Rewriting Scripture
We all know we’re not to take away or add to any scripture in the Bible. We’re certainly not speaking of rewriting scripture, but what are your thoughts on personalizing a scripture when you’re going through a hard time?
Let’s look at Jeremiah 29:11, which is one of my absolute favorite promises from God.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.
When you’re going through an especially hard time in your life, wouldn’t it be comforting to take this verse and make it personal to you? It’s almost as if God is speaking right to you!
Think about it!
When in doubt, hear God speaking right to your heart!
Imagine a conversation that might go something like this:
“God, I’m scared. I don’t know where to turn, what is going to happen or how I will face tomorrow.”
“My child, trust in Me. I have it all under control.”
“I know, God, but some times I have doubts.”
“All you need is faith as small as a mustard seed.”
“I have more than that, God, but things are just really hard in this world today.”
“I have promised that I will never leave you nor forsake you. I mean it!”
“I believe you, God, and I feel you by my side at times when I’m struggling. Other times, I just feel confused.”
“Listen to Me, child! I KNOW the plans I have for you! I’m not going to let anything harm you. I promise to remain by your side, carrying you when needed. You may face troubles in life, but I promise, you will prosper! Trust in ME! I will give you hope when you need it the most, and I have great plans for your future. Trust me. I already know how this plays out.”
“Yes, Lord. I will try harder to turn it all over to You and trust in You. You formed me with Your own hands, and I know you have great things in store for me. I just need to be patient until You reveal these things to me in Your time.”
“It is in MY timing, not yours, sweet child of mine.”
“Thank you, Father, for your words of encouragement and love straight from Your heart to mine.”
Lists, Lists, Lists
The leisurely days of Summer have ended for me. No more sleeping in or waking without the sound of an alarm clock.
Having started a new job in July, my days are now filled with lists, lists, lists, and more lists it seems. Surprisingly, I look forward to going into work and interacting with my co-workers as well as the general public. I’m now doing something that I absolutely love; Accounting!
There are other aspects to my job, of course, but for the most part, I get to play with numbers all day. To a number cruncher like me, that’s what dreams are made of!
In high school, I took business courses which consisted of Accounting I, Accounting II, Office Supervision & Management, Business English, Business Math, Shorthand I, and Shorthand II. I thrived in these classes and enjoyed immersing myself in my “pretend” company I was responsible for back then. I enjoyed sharpening my pencil and writing the figures into my ledger book. It thrilled me to no end to see how fast I could enter those numbers into my calculator, too. When all my books balanced, I felt accomplished and proud of myself!
Fast forward all these years later – some 27 years – and I am now managing the office and keeping the books for a well known company in town. The books have been kept the old fashioned way, too, so it was a little intimidating to go way back on how things were done all … those … years … ago. Yet, that is what I’ve had to do until we can get all of the information into a computer system! We are in the process of doing just that, as we had a demonstration just this afternoon for a software program with an accounting package included. Up to this point, I have been creating spreadsheets to get away from handwriting everything into the ledger books. I’ve made great process and now have from January forward in the computer!
Woo hoo! I can cross that off of my list!
The staff is absolutely amazing, too, I might add. While I realize I’m new and just learning their way of doing things, I have been asked several times by different people within the organization how I like it and if I plan to stay. They check in with me, and that is refreshing in and of itself! I have never worked for a company where they thank me, and MEAN it. They “hate to bother me” when they are the owners coming to ask for my assistance. That is new to me as well. I’m used to people barging into my office throwing papers on my desk covering up what I’m currently working on as they bark orders at me, even when they were not in a supervisory position! Here, it has been so refreshing as they ask for my help politely when they are not able to figure something out on their own, and they thank me repeatedly for my assistance while letting me know how much they appreciate me being there. They try to make sure I know I’m appreciated, and that is like a breath of fresh air! I welcome this change in my career, and I thank God for this opportunity!
This job was pretty much dropped in my lap. I decided, after leaving my last employer that allowed coworkers to abuse their authority and mistreat people, that I just was not going to look for another job. I was content staying at home with my children who are growing up way too fast for my liking! My oldest – at 19 – is in college with a part time job to help pay for tuition. My youngest – at 11 – is going into 6th grade this year. Time is slipping from my grasp as my babies are not babies any longer. So, I welcomed the opportunity to stay home with them from January until July.
My oldest had a really nice class schedule this past semester that allowed us lots of time together during the day while my youngest was at school. Then, I had the entire evening with my youngest. I would be waiting just outside the door of her school when the dismissal bell rang, and away we would go to spend the afternoon and evening together. I also had a wonderful Spring Break with her, and we went on so many camping trips in our new-to-us RV from March to June. As it heated up, we decided to take a break from the trips until it begins to cool off in the Fall. But, this summer has been packed full of family time and memory making that I will forever treasure.
Having decided not to look for another job, I did say that I would entertain a position if someone came to me with a job opportunity. Little did I know when I said it that I would have two positions presented to me within a two week time period. I decided to go with this position, though, as it had number crunching involved, and I live and breathe to crunch numbers! And I am SO glad God afforded me this opportunity!
God has provided me with an opportunity that I could not resist, and I am thrilled to go into work each day now and begin to go through my list of things to do. I have such a feeling of accomplishment with each item I’m able to strike off of my “to do” list.
I Fancy A Fairy Tale
As writers, we can bring all sorts of things to life. We can incorporate characters with good as well as evil intentions, if that is our wish with the story we desire to tell.
Today I fancy a fairy tale where the world is at total peace and everyone is spreading joy, love, and kindness. In my fairy tale, there are not any in the kingdom with ill, hateful intentions or a black, evil heart. There is no room for such in my world because we are too busy sharing a smile, lending a helping hand, and striving to live in harmony with our fellow man.
There are no need for guns, not that they are bad at all, but because we no longer need them to protect ourselves or our families. We have a plentiful harvest of food so no animals are slain as a food source for us. It is completely unnecessary, and all of our needs are met without blood being shed.
Violence does not exist, and there is never a need for anyone to be angry or lose their temper. We have no knowledge of what the word “war” means.
We genuinely care about each other here. Working alongside each other, we raise up our children to be Godly influences as well. Instilling good morals and values into our children is paramount to ensure that if, some how, an evil force made its way through, our children would be unaffected by it. The children would be shielded and protected so no form of bullying would exist. There would not be any sex trafficking crimes or any one out there wishing to do harm to these precious little ones.
The world would not be corrupt with pornography. There would be no need for such as men and women would remain faithful and true, focusing only on their beloved. No “affairs” would exist, and the families would not be torn apart nor hearts shattered. No one else would matter to them regardless of if they had a pretty face, nice figure, flirtatious nature, or wore revealing clothes. Wedding vows would be taken seriously and an unbreakable covenant would be formed between the couple and God above. The words spoken on their wedding day would ring out and remain true for all eternity. There would be no room for anyone else in their line of vision or their heart of hearts, only that of their beloved.
Lies, deceit, and betrayal have no place here. We have no knowledge of these, as we’re all faithful and true.
Children would not be involved in adult issues as the adults would strive to make their children’s lives the happiest in all the land. Parents would have no need to divorce so the family unit would remain a safe haven for the children.
No child would ever go to bed hungry, and there would not be any abuse of any kind toward children.
Everyone would have a roof over their heads, clothes on their backs, shoes on their feet, food in their tummies, money in their pockets, and love in their hearts.
In my world, we would not know the meaning of death, grief, or mourning, as everyone would live forever. We would not ever have to say “Goodbye” to those that mean the most to us. There would be no more tears shed, no more heart wrenching cries, no uncontrollable sobs, and no more feeling as if we are unable to breathe due to the pain deep within our core. We would not have to worry about any more broken hearts or shattered lives. Our families would remain intact, and our furry friends would forever remain by our sides as well.
Ah yes, I fancy a fairy tale …
