Wednesday Writings......7/20/16

Good morning...

Today my husband had his Tuesday Bridge group over to play at our house. This always involves some polishing and spiffing up of our house. These men are members of the group called, "SIRS" which stands for "sons in retirement." Considering the name of this group I have given them a different name..."The Geezer Bridge Group." Considering my own age I would be eligible for this group except for the fact that I am not a man. So I have to remind myself that I am in the same age group.      

Hope your Wednesday is a good one.

God bless from
Corinne

The Devotional component in the Wednesday Writings of Women's Focus Ministries is titled, "Releasing The Past!" and was written by Sandy Billingham. Her theme is that we need to clean up the clutter so that we  can embrace the future without being held back. Sandy wrote, "It  is time for us to say,"It is out of here!! I choose to forgive and not ponder on the past anymore!! I choose to let go and release those  onto the Lord!" I choose to allow the Lord Jesus to apply His healing balm all over my life so I may walk  in freedom."

There is also an essay written by Lynda Kinnard who is a member of Our Monthly Writing Staff.    The name of Lynda's writing is  "Change."   She writes an excellent food for thought article about not trying to hold onto the past. Lynda wrote, "Each period of history in this country has had wonderful achievements - and horrendous atrocities.  Going back to "the good old days", would not be good for all of us." Be sure to read Linda's thoughts to see why she says this.

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  Today's Devotional   

"Releasing The Past!"

written by

Sandy Billingham

One of my goals this summer is cleaning out my bedroom closet. In other words decluttering!! So far I have been pleased with my progress. One of the things I ran across was my hospital gown from three years ago when I had my appendix out.   I guess I had the thought that I just might need it! I can assure you that gown will never darken my bedroom closet  ever  again!! I sense this is not just a "physical decluttering" but a "spiritual decluttering" as well.

Some times we may hold on to things of the past, for we feel we just might need them so we can rehearse them in our mind and justify  our  actions. Those things may include past regrets, unforgiveness, offenses, words that  were spoken, scenarios, mistakes,anger, particular actions and the list  goes on. But the real  truth is that those things in the past weigh us down and hold us back  from  our freedom. They cause us to feel unworthy of our relationship with Jesus and bring  on shame, guilt and condemnation.

The Lord tells us in His Word....

 "Do not call to mind the former things, 

or  ponder things of the past. 

 Behold, I will do something new, 

Now it will  spring forth; 

Will  you not be aware  of  it?  

I will even make  a roadway in the wilderness, 

Rivers  in the desert."

Isaiah 43:18-19

Just like I held on to  that hospital gown thinking I just might need  it, but came to my senses and said, "It is out of here!!" We must do the same with the things of the past that have been burrowed deeply in our hearts and minds and have heavily weighed us down. It  is time for us to say,"It is out of here!! I choose to forgive and not ponder on the past anymore!! I choose to let go and release those  onto the Lord!" I choose to allow the Lord Jesus to apply His healing balm all over my life so I may walk  in freedom.

Decluttering is a great thing... especially when the Lord is in control!! 

In His  Freedom, 

Sandy 

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   July Writing   

  by Lynda Kinnard   

  Member of our Monthly Writing Staff   

  "Change"  

It's funny how we change our minds about change.  The young look forward to change, to the day that “no one can tell me what to do!”  Adults are enchanted by the way the babies and children around them grow and change every day.  The changes in our lives can allow us to grow wise, if we look for the lessons from those circumstances.

We all know, and most of us accept, that every day we are a bit older than the day before. Some days, I wake up and forget the 50+ years that I have lived and am shocked when I see the face and figure of a...matronly woman looking through my young girl eyes.

Not that I am denying my age, but there are moments that I forget that I have changed physically.  But this is now followed by gratitude that my spirit has changed and continues to be changed by the Holy Spirit.  I have a long way to go, and while my salvation is secure; I hope and pray that what changes the most in me is my willingness to accept the changes in my life.  Whether I like them or not.

 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, 

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 

Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is

His good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2
(NIV) 

 I Want to be Changed by Grace 

I hear many good people, many followers of Christ, complain about today and long to "have thing go back to the way they were".  But I do not believe that this is what we are meant to hope for.  And I am beginning to think that this may be one of the reasons we are not seeing progress in our lives and in our world.  How can we expect progress while praying for things to regress?

Perhaps the worsening of society that we see is actually our growing awareness of the evil around us today.  Were people truly kinder in the past, or simply less transparent?  Each period of history in this country has had wonderful achievements - and horrendous atrocities.  Going back to "the good old days", would not be good for all of us.

So, I am resolving to look back on the good from the past, acknowledge that the “good old days” for me were not good for everyone.  To ask God to forgive me for not submitting myself to His will and to remind me that my most important task in my life is to become a new and improved version of myself a little more every day.

This will change how I see myself and the world around me.  Not ignoring the bad; but reminding me to pray for the lost and hurting.  For those that many would exclude from their God-given right to accept the offer of an abundant, grace-filled life. May they find reasons to consider salvation through Jesus Christ.  And by accepting this wonderful gift, be changed for the better.

I declare to you, brothers and sisters,
that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.1 Corinthians 15:50-52 (NIV)  

Father God,   Thank You for giving us the works and laws in the Old Testament and for the  grace and blessing of my salvation through Jesus Christ and the lessons in the New Testament.  For showing me that I must look to You as I move forward and  stop thinking that our best days are in the past.  You have blessing and miracles in our future,  in spite of what we see today.   I must do my part to show how enormous, unconditional  and never-ending Your love for each of us really is.  Please help me keep my eyes on You and not on the ways I may falter at times.  Your plans will come to pass, in Your time.  I pray that I can live in a way that shows the world that I trust the changes You will walk us through today, tomorrow and forever.  I pray in Jesus’ Holy Name,  Amen.

Let the Future Begin

DJ Stong Mix

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   Today's Inspiring Graphic   

  Jesus said, "Feed my sheep."  

Once more he asked him, “Simon, son of John, are you even my friend?”
Peter was grieved at the way Jesus asked the question this third time.
“Lord, you know my heart; you know I am,” he said.
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep."

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Prayers are lifted up daily for 

you by the Devotional Writers 

and the Monthly Writing Staff

of Women's Focus Ministries.

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