God-shaped vacuum

"There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every person, ..and it can never be filled by any created thing. It can only be filled by God, made known in Jesus Christ." (Blaise Pascal) - in that inner space we sense Holy Spirit - in that awareness we realize all that is important. - Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. And your fellow humans as yourself - in your own inner space Holy awareness cleanses you mind and spirit and fills you with love and compassion……( just a few words to ponder)

d

Fwd: thought

"LOVE AND SYMPATHY CAN LOWER THE BARRIERS OF MISUNDERSTANDING" (The Upper Room) to be moved with compassion for the pain and suffering of another person is a holy moment. a moment when you are in sync with Holy Spirit.

Love Doubles and Divides

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> "…having someone to love doubles our joy and divides our sorrow…." love leads the way to forgiveness and forgiveness sets us free to love. it takes a lot of love and forgiveness to get us through this life. love is the only thing. God is love. love with all your mind, heart, strength.
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Psalms 91:1

HE/SHE WHO DWELLS IN THE SHELTER OF THE MOST HIGH WILL REST IN THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY….HE IS MY REFUGE AND MY FORTRESS, MY GOD, IN WHOM I TRUST. —Psalms 91:1—security, we are concerned with security against the invasion of terrorist all the way to security from ID theft and from theft of our homes. But the security we yearn for most is within. All outside us is subject to theft but when we trust the Ultimate care and Providence of Eternal Love we can live through the insecurity of wealth,health, and every other threat to our well-being. Trouble is part of life but strength of character and spirit prevails. 

Fwd: THOUGHT

LIFE IS NOT ABOUT FINISHING-IT IS ABOUT VISION THAT REACHES INTO ETERNITY. Planting a tree is a act that imagines beauty and fruit long after the one planting has moved beyond death and so it is with encouraging a young person who has dreams for what he/she wants to do with life…this is the nature of human/divine awareness…….???????

Answer to your own truth

Jesus did a opinion pole check when he asked the disciples what others were saying about him. Then he asked them what they thought about him. When they answered from the heart about what they thought, he responded by saying that is what really matters in life. Answer to your conscience, your inner voice of truth and right. If you check the opinions of others then decide what to do it is sort of like leading from behind, but if your final check comes from the ring of truth and love in your heart you will end up being a influence for good in changing public opinion that is off center………just some ponderings this morning since i hear so much about politicians and opinion poles

Two Worlds

WE LIVE IN TWO WORLDS..OUR INNER WORLD AND OUR OUTER WORLD. WE CANNOT GET OUR OUTER WORLD RIGHT UNTIL WE GET OUR INNER WORLD RIGHT.  CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART AND A RIGHT SPIRIT….

The Holy Spirit

“WE LOOK FOR VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND WE NEVER DREAM THAT ALL THE TIME GOD IS IN THE COMMONPLACE THINGS AND PEOPLE AROUND US.” (Oswald Chambers) - We are coming out of the restaurant and someone gets up our to their chair to hold the door open as i push the wheelchair through. We say thank you! not only to the person who kindly helps but to the Holy Spirit who operated in the person. Human decency is a God thing. Thanks be to God and the person who is available. Help me be that person when needed. Amen

The Pain of Lying

"For one thing, telling a lie is like eating peanuts. One leads to another. In no time at all, you've gone through the bag full….Let me say again that lying will make you a slave, for whoever tells a lie is the servant of that lie…..Worst of all, you become a slave to something that isn't real." (From Jan Karon novel, At Home in Mitford)—there may be lies all around you but you can chose the freedom of truth…..the truth may hurt for a while but eventually healing works its way in your mind and heart. The pain of lying keeps on hurting and is a infection in your mind and soul. well, some toughest to consider along the way……..

Sow what you want to Reap

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> Sow what you want to reap. If you want to reap weeds sow weeds. If you want to reap wheat sow wheat. If you want to reap hate sow hate. If you want to reap love sow love. If you want to reap greed sow greed. If your want to reap generosity sow generosity.If you want to reap kindness sow kindness. If you want to reap forgiveness sow forgiveness. These are very basic and easy to grasp rules for living. My advice is to sow good seed and discard bad seed. And just remember the Maker of all things is characterized by LOVE AND RECONCILIATION.
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The Lord IS my Shepherd

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want…(Psalm 23:1) - in the quiet of this Monday morning, I am listening to these words of faith and trust spoken by the psalmist thousands of years ago. They are as the North Star in distant space reaching to this time and place and into my mind and heart. Across the years this light from the past shines into my mind and heart bringing encouragement and sustaining hope……The Lord IS my Shepherd I shall not want…AND SO IT BE FOR YOU…..

d

Faith

Regrets.  Fears.  Loves.   Doubts.    These are the things we all struggle with and the only way to find peace and happiness truly is through your FAITH in God.    If what we have here on earth is all we get then these emotions are unbelievably scary.  If you understand that there is more to life than what we have here, and if you believe that you are right with God in your heart, then you can take a deep breath and KNOW that all will be okay NO MATTER WHAT happens to you here on earth.  That I believe for sure.  FAITH is how you survive and succeed here on earth.  FAITH that there is a bigger plan and that God is there and that when your earthly body fails you, God will take you to a better place for the next chapter of what life is about.     Treasure this body God has given you and try to care for it because it’s the only one you get here on earth.    But know that life extends beyond this body.   Jesus Christ proved this when he arose from the dead and ascended into Heaven just as he promised he would. 

by Drew

Awareness

AWARENESS SETS UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE UNHEALTHY BEHAVIOR//////AWARENESS OPENS THE WAY TO MAKE STRONGER BEHAVIOR THAT IS GOOD//////AWARENESS LETS ME EXPERIENCE YOUR PRESENCE, HOLY SPIRIT!!

THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE, LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT—THIS AWARENESS OPENS OUR TOTAL BEING TO …….

The Truth

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Be Present - Look them in the eye

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> We can be present but not present with. We can be present but not engaged. We can be present but our minds are somewhere else. I am intrigued with modern tools of communication and enjoy using computer, iPhone, etc. but these tools keep me in touch from a distance without really being engaged. This kind of communication is useful and meaningful to a extent, but can also keep us at a distance. Seems to me humans have a need for relationship that is engaged, intimate, open, listening, aware, present with one another. Even as a pastor visiting a parishioner I came to realize I could do this but not really be engaged. Persons could pick up on this, or I could really be paying attention, listening, feeling the loneliness of the other person. I could look them in the eye and feel their reaching out. In these moments care and encouragement happened even when I did not have a solution. Being present in the moment to the person. This is one reason Jesus was so successful. People knew he was with them, feeling their hurt, loving and caring….well, lets see where we go with this thought today….
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God Sees the inside truth

"A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches." —Proverbs 22:1 /////  "true value must be placed not in what we have but in who we are." /// the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates said, "The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear." ///  We live in a marketing environment. Great skill and talent devoted to presenting the product results in attractive and appealing products. However, does the product measure up to the presentation? A person is attractive and speaks well but what is his/her character? We look on the outside and think a thing is good, God looks within and knows the heart and that is where true value is found and reflected outward.   THANK YOU FOR PERSONS WHO ARE THE REAL THING IN OUR LIVES. HELP US TO BE FIRST CLASS INSIDE AND OUT.

Fw: thought

------ Original message------

From: Bill Edwards

Date: Wed, Aug 20, 2014 7:47 AM

To: Anna Shelton;David James Edwards;Allison M Shelton;David Shelton;Renee Nicole Edwards;Ryan Edwards;David & Jody Edwards;Drew Edwards Edwards;Stacey Adair Adair;Rhett Edwards Edwards;MaLinda/Pablo;Justin Turney Turney;Starla Davis;Taylor Vanegas Vanegas;Meaghan Adair;SARAH M LOMAX;Adrian Anderson;

Subject:thought

A REPORTER INTERVIEWING A 104-YEAR-OLD WOMAN ASKED, "WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING 104?" HER SIMPLE REPLY WAS, "NO PEER PRESSURE." I READ THIS RECENTLY AND IT BROUGHT A CHUCKLE. BUT THE TRUTH IS WE ARE SOCIAL CREATURES VERY MUCH INFLUENCED BY THE PEOPLE IN OUR "GROUP". HOWEVER, THE GROUP IS NOT ALWAYS WORTHY OF THE INFLUENCE. WE NEED A HIGHER MEASURE. FOR A PERSON WHO LOOKS TO CHRIST AS THE CENTER POINT FOR MEETING ALL OF LIFE CHALLENGES, WE WILL FIND HELP IN THE PEER PRESSURE PART OF LIFE. OF COURSE THERE ARE INFLUENCE ISSUES BEYOND OUR "GROUP". IN EVERY PLACE PERSONS ARE SEEKING TO SHAPE OUR THINKING, ATTITUDES, BEHAVIOR AND IT CAN BE OVERWHELMING. OUR MOST IMPORTANT INFLUENCE COME FROM GOD IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST.

DAD/PAPA

Bill Edwards

revwge@me.com

we are all guilty of this

 We can be present but not present with. We can be present but not engaged. We can be present but our minds are somewhere else. I am intrigued with modern tools of communication and enjoy using computer, iPhone, etc. but these tools keep me in touch from a distance without really being engaged. This kind of communication is useful and meaningful to a extent, but can also keep us at a distance. Seems to me humans have a need for relationship that is engaged, intimate, open, listening, aware, present with one another. Even as a pastor visiting a parishioner I came to realize I could do this but not really be engaged. Persons could pick up on this, or I could really be paying attention, listening, feeling the loneliness of the other person. I could look them in the eye and feel their reaching out. In these moments care and encouragement happened even when I did not have a solution. Being present in the moment to the person. This is one reason Jesus was so successful. People knew he was with them, feeling their hurt, loving and caring….well, lets see where we go with this thought today….

d