Splash the Puddles

I really wish that I didn't care so much what others thought about me, or my family for that matter, but I do. This  is part of who I am, and I strongly believe it's what God uses to keep me fully dependent on Him.  I have a love/hate relationship with my concern over what others think. Most of the time, that concern arises from just feeling like I'm misunderstood, or my children, my husband or a situation we find ourselves in. Maybe even choice we make. Even when I know the truth of who I am, who they are, what we stand for, sometimes a mistake or even just a misspoken word can have me worrying how others perceive me. So silly, in a moment like now when it's not an issue. But so real, when it is.  Just a minor nudge from the enemy, who knows just when to sneak in a punch at me, how to distract me from Truth for just a moment, can set up camp in my mind and vacation there for a moment. I have to be intentional  about allowing these times to be opportunities for growt...

Do you have a favorite Bible story? I'm not talking about Noah's Ark or Jonah and the Big Fish, though those are fine recollections from history that teach us about God's faithfulness.  I'm talking, more along the lines of a story that has traveled through life with you. One that's accompanied you through trial after trial. A story you feel you've lived out physically, emotionally and mentally over and over-one you relate to so thoroughly that you feel the story is really yours, on lend to the characters who actually portray it in Scripture. Your story.  Perhaps my favorite Scripture of all time is the account of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the book of Daniel.  There was a great and powerful king, Nebuchadnezzar who had built an image of gold and ordinated that whenever this music was played, everyone was to bow down and worship the  carven image. The repercussions of not doing so were fatal-death by blazing furnace. That should be pretty convincing.  Only...