tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54661918532511138172024-03-13T00:55:05.703-04:00Carol McClainCharacter Counts by
Carol McClainCarol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.comBlogger258125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466191853251113817.post-40134787859762472572017-07-18T14:28:00.001-04:002017-07-18T14:28:12.920-04:00God Never Hurries: And It Benefits Us<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. Habakkuk 2:3</i></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">By Carol McClain: </span><a href="http://twitter.com/carol_mcclain" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">@carol_mcclain</a><br />
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Have you ever known God to be in a rush for anything?<br />
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I'm not asking facetiously. Scripturally, He waited four days to go heal Lazarus. He let a storm rise on the Sea of Galilee before waking up to calm it. He didn't run to heal Jairus's daughter. Abraham and Sarah waited. Hannah, too. Always, He took His time.<br />
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And always it was perfect.<br />
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We've heard of people who get their answers almost instantly. They marry quickly, have kids easily, find a job, a home, success.<br />
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But don't despair if it takes time.<br />
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God is never in a rush. God is always on time.<br />
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This is especially true for me--a woman who had to get it done yesterday.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCERAdg0B5wPpb88Xnp2-eEJ66CIvC4NwabHDcb52npnEvrV4k_6_c6PCbnM6d7uGj1oBJox3FVm-n7pArAGEeYDVF5nMjD2ONpivmQE-OMt_9JUeXmXFMe670YpqJSbRvTojC-aFARJ1/s1600/eagle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCERAdg0B5wPpb88Xnp2-eEJ66CIvC4NwabHDcb52npnEvrV4k_6_c6PCbnM6d7uGj1oBJox3FVm-n7pArAGEeYDVF5nMjD2ONpivmQE-OMt_9JUeXmXFMe670YpqJSbRvTojC-aFARJ1/s400/eagle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<h2>
Effects of Waiting in My Life</h2>
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<ol>
<li><b>I waited twenty years as a divorced woman before I met my husband. </b>Neil would never have been free to marry me any sooner. I remember one time, God sent me off on a mission trip to Romania. I think He had one purpose--so I wouldn't make a play for a man, new to our church fellowship, who ended up falling in love with one of my closest friends. He wasn't meant for me. Neil was. And he is God's perfect gift for me.</li>
<li><b>I waited many years before I got published. </b>Now, in a new home, I've found a devoted audience who loves my work and encourages me continually. Will I make it as an author? Read my works, especially <a href="http://amzn.to/2iwz3lr" target="_blank">The Poison We Drink</a> and you'll see that I should. However, if not, God's perfect timing will allow my work to fall in the right hands at the right time, and He will receive the glory. </li>
<li><b>The first house we bought in Tennessee, fell through on the day we signed the papers. </b>It was a divine place on five secluded acres in Fentress County. If we moved there, we wouldn't have the wonderful church family and friends we have here. Our home in Jacksoboro has all we need and want--and we're able to minister to family and friends in a way we never would have in the first home we tried to buy.</li>
<li><b>Our ministry will bring us joy. </b>Once more, I'm teaching Sunday school. Seems since the day I'd gotten saved, this is where I always end up. It took two years and a "trick" by God to get me back into kids' church--but at the right time, I was available. The same with our guest house. We tried to rent it seasonally to friends. I considered renting it to a young couple who needed a home. Instead, we waited. Then two dear friends, our new 40-year-old children, found themselves homeless--with four animals no landlord would ever allow in her rental. And we had a place for them.</li>
</ol>
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In my life, by waiting on God, I never lost a thing. I only gained.</div>
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Be patient. Wait.</div>
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<h3>
Quick Tweets</h3>
<div>
<a href="http://ctt.ec/abmAN" target="_blank">God never hurries, and it benefits us. (click to tweet)</a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://ctt.ec/9M3sD" target="_blank">Wait on God and you'll never lose a thing. (click to tweet)</a></div>
Carol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466191853251113817.post-8322850946284097022017-07-10T12:05:00.000-04:002017-07-10T12:05:23.939-04:00Like It or Not, Some Sins Are Relative<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving ... 1 Tim. 4:4</i></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">By Carol McClain: </span><a href="http://twitter.com/carol_mcclain" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">@carol_mcclain</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A friend of mine <i>hated </i> rock music. In his youth, the lyrics led him to drug use and immorality. As a Christian, God convicted him. This form of music drove him to sin, and he could not listen to it any longer. Being a godly man, he obeyed.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeD6YQ0b2R_qWShMl6urtjPIG4SwSn-_6rQFhAg4GvlO2T4I6yad61Zkate9sTLZeUarOI1remxdNHR-ocfS20G7BWmWw0bB2qdIi8RXBJEWNa6LsvU8tefpHip8zqqD4B0wInsJCvU64K/s1600/guitar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="1600" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeD6YQ0b2R_qWShMl6urtjPIG4SwSn-_6rQFhAg4GvlO2T4I6yad61Zkate9sTLZeUarOI1remxdNHR-ocfS20G7BWmWw0bB2qdIi8RXBJEWNa6LsvU8tefpHip8zqqD4B0wInsJCvU64K/s320/guitar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The only problem this created, though, was the idea that if rock music was sinful to him, it was sinful to <i>everyone. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We belonged to a church that believed 1 Cor. 8:9--that our liberty could never be a stumbling block to the weak. Ergo, if my friend could not listen to rock music, none of us could. Furthermore, none of us should ever disagree with him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This became a problem for me. If he didn't like music, I couldn't. enjoy it or admit I did. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Things snowballed. Another person thought dancing a sin. Therefore, no one danced. However, dancing before the Lord was mandated. If you didn't, you were sinful...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On and on it went.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">These good-intentioned self-denials were another form of legalism. The only thing God asked of me was to not blare my Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston music in his presence. I could talk about it, admit going to the concerts, etc.</span><br />
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I come from a long line of alcoholics. God convicted me early about drinking, and I don't. It doesn't mean my Christian friends can't drink. The Bible forbids drunkenness, but not the consumption of wine or beer or a Cosmo. I have no right to demand everyone adhere to my conviction.<br />
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<h3>
<a href="http://ctt.ec/4sn8h" target="_blank">The truth is, some sins are relative. (click to tweet)</a></h3>
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Some--like drunkenness or immorality are absolute, yes.</div>
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<h2>
<a href="http://ctt.ec/31KfV" target="_blank">But long ago, I learned sin is sin for only two reasons:</a></h2>
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<ol>
<li><a href="http://ctt.ec/31KfV" target="_blank">It hurts God.</a></li>
<li><a href="http://ctt.ec/31KfV" target="_blank">It hurts people (click to tweet)</a></li>
</ol>
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</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> If a particular addiction hurts you or others--we must abstain.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Are there things you abstain from because of personal reasons?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>Carol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466191853251113817.post-43693314479543985412017-06-26T09:58:00.003-04:002017-06-26T09:58:58.647-04:00House Cleaning and Sin: How We Justify Our Self-Hatred <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">Therefore, </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30371A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30371A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white;">confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30371B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30371B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white;">healed. </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30371C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30371C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white;">The effective </span><span style="background-color: white;">prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:16</span></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">By Carol McClain: </span><a href="http://twitter.com/carol_mcclain" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">@carol_mcclain</a><br />
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We invited friends over to the house at the last minute. I looked over my home and knew I only had time for what I called "lies and deceptions." I had to clean, but a <i>real</i> cleaning wouldn't happen. The fake one would have to do.<br />
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I ran a dust rag over the furniture. Vacuumed fast. Shoved dirty pans in the oven. Closed the door to my study. I was set.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rIuAdq_OSw-SFxolJQ8N4WEFWltF7Ca78SL8KKzuDspaQIj89PS7xCLeXdgTJxPYCkIZhAF6FcWOSjt2SSsbtCL4VHGs9vsBFsW5wfe0lBaLNlhYpSK546fGh44jKJlmnvO87qdD06jG/s1600/housework+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="1600" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rIuAdq_OSw-SFxolJQ8N4WEFWltF7Ca78SL8KKzuDspaQIj89PS7xCLeXdgTJxPYCkIZhAF6FcWOSjt2SSsbtCL4VHGs9vsBFsW5wfe0lBaLNlhYpSK546fGh44jKJlmnvO87qdD06jG/s400/housework+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Of course, my house wasn't clean, but my image was.<br />
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If my friends opened the closed door, if they checked the oven or looked in a cabinet, they'd find how truly awful I was.<br />
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Sort of like sin in our lives.<br />
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We confess to God but hide our weakness from our peers. If they <i>really </i>knew our neurosis--like sitting up all night knowing the little lump on our calf was not from hitting the end table, but a ravenous cancer--they'd think us mentally deranged, lacking faith. Maybe we're hiding our disinterest in worship or of Bible study in fear they'd think we're not spiritual. Perhaps our bursts of anger would make them question our character.<br />
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Hiding sin <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">from trusted peers</u> enslaves us to our image. It justifies our self-hatred or depression or loathing of others as we project our sin onto them.<br />
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<h2>
Repentance must be two-directional:</h2>
<div>
<ol>
<li><b>We must confess to God, first and foremost. </b>Implied in this is the fact we've acknowledged the sin to ourselves. 1 John 1:9 says if we confess our sins, He <b><i><u>will</u></i></b> forgive us. Therefore, we know we are clean. Still, guilt cloys. We need to get rid of its stench.</li>
<li><b>We must confess to others. </b>This doesn't mean we tell any old person even if that person is a devout believer. I made the mistake of confessing a boredom with my Bible reading to a Bible study group. Within days, I received a nasty letter from one member questioning my salvation. It did nothing for my self-esteem. However, we all have, or should work to have, a trusted friend or spouse or family member with whom we can confide. We should belong to a church with a loving pastor.</li>
<ol>
<li>They can give us insight to the reason for our guilt.</li>
<li>Their continued love reassures us we're treasured just as we are.</li>
<li>We discover our perfect compatriots are as sullied as us.</li>
</ol>
</ol>
<h3>
<a href="http://ctt.ec/900bU" target="_blank">Confession is good for the soul. (click to tweet)</a></h3>
</div>
<h3>
<a href="http://ctt.ec/M95gO" target="_blank">Repentance must be two-directional. (click to tweet)</a></h3>
<h3>
<a href="http://ctt.ec/uC3al" target="_blank">Hiding sin justifies our self-hatred. (click to tweet)</a></h3>
<br />Carol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466191853251113817.post-897874528975400062017-06-19T09:37:00.001-04:002017-06-19T09:37:36.930-04:00Celebrate Your Weirdness: You are wonderful, no matter what you think<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">I</span></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> pra</span>ise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Ps 139:14</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">By Carol McClain: </span><a href="http://twitter.com/carol_mcclain" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">@carol_mcclain</a><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Barack_Obama_signs_at_his_desk2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="English: President Barack Obama writes at his ..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="273" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/Barack_Obama_signs_at_his_desk2.jpg/350px-Barack_Obama_signs_at_his_desk2.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great people have what had been considered oddities.<br />President Obama was left-handed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My brother Art is left-handed. Back when we were in grade school, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handedness" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Handedness">left-handedness</a> was considered a trait to be corrected. So many lefties were forced to convert to right-handed writing.<br />
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When that failed, they still faced tribulation.<br />
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My granddaughter, too, uses her left hand. Spirals in notebooks get in the way. Ink smudges over her hand--even when using a ball point pen. Scissors? Not designed for her.<br />
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So sad that we couldn't celebrate our diversity then, but we know now, lefties are a creative crew--<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lateralization_of_brain_function" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Lateralization of brain function">right-brained</a>, different-thinking. They have solutions no one else does. Gifts God created especially for them.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:19_Ehud_kills_Eglon_-_Judges_3_21_-_Ford_Madox_Brown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="English: Illustration to The Holy Bile, Judges..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="222" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/19_Ehud_kills_Eglon_-_Judges_3_21_-_Ford_Madox_Brown.jpg/350px-19_Ehud_kills_Eglon_-_Judges_3_21_-_Ford_Madox_Brown.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;">English: Illustration to The Holy Bile, Judges, chapter 3. Eglon assassinated by Ehud. (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:19_Ehud_kills_Eglon_-_Judges_3_21_-_Ford_Madox_Brown.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It reminds of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ehud" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Ehud">Ehud</a>, a hero from the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Judges" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Book of Judges">Book of Judges</a>. As a left-handed warrior, he had to design a special two-edged sword because standard ones wouldn't work for him. Unlike other fighters, he hid the shortened blade on his right side, not his left. When he approached the evil king, Eglon, the monarch kept his eye on Ehud's left side--where a sword should have been.<br />
<br />
Because he had to design a special sword, because it was on the opposite hip that everyone else used, Ehud was able to assassinate the fat, wicked <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=31.9,35.75&spn=1.0,1.0&q=31.9,35.75%20(Moab)&t=h" rel="geolocation" target="_blank" title="Moab">Moabite</a> ruler.<br />
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<h2>
Think of your own uniqueness--you're not weird. </h2>
<div>
<ol>
<li><b>Do you suffer from mental illness? </b>God can use your focus and pain. For those with Asperger's or <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessive%E2%80%93compulsive_disorder" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Obsessive–compulsive disorder">OCD</a>, you have concentration that could make Bill Gates envious. Perhaps the mental stress of other issues disturb you. You can understand the pain other people face. You can nurture them. Mental illness is the same as chronic physical illness. You're not weird.</li>
<li><b>Do you see odd shapes in trees and rocks when others see trees and rocks? </b>I hike regularly. Pat is always pointing out boring rocks to me. "Look, a duck!" or "There's a rabbit holding a rifle." I'd look, and, sure enough, in the erosion of the stone, a duck face or gun-toting bunny would have formed. This imaginative mind makes a fanciful world out of the mundane.</li>
<li><b>Does a physical illness plague you? </b>A woman in our church must go on dialysis three times a week. Those long, tedious days are not spent glued to a TV. She spends hours in prayer.</li>
<li><b>Are you single in a married world? </b>God can use the time to build your creativity, your ministry to others or develop your talents. You can work to your full potential in ways married people can't.</li>
</ol>
<div>
If we're honest, all of us are weird.</div>
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The strength comes in acknowledging it and calling it for what it is: we are fearfully, wonderfully and uniquely made.</div>
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<div>
Each of us has our own strengths.</div>
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<br /></div>
<h3>
Quick Tweets</h3>
<div>
<a href="http://ctt.ec/62b68" target="_blank">All of us are weird. (click to tweet)</a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://ctt.ec/WSw22" target="_blank">Celebrate your weirdness. (click to tweet)</a></div>
Carol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466191853251113817.post-41337895708043434132017-06-12T10:04:00.002-04:002017-06-12T10:04:52.711-04:006 Ways to Conquer Depression<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arimo, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Num. 14:2</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">By Carol McClain: </span><a href="http://twitter.com/carol_mcclain" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">@carol_mcclain</a><br />
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When it comes to conquering depression, many of my friends will laugh and say, "She's hardly the expert on conquering sorrow."<br />
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True.<br />
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My life often resemble the lives of those recalcitrant Israelites newly freed from Egypt. "Oh that we could've eaten the leeks and melons of Egypt." "God, have you brought us here to die?"<br />
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I may not crave an onion, but I'll often look at what's gone wrong and throw my life into despair. However, I do NOT wish to be like the Israelite nation who, as a result of their attitude, were forced to wander around for forty years.<br />
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I think a week of melancholy is too much.<br />
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If depression is more than temporary. If you can't point to a situation that catapults you into despair, see a doctor. Medical issues like thyroid or cholesterol levels can be at the foundations. Good medications exist that help brain dysfunction.<br />
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For the normal episodes, try the following.<br />
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<h2>
6 Ways to conquer depression:</h2>
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<ol>
<li><b>Get exercise. </b>Running for me always boosts my mood. If that level of aerobic activity is not possible, try something else. I joke and say I'm the good Antaeus. He got his strength from the ground, so Hercules had to strangle him by holding him off the earth. Put my fingers in the soil, and the dirt on my psyche is cleansed.</li>
<li><b>Get sociable. </b>The last thing you want to do when depressed is to be with people. That's exactly what you should do. Find a friend; go for lunch. Head to the beach. Hit the meeting you're supposed to go to and linger afterwards for conversation.</li>
<li><b>Eat properly. </b>In my despondency, give me ice cream and coffee. Or rather, coffee ice cream with a cup of coffee. Bad move. Eating (or for me when depression totally slobber-knocks me, not eating) is one of the worst things you can do. Get lots of fruit and veggies and low fat protein. Change out the banana split for banana and low fat yogurt.</li>
<li><b>Count your blessings. </b>Situations truly can hurt. We lose jobs. Our spouses leave us. Disease or death hits. The Israelites had just been freed from slavery. They saw the hand of God drown the Egyptians, still they despaired. Sometimes, knowing how ungrateful we are temporarily exacerbates our sorrow. In the end, where we focus is where we go. Keep a journal, count the good in your life.</li>
<li><b>Get involved mentally. </b>Work for me always eliminated sorrow. How could I dwell in blackness when 100 adolescents awaited my brilliant teaching? If you don't have a good work situation, find a good book or a hobby or a ministry or solve Sudoku or crossword puzzles.</li>
<li> <b>Seek God. </b> First and last (He is, after all, the Alpha and Omega), seek God. Memorize scripture that speaks to your situation. Pray. Find a prayer partner (see #2 above). God promises, "I know the thoughts I have for you, thoughts of good and not evil, to bring you hope and an expected end." (This is a Carol variation of Jeremiah 29: 11--see #5 and 6. Even I can memorize).</li>
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Quick Tweets</h3>
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<a href="http://ctt.ec/f9_Zt" target="_blank">6 ways to conquer depression. (click to tweet)</a></div>
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<a href="http://ctt.ec/wbDa5" target="_blank">God's wants to bring us hope and an expected end. (click to tweet)</a></div>
Carol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466191853251113817.post-51736321400819962242017-06-05T10:28:00.001-04:002017-06-05T10:28:52.866-04:00Daily Repentance: Three Signs We're Following Christ<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. ... Rom. 7:14-23</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">By Carol McClain: </span><a href="http://twitter.com/carol_mcclain" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">@carol_mcclain</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7fDaG0t4fu6waecdIyNLMES8qy6mLZIq_CZryRqMHrn2yokmHBafhMbxyu0t-zrQkZw5P0pyvHPuce2J3opPMzoA1h0v7-jmlNx_4LrDmikNRZ-NMKWUX6lEz_HY8Rt7MWp9CAZBccaZ/s1600/repentance+fixed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="1600" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7fDaG0t4fu6waecdIyNLMES8qy6mLZIq_CZryRqMHrn2yokmHBafhMbxyu0t-zrQkZw5P0pyvHPuce2J3opPMzoA1h0v7-jmlNx_4LrDmikNRZ-NMKWUX6lEz_HY8Rt7MWp9CAZBccaZ/s320/repentance+fixed.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: white;">May 31st marked my thirty-seventh year as a Christian. Prior to my conversion, a dear friend Colleen witnessed to me regularly. As the Holy Spirit drew on my spirit, I knew I needed to repent. I'd bow my head and search my conscience for something,<i> anything, </i>I did wrong.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">At last, I remembered a moment when I got angry. "Forgive me, Lord," I'd pray. Then I'd blissfully live my life.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">On Sunday, May 31, 1980, I <i>knew </i>the truth--knew I had to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Then I saw my wickedness. No longer did I have to struggle to find something I need to repent of. I'd ask for forgiveness. I'd work out my salvation according to what God showed me. Then I'd get to a point I knew I was living righteously.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">It's at this pinnacle that God always intervenes, and shows me, once again, that I have sinned and need to change.</span></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Daily Repentance Is Proof of Salvation</span></h2>
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<ol>
<li><b>God is gracious. </b>He doesn't show us our sin until we can handle it.</li>
<li><b>God doesn't give us more than we can handle. </b>My brother gave up drinking the instant he got saved. Six months later, he realized he should quit smoking pot. We, as Christians, find the need to eliminate marijuana from our lives as obvious. My brother didn't. In repentance and obedience, he quit. The same holds true for us. God gives us one area at a time to improve. Even when we conquer it--say our pride or our anger or our envy--at a later date God will refine our character to further weed out the sin.</li>
<li><b>Every day we improve. </b>Like a growing child, we don't see our growth. However, when we look back on our lives, our progress will amaze us.</li>
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We don't get it perfectly when we "walk the aisle." But God continues to work in us for His good pleasure.</div>
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<a href="http://ctt.ec/Fbd1L" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="http://ctt.ec/Fbd1L" target="_blank">Love God. Love People. Love Repentance. (click to tweet)</a></div>
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Quick tweets</h3>
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<a href="http://ctt.ec/_o0k3" target="_blank">Daily repentance: 3 signs we're following Christ. (click to tweet)</a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://ctt.ec/anbfW" target="_blank">Daily Repentance Is Proof of Salvation. (click to tweet)</a></span></div>
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Carol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466191853251113817.post-13662248146143112582017-05-29T10:40:00.000-04:002017-05-29T10:40:19.920-04:00Marriage, Moving and Salvation--A Parable<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.48px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arimo, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. Col. 1:13</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-align: justify;">By: Carol McClain </span><a href="http://twitter.com/carol_mcclain" style="color: #888888; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">@carol_mcclain</a><br />
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For twenty years, I parented alone.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuslpffIZYoiK1Yqzp-MyhW4mibiWVAjAAoD2nlCQ3xMw7kFvMHZznrYElbNizMZ4oh_xhZ5w7S2WZz-2mdcFcP8dIDDdH8azaxfURFBIRHchls9cRTbgpqwaCYO6qf6laLT5oGbKsfMPE/s1600/wedding+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="791" data-original-width="527" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuslpffIZYoiK1Yqzp-MyhW4mibiWVAjAAoD2nlCQ3xMw7kFvMHZznrYElbNizMZ4oh_xhZ5w7S2WZz-2mdcFcP8dIDDdH8azaxfURFBIRHchls9cRTbgpqwaCYO6qf6laLT5oGbKsfMPE/s320/wedding+2.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
No man visited the church I dedicated myself to, and I wasn't going to search among the unsaved for love or a father-figure for my daughter.<br />
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In my fifties, I met Neil. We married. We switched churches. Finally, we moved from New York to Tennessee.<br />
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Here no one knows me as a single mother. No one is aware of the sins I committed in my Christian walk or the missteps and misbeliefs of my life.<br />
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Here I am a mature Christian with abundant gifts. Daily friends and ministers remind me of how blessed they are by my life.<br />
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My sins have been covered.<br />
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<h2>
This is a parable of salvation:</h2>
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<ol>
<li><b>Before we accept Christ, we live in sin and shame. </b>Any single person who attends an organization filled with married people, know they are unintentionally ostracized. There was no "sin" in my singleness, but we can look at it as a metaphor. I felt alone and inadequate. With no mate, I knew (erroneously) I was undesirable. Daily I prayed for God to cover my "shame."</li>
<li><b>We become <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bride_of_Christ" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Bride of Christ">the bride of Christ</a>. </b>With my vows to Neil, my singleness had been erased. Just as with my vows to Jesus, all my sin had vanished.</li>
<li><b>Salvation moves us from one kingdom to another. </b> No one knows me without my "covering." Here I'm married, and for all intents, had been married all my life. So many people enumerate my great qualities. They're impressed that I've published three books. They believe I do wonders in my mentoring of recovering addicts. They think I'm a Bible scholar. My move, like salvation, has removed my "sins of the past" and transferred me into a "kingdom of glory."</li>
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Of course marriage and moving don't mirror the glory of salvation. But God, when we accept him as Lord and Savior, moves us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. Old things have passed away, all things have become new.</div>
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Think of the patriarchs. They all moved. Their marriages reflected the kingdom of God. Salvation doesn't care where you've been or what you've done. It creates a new creation.</div>
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Quick Tweets</h4>
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<a href="http://ctt.ec/352SW" target="_blank">Marriage, moving and salvation: a parable. (click to tweet)</a></div>
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<a href="http://ctt.ec/Q0E5c" target="_blank">Rejoice in salvation--the past is gone. (click to tweet)</a></div>
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Carol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466191853251113817.post-4468322660344172902017-05-15T11:07:00.001-04:002017-05-15T11:19:39.317-04:00Horizontal Repentance: 3 Signs of Worldly Grief<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Epistle_to_the_Corinthians" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Second Epistle to the Corinthians">2 Cor.</a> 7:10</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-align: justify;">By: Carol McClain </span><a href="http://twitter.com/carol_mcclain" style="color: #888888; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">@carol_mcclain</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUtszeYQ_98tPOkUyZ9ciFXr9MjyI-5ProK7dEqdNwtcEIxP8LqHvk2J92wBlWI8ZBvSPl-xYK5suEYUCaAxi4NvEH1q4zJsdKbEtBlUyXdbvptJk1-iEZRwB-N91wFIxuPvbGjz0k8bd/s1600/godly+sorrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUtszeYQ_98tPOkUyZ9ciFXr9MjyI-5ProK7dEqdNwtcEIxP8LqHvk2J92wBlWI8ZBvSPl-xYK5suEYUCaAxi4NvEH1q4zJsdKbEtBlUyXdbvptJk1-iEZRwB-N91wFIxuPvbGjz0k8bd/s320/godly+sorrow.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="274" /></a><a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=43.0,-75.0&spn=3.0,3.0&q=43.0,-75.0%20(New%20York)&t=h" rel="geolocation" target="_blank" title="New York">New York State</a> has annual <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regents_Examinations" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Regents Examinations">regents exams</a>. Like all tests, they have strict guidelines. If a student asks directions on how to answer, teachers were instructed to say, "Read the question and do your best."</div>
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One question asked students to write a letter for a specific purpose. The instructions asked them to only write the body of the letter. However, the kids had been taught through eleven years of schooling that letters had return addresses, business addresses, salutations, and closings. For this test, we'd told them--let's round the number up to the closest guestimate--a billion times to answer this standard question like an essay: intro, body, conclusion.</div>
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While proctoring, a young woman raised her hand. I went to see her need.</div>
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"Do I use my address? They didn't give me their's" she said.</div>
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"Read the instructions." I can be trained to respond appropriately.</div>
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"But I don't have all the information..."</div>
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And around it went, until my normal teaching habits kicked into automatic responses. "No. Remember? It's <i>just </i>the body. Beginning, middle, end." </div>
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Of course, my department head caught me. Turned me in for cheating. Got me written up.</div>
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Never had I been disciplined in my work. I believed my integrity had been assaulted, and I spent months (literally) in tears and sorrow.</div>
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A good friend Barry comforted me. One phrase he said knocked into me the realization about my melodrama. "Are you sorry for what you did, or that you got caught?"</div>
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Insulted, I couldn't admit to him he was correct. Not admitting it prolonged my grief.</div>
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I didn't want to cheat. Never intended to do so. I couldn't admit it then, but the grief of having a formal reprimand drove me out of my mind.</div>
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This is horizontal grief. Worldly repentance. </div>
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Not godly.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Signs of Worldly Grief</span></h2>
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<li><b>I'm sorry if... I'm sorry you...</b> Do you cast your apology in terms of the other person disapproving. "I'm sorry if my actions offend you." "I'm sorry you didn't like that." It's not about you being wrong. It's about the other person being offended by your actions.</li>
<li><b>If you weren't caught, would you be sorry or feel the grief? </b>In my example, I knew instantly that I goofed, and I would have striven to never make the mistake again. In that sense, my grief was godly. However, even though I couldn't admit it, Barry was right. Had I not been caught, my sorrow would not have overcome me.</li>
<li><b>Did it effect raw emotions only or did it prompt change? </b>Emotions change. If you haven't given your wrongdoings to God, Satan will buffet you with them. If you've confessed and striven to change your life, then it's godly repentance.</li>
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<h3>
Quick Tweets</h3>
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<a href="http://ctt.ec/ibE3U" target="_blank">Horizontal repentance: 3 signs of worldly grief. (click to tweet)</a></div>
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<a href="http://ctt.ec/90wR9" target="_blank">Three signs of worldly/not godly grief. (click to tweet)</a></div>
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Carol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466191853251113817.post-23913485492422653502017-05-08T11:32:00.002-04:002017-05-08T11:32:51.344-04:00Strawberries and Religious Works: Three Ways Works Deceive Us<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but the (person) who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-align: justify;">By: Carol McClain </span><a href="http://twitter.com/carol_mcclain" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">@carol_mcclain</a></div>
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I sliced into a strawberry. The red fruit was large and perfectly formed. It lay in a container with other berries identical to it. My mouth watered with the promise of the sweetness of summers past.</div>
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Those berries had been small. My daughter, Sarah, and I would crawl along a friend's field and pick. The juice stained our fingers (and our mouths--we never deceived Louise, the owner of the field, that the berries we weighed were the only ones we took). Not able to wait until we washed the fruit, we gobbled the irregularly shaped strawberries with bits of sand still clinging to them.</div>
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This morning I dug into my huge berry-laden bowl of cereal. And the promise of the outward appearance deceived me. Strawberries had gone the way of tomatoes and become beautiful, tempting cardboard. </div>
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That's us and our works.</div>
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Too often, I'd been deceived by the promise of ministry. I wanted to work for God and the bigger the better.</div>
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Little did I know how skewed my perception was.</div>
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Sitting on the vine soaking in the sunshine of God's Being, being rained on by His majesty and His perfect ways is what God wants of us.</div>
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<a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2068185/" rel="imdb" target="_blank" title="Priscilla Shirer">Priscilla Shirer</a> in <i>Discerning the Voice of God </i>says, "Often we seek to know God's direction more than we seek to know God. We bypass the relationship because we would rather have answers about us" (67).</div>
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Your works are deceiving you if:</h2>
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<li><b>You want the BIG gifts--pastorate, missionary, teacher because of the glory they bring to <i>you</i>. </b>Too many Christians are impressed by these gifts. I met a woman, typical of many Christians, who, when she learned my husband was a pastor, turned her whole attention to me. Then she discovered he'd retired. She no longer would look my way because a retired pastor held no glory. Too many want the works so they can boast.</li>
<li><b>You believe God will only accept you if you work. </b> In April 24th's blog, we explored how works are a natural outflow of love, not a way to earn it.</li>
<li><b>They interfere with sitting down and <i>knowing </i>God.</b> I can cook, clean, and gift my husband, but if I don't sit in his presence and know who he is, my marriage isn't going to make it. I do the above because I know him and love him. I don't do it to earn his affection or respect.</li>
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Works, too often, are about us, not about our relationship.</div>
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Click to tweet</h3>
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<a href="http://ctt.ec/Buf7t" target="_blank">Are your works about you or about the Creator? (click to tweet)</a></div>
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<a href="http://ctt.ec/uV0Ho" target="_blank">Three ways works deceive us. (click to tweet)</a></div>
Carol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466191853251113817.post-18764965663517706702017-05-01T09:39:00.000-04:002017-05-01T09:40:22.478-04:00Proof of Christianity: Chronic Repentance<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-align: justify;"><span class="text Eph-2-8" id="en-NASB-29238" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>For <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29238A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29238A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>by grace you have been saved <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29238B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29238B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>through faith; and that not of yourselves, <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">it is</span> <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29238C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29238C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>the gift of God;</b></i></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Eph-2-9" id="en-NASB-29239" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29239D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29239D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>not as a result of works, so that <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29239E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29239E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>no one may boast. Eph. 2:8-9</span></b></i></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-align: justify;">By: Carol McClain </span><a href="http://twitter.com/carol_mcclain" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">@carol_mcclain</a><br />
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Newly divorced with a young child, I started life over again in Malone, a tiny town in Northern New York. Here I met some lovely people who attended a charismatic church. One woman, Colleen, befriended me as she witnessed to me, and the Holy Spirit began His final work in bringing me to salvation.<br />
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One thing Colleen told me was that we'd all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We needed to repent.<br />
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In my naive mind, I examined my conscience and struggled to discover my sins. Somewhere, back a week or two prior, I may have cursed. Once, perhaps, I gossiped. After a quick prayer, I resumed my normal life.<br />
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One day I realized God is real. Christianity is true. I needed to be saved.<br />
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Suddenly the truth of my life opened up to me, and I saw my true spiritual state. When the Bible said to pray continually, I knew why--we had to cover the chronic sin in our lives.<br />
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<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Chandler_%28pastor%29" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Matt Chandler (pastor)">Matt Chandler</a> in <i>Recovering Redemption</i> says, "The proof of Christianity isn't perfection. In fact, one of the key ways you can tell you're saved--as backward as this logic may feel or sound--is when your faith continually leads you toward repentance, and Jesus continually brings about change."<br />
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Proof of Christianity</h2>
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<li><b>We understand God is gracious--not cruel.</b> He doesn't call us sinners to degrade us. It's the truth in love. As a mother, I'd correct my daughter, not to be mean--although I'd never convince her that kindness led me to correct her. My correction occured to improve her life.</li>
<li><b>God doesn't give us more than we can bear--even though it doesn't always appear that way. </b>Many people face horrible circumstances--death of loved ones, disease, loss. However, God's grace always gets us through. He <i>always </i>provides a way to carry our burdens.</li>
<li><b>We don't see our sin until our character is capable of dealing with it. </b>In my life, I'll grow like a toddler. Parents see a child putting on a belly and know their baby is about to grow. My "belly" is contentment in my character. I look at my life and <i>know </i>I've got it all together. At that point, I know growth is coming, and when it does, I don't believe I'll ever be good.</li>
<li><b>Every day, we improve. </b>Growth is never observable in the day to day. We don't see a tomato plant grow its blossom. One morning, through, a yellow flower appears on it. That's us. Slowly, our sins fade. We mature and produce the fruit of the spirit. As we look back over our lives, the changes for the good amaze us.</li>
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<h3>
Quick Tweets</h3>
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<a href="http://ctt.ec/00uW1" target="_blank">The proof of Christianity is chronic repentance. (click to tweet)</a></div>
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<a href="http://ctt.ec/z12yQ" target="_blank">4 evidences of Christianity. (click to tweet)</a></div>
Carol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466191853251113817.post-34261413548092218042017-04-24T11:14:00.000-04:002017-04-24T11:14:04.034-04:00Religion and Potatoes: Six Differences Between Religion and Faith<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>There is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man. Mark 7:15</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-align: justify;">By: Carol McClain </span><a href="http://twitter.com/carol_mcclain" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">@carol_mcclain</a></div>
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Neil, bless his heart, loves potatoes.<br />
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Yuck.<br />
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No meal is complete without the spuds.<br />
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Have I said yuck, yet?<br />
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Every night, whether I eat them or not, he gets his potatoes. Why?<br />
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Not because he demands them, nor because he's difficult or obstinate or surly. Anyone who knows my husband understands the gentleness of his spirit. He gets them because I know how little he asks of me and how contented he is after a dinner of meat and potatoes.<br />
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No law of marriage makes me cook something I don't care for. No brutal demands from my spouse compel me to throw a tater into the microwave. I'm a good wife in this one area. For one reason only do I cook them: I love my husband, and he loves potatoes.<br />
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This aptly illustrates the difference between religion and faith.<br />
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Religion/Faith</h2>
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<b>Religion</b> puts on from the outside. You do it because it's a rule.</div>
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<b>Faith </b>emanates from the inside. You do it because you want to.</div>
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<b>Religion </b>barters for something. "I'll do x if you give me y."</div>
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<b>Faith </b>gives without expecting anything back.</div>
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<b>Religion </b>looks for tradition and moral loopholes.</div>
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<b>Faith</b> looks at the spirit of the law. It works out of love.</div>
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<b>Religion</b> looks at the surface. You do the activity, therefore you're unclean.</div>
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<b>Faith </b>looks inside. You are unclean, ergo you did what you did.</div>
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<b>Religion </b>creates status, puffs one up--I'm better than you.</div>
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<b>Faith </b>knows we're all lost sinners saved only through Christ's redemption</div>
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<b>Religion </b>condemns</div>
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<b>Faith </b>loves</div>
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Quick Tweets</h3>
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<a href="http://ctt.ec/jefC6" target="_blank">Six differences between religion and faith. (click to tweet)</a></div>
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<a href="http://ctt.ec/I95j6" target="_blank">Religion, faith and potatoes. What're the differences? (click to tweet)</a></div>
Carol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466191853251113817.post-56456026603240050152017-04-17T10:45:00.000-04:002017-04-17T10:45:21.327-04:00Four Hints You Are Religious Rather Than Spiritual<br />
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. Is. 64:6</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-align: justify;">By: Carol McClain </span><a href="http://twitter.com/carol_mcclain" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">@carol_mcclain</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQV_ps_JE-0wY0YMWIYnRYy_GcddHyxwsdfHWbkLGe8RCposN5x5whIdY_T-Q5_5hL2j566Sx4UiXA_IjErjw2pM9gwInIj18813TcEDjtudcygAXgwq4QSTWrS3Io6XWzY2nFGQyIGHhp/s1600/religious+chain-1742948_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQV_ps_JE-0wY0YMWIYnRYy_GcddHyxwsdfHWbkLGe8RCposN5x5whIdY_T-Q5_5hL2j566Sx4UiXA_IjErjw2pM9gwInIj18813TcEDjtudcygAXgwq4QSTWrS3Io6XWzY2nFGQyIGHhp/s320/religious+chain-1742948_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a>For most of my Christian life, I belong to a lively church that eschewed "religiosity." We <i>never </i>would've condoned it.</div>
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The only problem was--this house of worship was, unwittingly, quite religious.</div>
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For example, worship band would start. The chairs got folded, and we danced. First note...the ritual began. Never did it vary. If someone felt uncomfortable worshiping in this manner and was not an invalid, her salvation was questioned.</div>
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In order teach adult Sunday school or join the worship team or become a deacon--anything only a "mature" Christian could minister in, a long span of time had to pass where you proved your sincerity. Did you participate in all work bees, attend <i>every</i> meeting, pay beyond your tithes, etc.</div>
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With pure hearts and good intentions, many churches become as religious as the high churches they condemn. Like religions consisting of rituals and rules to prove your worthiness, this adherence to the outside appearance chains us down.</div>
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Four Hints You May Be Religious And Not Spiritual</h2>
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<li><b>Do you put on your faith?</b> Is it on the outside--something you do like going to church on Sunday or Easter? </li>
<li><b>Do you barter with God?</b> I'll go to Wednesday night prayer meetings if You...</li>
<li><b>Do you work for approval?</b> Is your volunteer activity for the sheer need of it or for the approval of men?</li>
<li><b>Is your faith a series of rules to prove your intent?</b> I won't listen to rock music. I won't drink. I won't stint one penny on my tithes. I will dress in a rigid, prescribed manner rather than simply modestly.</li>
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We live by faith, not by our works of righteousness (Eph. 2: 8-9). Religion is a cruel task master--and never allows any of us to be good enough. And should we attain respect--then we feel free to boast.</div>
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Quick Tweets</h3>
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<a href="http://ctt.ec/9dX5T" target="_blank">Four hints you may be too religious. (click to tweet)</a></div>
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<a href="http://ctt.ec/eQa22" target="_blank">Religion is a cruel task master. (click to tweet)</a></div>
Carol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466191853251113817.post-69390356915761243762017-04-10T10:55:00.000-04:002017-04-10T10:55:37.447-04:00No Matter How Small--YOU Change the World<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="text 1Cor-12-17" id="en-NASB-28652" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-12-18" id="en-NASB-28653" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">But now God has <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-28653A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-28653A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>placed the members, each one of them, in the body, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-28653B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-28653B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>just as He desired.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="text 1Cor-12-19" id="en-NASB-28654" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>If they were all one member, where would the body be?</span><span style="background-color: white;"> 1 Cor. 12: 17-19</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-align: justify;">By: Carol McClain </span><a href="http://twitter.com/carol_mcclain" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">@carol_mcclain</a></div>
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On Saturday, a good friend and an AMAZING author Lin Stepp had a book launch for her newest novel . Being a stellar author myself, I wanted to support her. After all, I've sold my books at book fairs, signings, and festivals. I KNOW the struggle.</div>
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To my amazement, the place was packed. She sold more books in one day than I sell in a year (and have I told you I'm amazing? Check out <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2hVjE1P" target="_blank">The Poison We Drink</a></i> rather than taking my word for it.</div>
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The old Carol, the one before God began working on my perfectionism and my need to work our my salvation (I know the Scriptures that tell me to work), would have been bummed that she had done so much better than I.</div>
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Unable to even find a minute to chat with Lin, hubby and I went off to explore Cades Cove--a world I love, and Neil doesn't get to see.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_RKfwFdVP77XPowg92P4phosXy9EAhebqKLrfn1iKWXddTrkmC7DV5r29aR_NB_Xj9Go2q98c36Cp3snrvLf_bWrX7GXuVG-V0OyvT5cJPgmNJtzfoagqmTBNOYh7M4UG6B4wk06x50c/s1600/DSC_1392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_RKfwFdVP77XPowg92P4phosXy9EAhebqKLrfn1iKWXddTrkmC7DV5r29aR_NB_Xj9Go2q98c36Cp3snrvLf_bWrX7GXuVG-V0OyvT5cJPgmNJtzfoagqmTBNOYh7M4UG6B4wk06x50c/s320/DSC_1392.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
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The next day at church, another friend Ann--one I'm friendly with, but our paths cross only at First Baptist, went out of her way to approach me.</div>
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She told me how much my posts on the Smokies blessed her. They brought back memories of the wonderful times when she and her late husband explored the mountains. She didn't refer to the blog I spend hours on or my books available in the church library--just my humble pictures of hikes with friends.</div>
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Once more God showed me not all of us are the eye of the body. In the natural, it's one of the body parts we find most beautiful. Neither are all of us the hair or fingernails--and believe me, my hair and fingernails need work. Still each of us, like the phacelia (see last week's post) or the humble, Southern dogwood, add a beauty and a function to the body no one else can give. This world would not work the way it should without us.</div>
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You change the world.</h2>
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<li><b>Only you can fulfill your purpose. </b>What is your talent? Lin is a gifted marketer (and that doesn't detract from her writing skills). Others are accountants and others handymen. All are needed.</li>
<li><b>God called YOU according to His purposes. </b>Some of us are showy, giant hibiscus. Some are lowly phacelia. Some of us are bees, chased away when the blooms are cut. All of us have a reason to be here.</li>
<li><b>You are a light on the hill reflecting God's glory. </b>Only you can reach the people God brings into your life. Most of the time we're not aware of the effect we have. This is good. God gets the glory.</li>
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Quick Tweet </h3>
(please click and tweet if you have a twitter account)</div>
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<a href="http://ctt.ec/13Ue1" target="_blank">You change the world just as you are. (click to tweet)</a></div>
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<a href="http://ctt.ec/SAmt8" target="_blank">God called YOU, and YOU are needed. (click to tweet)</a></div>
Carol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466191853251113817.post-83994848519670261762017-04-03T11:23:00.002-04:002017-04-03T11:23:33.820-04:00Strength in Weakness: Lessons from Phacelias<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 18.48px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; text-align: start; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="color: black; text-align: start;">not forsaking our own </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30159A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30159A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; line-height: 22px; position: relative; text-align: start; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="color: black; text-align: start;">assembling together, as is the habit of some, but </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30159B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30159B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; line-height: 22px; position: relative; text-align: start; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="color: black; text-align: start;">encouraging </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; text-align: start;">one another</span><span style="color: black; text-align: start;">; and all the more as you see </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30159C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30159C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; line-height: 22px; position: relative; text-align: start; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="color: black; text-align: start;">the day drawing near. Heb. 10:25</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 18.48px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: black; text-align: start;">And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put </span><b style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; text-align: start;">ten</b><span style="color: black; text-align: start;"> </span><b style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; text-align: start;">thousand</b><span style="color: black; text-align: start;"> to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. Lev. 26:8</span></i></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Phacelia_hastata_16918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Silver-leaf Phacelia, White-leaf Phacelia" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="150" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Phacelia_hastata_16918.JPG/350px-Phacelia_hastata_16918.JPG" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">non-descript single phacelia</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-align: justify;">By: Carol McClain </span><a href="http://twitter.com/carol_mcclain" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">@carol_mcclain</a><br />
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When someone mentions the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=35.5627777778,-83.4986111111&spn=1.0,1.0&q=35.5627777778,-83.4986111111%20(Great%20Smoky%20Mountains)&t=h" rel="geolocation" target="_blank" title="Great Smoky Mountains">Great Smoky Mountains</a>, most people think of sweeping vistas and giant bears.<br />
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At this time of year, different sightseers hunt the wilds. Wildflowers abound in spring. This week I fell in love with the lowly phacelia which come in both purple and white.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a purple variant</td></tr>
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Walking Old Sugarlands, we found a few. In this area, they were white phacelia growing in single clumps. Bending over to examine them, I discovered a beauty I could never have imagined, and of course my camera couldn't capture them either.</div>
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Tiny white, cup-shaped flowers were topped with a fringe that reminded me of a ballerina's tulle tutu.<br />
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Then we hit the Chimney's Picnic area. Here the fields were white with them, and no longer could any of my friends and I breathe because these flowers stole our breath.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexbnzQ_rcv-wNagAHgKbhJlNQeTVmr0jDrdGKfw5sbCfhOTxOXyVfCTWcdtLmIQovy9bF6mPe172M4rUJnxGdn4tJBjUj8KmWEnNT6BVqaUAAB_DrUZPh_0g-1KStm5x8NQUIcbOWLMrf/s1600/Old+Sugarlands+and+Chimney+Picnic+area_4_1_17_0132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexbnzQ_rcv-wNagAHgKbhJlNQeTVmr0jDrdGKfw5sbCfhOTxOXyVfCTWcdtLmIQovy9bF6mPe172M4rUJnxGdn4tJBjUj8KmWEnNT6BVqaUAAB_DrUZPh_0g-1KStm5x8NQUIcbOWLMrf/s640/Old+Sugarlands+and+Chimney+Picnic+area_4_1_17_0132.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Sweeping vistas of flowers carpeted the ground like snow. As a group, no one could deny the beauty each individual added to the scene.</div>
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This is us.</h2>
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<li><b>No one can deny the beauty of the individual.</b> No matter how insignificant each of us feels, how hidden in the recesses of life, we are beautiful.</li>
<li><b>There is strength in numbers. </b>By ourselves we may not seem strong or noticeable. As a group, no one can deny our strength.</li>
<li><b>It's not good to be alone. </b>It's then that we get trampled or lost in the grand views of life. Together we can change our world.</li>
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Quick Tweets.</h3>
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<a href="http://ctt.ec/Ss96H" target="_blank">Strength in weakness: consider the phacelia. (Click to tweet)</a></div>
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<a href="http://ctt.ec/2t6PT" target="_blank">You are beautiful no matter how small. (Click to tweet)</a></div>
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Carol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466191853251113817.post-17219093192842232052017-03-27T12:00:00.002-04:002017-03-28T10:07:11.642-04:00Four Ways You Are Beautiful: God's Wildflower<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; text-align: justify;">He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Eccl. 3:11</i></div>
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You ARE Beautiful: A Wildflower in <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingship_and_kingdom_of_God" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Kingship and kingdom of God">God's Kingdom</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-align: justify;">By: Carol McClain </span><a href="http://twitter.com/carol_mcclain" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">@carol_mcclain</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out on <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=35.5941666667,-83.8419444444&spn=0.01,0.01&q=35.5941666667,-83.8419444444%20(Cades%20Cove)&t=h" rel="geolocation" target="_blank" title="Cades Cove">Cades Cove</a> off Rich Mountain Loop</td></tr>
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Three friends and I spend as many Saturdays as we can walking <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=35.5627777778,-83.4986111111&spn=1.0,1.0&q=35.5627777778,-83.4986111111%20(Great%20Smoky%20Mountains)&t=h" rel="geolocation" target="_blank" title="Great Smoky Mountains">the Smokies</a>.<br />
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Me--give me a sweeping vista or a roaring waterfall and my jaw drops, my camera comes out and I never want to leave. Position a photogenic structure in front of it, and my dreaming mind swims with awe-inspiring ideas. <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Oliver" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="John Oliver">John Oliver</a>'s cabin, pictured below, is the quintessentially picturesque scene for me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-AMLaGtaa48bn62q6CVu4s_xOWwur8P4YhcOI6duB0NobrrHyt8o8wk03SF-S81h1tOfWY_WtbL20-Mz1KQIIGsDQgiYx-ARBMOkzE3bMY044GS42UubGtXF9_dY5wEXaH-rE-jqgpOr/s1600/20170325_100726-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-AMLaGtaa48bn62q6CVu4s_xOWwur8P4YhcOI6duB0NobrrHyt8o8wk03SF-S81h1tOfWY_WtbL20-Mz1KQIIGsDQgiYx-ARBMOkzE3bMY044GS42UubGtXF9_dY5wEXaH-rE-jqgpOr/s400/20170325_100726-001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you imagine living in this environment? John Oliver's cabin, Cades Cove</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The other three keep their eyes down and discover a world I never experienced until I met them.<br />
<br />
It's a world of the tiny, and the overlooked. It's a world many people call weeds and trample underfoot. A world so magnificent, we rob ourselves of infinite beauty and intricacy by not noticing--by not celebrating. It's the world of wildflowers.<br />
<br />
Last week, we walked the Rich Mountain Loop off of Cades Cove. Here we discovered a teeny flower familiarly called Pussytoes.<br />
<br />
Here it is from a human-eye view, rather nondescript. (And I'm sorry for the blurry rendition).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihyphenhyphen6JhkbztX_urFHLB5eqL9rxSv-aGe-oOKjITroWyjKWhnkIkBeT4lJATCpm5_SgVE2CyZtrSCMuNYRK-v1-ZZU_ZMOC8lVlLezjAF3iFjxjm3CKb8kFvY0EyrlrM8a-gp6JrA-4t045/s1600/20170325_093938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihyphenhyphen6JhkbztX_urFHLB5eqL9rxSv-aGe-oOKjITroWyjKWhnkIkBeT4lJATCpm5_SgVE2CyZtrSCMuNYRK-v1-ZZU_ZMOC8lVlLezjAF3iFjxjm3CKb8kFvY0EyrlrM8a-gp6JrA-4t045/s320/20170325_093938.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from a distance--antennaria solitaria--aka pussyfeet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Alone, it does little for the human eye. However, it spread into a beautiful polka-dotted carpet that captured our attention. None of us had seen this flower before and we knelt to examine it.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_2Gcpnzu-Am59YNibEeUll1PDsydkV6PG9f-C1n7SPHoq1D4b8yMeQj1LO7SVJaFho5yrf9t28iVkc8wklx09dmqnDWIBNr8AcCfIKa3dN7-5rqCPf83-850AZIlmJxTRTnZJZozfbgz/s1600/20170325_093954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_2Gcpnzu-Am59YNibEeUll1PDsydkV6PG9f-C1n7SPHoq1D4b8yMeQj1LO7SVJaFho5yrf9t28iVkc8wklx09dmqnDWIBNr8AcCfIKa3dN7-5rqCPf83-850AZIlmJxTRTnZJZozfbgz/s400/20170325_093954.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antennaria_solitaria" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Antennaria solitaria">Antennaria solitaria</a>--aka <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antennaria" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Antennaria">Pussytoes</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I leaned in close and studied it. How magnificent. Look at the multitude of petals, the contrasting pistils and stamens, and the complexity of the flower.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is us. So few of us in life make it as a giant hibiscus or bird of paradise, let alone a common, but exquisite and fragrant, tea rose.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
That doesn't mean we aren't beautiful, complex, exquisite. It doesn't mean we don't add beauty to the world.</div>
<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You are beautiful</h2>
<div>
<ol>
<li><b>You are complex and intricately made.</b> Look at your hand--the delicacy of the bones, the ability of the fingers to grasp, the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thumb" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Thumb">opposable thumb</a> and fingers that move independently of each other according to our whim. That's only a teeny portion of your intricacy.</li>
<li><b>You create a world of beauty. </b>Your smile encourages others. Your covered-dish at a pot luck feeds the hungry. Your family is comfortable in the home you establish. The world is bland without you in it.</li>
<li><b>Gifts would be lost to creation without you.</b> Scientists can stop a bridge from being built because a worm resides in that environment. How much more important is your existence to that of the smallest member of the environment?</li>
<li><b>In unison, with like-minded believers, you carpet the world in love. </b>There is strength in numbers.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Pq1jfrKPEH8KyCyhjtPeAJHINvJRe1aze4ZRKrqkc5xfmb4AWBXvrs9DMTWBgxaUDQwffAbtfaAfyMHZbM-Fc8ct0C39GRkm65-7ZwydQYZ9hS146pymcsnK5ALSFV9nPbUXho28opw4/s1600/20170325_125217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Pq1jfrKPEH8KyCyhjtPeAJHINvJRe1aze4ZRKrqkc5xfmb4AWBXvrs9DMTWBgxaUDQwffAbtfaAfyMHZbM-Fc8ct0C39GRkm65-7ZwydQYZ9hS146pymcsnK5ALSFV9nPbUXho28opw4/s400/20170325_125217.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
When I look at the vista of the Smokies, I don't see the millions of Pussytoes or galaxes or trailing arbutuses carpeting the region. I only see the end effect.<br />
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So, too, in the church and in your life, you are a part of the splendid vista of God.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Quick Tweets</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://ctt.ec/cUZM8" target="_blank">Four ways you are God's wildflower. (click to tweet)</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />Carol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466191853251113817.post-59681315370474772882017-03-20T11:39:00.003-04:002017-03-20T11:39:31.842-04:00Your Ways--Not Everyone's<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 18.48px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches. 1 Cor. 7:17</i></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-align: justify;">By: Carol McClain </span><a href="http://twitter.com/carol_mcclain" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">@carol_mcclain</a><br />
<br />
Neil and I sat in a little Italian restaurant in Spain. The waiter brought out a complimentary aperitif.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixSYwhB3pDcCIUzUOeDgYNv_xb7dROZ870lMkmNcgz_GLqLPAusAsvRkvdG-yZzBq_R1rPa5Jtor-C07-lkc_aNU8jDZmoz1NVHIWBZd8WYiZua39q9o19tPGw-YD_mZTVfEhCNXKhyFt/s1600/spirit+of+the+lord+is+liberty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixSYwhB3pDcCIUzUOeDgYNv_xb7dROZ870lMkmNcgz_GLqLPAusAsvRkvdG-yZzBq_R1rPa5Jtor-C07-lkc_aNU8jDZmoz1NVHIWBZd8WYiZua39q9o19tPGw-YD_mZTVfEhCNXKhyFt/s320/spirit+of+the+lord+is+liberty.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drunkenness is sin; drinking is not. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Early in my salvation, God directed me to not drink. I come from a family of alcoholics, and if you judged my inability to abstain by my coffee and chocolate consumption, you would understand why alcohol is a big no-no for me.<br />
<br />
However, God never told my (mostly) tea-totaling husband to refrain. He got my drink. One free drink wasn't enough at this restaurant. During dinner, the waiter brought two glasses of wine. Guess who got mine?<br />
<br />
I leaned forward and watched my husband sip. Vicariously, I enjoyed the beverages.<br />
<br />
It is biblically inaccurate to say everyone must refrain from drinking, if not done to excess. It's a gray area where each individual must hear from God.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, not every Christian believes in personal conviction.<br />
<br />
Try telling an avid home-schooler you believe your child belongs in a public school (or vice verse). Do you enjoy rock music? Personally, I love the sound of Queen and the looks of Adam Levine. To some friends of mine, this love makes me a reprobate, and they let me know it.<br />
<br />
How about TV and movies? I'll watch an R rated movie because often the depth of the story--such as found in <i>Rain Man</i>--mitigates the foul language and racy scene where PG13 comedies are far too raunchy for my tastes.<br />
<br />
Our God is a personal God.<br />
<br />
Sin is indeed black and white (read Gal. 5:19-21). However, too many Christians are held in bondage to other believers and their values. We have to remember all of scripture, and 2 Cor. 3:17 is part of the canon. "<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #001320;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px;">Quick Tweets</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="color: #001320;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px;"><a href="http://ctt.ec/vFIGC" target="_blank">Our God is a personal God. (click to tweet)</a></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #001320;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px;"><a href="http://ctt.ec/46eyt" target="_blank">Do not let your convictions dictate the actions of others. (click to tweet)</a></span></span></div>
Carol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466191853251113817.post-40369606441625649902017-03-13T10:38:00.001-04:002017-03-13T10:42:18.063-04:00 Four Ways We Hear God's Voice<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;">And after the earthquake a fire; but the </span><span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white;"> was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Books_of_Kings" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Books of Kings">1 Kings</a> 19:11</span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-align: justify;">By: Carol McClain </span><a href="http://twitter.com/carol_mcclain" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">@carol_mcclain</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWuR6U4xZ4u-STBFG7Z70pCW1RTbctNX9B58Y9y7Im_nyGiwVoLl13Zz4LfCKsELdLc9pTYArVioCgHLHtIudw0YNcyTGSJAyoWazYJFSigKeLs7LNbrOtmFwG1TnWIet8QP7FsmHUjey/s1600/God+speaks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWuR6U4xZ4u-STBFG7Z70pCW1RTbctNX9B58Y9y7Im_nyGiwVoLl13Zz4LfCKsELdLc9pTYArVioCgHLHtIudw0YNcyTGSJAyoWazYJFSigKeLs7LNbrOtmFwG1TnWIet8QP7FsmHUjey/s320/God+speaks.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do you hear God's small, still voice?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
As most of you know, I'm an author. And anyone who has spent enough time with me has discovered I threaten to quit writing at least twice a year.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Okay. Twice a day.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
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Yet, God won't let me.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
I know. This statement sounds cliche, but it's a fact, and here's one example.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My most recent book deals with a <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramedic" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Paramedic">paramedic</a> who needs to drop his Pharisaic attitude. The amount I know about medicine wouldn't enable me to pass a high school biology final. </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
On top of that, the critique group I belonged to was falling apart. Along came Randy--a former paramedic. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We worked together throughout this book. Once I finished <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Poison-We-Drink-Carol-McClain-ebook/dp/B01MS2ODAI/ref" target="_blank">The Poison We Drink</a></i> (and my sister who is my <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_reader" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Beta reader">beta reader</a> claims it's the best one I've written), Randy stepped away from writing. We do entertain angels unawares--could Randy...?</div>
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More than likely, not. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But it seems God works this way. He brings others into our lives to confirm what he's already been saying to us.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
As we pursue God's purposes in our lives, how do we hear from God?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Four Ways We Hear God's Voice</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ol>
<li><b>God's word</b>--This is the most obvious. In scripture, we read His desires. We learn God's precepts. Then, in the stillness of our dreams, like the young prophet Samuel, we hear him speak.</li>
<li><b>Desire</b>--I've always been a dreamer, and have always dabbled in writing. Every time I "quit," within twenty-four hours, I'm back at the keyboard. It's not work. It's play.</li>
<li><b>Circumstances</b>--Like my relationship with Randy, odd bits of serendipity happen. We "just happen" to meet people who know someone who leads us where we need to be.</li>
<li><b>Confirmation</b>--We walk in the direction we believe God's leading us, and someone comes along with encouragement. During one of my recent periods of doubt, an acquaintance who never texts me did so. She said about <i>Poison, </i>"...Could identify on so many levels. Love how u bring emotion out of me..." Her few unexpected lines of praise renewed my spirit.</li>
</ol>
<div>
Live your dream--if it's wholesome, it's probably from God. Listen to his small, still voice and your footsteps will be established.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Quick Tweets</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://ctt.ec/8_Xj6" target="_blank">Four ways to hear God's voice. (click to tweet)</a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://ctt.ec/2hmdJ" target="_blank">Listen to God's small, still voice and your footsteps will be established. (click to tweet)</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Carol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466191853251113817.post-65998854655309581202017-03-06T10:19:00.002-05:002017-03-06T10:19:33.613-05:00Conquer Perfectionism: Move Forward<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man 1 Cor. 10:13a</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-align: justify;">By: Carol McClain </span><a href="http://twitter.com/carol_mcclain" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">@carol_mcclain</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_iyNxFQA6vT9xHyhLW8vJGsZ-Wx8c_UqzDoR7PCKFWNbMvJSOgBkQQfhwmajVXgXu9O76SqziPfjoeqqIW-Ylxs9s6bDD8G85zBPauOeJ-pFuftORIT1JHZ3eAJB4R30IJb-Ue4kgj1K/s1600/correcting-1870721_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_iyNxFQA6vT9xHyhLW8vJGsZ-Wx8c_UqzDoR7PCKFWNbMvJSOgBkQQfhwmajVXgXu9O76SqziPfjoeqqIW-Ylxs9s6bDD8G85zBPauOeJ-pFuftORIT1JHZ3eAJB4R30IJb-Ue4kgj1K/s320/correcting-1870721_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only one test with God--do our best and trust in Him.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In New York State education, we test our students at the end of the year with the regents. All students take the same test.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
One common question for our English regents asked students to write the body of a letter. Throughout the year we told our kids the question only wanted the essence of the letter--not the addresses, the direct address the signature.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Every year while taking the test, the students would not remember.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
One year during the exam, a girl raised her hand and asked me, "What am I supposed to write? What's the address?" In frustration, I told her to just write the body of the letter. Introduction. Body. Close. Then I slapped my hand over my mouth. TMI.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Of course, our department head saw my boo-boo and turned me in for offering aid during the exam. The end result was that I was written up.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I made an honest mistake. However, because of my perfectionism, this error haunted me for years. I cried over having a letter in my file. I strove to be a better teacher. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Worse of all, I harbored bitterness toward our department head. She had plenty of her own shortcomings, but the only real issue between God and me was my reaction to her.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What do you do when you sin?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
You repent.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
The case is closed.</div>
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However if you're a perfectionist, you obsess. You lose sleep. You try harder.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Only one thing is necessary--confess your wrong. Move forward. In an honest walk with Christ, you will fall into temptation. You will make mistakes.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>YOU WILL BE FORGIVEN.</b></div>
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You must move forward.</div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Quick Tweets</span></h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://ctt.ec/dLN14" target="_blank">Perfectionism is a hard taskmaster. It never lets you go. (click to tweet)</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://ctt.ec/40X17" target="_blank">Conquer perfectionism. Move forward. (click to tweet)</a></div>
Carol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466191853251113817.post-55494431191650216762017-02-27T10:29:00.000-05:002017-02-27T10:29:00.943-05:00If you accept Jesus, you are complete.<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="text Acts-13-38" id="en-NASB-27401" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-27401A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-27401A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>through Him <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forgiveness" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Forgiveness">forgiveness of sins</a> is proclaimed to you,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Acts-13-39" id="en-NASB-27402" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">39 </span>and <span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NASB-27402b" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NASB-27402b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2013:38-39#fen-NASB-27402b" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</span>through Him <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-27402B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-27402B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Moses" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Law of Moses">Law of Moses</a>. Acts 13:38-39</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="text Acts-13-39" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-align: justify;">By: Carol McClain </span><a href="http://twitter.com/carol_mcclain" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">@carol_mcclain</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvupfYq8Y6anDHaSfuneI2DJ8KUfeDYN6jKKmQzsYr0Sk3Awz81PRMC3Pg0up1e1_ptAXQrAuzmqKLsm4e_hVt2MbMltFNx1Z1hqKjQLY_ufERSRoz6yvfrlFLsrZIjbxVktqT0x9Tknax/s1600/say+goodbye+to+shame.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvupfYq8Y6anDHaSfuneI2DJ8KUfeDYN6jKKmQzsYr0Sk3Awz81PRMC3Pg0up1e1_ptAXQrAuzmqKLsm4e_hVt2MbMltFNx1Z1hqKjQLY_ufERSRoz6yvfrlFLsrZIjbxVktqT0x9Tknax/s320/say+goodbye+to+shame.png" width="313" /></a></div>
I was raised in a church tradition that never offered complete eradication of sin. Always a stain remained and sacrifices had to be made to cleanse myself.<br />
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Then I found Jesus. Unfortunately the church I joined enjoyed its own set of rules in its quest for holiness.<br />
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Did you have a gift of teaching? In order to utilize it, you first had to prove yourself. Try scrubbing bathrooms.<br />
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Were you a faithful member? Prove it. Sell what you have and give to the body.<br />
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Believe in healing but didn't receive it? Check your faith. The healer, prophet, preacher wasn't wrong, you were lacking.<br />
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Silly me followed this dictate. It bled into my perfectionist tendencies. And I lost sight of the truth of the gospel.<br />
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<h2>
If you accept Jesus Christ, you are complete. </h2>
<br />
<ol>
<li>You do not have to volunteer to work in a church. </li>
<li>You do not have to crawl up steps on your knees. </li>
<li>You do not have to run around making all things right. </li>
<li>You do not have to fast for days on end.</li>
</ol>
<h4>
If you accept Jesus Christ, you are complete.</h4>
<div>
Of course, we cannot ignore the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epistle_of_James" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Epistle of James">book of James</a>. Christ will transform us. We will serve others. We will make things right. We will demonstrate our faith by our works. However, working doesn't make us whole because it's grace that saved us.</div>
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If we fall back on the laws of Moses and man and find our justification there, then the whole of the law becomes ours to carry out. Blood sacrifices and all.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
I'll choose grace.</div>
<h4>
Click to tweet</h4>
<div>
<a href="http://ctt.ec/e91Gv" target="_blank">If you accept Jesus Christ, you are complete. (click to tweet)</a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://ctt.ec/dBa7k" target="_blank">No works necessary. You are complete in Christ. (click to tweet)</a></div>
Carol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466191853251113817.post-73754015880277299842017-02-20T15:21:00.000-05:002017-02-20T15:29:15.322-05:00God's Love--True Love: 7 Attributes<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. I John 4:16</span></i></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-align: justify;">By: Carol McClain </span><a href="http://twitter.com/carol_mcclain" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">@carol_mcclain</a><br />
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<h3>
My husband loved me before I loved him.</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">God's love is greater than man's.</td></tr>
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Don't get me wrong, from our first date, I <i>knew </i>Neil was a man I could marry. We shared core (and not so core) values.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>We loved God.</li>
<li>We loved art.</li>
<li>We were low-keyed and enjoyed home and nature and quiet things.</li>
<li>He was a good-looking man with beautiful straight teeth and this head of silver hair that begged for fingers to run through it.</li>
</ol>
<div>
Guess which of the above weren't enduring values?</div>
<div>
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<div>
He wanted to spend time with me. Flowers regularly showed up at my house. Gifts were purchased as he wooed me.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When he proposed, I was shocked. It wasn't that I didn't want to spend my life with him. I needed a little more time, a little more faith, a little more courage to make that leap. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If a human can love like Neil when someone's love wavers, then God's love is MUCH greater.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
God loved us before we loved Him.</h3>
<div>
<b>Seven Characteristics of God's Love</b></div>
<br />
<div>
<ol>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Has no limits. There's nothing we can do or have done that will limit God's love. (Rom. 8:31-39)</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Has no expectations. (Rom. 5:8)</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Is not dependent on us. (Jer. 1:5)</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Has our ultimate good in mind. It's life changing. (Rom. 8:38)</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Can't be earned. (Eph. 2:8-9)</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">It's </span>sacrificial. (Phil. 2-7)</li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">It's eternal. Nothing's ever going to separate us from his love. (Ps. 1360</span></li>
</ol>
Neil expected nothing from me. He loved me as I was. I never earned his love. For more than a dozen years, he's loved me through my foibles and strengths.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
If a man can love so well but imperfectly, how much greater is God's perfect love? Quit <i>trying </i>to be perfect. Perfection will come on its own--through natural responses to God's love.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Quick Tweets</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://ctt.ec/fSifO" target="_blank">Seven characteristics of God's love. (Click to tweet)</a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://ctt.ec/0HTLk" target="_blank">Perfection will come on its own--through natural responses to God's love. (Click to tweet)</a></div>
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Carol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466191853251113817.post-51603288836821391582017-02-13T08:39:00.002-05:002017-02-13T08:39:49.054-05:00Love--Not Perfection: What God Expects <span class="versenum" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-26666A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-26666A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35</span></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">By: Carol McClain </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px;">@carol_mcclain</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A young friend was expecting her first baby. Family prepared a baby shower on a Sunday afternoon and, of course, all those she loved were invited. This included her church family from the small congregation she attended.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The shower began, but no one from said church arrived. Someone explained they might not be able to make it because they were holding a meeting. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<a href="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2016/10/09/17/27/stamp-1726352__340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Stamp, Rejected, Document, Reject" border="0" height="200" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2016/10/09/17/27/stamp-1726352__340.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A woman from the congregation had left her husband, and was going to marry her for</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">mer boyfriend. On this Sunday afternoon, this church met to disfellowship her. Blacklisting a former member of their body proved more important than the celebration of life for a vibrant, dedicated believer.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sadly, this was not the first time I'd seen the church do this--once, they "excommunicated" a man who spoke out against what he saw as wrong with the body. He was no longer a member, having left several months prior. His wife still attended faithfully. (I couldn't figure out how she, as a member, could have no fellowship with the husband she lived with). </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At least one other time, this church blacklisted a former member.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This body of believers loved to brag about how it was on the "cutting edge" of God's will. In order to keep this status it would:</span></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #666666;">fast regularly</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666;">expect perfect attendance of all members to all functions</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666;">expect members to adhere to every facet of its beliefs</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666;">strive for excellence in all things</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="color: #666666;">On the surface, these are good things. However, God only expects on thing--love. </span></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #666666;">First, to love Him. After all, He created us because He wanted us. He loved us. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666;">Next, we are to love others.</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
Aren't these the two <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Commandment" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Great Commandment">greatest commandments</a>? (<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Matthew" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Gospel of Matthew">Matt.</a> 22: 36-40).</div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoX9FWYF8Gw00JGPCAv_XGJ_0Kt8YgsSnVDg0dTkTR1TiUbrnt9qhjoKBIIook-uwwHePT4977tnmiTBL1PJC10OKNBXOMGAMv_XPyk3x-wQj_ywlwqhY_5of8_z3NdUXqrVBcIqxQ-Oax/s1600/love-1221444_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoX9FWYF8Gw00JGPCAv_XGJ_0Kt8YgsSnVDg0dTkTR1TiUbrnt9qhjoKBIIook-uwwHePT4977tnmiTBL1PJC10OKNBXOMGAMv_XPyk3x-wQj_ywlwqhY_5of8_z3NdUXqrVBcIqxQ-Oax/s200/love-1221444_1280.jpg" width="196" /></a><div>
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<div>
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Love <i style="font-weight: bold;">never</i> fails.</div>
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<div>
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<div>
Humans are sinful. They hurt us and betray their Creator.</div>
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<div>
However, God restored us through love and His bloody, torturous sacrifice of becoming human and dying on the cross. Only through love can we restore the people in our lives.</div>
<div>
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<h3>
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<h3>
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<h3>
Click to tweet</h3>
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<a href="http://ctt.ec/NJqbP" target="_blank">Love--not perfection: what God expects. (click to tweet)</a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://ctt.ec/zLReZ" target="_blank">Love <i style="font-weight: bold;">never</i> fails. (click to tweet)</a></div>
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Carol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466191853251113817.post-59374629997272097032017-02-06T11:21:00.002-05:002017-02-06T11:21:45.034-05:007 Reasons To Not Compare Ourselves<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ" Gal. 1:10.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">By: Carol McClain </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">@carol_mcclain</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My latest glass:<br />My best--but can't compare to<br />God's glory</td></tr>
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My sister Marianne recently resumed her stained glass construction. This doesn't bode well for my ego because everything she does is exquisite. You can guarantee her solder seams will be as straight as a computer generated line. Her cuttings and piecing, her foiling and patinas will rival Tiffany's. Color selection and design will create a work of art.<br />
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And there'll be no stupid white flux lines like the ones plaguing my finished pieces.<br />
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And that has thrown me into the comparison game once more. My work does not match hers--and only non-stop practice on my part and quitting stained glass on her end will every bring my talent up to her level.<br />
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This whirligig of comparisons destroys my joy and knocks me off the path God has chosen for me to walk. No good thing can come from it. It's stupid--see 2 Cor. 10:12).<br />
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Do you do this?<br />
<br />
Comparisons destroy our joy. They cause us to forget that God loves us just as we are. It's not our works that bring us salvation or divine love or a coveted spot in heaven.<br />
<br />
Instead, we must remember, God has given us enough to be pleasing to Him. Isn't that ample?<br />
<br />
<h2>
Reasons we shouldn't compare ourselves with others:</h2>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Egotists do this. Do you want to be in the same category as a narcissist? (Phil. 2:3)</li>
<li>Whose approval are you seeking--God's or man's? (Gal. 1:10)</li>
<li>Is your calling the same as everyone else's? (Rom. 12:2)</li>
<li>Our talents are given by God. Do we rebuke Him because we're not on the same level as Mozart or Einstein? (1 Cor. 4:7)</li>
<li>Our jealousy causes divisions. (Jude 1:19)</li>
<li>What are our motives? Do we wish to lord it over others as the greatest? Jesus didn't, and He is God. (Luke 22: 24-27)</li>
<li>Our arrogance will treat others with contempt. (Luke 18: 9-14)</li>
</ol>
<div>
I have to remember--I may never rival Marianne. She'll never equal Tiffany. He can't compete with the Creator of the universe.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Quick Tweets</h3>
<div>
<a href="http://ctt.ec/uf9GM" target="_blank">God has given us enough to be pleasing to Him. (click to tweet)</a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://ctt.ec/723tG" target="_blank">The whirligig of comparisons destroys joy. (click to tweet)</a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Carol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466191853251113817.post-80394802743874796332017-01-30T11:10:00.002-05:002017-01-30T11:10:29.350-05:00The Root of Our Issues--Us<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romans_5" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Romans 5">Romans 5:8</a></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">By: Carol McClain </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">@carol_mcclain</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpNobEGLE5o8MFqmxnEBlx_sb76E8m00i3Qf0Gr88cEDTJ5SlWlynFDFBruNCTlt39T4ZFU092-js10F4DEj_TMy0lOCJ-hLkH7z8xjWOsBKVyE2W6EwnEQr_PaFzDBPnEUYu_Q3W0lMX/s1600/Christ+died+for+us+Rom+5_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpNobEGLE5o8MFqmxnEBlx_sb76E8m00i3Qf0Gr88cEDTJ5SlWlynFDFBruNCTlt39T4ZFU092-js10F4DEj_TMy0lOCJ-hLkH7z8xjWOsBKVyE2W6EwnEQr_PaFzDBPnEUYu_Q3W0lMX/s320/Christ+died+for+us+Rom+5_8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The root of our issue: We're unclean.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">My first marriage fell apart. I'd married a man with issues--totally unaware that he'd married a woman with issues.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Our fights became furious. I'd become the bread-winner and would return from work to find my baby's lunch still on the table, the house a mess and my husband ready to go out and party--often with my girlfriends.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Of course, it's easy to pass blame, nail the dissolution of our vows at his feet. Shamefully, throughout the many years since that marriage dissolved, I never saw my role in it. However, when a marriage fails, each partner plays a part in its demise.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">I no longer remember the words I'd say when one of my ex's transgressions drove me to Hades to arm myself with the tools of hell. I remember he allowed me to punch him. Cuss words laced our screaming matches. Dreams of other men filled my lonely nights.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;">Then, after we divorced, I met Christians who told about Christ and His redeeming love. Blind to my own sins, I struggled to think of things I did wrong. I was a good person--raised my daughter well, worked as a teacher and did a good job, took care of family and friends. Still, I needed to fill the void in my soul, and the message of salvation drew me in like an addiction (a good one--like to coffee or chocolate).</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;">Then, knowing how lost I was, I accepted Christ.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;">From that moment, I changed. I recognized my sin and no longer had to search for it. I quit the behaviors that disproved my assumptions of being the perfect mother, teacher, daughter.</span></span><br />
<h2>
The Root of Our Issues</h2>
<div>
<ol>
<li>We are unclean.</li>
<li>We are blind to the fact that all have sinned (which means us) and fallen short of God's glory.</li>
<li>No one else is to blame for our transgressions.</li>
<li>Trying to fix it through religion, others, self or the world is only stage make-up. It hides the blemishes, but cannot make them vanish.</li>
</ol>
<div>
In my life, that Christ died for me even when I didn't realize I was a sinner, is the greatest blessing of my life.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Quick Tweets</h3>
<div>
<a href="http://ctt.ec/c2WNa" target="_blank">Discover the root of your issues. (click to tweet)</a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://ctt.ec/BUl87" target="_blank">We've all sinned. What lies at the root? (click to tweet)</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span>Carol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466191853251113817.post-5431407368949080342017-01-16T10:33:00.000-05:002017-01-16T10:33:04.671-05:00To Forgive=To Forget--Part 2 The How To<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWD9ufJOJLtftGDf5-vSi9OtBqNMRriOm7DtrH5qI2Orp4FLN02VAEsw0SkfZT9uKSxA88Os_iHupUBVZca9k4l20b3DAoqlVqHpsl4jIplSHoSpD8bWAIKyv-k9LmxRu649dvGaGvteHs/s1600/Healing+in+His+Wings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWD9ufJOJLtftGDf5-vSi9OtBqNMRriOm7DtrH5qI2Orp4FLN02VAEsw0SkfZT9uKSxA88Os_iHupUBVZca9k4l20b3DAoqlVqHpsl4jIplSHoSpD8bWAIKyv-k9LmxRu649dvGaGvteHs/s320/Healing+in+His+Wings.jpg" width="235" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">By: Carol McClain </span>@carol_mcclain</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Without forgiveness, the hurts of our lives cling
to us like the smoke wildfires. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We burn each time we finger the seared surface.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">God knows our pain. After all, He
forgave the unpardonable. Upon the cross, after brutal torture despite His
innocence, Jesus said, "Forgive them Father for they know not what they
do." If He forgave, so can we.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">How?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">Four Ways to Achieve Forgiveness</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Make the
decision to forgive.</b> Alcoholics and drug addicts must admit their
shortcomings in order to find sobriety. Likewise, in overcoming unforgiveness,
we must decide this is something we will do. The anguish won't necessarily go
away instantaneously, but over time, it will fade.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Every
time you replay the offense say, "I forgive."</b> At first you'll
sound like a broken record. Eventually, you'll find you're "forgiving"
less and the memories will distance themselves from your life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Don't
expect the perpetrator to change.</b> You are the one who needs to be healed.
Other people are responsible for their own lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">4.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Talk to a
trusted friend.</b> This person <i>must </i>be
a proven confident, not simply anyone who is within earshot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">5.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Talk to a
counselor. </b>Broken friendships, insults, misunderstandings and other petty
things can heal by themselves. However, for the monstrous issues, you need a
trained professional be it a church pastor or a psychiatrist. Do not be ashamed
to reach out for help.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">6.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Use your
experience to heal others.</b> We've heard of people who have started self-help
groups, inspired legislation or simply have become mentors to those suffering
the same heartache. By giving to others, your own sorrow can be calmed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've used each of
the above and can attest to their efficacy. With forgiveness, the welt of a
scar might remain, but the pain doesn't.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Quick Tweets</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://ctt.ec/6b429" target="_blank">Six ways to forgive and forget. (click to tweet)</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://ctt.ec/d83Bf" target="_blank">If you forgive, the pain will ease. (click to tweet)</a></span></div>
</div>
Carol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5466191853251113817.post-45429716997424951252017-01-09T14:24:00.000-05:002017-01-09T14:24:16.741-05:00To Forgive=To Forget--Part 1<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arimo, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."</span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arimo, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">By: Carol McClain </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">@carol_mcclain</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Author's note: If you've experienced severe trauma like incest, rape, murder, or other egregious harms, please see a counselor. Still, the path to YOUR healing is forgiveness.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms", trebuchet, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoNkMy-_v09QreitxIlUioQ6hQvEr3Kpqqg4fvP4VF4o0C2Mp94NDvrH2r_gurMf5ocfdxwq8DbPGOkT9j3Z7Zh0N6MZRZKOfP92bbEiOyvzGRtUfHmiFk3hpPb4cenFAkOgCo12FrnKn/s1600/Eph+4+32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoNkMy-_v09QreitxIlUioQ6hQvEr3Kpqqg4fvP4VF4o0C2Mp94NDvrH2r_gurMf5ocfdxwq8DbPGOkT9j3Z7Zh0N6MZRZKOfP92bbEiOyvzGRtUfHmiFk3hpPb4cenFAkOgCo12FrnKn/s400/Eph+4+32.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<h2>
Jesus Showed the Ultimate Example</h2>
<div>
Jesus was the quintessential perfect man. Still, having done no wrong, the Jewish elite betrayed him. The Romans brutalized him. Once hung to die, they mocked him and gambled for His clothes.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
How did Jesus respond? "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If He gave such a response, how much more should we?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
I'll forgive, but I'll never forget</h2>
<div>
How many times have either we said, "I'll forgive, but I'll never forget"? or heard another person speak the line? In truth, forgiveness brings forgetfulness. I can attest to the truth of this through many crises in my life.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For example, a particular church I attended years ago had hurt me severely. For the most part, now, I can only remember the fact of the hurt. Specific details of all my wounds have been buried with Christ.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But a composite tale goes something like this: We believed in prophecy, and I'd been told repeatedly that I'd sing the song of the Lord. I'd been taking voice lessons, so I asked to join the music team. Anyone who knows my nuclear family knows the music gene hid from us from the moment of conception. However, in this case, my heart was pure. I needed to figure out how to sing in public if I'd see the word of God come to pass.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Things went well until the sound man turned off my mic.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Ouch!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I got mad. Talked to him, one on one. And to my mind, that was it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One day I was called into the pastor's office. Once there, I discovered, this wasn't a friendly visit, a pat on the back, a "I'm proud of you for being such a big girl doing everything in your power to fulfill the word of the Lord."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Nope.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The sound man also had been summoned, and both the pastor and he chastised me for being insulted. A few days later, the music minister kicked me off worship.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I only remember this because I use the illustration to either poke fun at myself or to explain a typical reason why this church and I weren't a good fit.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
However, at that time, anger and grief and shame and indignation and all those wonderful works of the flesh rose up in me.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
When you forgive--you forget</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I told the Lord, "I forgive."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And clearly He spoke to me, "If you truly forgave, then why do you keep rehashing it?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
From that point on, I began to work hard at forgiveness. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Through time, the pain and insult dissipated.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
How? You know I'm glad you asked. Next week I'll give you some ways to do just that.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In this instant, I found the wrongs done to me vanished from my memory. It's held true in my relationship with this body of believers, in forgiveness of my father, in the pardon toward dear friends who have remained friends and not become enemies. My husband, in my memory, has never done me wrong because any hurts he's caused have been forgiven.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://ctt.ec/5NDd2" target="_blank">Forgive, and you will forget. (click to tweet)</a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://ctt.ec/XVxwI" target="_blank">If God forgave you, why can't you let go of others' wrongs? (click to tweet)</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Carol McClainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225606888246883508noreply@blogger.com0