SelahV Today by hariette petersen

NEAT SLEEP

It amazes me how easily a child falls asleep.  They run, they play, they eat, they sleep.  It's that simple.

Yet, me?  Well, I couldn't sleep again last night--three nights in a row.  At about 3 a.m. I wondered if morning would arrive before I even felt sleepy.  I wasn't worried about anything.  I wasn't upset.  I wasn't anxious.  Just couldn't get sleepy.

So I started talking to God about how wonderful He is.  I thanked Him for His awesome, hallowed name.  I praised Him for His goodness and glory.  I thanked Him for His protection and provision.  I didn't ask Him for anything.  In fact, I didn't even ask for sleep.  I just talked to Him about how great and powerful He is.  The next thing I knew...

it was morning.  Isn't that neat?  selahV

Words Worth Sharing

I copied the advice below from a facebook status.  Thought it worth sharing:

"This just in to the WMJC news desk. From ~ Bill Gates ~ This should be posted in every school or kid's bedroom. Love him or hate him, he sure hits the nail on the head with this!

Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about eleven (11) Things They Did Not and Will Not Learn in School. He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.

Rule 1 : Life is not fair - get used to it!

Rule 2 : The world doesn't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3 : You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4 : If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.

Rule 5 : Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping - they called it opportunity.

Rule 6 : If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7 : Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you think you are: So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8 : Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HASN'T. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. *This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life*.

Rule 9 : Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF - that's for your own time.

Rule 10 : Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11 : Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one! So if you can read this... Thank a Teacher. If you can read this in English... Thank a Soldier! And for life and everything else you have... Thank your parents!!

It Is Worth the Leap

Seriously!

What is our problem?

We have every reason to shout!

We have it all!

Love, peace, hope, joy, goodness, grace, salvation, forgiveness, righteousness, eternal life.

What else do we need?

Yet, all too often we sit silent in the face of praise.  We yawn when worship runs longer than an hour.  We nod off when the preacher begins to share God's Word.  We walk about in the world like we are dead rather than alive in Christ.  What in the world is wrong with us?  Do we buy into Satan's lies?

Perhaps.

But I think there's a simple reason we are so complacent and filled with apathy.  Our focus is on us.  Ourselves.  We worry about the economy. We fret over what name we are affiliated with.  We listen to strife and divisions.  We battle the flesh and ignore the real enemy:  "the prince of this world".  The powers of evil and darkness in realms beyond our sight.  We swat gnats and swallow camels then choke to death on our own efforts and words.

We stare at the temporary lives we have and covet the life we don't have.  We dwell on the things we find uncomfortable and strive for what makes us "feel" good.  We war with our own rather than stand guard over the walls we've conquered together.  We battle with those in our midst and give our enemies weapons to destroy us.

We, my friends, are our own worst enemy, to whom we are daily-devoted.

We wallow in past mistakes.  We won't let go of yesterday's failures.  We stare in awe at the giants in our lives and think we are small, alone, without help. We sit on the edge of the Red Sea and camp out while waiting for the Egyptian pharoah and his soldiers to destroy us.  Rather than remember what God has accomplished for those called by His name, we fall down in fear.

We all need to go back to the altar of God and stay awhile.  We need to sit by the calm waters which swallowed our enemies and give thanks.  Thanks that we are not alone in our struggles. Thanks that we have a Savior who has overcome the world.  Thanks that we have another day to honor His name in all we do and say--with family, friends, and strangers.

We need to bow in humble adoration to our God, our strength, our Redeemer.  Then we need to get up and kick our behinds as we leap for joy and sing praises to the Most High God.  selahV

"The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusts in Him and I am helped.

My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song." Psalm 28:7

Another devotional:  Are you LEAPING to Conclusions?

It's Not Easily Understood

People have a hard time explaining it.  They can't make sense of it.  When the world sees it manifest itself amid the chaotic conflicts, they shake their heads and wonder. That's because it passes all understanding.

Peace.

It moves beyond the rational.  It calms the soul and steels the heart against all threat, all assaults, all diversity.  It is an inward assurance in an outward disturbance.

The peace of Jesus through the person of the Holy Spirit is in all Believers.  Though the world crumble about us, we know we are safe in Christ.  Though wars rage among the nations, we know the promise of peace.  God gives us peace to instill confidence... confidence in Him.  We cannot take our eyes off our LORD.

Each day I practice forgetting turmoil, relaxing in His peace.  Each day when confronted with aggravating situations, I focus my mind on Him--on His sovereign care.  The Holy Spirit reminds me that I have nothing to fear...God is in control.  He is not sleeping; He is not too busy for me.  He is ever with me.  I know for certain that the turmoil is temporary.  In time, the LORD lifts me up from each valley, carries me up every mountain, and walks with me on each road.  Peace only eludes me when I focus my mind on me and my inability, rather than God and His ability.

May we know His peace today.  May we look beyond the gathering clouds and see our Father's power to control them.  When incessant voices wail, and rumors of battles loom, let us be still; let us remember:

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,

whose mind is stayed on thee:

because he trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26:3

10 Ways to Encourage Someone Today

1. Leave a larger tip than usual, and then go the extra mile and tell the manager what a great waitress you had.
2. If a clerk is extra friendly, tell them how you appreciate her happy personality.  Then take time to tell the manager of the store how nice she was.
3. Tell your kids how much you appreciate their presence in your life.  Hug them for no reason.
4. Make your husband's favorite dessert and tell him how much you appreciate the hard work he puts in to provide for you.
5. If you see someone do something nice, tell them.  Once I sent a card to some youth I saw doing nice things for others.  I told them if I could see their kindness, God saw much more.
6. Comment on someone's blog and tell them their words helped you.  Tell them how.
7. When you "like" someone's status, click the "Like" button.
8. Send your wife a real card in the mail.  Make it a funny one and tell her how great a mom she is, or how much you appreciate her patience.
9. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper and say something good about your community.
10. Drop off a couple of dozen donuts to your local fire station and thank the men for watching over your community.

These ideas are hardly original.  But they are a way to jog your thinking and get me motivated to go and do likewise.  If there is something someone has said or done for you that affirmed you or made you feel significant, please share it in the comment box below.  I'd love to hear it.  It could give us more ideas to do for others.

(You may be interested in the devotional I wrote on AFFIRMATION, too.)

Veiled Responses

One morning my daughter asked my 4-year-old granddaughter if she'd eaten her breakfast.  Rather than tell the whole truth, Kinsey showed her empty plate.  Her mom knew something was not quite right and upon investigating, found part of Kinsey's breakfast in the trash. Busted! "Don't try to fool Mommy, like that again.  You understand?"  Kinsey thought if she didn't give all the facts, that the truth would not be revealed.

Ever give a half-answer to a question?  I know a few folks like that.  Rather than risk some unknown presumed reaction from a questioner, they give veiled responses.  This kind of conversation does little to aid communication or strengthen a bond.  It gives both parties only a portion of what another needs to determine how to develop relationships.  They may not want to deceive anyone.  They may just reply in a way that doesn't reveal anything hurtful, offensive, or "telling".  They want to hide the whole truth.  That is frustrating.  Truth we can deal with.  There is no substitute for truth.  A half-truth lacks clarity and surrounding gaps are filled with guile, even if it isn't intentional.

A world bent on deceit thrives on withholding all pertinent information.  Some contracts are written in teensey, tiny print so we miss critical stipulations.  Others are so vaguely worded, they lead people away from the actual truth.  "Trust me," famous last words.  I cannot begin to tell you how many half-truthes fractured my life.  Used cars, new cars, hidden costs, verbal agreements, favors, other purchases.  Oh my.  Then there are the baseless friendships and betrayals. Half-truth yields half-trust.  Even if a person is unaware of our hidden truth; it still gives only a portion of the truth and keeps another in the dark.

In some cultures, the bride is never seen until after the marriage ceremony.  I wonder if the man cares when the veil is removed.  I wonder if the bride is anxious about her husband's reaction when, at last, the veil is lifted.  I dare say, there is a lot of half-truths that follow them beyond the altar.

Such is true with any relationship we have where we hide behind a mask of insincerity, cloaked truth, half-answers, partial honesty.  For relationships to thrive, truth must be at the center of them.  Games are for those who do not want the truth.  They want to hide behind a mask and pretend.

Ever worn a mask?  Ever wondered why?  Are you afraid of the consequences?  The reaction others may have if they see the person you've been hiding?  Is it your security blanket?  a protective maneuver?

Risk it.  Let go and take a risk.  Risk what you don't have to gain what you may have. Refuse to accept veiled responses from those you seek to know better.  Resolve not to give veiled responses in answer to anothers question.  

 

Do Actions Speak Louder than Words

The question was posed to me.  I couldn't help but have an opinion, of course.  I thought about the old adage: a picture is worth a thousand words.  What we "see" tells us more than what we say in that case.  So it would stand to reason that ones actions would speak powerfully about the way a person thinks and feels.  So very often words mislead or confound.  Other times words clarify and amplify.

So do actions speak louder than words?

I think that depends on ones personality.  My husband is a servant.  He constantly shows me his love with acts of service towards me.  He's just not a wordy, verbal person.  He rarely says he loves me.  Yet, when he does, it means the absolute world to me.  I use to thirst for those words from him.  I had to learn early in my marriage that he spoke love in what he did for me--love is demonstrative.  It confused me for years and created a chasm I found near impossible to bridge.  But bridge it, we did.

I think when folks love one another they have a combination of both words and actions.  When the air is clouded with mixed messages, then it's time to clear the air with words... or with actions...whichever speaks clearer at the time for the individuals involved and the circumstances they encounter.  I think that's why God gave us the senses we have.  We can use some, or all, of them to express and receive messages.

What about you?  What speaks louder to you?  Words or actions? 

FAITH

 

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,

the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

No matter what I think is beyond the curves in life, only God knows the future.  Sometimes I take for granted what I believe to be a certainty... a familiar route, but in reality I cannot know what awaits around the bend.  Faith is what takes me beyond the point of my own view.  Faith gives me a doubtless mind--the benefit of knowing I can trust and rely upon God to keep me in the assurance of His promises and grace.

We follow where He leads, and where He leads we cannot fail to find the glory of His reward.  Faith wipes out disbelief that seeks to cloud the windshield of our journey.  Belief takes us beyond all reasonable expectations and into the security of God's miraculous surprises.  If only we believe, He will do more than we imagine.  He won't just take us around the mountain.  If necessary, He'll remove it.  selahV

I'm Tired of Writing

Not so much because I don't like to write.  But I'm tired of having my posts disappear when I hit "save".  Or when I post a picture into the post.  Something is amiss according to my website host, Typepad.

They told me it's because I'm using Internet Explorer 9.  That could have been a credible reason if not for the fact I've been using that for quite some time.  Months.  So why all of a sudden does it mess up?

They suggest I go to Firefox as a browser.  I know nothing about Firefox.  I do know that some of these search engines are trying to monopolize the world.  Like Google is the biggest.  And Bing wants to be a top dog.

Somehow I think they are all conspiring to get the business for their particular group.  And I just wonder if the reason folks have trouble with Facebook is because of the browser, too.  Last week I couldn't get onto Facebook for days.  Thought it was my computer and discovered it wasn't when others started having a similar cloud of white cover their screens.

Sabotage.  Conspiracy.  Stolen words--ripped from the monitor right before my eyes.  My brain is not as young as it use to be.  When I write something, and it's put on the page, my brain deletes it.  Bob, my dear hubby, says that's a good thing.  Makes room for more new stuff.  Only problem is, if the website keeps gobbling up my gook, what reason is there to write it?

So I'm thinking I am the only one having this problem and I oughta quick whining and stop being a baby and acting like an old woman, and figure it out.  So I go to the "Help" section of Typepad, and there's a bevy of folks who were closed down in "mid save", and when uploading photos, and changing things.  They were reporting the 502 Error messages they were getting.  Bad Connection messages.  eeeeh...heebie jeebies.

H E L P!

Hey, all you techie folks out there:  If I switch to Firefox to accomodate Typepad, will that mean I have to change all my Feedburner settings and the links that other directories have so kindly placed in their blogsites and aggregators?  Anyone know if this is really worth the trouble?  Firefox...sounds like a sneaky creature that's just gonna burn up my words instead of eating them.  What say ye?

 

 

9-11 Reminder

Sabotage. 9-11 reminds us that evil still lurks among us. Grief revisits our hearts with renewed pain. Yet it is not eternal. Just as 9-11 restores the acts of heroism and self-lessness we witnessed in the attack on our faith, our freedom and our way of living, we see how Christ redeemed all who believe by His sacrifice on the cross. He has overcome death. Victory is something we all have in Christ. We need not fear. We survive and more. We are never alone.

As I Think About 9-11

I can't help but wonder why the "powers that be" are so inconsiderate to those who literally gave their lives trying to help the people officials are memorializing this weekend.

It saddens me that the First Responders are not invited...so many of them lost their brothers and sisters of service. Seems there is "no room at the inn". Not enough space. Whatever. Do you think they'd find room for them if another plane came crashing down on their heads? Think they'd seek the hope and comfort of the clergy whom they sought when the world turned upside down ten years ago?

I am so grateful that our church will be honoring the men and women who serve as First Responders in our community this week. I'm glad they will set aside time to pray for them. They need our prayers. They need our support. So many face perils we cannot even imagine. Every day.

Do you know a fireman, an EMT, a police officer? If so, send them a card; thank them for their service to your community. Send them a gift certificate to Starbucks, or McDonald's. They deserve a break today, for sure. selahV

For more on First Responders

ASTONISHED



I Call It FELLOWSHIP

Some folks call it "alone" time or "quiet" time.  I call it fellowship.  Sometimes I think about my friends in other places.  Places far away.  I'd love to drop in and have a cup of tea with them.  Fellowship.

It boggles my mind to consider how Adam and Eve got to walk with God in the cool of the evening before Eve listened to Satan and chose to disobey God and eat from the one tree in Eden that was off-limits.  My absolute favorite time of the day is when my husband comes in from work at around five o'clock.  I look forward to that every day.  Unless I call him or schedule a lunch with him, I don't see him at all.  I know he's out there somewhere.  I know I have his love.  But I have no clue if he's thinking about me as I'm thinking about him.

Not so with God.

God always has me on His mind.  Even with all the people calling on Him, petitioning, crying out, questioning, asking for guidance and protection-- God knows my every thought.  He knows where I am, what I'm doing, where I'll be twenty minutes from now and who I will be talking with.  I find that absolutely amazing.

The most amazing thing to me, is that I do not have to wait all day for God to come down in the cool of the evening.  I do not have to wait till the day is done, the work is over, and the sun sets over the horizon.  No; I get Him all the time.  He doesn't hide behind a newspaper, turn on the television, or hurry outside to mow the lawn or wash the car.  God is with me every single second of the day.  We fellowship all day.  I don't sit in a chair and set my timer, get frustrated when the phone rings, or annoyed that someone interrupts my "alone" time with my Father in Heaven.  Nope.

We talk with each other about everything, all day long.  I tell Him how happy I was that He gave me a good night's rest.  I thank Him for another day of living.  I praise Him the second I see His rainbow, and glory in every cumulus cloud.  I complain about the weather (He's heard it all).  I tell Him about all the folks who have problems--who need His intervention.  I am certain He hears me.  He speaks to me in scripture I've memorized and categorized in my mind.

Whenever I'm uncertain, "trust in the Lord with all your heart" comes to mind.  When I don't understand, "Lean not to your own understanding", comes to mind. Whenever I am frightened, "Fear not for I am with you," comes to mind.  Whenever I am anxious, "Consider the lilies," comes to mind.  Whenever I'm angry, "Forgive them comes to mind".  Whenever I fail, "His mercies are new every morning", comes to mind.  I could go on an on and on.  Instead, I think I'll sing the Lord a song.  It's the least I can do for the sufficiency of His grace and the fellowship of His presence each moment of the day.  Why don't you join me?

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.  You make me happy, when skies are gray.  You always know, Lord, how much I need You.  And You change my night to day.  selahV for Today

There's More to ME than SelahV TODAY

Yeah...that's right.  I find the more I write on SelahV Today, the more folks see me as that writer/person, blogger.  Some of you know I write devotionals, but few realize my interests are far-reaching.  When I started blogging in 2006, I had a dream to make a website that allowed me freedom to publish the stuff I like to write about I even hoped to one day have like-minded, joy-brimming, honey-coated, creative-soulmates contribute to my site (that's coming).

For me, one blog was rather limiting.  When God gives you an over-active creative brain, you simply can't put it all in one shoebox --(at one time I had 12 blogs...crazy).  The problem back in 2006 was the feed-features weren't available to me without enormous costs and a degree in html and website design.  Today...thanks to Typepad's user-friendly hosting, I am able to do tons of stuff I only hoped a webmaster could do. Sooooo...

Integrating my blogs together with rolling feeds in my sidebars seemed like a great solution.  That way you can see a pinch of most everything I write at various spots.  This is a work in progress.  I've been spending a great deal of time creating, organizing, and designing my dreams.  Amazingly...

since I began my quest to integrate my blogs in this fashion, my Google Analytics say my visits are up nearly 60%; and folks are staying 48% longer.  This means I am doing something that helps my readers.  And this is my goal at SelahV Today:

To bring uplifting, edifying encouragement, information, and devotional thoughts.  At times I am a bit opinionated when a subject riles me, impassions me, or disturbs me-- (I admit, on occasion, I have to repent and lean on God's new mercies each morning--good thing He's not finished with me).  But even with those times, I hope to reign in my ego and point us all back to the ultimate help we have as Christians...the LORD Jesus Christ.

I am particularly interested in expanding my Kids' Matters and Feminine Matters sliver of SelahV Today.  Would like to link up with more of those kind of blogs so we could connect others to the unbelievable creative gifts throughout the internet.  I go some places and it's simply bleh.  I go to others and think, WOW...I like this idea, technique, useful gardening craft, or artistic business.  So, it's my hope that you'll catch the drift of where I'm headed.  I'm excited about what God will do with me next as I use the gifts He has given me for His kingdom. 

I hope you'll take a bit of time and peruse the various parts of this site to see Daily Impact, Feminine Matters, Food Matters, Kids' Matters, and my weekly newspaper column (republished) at Common Matters. You'll see little picture/button/icons and below each are portions of my other blogs with links (will add more each week).  I'm hoping you know someone somewhere who'll like something I have to offer.  I yearn to be that virtuous woman.  I plan on working more and more on this as time goes on. 

"Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates." Proverbs 31:31

Let me know what you think.  Oh...and also, send my your links with cool posts you find while internet surfing.  Especially if they involve kids adventures, and interesting innovative women.     selahV and "ME"

work, Work, and WORK

Oh, my!  It's glorious to have a creative mind.  The muse just keeps buzzing about my brain like a bee on a thistle.  I am so enjoying what God is teasing out in my mind these days.  I look forward to waking up and dread going to sleep.  However, balance is an important thing to keep in mind.  Sleep is valuable.  It fuels the muse and has the imps dancing about my brain-cells with whimsey, inspiration and rejoicing.

I am so blessed.  I am so grateful to be me.  I am so tickled that the LORD created me to be me the way I am.

It's fun.

It's exciting.

It's amazing. 

It's mysterious and sometimes it baffles me.

Boggled.  I boggle my own mind with all God is to me and all He wants me to join Him in doing.  The energy He gives is the energy I seek.  In Him are all things and all things are because of Him.  No, I'm not blind.  I see my flaws and limitations.  But those are the things God uses to keep me welded to His side, yielded to His hands.

Are you happy working today?  Are you busy with this or that and running a thousand miles a minute to get where you were yesterday?  Are you running on empty?  Are your plans falling apart?  Guess what?  God knows exactly where you're at and what you're doing and wants to help you.  Yes, He does.  Isn't that exciting?

"Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established." Proverbs 16:3 ESV

Some translations say, commit your: "whatever you do"-- your efforts, your actions.  In the final analysis, it's best to commit your entire being-- right brain, left brain --all of you to God.  Ya just can't go wrong that way.  SelahV for Today till later.