~ * Hooray .. OR should it be Yay ? !!!! ~

FOR reason that I'm NOT aware of I was ADDED to Aardvark Antics: A "FOODIE" Blog as a FOLLOWER ! After MUCH concentration, I have finally succeeded in removing THAT "silly" - so called; because I was unaware of being put onto my own blog FOLLOWERS reference. It has taken alot of time to accomplish removing it. *I GREET that achievement with satisfaction. I am challenged most times when I'm on the Internet (it's NOT easy), but, now that I've solved the "FOLLOWER" jigsaw (by myself), I have necessary confidence for the moment to continue with THIS blog (there is so much I don't understand, but, it is indeed a "learning curve"). It's just amazing for me ! !

~ HIS Presence ! ~

Jesus comes to us in many ways and at unsuspecting moments. The conversation on the Emmaus road led to closer fellowship as the travelers responded to Jesus' words and invited Him into their home. It is as we spend time actively seeking fellowship with Jesus, that we really learn to know Him and become a partaker of His life and ministry. Only when we have met Him on this intimate level can we effectively tell others about Him.

OFTEN He comes to us in unexpected ways. Sickness, if rightly accepted, often reveals Him to us. In the quietness of a feverish night, we sense His nearness and are reminded of His constant care! He gives us assurance that nothing can touch us apart from His loving permission.

Dengue fever was an unwelcome interruption of my routine in Mali, Africa. My feverish, aching head could not concentrate on praying. I heard the sound of singing coming from the church as the Christians met for their weekly prayer meeting. Their promise to pray for me had comforted me. The aching seemed to worsen and then, in response to their prayers, the fever broke.

ALTHOUGH separated by walls and yards, I had experienced the healing hand of Jesus as I fellowshiped in the Spirit with my African family. In a few days I was able to witness publicly about what Jesus had done. Those days of sickness were not pleasant, but they were precious because of His nearness.

We need to look for Him in all our experiences. Recognizing His presence will make those experiences all that He intends them to be.

"You did not recogize the time of God's coming to you" (LUKE 19:44).

LINDA MCKELVEY

~ * God's Wisdom ! ~

The young Christian mother wept as she spoke of her divorce. With a hopeless gesture, she cried, "Why do I always have 20-20 vision - hindsight! Now I know that everything was wrong - my attitude, what I said, what I did. Why didn't God give me wisdom when I prayed?"

HOW many of us remember with tears the things we should have done and how we should have have done them? Do we wonder why we did not see things then as we do now? Naturally, as we follow Christ, His Spirit does impart grace and wisdom for the battles of life. Yet too many of God's children confess a lack of wisdom. Too many tears are shed in retrospection.

In James 3, the author describes two kinds of wisdom. He tells us that wisdom from above is, first of all, pure. God's wisdom cannot come to a sinful heart. Sin causes us to make decisions that bring hurt and failure.

Wisdom from above is also peaceable. "For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice" (verse 16). How can wise decisions be made when there is contention and strife in the heart? God comes to hearts that wait until they are quiet enough to hear His still, small voice.

James further describes this wisdom as "submissive" - "It allows discussion and is willing to yield" (verse 17, TLB). A know-it-all attitude obstructs God's wisdom.

If we, as people in His presence, are to face the challenges of life in a troubled world, we need the genuine wisdom from above.

Helen Constance

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without fining fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt (JAMES 1:5-6a)."

~ Five (5) Ways to DIFFUSE Anger ! ~

HOW do you tell if you have an anger problem? IF more than one person close to you has said they think you have an issue, listen to them because uncontrolled anger can affect your health!

NOT all peeved people scream and throw things. Yes, some show their rage aggressively. Others are more defensive. Some are passive aggressive and won't tell you they're "ticked off". Instead, they roll their eyes, make snide remarks and are hostile.

Then there are the sulkers. Those people who withdraw when they're angry, refusing to address things but making it very clear there is a problem.

We can't rid our lives of issues and people who make our blood boil. And we shouldn't aim to blank this emotion entirely - but just learn to manage it better.

1. IDENTIFY YOUR TRIGGERS

Who or what pushes your buttons? Get to know when you're more likely to erupt; if you can tell when you're at your most vulnerable, you, can use coping strategies.

2. RIDE THE WAVE OF EMOTION

Instead of marching straight in to confront whoever has annoyed you, take some time out to allow the red-hot emotion to cool.

3. BREATHE DEEPLY

When we're angry, our heart rate and blood pressure increase and adrenalin rushes through our bodies. We can calm down by taking deep breaths with our diaphragm - not our chest.

4. CHALLENGE ANY UNHELPFUL THOUGHT

Anger can make us irrational. Recognise the times when you're catastrophising or taking things personally. Instead of thinking the world is out to get you, try having some empathy - we all make mistakes and do things differently.

5. LEARN POSITIVE WAYS TO COMMUNICATE

Pick your battles by letting some things go through to the keeper. But if it's important for you to say something, try to communicate assertively. Express your view or problem without using personal attacks and try to suggest how to improve things next time! HUMOUR can lighten the mood. - J. Lamble

** Disability ? !! **

I hate having a disability. It's at war with my members (parts of my body). What do I do? Cry. I've done that, time and time again...but,
" ... God says, " 'My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways My ways,' says the LORD. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts' " (Isaiah 55: 8-9). ...

God's promises are not given to all, but to everyone who is willing to seek and trust Him. Isaiah reminds us to seek Him on His terms. ...

The whole Bible makes it clear that God promises to be found only by those willing to surrender to Him. This important condition of surrender is what Jesus taught when He said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8). He said this immediately after saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . . Blessed are those who mourn . . . . Blessed are the meek . . . . Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness . . . . Blessed are the merciful" (vv.3-7).

Each of these conditions reflects the need for a surrendered heart as a condition to receive the blessing of God. ...

Salvation itself is a gift. Forgiveness and eternal life come to us only by grace and through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). But seeing God in the Bible requires a willingness to do the will of God. Only in surrender do we have assurance that God will let us see the truth about Christ in our present circumstances. Only in submission can we see the Father and His Son on every page of Scripture".

(extracts are from Knowing God Through The Whole Bible/RBC - RADIO BIBLE CLASS Ministries. READ it on the Web at www.discoveryseries.org/sb001 .)

** A GOOD word .. !!

"Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad" - Proverbs Chapter 12, verse 25.

*If you see People without a smile today, give them one of yours !

* EVERY purpose !

"TO everything there is a Season,
A time for every purpose under Heaven .. " Ecclesiastes 3.

** ENDURING promises .. !! **

God permits personal trials so that we can see Him working in our life !! k.

"God's Word tells us that His mercies and compassions are "new every morning" (Lamentations Chapter 3:22-23) Just as each new day presents us with a different challenge, the Lord reveals the beauty of His character, the fulfillment of His promises, and the tender provision of His grace.

We don't know what today may bring. BUT we do know this: God will amaze us with His unfailing, ever-new compassions. The depths of the valleys just make His mountainpeaks that much more breathtaking". DCE

'WHERE GOD GUIDES, GOD PROVIDES'.

** "Parton, who" ??? .. !! **

"THE WAY I SEE IT, if you want the rainbow, YOU GOTTA PUT UP WITH THE RAIN" (Dolly Parton, singer/actress).

"WHO'D'A THUNK IT" ?? .. yesterday !

Today .. I slipped and fell and SPENT three and 3/4 hours on the floor all because I have MS.
We are all CHALLENGED in many ways! FORTUNATELY, my daughter arrived home early from her workplace and tried to help me by strategically placing cushions under my 'derriere' to hopefully "soften the blow" - and, it did..abit. My hubby. soon arrived home from his workplace so that he and my daughter would be able to lift me from the floor.
I don't remember ever fretting (crying) so much. NONETHELESS, I've stopped my shedding of tears and am NOW productively tapping the keys of the computer. I must be MORE careful.. MUCH, more careful in the future.

AWESOME !!

"Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men" - Psalm 66:5.
HOW many times in the day do I rush; not slowing down enough to say "thank you" to my Sovereign Lord for all that he has provided me with in that day! He says to my inner self "you worry too much". He indeed cares for every aspect of my life revealing quite often that I "worry too much"! I need to let go of so many things that block a deeper appreciation (understanding) of Him.