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Left hand blue, right foot red, right hand yellow



Do you recognize the game?  It was a favorite at birthday parties and events... I'm thinking I even remember it being an option in PE class in 6th grade on "free" choice day.  If my memory serves me correctly, some friends and I thought it would be a great idea to join in.... soon deciding it might not be the best plan when the call for me was right hand - blue, which landed my right hand on the only reachable blue circle already occupied by the large smelly sock foot of some "creepy boy"... at least that's how I remember it!  ðŸ˜³

One redeeming quality of the game of Twister is the fact that with each spin, all players are dictated by the spin of the arrow - the only decision you own is how to contort your body to get to the prescribed circle.  Your challenge comes as you do your best to follow the caller's direction while all other players are completing the same instruction.  Officially. one is eliminated when "they fall or when their elbow or knee touches the mat."

How often have you said, "if only God would tell me exactly what He wanted me to do now, I'd do everything possible to follow His direction."  Can you only imagine if God had some great big cardboard spinner divided into 4 colors/plans, then with each spin, HE dictated your "move" with instructions to take this job or move to this state or accept a date with this guy or attend that school.  With each spin would come the "hold your breath" moment of ...
Will this be the instruction that I can't manage?
Will this be the direction that causes my elbow to touch the mat resulting in a disastrous fall?
Will this be the command that I just can't handle?

The will of God, the plans for our lives... hardly can be compared to the game of Twister.

The questions continue though, don't they?  Here are just a few of the answers that are guiding my thoughts and actions.  So many more "specifics", but an intentional beginning guide...

I believe scripture confirms that God's will for me is to accept Christ as my Savior and Lord.
I believe scripture confirms that God's will for me is to share with others the good news of Jesus.
I believe scripture confirms that God's will for me is to be sanctified... to be more like Jesus.
I believe scripture confirms that God's will for me is to bring HIM glory with my words and actions.
I believe scripture confirms that God's will for me is love and honor my husband.
I believe scripture confirm that God's will for me is to give thanks in all circumstances.

Rejoice always, pray continually, 
give thanks in all circumstances, 
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

And what does the Lord require of you
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8




Snow, shingles, best laid plans...



So... January 7th of this brand new year, I wrote the first blog post!  So very excited to set a hopeful expectation... to issue a new challenge - to write every week.  I got distracted.  :(

Shingles moved in with a vengeance...  I was determined to NOT be slowed down, to NOT be affected, to NOT defeat my hopeful expectation, to NOT disappoint my new challenge.  Shingles, not the kind on your roof!  I'd never had much thought or research about shingles, having no need to know.  All of a sudden, shingles research became my time-consuming hobby.  Conversations were centered around their cause, their treatment, their affect on others.  Immediately I enjoyed a commonality with others in the club - they had survived to tell about their experience and recovery, helping me to realize that I would, in fact, recover.... not any too soon.

So... January 8th of this brand new year, I had a mile-long list of "to-do's" for work and ministry - plans in place for a coming meeting of encouragement and ideas for this semester.  Another long list of meetings to schedule, people to visit, and items to be picked up.  I got distracted.  :(

Snow fell... Not a crazy 19-inch snowfall or anything that significant, but enough to disrupt many of those intended plans.  Couple that with the continued shingles' battle... and here we are...

So... February 5th of this brand new year, shingles have vanished, no snow to speak of... and a second blog post.

Oh friends, what about you?  Are there distractions in your day?  in your week?  in your year?  That's the understatement of the century, huh?  So what do we do?  Accept defeat?  Determine to disappoint?  I'd offer a resounding NO!  Even more, I'd offer a resounding word from the word of God simply to encourage our hearts:

No matter our circumstances, His word speaks... our expectations, our challenges, our distractions, our "unexpecteds"...

So... LET US DRAW NEAR TO GOD WITH A SINCERE HEART AND WITH THE FULL ASSURANCE THAT FAITH BRINGS, HAVING OUR HEARTS SPRINKLED TO CLEANSE US FROM A GUILTY CONSCIENCE AND HAVING OUR BODIES WASHED WITH PURE WATER.  LET US HOLD UNSWERVINGLY TO THE HOPE WE PROFESS, FOR HE WHO PROMISED IS FAITHFUL.  Hebrews 10:22-23