More on The Mind and Our Words!

"You have minds like a snake pit! How do you suppose what you say is worth anything when you are so foul- minded?" Some interjection here by me, It's amazing what Jesus says here, it's like He is looking into the 21 st Century when He speaks here. Just think about Hollywood today, the movies, TV and the stuff on the internet. Everything in the aforementioned is usually PG-13(Parental Guidance for kids younger than 13)Even PG-13 is questionable. What are we opening our children's minds up to when we allow them to see this stuff? We have a website call Kids in mind.com where they review all movies and give in depth description of movies, they tell you how many sexual scenes, how many profanities, how much gore and violence and we can make an informative decision if we want our kids to see a certain movie. I just don't understand how we can allow our children with their impressionable minds to watch the filth that is out there today, how do we justify this?

Jesus continues "It's your heart, not the dictionary that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is blight in the orchard. Let me tell you something: every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation.”

So, here Jesus is saying that we all need to be careful what and how we speak to people. We are responsible also for what we allow our children to hear. Children are a gift from God, we all know that . We need to treat them with care and be gentle with our words towards them. As I have said before I wish I knew these concepts while raising my children, I didn’t, therefore I probably have said some things to my children back in that day that they are paying for in this day, how unfortunate. I will have to answer to God for that. But now, today’s parents know better, they know how to speak, also older children know that respect for parents and older adults is most important as well. I’ve written before on blessing and curses that comes from our mouths; let’s have the blessing come forth, not the curses.

Let’s go on to another subject and that is when a person gets saved, gives his heart to Jesus, listen to what Jesus has to say about this subject: once again from the Message Bible “When a defiling spirit is expelled from someone, it drifts along the desert looking for an oasis(a new place), an unsuspecting soul it can bedevil(enter). When it doesn’t find anyone, it says ‘I’ll go back to my old haunt’. On return it finds the person spotlessly clean, but vacant. It then runs and rounds up seven other spirits more evil than itself and they all move in, whooping it up. That person ends up far worse off than if he’d never gotten cleaned up in the first place.”

In analyzing this part of scripture it seems very clear to me that after salvation takes place and forgiveness of sin takes place a cleansing also takes place. If, after the cleansing we leave ourselves open and don’t replace what was in our hearts before Christ then we are open to the demons and devils to come back in but they not only come back but bring with them more demons and devils far worse than themselves. I can attest to that fact.

The fact that I know the above is true is because I lived it. Most of my family and friends have no idea what was taking place in my life after I backslide while living in Florida. I won’t go into it now but the lifestyle was nothing I was proud of and that is why we keep things hid from family and friends because we know in our hearts that what we are doing is not good and pure and of a good report (Phil.4:8)But God does not let us go, He is like a hound on our heels and there are people all over praying for our soul. I thank God He saw fit to continue “hounding” me until I saw that what I was doing was not good and finally turned back to Him for cleansing and a change.

What do we replace it with you ask. Scripture reading is a good place to start, prayer is another, a change in thought patterns. Get some good CD’s of sermons and good biblical teaching, attend Sunday school and church, that is a start. Once you get going it’s limitless what you can attain and how your desires change. God is so good!

I love living for God, there is nothing boring or constraining about it. He gives clear directions IF we listen to Him. The best thing is the assurance of a place with Him in the heavenly realms. We will rule and reign with Him after this earth has gone under and people, believe me it won’t be long. How much more vile can our world get?

So, I ask you to look at your life, are you truly happy? Are you living for God or are you living along the standards this world has set for you? I implore you to think about a life of true happiness, peace and joy in the Lord, what He has in store for you is so much better than what you could ever think or imagine for yourself. Ephesians 3:20-21 says “Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. The Message Bible

What comes out of your mouth?

Do you ever think about the words that come out of your mouth? Whether you are speaking to yourself(I don't know about you but I talk to myself a lot)or speaking to someone else. The bible says a lot, I mean a lot about words. The way we use words or the words we use can be life or death to the user and the receiver. Let's start with Proverbs 12:25, in the Message bible(y'all know by now that this has become my favorite translation)Worry weighs us down; a cheerful word picks us up.

A cheerful word(happy, full of spirit, gay)can make a man or woman forget their worry. Sometimes we just say things and then realize later it should not have been said. I, for one need to remember this at all times, my tongue can be sharp and quick and then I'm sorry and have to go apologize. My new motto "think before I speak".

Words can speak life or death to the recipient, blessings or cursings. I chose life and blessings. Proverbs 25:11 A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver, in other words it's good.

When I was a young mother and yelled at my kids I never realized what I was speaking into their little lives. How I wish I knew then what I know now about how words can affect a person. If you are a young mother reading this and you sometimes yell things like "you little devil, or you moron or your so stupid or what is wrong with you"? Think about what your saying, you may be setting them up for exactly what you are speaking into them.

The words you speak should be sweet, Psalm119:103 says your words should be sweet to the taste and sweeter than honey to my mouth! When you speak to people especially to children remember what your doing they have sensitive spirits and pick up all sorts of things both good and bad, lets make sure we are speaking the good into them and not the bad.

Remember it's not what goes into a man that defiles him but what comes out. Matthew 15:11 "Listen and understand, it's not what goes into a man's mouth that makes him unclean, but what comes out of his mouth that makes him unclean".

The Milestone Birthday

So, here it is the "Milestone" birthday. The day I turn 65, my Medicare year. It all came about so quickly so unobtrusively. Why, it seemed just yesterday I was in my late 40's and about to become a grandmother for the very first time! I can remember that day so clearly. I was on the beach with a friend and had a beeper, no cells phone for me as they had just come into production for the common man. anyway the beeper goes off and I call my son and to my delight he informed me my first granddaughter had been born. That was 21 years ago? Oh my that can't be, I still feel 40ish!

As I sit here writing this blog I think about early this morning, how I woke up with an achy pain(a brand new one)in both my legs. I think to myself, so is this what it's going to be like on this milestone birthday, pain in both legs?? So at that time I no longer felt "40ish".

For the past 6 months I have been inundated with information for and about Medicare. Every insurance company this side of the Yukon territory has sent me brochures, huge packets of information "fill this out, fill that out, check this box or that box before May 3rd" or what? What exactly will happen if I don't comply? By the way, the older I get the less compliant I am with stuff. So, don't threaten me with information highway nonsense, because I am not filling anything out or sending anything in, so send the IH police to 7 Ewan Terrace, I'll be waiting for them!

Ok, so now I'll talk about birthdays, oh dear a very sore subject in my lifetime. I hated birthdays, my birthdays. They have always hit me in the wrong spot and I can't tell you why or exactly when that started. So, today it ends, on this milestone birthday of 65 years, it has to end and it is ending. To my children and my friends, if I have made you in anyway uncomfortable about my birthday it ends today! I thank you for putting up with my nonsense for all these years. Any and all birthday greetings, cards, flowers, calls and gifts that I have received from you all over the years I truly thank you for and please do not feel "obligated" in any way shape or form to do any such thing from this day forward unless it is you who want to do it, a phone call is sufficient!

Wow, that feels so good to get that off my chest. I feel good today, I feel so free today. I know my friends and family love me, they don't need to "prove" it in any way but to be there for me when the need is there. Let me tell you about a time that I was alone and ill. It wasn't around any holidays or birthdays. It was during the week and I was really sick. My daughter-in-law(you know who you are)prepared a "care" package with all the stuff needed for the head cold, the "I'm so sick, I could die" kinda cold. She and the family brought it too me and I didn't live too close to them either. This is caring this is the kind of love I'm talking about. The kind of love that when you move 4 times in one year the family and friends are there to help haul all that stuff up and down stairs in the hot, July, Florida weather. that is the kind of love and care I'm talking about!

So as I hit this "Milestone" birthday with full force, let me say that this blog isn't exactly how I wanted it to turn out but since it took this turn I went with it. I must also add I'm so glad that while I was not thinking about God back in my 40's and 50's and doing my own "thing", He was thinking about me and He never let me out of His sight. Someone was praying for me, if you are reading this today, I thank you for being obedient to God's will and keeping me in prayer. Turning my life over to my Lord was the best thing I have ever done, I just wish I had the insight to do it sooner. But God's word says that He has, had me in the palm of His hand, He has big plans for me and I intend to carry them out! Remember Moses was 80 years old as he led the Israelite's out of Egypt. Sara was 99 when she had a child. I know God can and will use me, even as I reach my "Milestone" age.

Watching the children day 2

So yesterday was a little more eventful than today, not that I would want a repeat of what happened yesterday,,,,Julia and Josiah in the downstairs "play room" Julia doesn't like what Josiah was doing and hauled off and punched him in the face,,,yup, sure did, however the second time was when the blood flew. Josiah had a bloody nose, he survived and Julia was sent to her room for a while and was banned from playing games with Josiah in the game room.
Joshua away with friends and going kayaking, what a fortunate kid. Josiah and I are waiting up for him. Signing off for now,,,,,

Watching the Childen

So, today Tim, Chris and Jon went to LA to Jessica's graduation from her first year of Masters Commission. They left the house at 3:30 AM, how do I know this? I heard them. I'm a very light sleeper when I know people are either scheduled to leave the house or scheduled to come in to the house. Now it is my turn to be the "controlling" element in the house. It usually works out well because they (the children)know what is expected from them.
Last night, Thursday, Tim and Chris took me and Jessica Duarte out for our birthdays, mine is Monday and Jessica's was last week. We went to the Cosmopolitan restaurant and it was really good, oh yea Renado, Jessica's husband came too. Was a great time and great food!
Ok, will post more later but right now the natives are hungry for breakfast, must go and prepare Julia's PB & J.

Mother Hubbards Cupboard

The Bread of Life
Bread: (Websters Collegiate Dictionary)a food made of flour or meal and generally leavening, baked in loaves. Food in general
Life: Duration of existence. A condition or course of living.
So according to these two words and their meanings I would not be amiss in saying we need bread for life. We need bread, or food in general to live each day and stay alive in the natural course of living.

In the bible, John 6:48, Jesus says He is the "bread of life". Let's start with verse 47, Jesus is speaking to the "multitudes" and He is trying to "rescue" them from hell. Literally, He was trying to save their Spiritual lives and this is what He says: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes on Me has everlasting life. vs 48, I am the bread of Life. vs 49 your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and are dead. vs 50 this is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die". vs 51 "I am the living bread which comes down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever;and the bread that I shall give is My Flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world".

The Message bible says it like not other: "I'm telling you the most solemn and sober truth now(this is Jesus speaking to the 5,000), whoever believes in me has real life, eternal life. I am the Bread of Life. Your ancestors ate manna bread in the desert and died. But now here is Bread that truly comes down out of heaven. Anyone eating this Bread will not die, ever. I am the Bread-Living Bread!-who came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this Bread will live-and forever! The Bread that I present to the world so that it can eat and live is Myself, this flesh and blood self.

My friends it can't get any plainer or simpler than that can it? OK, so this is my blog and I can say what I want so here it goes. What are you waiting for? Does Jesus Himself have to appear before you before you get it? Well, I am sorry to say that time is coming and then it will be too late. Do you read the papers?(I try not to)Do you listen to the news?(I try not to)Have you read your bible, you know that book your mother gave you 50 years ago, sitting over there on the coffee table or on the book shelf gathering dust? It hasn't changed, you may have moved and put it divers places but the words in that book have not changed.

You have given the world it's chance in your life, have you become a better person because of your education or your worldly experience? You know I have been a born-again Christian since 1977, there have been a few times when I let the world get its grip on me and I was never happy, I mean really happy. I knew I was not living right, I always felt the tug of the Holy Spirit on my life ever since the first time I gave my self to Him. If you feel that conviction, if you feel that you are too far from God just remember He is but a breathe away. You may have moved but He never has and never will. He is a patient God and will never force you, He will put people in your life to remind you He is there, I can tell you that!

I titled this blog "Mother Hubbard's Cupboard" because like the rhyme some of our cupboards(souls)are bare of the Bread of Life but we can fix that and fill our cupboard's to full and running over.

Psalm 34:8 Oh! taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who trusts Him!

Two thousand ten or twenty ten?

2010, who woulda thought? When I was a kid did I look forward to this year of tweenty ten or two thousand ten? I think not, I was always just looking toward the next year, I think.

2010, the year of new beginnings, we always say that don't we? We start out by saying we are NOT going to be getting caught up in the same bad habits we had the previous year, like eating too much, not exercising enough, so on and so forth. But so what if we do make some promises to ouselves and others to try to do better this year? What's the matter with that, it's good to try and better ourselvers isn't it. I want to do beter this year, I surely want to eat more healthy and try to excersise but I won't beat myself up on a daily basis it this doesn't happen(although my doctor probably will).

2010, the year of double portions. Why do I say that? Let's look at the year 2010. The first part is 20 isn't that 10 doubled? Aha, good thought huh? I came up with that all by myself!!! God wants to give us double portions. Look at Elisha how he followed after Elijah just to get a double portion of his blessing, and he did! By going where Elijah went, not leaving Elijah's side for a minute, he was in that place where the blessing followed him. That's what I want, I want to follow God wherever He leads me, wherever He wants me to go and not leaving His side for a minute, lest I lose the double blessing He has for me.

2010, be expecting a double portion, it's out there for you too!

God bless you and keep looking up!