Regrets

Have you ever found yourself asking a person to do something and then later regretting it? I think we all have. I can remember a time when asking my spouse to wash my clothes.  I offered to go and fold them once they were  dried; only to find that they were discolored. Ouch!
This reminds me of the story of when Sarai, Abram's wife, couldn't have children. But her maid servant Hagar could. So Sarai had this great idea to have Abram lay down with Hagar so Sarai could have children through her. Yet, after Hagar did and she become pregnant, Sarai mistreated Hagar and told Abram to tell her to move out of the city. Ouch!
Now granted, my laundry isn't half as much of a regret as Sarai having Hagar bore a child. 
Yet tell me this. How many times have we made plans for other people to do something, expect others to do something and ended up getting angry with that person? How often do we expect others to answer our call or provide for our daily needs and when they don't deliver we get mad?
Who are we mad at though? Let's look at this. We get mad at the person who didn't jump through hoops for us and accomplish what we wanted done. We get mad with maybe the third person involved like Sarai got upset with Hagar.
We have a difficult time looking at ourselves as the one we should be mad at. The problem with this is that we have to face the facts that our decisions are not always right. We should  admit that our idea was not thought through but was specific and ended up hurting someone else and it affected our life and theirs. We should admit that it may have caused basic injuries such as a broken relationship, physical loss or damage, and more importantly it hurt one or more people along the process.
The best part is that God knew it was going to happen before it started. We, you and me, have to decide what we are going to do about our actions and the reactions of those decisions.
I believe that recognizing who was really at fault might help. I find that when I admit I had a part in it and face the fact that I need to apologize for my part, the situation gets better instead of worse.
You see when two or more are involved in a decision making process and both parties agree; that means that each of us have a responsible part for the outcome, good or bad. 
God knows our hearts. He also knows where we are in life and if the apology we give is honest and pure and not just a bandaid to temporarily fix the situation.
He wants us to live free, free in Christ. Not hold onto bitterness like Sarai did, but be compassionate like God is.
Is there someone that you wronged today? Perhaps someone has wronged you. you have a choice on how you will react to their actions.  Today, I hope you offer forgiveness and begin to live a free and joyous life.
Remember someone can only have you on their hook if you let them.

~ Marjorie

Win~Win

Recently I've heard alot of talk from friends about death. Most of us don't want to talk about what will happen when someone we loves dies. Some of us don't want to talk about us being six feet under the roots, like that is a bad thing?
I guess it would be a dark, dismal, scary, and frightening topic if you weren't prepared for death.  I would expect someone who has been told to get their house in order and make preparations to die might consider it a fence ride.

Recently, I had my best friend scheduled to go for a heart cauterization.  He was once told that there was nothing that could be done to correct his heart condition, He was also told that if something went wrong he had a good chance of dying.  Please understand that my friend had also been told by another doctor that the doctor performing the surgery is a risk taker.  This added to the possibility of death.
I have been around death before, but I never experienced it like I did the other day. I couldn't see past Friday. Saturday didn't have sunshine, no plan, no schedule, nothing. It was like a black abyss with no end in sight.  I've never experienced this type of "looking forward to tomorrow."
I thought about the scripture "So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble."  (AMP)
I couldn't worry about tomorrow much less see tomorrow. What if this is how the LORD anticipates us to live. I mean, he tells us he only promises today. If we look at only today and live in the now moment, we could probably see lots of blessings. We just might not have a lot of illnesses and sicknesses to go along with worry.
For myself, I'm back at trying to live one moment at a time. If I can concentrate on what God has blessed me with at this moment, I know I am a much joyful person.
What about you? Are you worried about what tomorrow brings? What if today is cut short are you ready to face the next life?
My friend, Sam, tells me it is a win win situation. He wins if he stays on this earth because he will live to tell someone about Jesus and he wins if he dies because he'll see Jesus face to face.  What will you face when your time of death comes? Do you know where you are going to go? People there is a real place called heaven and there is just as a real place called hell. There is no floating in the middle of the milky way. I hope you have made a choice, considering what would happen to you and will begin to ask questions. It's up to you, it's your choice. I hope to see you in heaven. The only way to heaven to meet God the Father is through his son Jesus. Whoever believes in Him shall not parish but have everlasting life. There is a mansion being built with many rooms, a street of gold to walk on, and praises to the One who died on a cross for you and me. So, yes, I can see where Sam says it's a win win situation. I'm riding on that fence. The fence of win win.
How about you?

~ Marjorie