Moments & Memories

Make a Smilebox slideshow

God Grant Me the Serenity...

...TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference."

From The Rear View Mirror: Objects may appear larger than they really are

In The Rear View Mirror (Ten Years of Insights)
Joan Gilbert Rhoden
10-25-08

1999 - "Grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your children."

On September 22, my 3rd grandchild was born. You think they can't get better, but they do. Grandchildren are lights that come on when the dusk of age sets in. They're the twinkling stars in the darkness of night and the sunshine that greets each day. Only God could have thought up something as good as grandchildren.

2000 - "The sun will come out tomorrow." (Line from the song in "Annie")
The millennium was supposed to usher in all sorts of mayhem. Some prepared strategically for the apocalypse. But, it didn't happen. On January 1, 2000, the sun came up as usual, and life went on. I turned 50. (Pause for reflection) As my mother always attests, "Most of what we worry about never even happens".

2001 - "Life is the childhood of our immortality.” (Goethe)
On a whim, I started writing about my childhood. What started out as a few lines of script, intended to be a mere memory jog, turned into a full fledged manuscript. It was a very satisfying experience and some of the most fun I've had in years! Some people don’t even remember their childhood. Mine is tattooed on my heart.

2002 - "It is much easier to become a father than to be one." (Kent Nerburn)
My dad passed away on October 21. He left a hole in my soul. It still hurts, knowing that I don't miss him.

2003 - Children never leave home
My obstetrician must have overlooked a common procedure. The umbilical chord between my children and me remains in tact. Fact is, I think it has become irreparably attached to my heart. Botched delivery? You be the judge.

2004 - God is sovereign. He can do anything He pleases.
I hurt my back and found myself confined to a hospital bed. It was a wake-up call. My mobility and the future of my ability to function normally were suddenly in question. Life gets much more focused when you're on your back, incapacitated and needy. Never underestimate what God is willing to allow in order to get your attention.

2005 - "Happily ever after is not an inalienable right."
There are some things in life that we grow up to believe are rightfully ours: breath, life, love, happiness. We believe we are entitled to certain things, a certain way of life. But even our very breath is assigned by God, and happiness is as fleeting as a satisfying burp. True happiness is not external, nor is it linked to external variables. Happily ever after, while linked to fairy tales, is more accurately a spiritual term. "Heaven… is the ‘happily ever after’ for which we long." (jgr)

2006 - "The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable." (President James A. Garfield)
Some lessons take longer to learn than others. Lessons that take a long time to learn, by definition, are the most difficult to absorb. It confirms that there is some sort of natural resistance to the facts. Long term denial of the things you don't want to believe can leave you exhausted. The truth is the only antidote. Some lessons take a lifetime to sink in. The more I know, the less I understand. The less I understand, the more I have to rely on faith in God. You do the math.

2007 - "The rain falls on the just and the unjust." (Matthew 5:45b paraphrased)
Bad things happen to good people. It's a fact of life. I grew up believing differently, that right choices shielded a person from the consequences that wrong choices invite. But good people suffer right along with the people who have lived lives of excess and casual character. The difference is that doing right is the right thing to do: period. As Matthew Henry stated, " I would rather be robbed than be the robber."

2008 - The law of gravity is immutable and indiscriminate.
What goes up must come down: real estate, stock market… and all manner of body parts.

SUMMARY: "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain." -Unknown

SONG:
So Bring On The Rain (Jo Dee Messina)

Another day has almost come and gone
Can't imagine what else could go wrong
Sometimes I'd like to hide away somewhere and lock the door
A single battle lost but not the war,

Cause tomorrow's another day
And Im thirsty anyway
So bring on the rain

Its almost like the hard times circle round
A couple drops and they all start coming down
Yeah, I might feel defeated,
I might hang my head
I might be barely breathing
but I'm not dead

Tomorrows another day
And Im thirsty anyway
So bring on the rain

I'm not gonna let it get me down
I'm not gonna cry And
I'm not gonna lose any sleep tonight

A Picture of What Love Truly Is...and What It Is Capable of Accomplishing

Fundamentals of Freedom

Freedom of Religion

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD (OCC): Hear one girl's story

Tanya Poteet, originally from Russia, was the recipient of a shoebox gift from OCC. After she was adopted, she provided for other children the very same shoebox "hug" that she had once received. This is her story. I wept as I listened. The power of one shoebox filled with inexpensive gifts is enough to boggle the mind. Listen to Tanya's story:



HOW TO PACK A SHOEBOX FOR OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD (OCC)

IS GOD GOOD AND RIGHT ONLY WHEN I WIN?

July 20, 2004
Joan Elise (Rhoden)

Something just occurred to me and I am compelled to write it down while it is fresh in my mind. The enemy would certainly try to rob me of this eureka of thought and would distract me toward something less profound.

In the emailed version of Slice of Infinity - Judging the Judges, Ravi Zacharias recounts the following:

During the 2002 Winter Olympics, a major publication had a headline that read, "Crybaby Olympics." The article highlighted the refrain of complaints launched by several competitors who felt they had been duped out of their legitimate attainment by some unscrupulous judge.

In the midst of many events taking place in my family at the present, some disheartening, some disappointing, some merely inconvenient, and others brutally tragic, a profound and divine thought came to mind. Have we EVER questioned the sovereignty of God and His wisdom when we were the recipient of a blessing, some pleasant thing that arrived in our lives providentially? I dare say we have not. Why is that? Why would we question God’s decision in allowing difficult things to befall us but be so willing to receive of the goodness from His hand? There is an elemental flaw in this theology. If God is right and just, then He is right and just ALL the time, not just when it seems to meet with our desires and expectations.

The question must be addressed: Does God have the best interest of His people at heart, or is He randomly selective, raining down blessing and cursing indiscriminately upon the just and the unjust? Is God good and loving all the time or only when He supports my view of how life should play out?

If a check for $1000 from an anonymous donor appeared in the mailbox every week for five years and then abruptly the checks stopped, would I be disappointed? Angry? Let this scenario sink in for a moment before settling upon which emotion would rise up from within the soul. Would there be a strong sense of gratitude or a deep sense of resentment at the loss of this resource?

The elements of this scenario expose the most basic precepts of mankind and reveal a less than noble character and a elemental flaw in basic theology. Why would I not be deeply grateful for the five years of blessing rather than cursing the loss?  I must ponder these things, for herein lies the answer to life.

(Selah)

"I will trust when I cannot see
When I’m faced with adversity
And believe Your will is always best for me
I will trust when I cannot see"

http://youtu.be/HEZ9xvrg58k

"When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other."

Ecclesiastes 7:14

(Updated June 7, 2014)

ENDURANCE vs. Giving Up

Character Quality:
The inward strength to withstand stress to accomplish God's best. Galatians 6:9

Connect to all the Character Qualities and their definitions.

Basic Youth Conflicts website

I Was Made For Another World

"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another World." -- C.S. Lewis

YARD SALES: Buy American

As you may have heard, each of us will be getting a tax rebate check to stimulate the economy.

If we spend that money at Wal-Mart, all the money will go to China.
If we spend it on gasoline it will go to the Arabs.
If we purchase a computer it will go to India.
If we purchase fruits and vegetables it will go to Honduras and Guatemala.
If we purchase a good car it will go toJapan .
If we purchase useless s tuff it will go to Taiwan
and none of it will help the American economy.

We need to keep that money here in America . The only way to keep that money here at home is to spend it at Yard Sales!

On Being Mother

Mother had creative ways of imparting truth. As a consequence for some unkindness we had done, she had us write "Be ye kind, one to another, tenderhearted forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Needless to say, I didn't have to look this verse up in the Bible to get it right. Given the number of times I was the culprit of some unkind deed, this verse was ingrained in my memory.

Another sure fire tool was the Bible verses on the bathroom wall. We lived in a one bedroom, on bath house. With three little girls, it was a cinch that we were going to be spending some amount of time seated in front of that wall. Besides the business at hand (so to speak), what else was there to do but read? Mother methodically handwrote verse after verse, and we just as methodically read one after the other. It's amazing the effect that repetition has on the brain.

I seldom remember ever sitting down to consciously memorize a verse of scripture. Scripture was in our heads. It was the fabric of our lives. Mother had a verse for everything and had committed them all to memory for instant recall. Some of her favorites and ones I remember most:

FEAR: What time I am afraid, I will trust in the Lord.

ATTITUDE: As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.

REPUTATION: A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.

ANGER: A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.

COURTESY: As you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them.

CHARACTER: Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

CONSEQUENCES: Be not deceived, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Mother's influence didn't stop at home. At one time she did substitute teaching in our High School. She used her creative methods to curb misbehavior and would have erring students write scripture. She would write the verse on the blackboard at the beginning of class. She figured that was her ministry as well as her method of discipline. My future husband had mother as a substitute teacher once and remembers having to write verses as a disciplinary measure. (How cool is that?) He and I didn't even know each other at that time. This event didn't even come to light until much later into our marriage when we happened to be discussing high school. You can imagine our surprise at finding out that mother had been an influence on both of us before she could have ever known that there would be a connection. That's the beauty of scripture.

Later, she would offer the family monetary incentives for scripture memorization: $10 for First Corinthians 13, $25 for Isaiah 53 and $100 for The Sermon on the Mount. I got the $10 and the $25, but only mother, so far, has commited to memory The Sermon on the Mount. She says that one of her most memorable moments was when she had the opportunity just recently to quote it in its entirety at a church service. At some point during her recitation, she noticed that people had tears in their eyes. Some were crying. It touched her deeply. Obviously, her audience was touched.

That's my mother. At a very young age, she made a conscious decision to focus on the Word of God. Once she decided that scripture was vital, she never stopped making it a priority in her life and in the life of anyone with whom she would come in contact. Because of that, when she starts a verse now, we can usually finish it.

Isaiah 55:11 says, "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." I think mother had a firm grasp of this concept and has used it skillfully. As a result, God's Word has been and forever will be a "lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Thank you, mother.

Team Hoyt - Dick and Rick Hoyt

This really says it all. I'm so thankful that my Father has carried me.

RESOLUTIONS

THE RESOLUTIONS of Jonathan Edwards (1722-1723)

Resolutions 1 through 21 were written in one sitting in New Haven in 1722 when Edwards was about 20 years old.
___________________________
Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ's sake.

Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God's glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad's of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.

2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things.

3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.

4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.

9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances don't hinder.

12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.

13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.

14. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.

15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.

16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.

17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.

18. Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.

19. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.

20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.

21. Resolved, never to do anything, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.

22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.

23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God's glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution.

24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.

25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

26. Resolved, to cast away such things, as I find do abate my assurance.

27. Resolved, never willfully to omit anything, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.

28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.

30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.

31. Resolved, never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is

perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution.

32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Prov. 20:6, "A faithful man who can find?" may not be partly fulfilled in me.

33. Resolved, always to do what I can towards making, maintaining, establishing and preserving peace, when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects. Dec.26, 1722.

34. Resolved, in narration's never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity.

35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.

36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, 1722.

37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself: also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec.22 and 26, 1722.

38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord's day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.

39. Resolved, never to do anything that I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or no; except I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.

40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.

41. Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.

42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722-23.

43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God's, agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12. Jan.12, 1723.

44- Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. Jan.12, 1723.

45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan.12 and 13.1723.

46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eve: and to be especially careful of it, with respect to any of our family.

47. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented, easy, compassionate, generous, humble, meek, modest, submissive, obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable, even, patient, moderate, forgiving, sincere temper; and to do at all times what such a temper would lead me to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5,1723.

48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.

49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it.

50. Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.

51. Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.

53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.

54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723.

55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 1723.

56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether ~ have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. June 9, and July 13 1723.

58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May27, and July 13, 1723.

59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July ii, and July 13.

60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4, and 13, 1723.

61. Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it-that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. May 21, and July 13, 1723.

62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Eph. 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; "knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord." June 25 and July 13, 1723.

63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. Jan.14' and July '3' 1723.

64. Resolved, when I find those "groanings which cannot be uttered" (Rom. 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those "breakings of soul for the longing it hath," of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear', of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton's 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26, and Aug.10 1723.

66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.

67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.

68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.

70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak.

Aug. 17, 1723