Sunday, November 20, 2011

A 4 letter word starting with "H"

Got your attention, didn't I? This word is often called out in times of distress. Sometimes it is whispered in a prayer when we finally give up. Sometimes we give it. Sometimes we ask for it. 
The word is..... HELP.

Per Webster:
1: to give assistance or support to
2: to make more pleasant or bearable
3: to be of use to 
4: to change for the better

Frankly, I suck at asking for help. I can write about it. I can give help all day long. I will do things for other people that I won't/don't even do for myself. AND it's my fault! At some point, I will need to stop long enough to figure out what my real issue is. But in the meantime.....I know that when I don't ask for help I am depriving the other person and myself from the benefit of sharing life's journey. We don't have to go it alone. However, we can't expect others to just know what we need. We need to be willing to speak it, call it, pray it.

I was already thinking about writing this. I had just finished helping someone else. I went to the store. I came home. Why take the time to run in the house and ask one of the kids to help? I didn't want to make two trips. I could carry it all, right?  ummm,not! My $2.38 lesson on asking for help?!?!? 

I dropped the milk. The plastic container did not just softly land. It split open in two spots as you can see in the milk jug photo below. I ended up with spilled milk.

Can you see the splits? Big on bottom, also on side by handle.
I did not cry.  ;) I ended up with about a quarter of the gallon still in the jug. It was a visual reminder of what can happen when I won't ask for help. Sometimes I feel as broken as the milk jug. I can't keep it all in without spilling out so why do I even try to do that? Maybe you do too?

My new/latest motto:  Less hell when we ask for help, repeat. (Amazing what the change of one letter can do.)

Psalm 118:13-14 (NIV) I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me. The LORD is my strength and my defense, he has become my salvation. 

Psalm 121:1-3 (NIV) I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber;

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Bible Flipper

I realize that there are reading plans to read through the Bible. Some are set up for a year and take a passage from the old and new testament along with something from the Psalms and/or Proverbs. By the end of the year? If you stay on track, you've read through the entire Bible.

Usually, these plans do not include just opening the Bible and reading whatever your eye lands on. I have to admit to being a Bible flipper. It does not ALWAYS seem applicable. However, there have been many times when I have done this and I am amazed how often it is something that applies to what I'm going through. Sometimes, when I remember, I prayerfully ask God before I flip to show me what I need to see.

Recently, on one of my nights/mornings? of getting in bed w....a....y too late.....again, I flipped open the Bible. My eye landed on Psalm 127 (NIV):

 1 Unless the LORD builds the house,
   the builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
   the guards stand watch in vain.
2 In vain you rise early
   and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
   for he grants sleep to those he loves.


The Journey Bible I read also had some additional information about these verses. It mentioned specifically starting a business and writing a book. I have considered both of these very recently. On times like this, I am reminded that the Bible is one of God's ways of communicating with us.


The Bible is a big book and it seems overwhelming. Sometimes we make excuses. "I don't have time to read the Bible", "I don't know where to start", "The Bible doesn't go in order and gets so confusing", etc.

Personally, I'm sure I've used one or more of those excuses. However, I've noticed I found time to read a novel (or 3 or 4!)  by my favorite author. Some probably have more pages than the Bible....but I found time for those...

I'm not encouraging anyone to just flip open the Bible and start reading. I just want to remind you to open your Bible. Currently, we have the freedom and resources to own at least one Bible....maybe several. When was the last time you opened yours?