have already been prayed for today.  Go about your business with the confidence God is with and for you.

friend, you are loved and chosen by God,
veneal

a Mighty Word ~ prayer

They all met together
and were constantly UNITED
in prayer. —Acts 1:14

And Jesus said...
"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21: 22

Strong incentive to pray today, tomorrow, and EVERY day.

Tomorrow is the day! SYATP, See You At the Pole. 

In early 1990 a small group of Texas teenagers felt strongly compelled by God to pray for their friends.  They drove to three different schools and prayed for the friends, schools and leaders around the flagpoles.  Later on that year in September over 45,000 students in 4 states stepped up to the challenge they made to others to pray.  Now more than 3 million students/people in over 20 countries participate and pray at schools on what has become known at "See You at the Pole" day.

Isn't it amazing what obedience to our Father does!  One can witness the results of prayers for our schools every day.  God is so faithful, even when we are not.

From that very first year in 1990, See You at the Pole has been about one simple act—prayer. 

See you around the school flagpole tomorrow morning!

friend, we are loved and chosen by God,
veneal