Graves' This and That

 These weeks have been a time of fighting the good fight of faith.  I must learn to speak TRUTH to my default mindset.  It has been well developed and has been with me most of my life.  Now is the time to continue to practice a Truth mindset rather than the inferior  mindset which has been too well used.  I compare my mindset to a passage from Psalm 107:17, "For He shatters the doors of bronze and cuts into the bars of iron."  Mindsets can imprison or can be torn down by TRUTH a lot like the fortresses that we build up in the mind.  What a process, learning to take every thought (almost) to the obedience of Christ.   Holy Spirit, stand guard at my thought closet mindset and quickly tap me when the liar wants to whisper his garbage to me!  We are more than conquerors...HE says so!  

In accordance with Jeremiah 29:11, God still has a plan and a purpose for me.  As I am seeking His will, I desire to hear Him say from Isaiah 30:21, "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left." I have left the classroom professionally...I HATE the term, retired.  I am not finished.  I want to burn out like Caleb from fighting giants and taking fortified cities so he could settle where God had promised Him. My desires: Doing what delights Him and in turn will delight me, ministering Him to others, and providing a part-time income. I still have good health, a "good" mind (good is relative!), energies to minister, and time to do so.  I have left behind the 60-70 hour work week for my health, sanity, and being too far removed from 10 year olds!  So Father, thank you for giving me Your Best.

Presently, I am reading, summarizing, and mulling over Psalm 119.  This verse, "It is time for the LORD to act, for your law has been broken."  It seems in my lifetime, HIS law has been broken by those HE has put in authority over us.  Father, my prayer is for mercy even though undeserved, and your grace which abounds even though sin is rampant.  I know that our sin choices even though legalized by law must grieve YOUR heart.  A phenomenal price was paid for our sin and deliverance, why do we choose to be enslaved by that which God has already given us boundaries and guidelines for our protection and peace of mind and heart? Thank you God that you hate all our sin regardless of the societal's name for it. "Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statues."  (the Divine Lawgiver has laid down). Holy Spirit of God teach me to hate the actions you hate and to love people whom you love!  Grace so amazing so divine demands ...

It seems that the Lord continues to insist that I wait upon HIM.  The privilege of the Sovereign!  I know that I have the passion of loving the Word of God and loving to disciple others but I wait for where and when He places me. So far my " retirement" seems like my usual summer. God provided by grace 11 years ago and if He has a place for me to minister, He will provide again.   Thank you, Father.

I have put a logo over my door which exits the house...Everyday holds the possibility of a miracle.  Of myself, I am spiritually bankrupt, weary, overwhelmed, and finite.  I am not sure if there is a word which expresses less than finite, but if there is, I am the most finite!  At the present, God is teaching me about seeing His activity in my life and my loved ones' lives from His perspective.  I get hung up on what I see, and I come away, devastated.  I have no resources of myself, nothing that commends, or affirms that I deserve because of who I am or what I have or haven't done.  As I look at my life, I am totally convinced that I am in need of HIS workings, miracles.  It is all Him and this flesh can NEVER glory, for HE is PROVIDER, PROTECTOR, SUSTAINER, FAITHFUL, MERCIFUL FATHER. I am eager for HIS hand to bring forth only that which is explained GOD has PREVAILED! Seated in the heavenlies with you, Lord and waiting eagerly to see the KAIROS that...

I can't find anywhere in Scripture that retirement is found.  I hope to be like Caleb asking God for my mountain, and the Lord knows there have been a few that He has given the grace to climb.  I have invested eleven years in guys and girls at BISD.  I have been blessed, but now SEs needs a new fourth grade teacher full of spunk and be responsible enough to fulfill what needs to be accomplished.  I really desire to burn out the years I nave ahead delighting the Lord. Rusty, crusty, and crotchety are not adjectives I want to describe me....don't ask my present fourth graders though! Presently, I am recouping from the dreaded flu.  Thank goodness, the cough is lessening.  I do have a basso profundo voice that I am also ready to give up.

I was in class last week and I saw a Prezi for the first time. I have been working for two hours and don't have it down yet. Of course, when I saved it, I can't find it in that place! One of the frustrations of being older is that it seems to take longer to get a skill down or it could be just me! I guess that practice is the key to competency. Always the same. I was hoping to use a Prezi for Sunday's Bible study lesson on Jeremiah 11-15. But alas, I may just have to sit and WORK on it over and over again. Father, I would like to have the desire of my heart of the bedroom in good shape for Sonny and Dana....I am willing to release that "wanna". It was a lovely thought though. I am glad that the leak is not in the floor, so I will just again say, "Thank you Lord Jesus for disappointments and blessings that come in different packages." Praise you Lord for the rain last night. I pray that it will be gracious tonight and just give rain for the ranche...