Tag Archives: Write 28 Day Challenge

Favorite~Day 27~ Write 28 Day Challenge

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Day 27: Favorite
Singing My Way Through Write 28 Days Challenge
http://www.anitaojeda.com

MY Favorite Things

“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things”
~Julie Andrews~

Birds at the feeders and sunsets on rivers
Layers of blankets and a store that delivers
Little boys’ laughter while playing on swings
These are a few of MY favorite things

Butterscotch brownies and leaves dancing on air
Friends at my table and stories to share
Colorful patterns of butterfly wings
These are a few of MY favorite things

Kids all together and bells in the steeple
Cards in the mailbox to my special people
Sparkles on lakes that the sun always brings
These are a few of MY favorite things

When the wind blows
When the word stings
When leaving makes me sad
I simply remember MY favorite things
And then I don’t feel as bad.

“Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-
think on such things.”
Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

Problem~Day 25~Write 28 Days Challenge

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Day 25: Problem
Singing My Way Through Write 28 Days
http://www.anitaojeda.com

“When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD, he brought me into a spacious place.” Psalm 118:5 (NIV)

The Problem With Goats

“No, you can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometime you’ll find
You get what you need
~The Rolling Stones~

We often have summertime residents who move into the field next to our house. Oh, they’re cute, keep the weeds trimmed down, and spend most of their time quietly soaking up the sun, but they also can be a big problem.

Our goat neighbors are very susceptible to “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence” mentality. They stare longingly at our lawn and hosta plants that are just slightly out of reach on the opposite side of the wire that hems them in. Guess what? Knowing they’re not supposed to cross over doesn’t stop a goat with a desire for what he wants. And so, with twists and turns they somehow get their heads, horns and all, through the square openings, push with all their might until they can just reach the forbidden blades of grass or lush leaves and all is right in their world…or so they think.

This is where the problem comes in to play. At sometime, most days I’m startled by loud, and I mean “help, I’m dying” loud, bleating that can stand your hair on end and make your heart beat like a drum. There’s no need to look out the window because I know exactly what’s wrong, the horns that went out the fence can’t go back in. The head-first pursuit of “greener grass” has left a goat friend stuck in a tight spot.

Ever been a goat? Yep, me too. See something we want that looks better than what we already have, ignore the boundaries, dive right in to get a taste of what we desire. Maybe we’ve spent too much money, gone a step too far, compromised, given in, taken too much, whatever it is, we eventually find ourselves trapped, tangled up, and stuck in a tight spot. That’s when we need to cry out for help.

“When I was desperate, I called out,
and GOD got me out of a tight spot.
GOD’s angel sets up a circle
of protection around us while we pray.
Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see-
how good GOD is.
Blessed are you who run to him.”
Psalm 34:6-8 (MSG)

When the goats wail, I go to them and attempt to help free them from the trap of their own making. That can be a problem again. It isn’t always easy. They are stubborn and often fight me even though it’s exactly what they need. Ever been a goat? Yep, me too.

It’s hard for us to acknowledge that sometimes following our desires for what we want leaves us in a tangled, desperate mess of our own making, too. We’re “goat-headed” that way. But it is often those very desperate-feeling times that we learn it is God we really need to satisfy our longing. Grass is greener over there? There’s something better, taste God. Have to have that shiny, new thing? Look again, see God. 

The Rolling Stones were right.  We don’t always get what we want (and we shouldn’t always try to), but when we call out, pray, and run to our good God, we will find exactly what we need.

Beliefs~Day 6~Write 28 Day Challenge

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Day 6: Beliefs
Singing My Way Through Write 28 Days
http://www.anitaojeda.com

“So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.” Romans 10:17 (NLT)

I Believe, But…

“Thou has said to walk on water
But I stumble in the sand
Oh, to run and not grow weary
Jesus come and hold my hand

For I believe, yes I believe
Please help my unbelief
For I believe, yes I believe
Oh, Lord
Please help my unbelief”
~Jeff Berry Band~

There are situations in the Bible that I can’t or don’t want to picture myself in. Ones like offering my long awaited, only child as a sacrifice to God or stepping unwavering into a fiery furnace. However, some moments captured by the writers of the Word seem to be stories taken from my own life. 

This is a familiar encounter in which Peter and I have much in common:

“Then Peter called to him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Yes, come,’ Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. ‘Save me, Lord!’ he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. ‘You have so little faith,’ Jesus said. ‘Why did you doubt me:’”
Matthew 14:28-31 (NLT)

And then, there’s the concerned father:

“‘How long has this been happening?’ Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, ‘Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.’ ‘What do you mean, If I can?’ Jesus asked. ‘Anything is possible if a person believes.’ The father instantly cried out, ‘I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!’”
Mark 9:21-24 (NLT)

Peter and the boy’s father knew just what to do in their situations. They went to Jesus. I do the same but unfortunately, I also share their belief problem. Way too often I, like Peter, take my eyes off of Jesus and focus instead on my circumstances and feelings, losing my footing as my faith takes a plunge. Or, when life throws me here and there I ask Jesus for help knowing He’s the only One who can, and yet find myself wondering if there really is anything He can do. 

“You have so little faith. Why do you doubt me? What do you mean, if I can?”

And I cry out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

I wish those words didn’t live in me anymore and I’m not sure how long it will take until they don’t. But this I do know, we have to keep “climbing over the side of the boat” to get to Jesus. Look, He doesn’t leave Peter drowning in his doubt, rather, He reaches out for him. And He doesn’t quit on the questioning father, but heals his son instead. The same is true for you and me. When we “stumble in the sand” rather than walk on water, we can take all our doubts, questions, and yes even our unbeliefs to Jesus. He didn’t give up on them, the other disciples, “Doubting” Thomas, or any of those He encountered that needed help overcoming their unbelief. And the Good News is, He won’t give up on us, either. 

“Promise me Thou won’t forsake me
For my life depends on Thee
Engrave it on my heart reminding
That Your truth has set me free

Thou art great and full of light
That no eye can yet unreel
Please give to me only through your might
A heart that longs to kneel

For I believe, yes I believe
Please help my unbelief
For I believe, yes I believe
Oh, Lord
Please help my unbelief
~Jeff Berry Band~