What image do we project?

 Have you ever stopped to think about what image you project to others?  Think about this - we have three images:  a perceived image, a projected image, and an actual image.  What's the difference?

Our perceived image is how others see us.  Our projected image is the way we desire others to see us. Our actual image is who we really are.  While our actual image can be hidden from others, it it fully visible to God.  And, it is how we will be revealed before God at the judgement seat.

2 Corinthians 5:10 (NKJV):  For we all must appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

In other words, how we have lived our life here on earth, is what we will be judged by in front of the judgement seat of God.  What is the difference from the above?  Think about this - Jesus was misunderstood, falsely accused, identified as a drunkard and glutton, a heretic, and even accused of satan using him.  He was rejected. His perceived image was unfavorable in the eyes of many.

Jesus' stepbrothers wanted Him to 'prove' Himself - and pressured Jesus to live out a projected image.  "you say you are the Son of God; show your miracles to the world and prove it!"  But yet, Jesus' actual image is quite different from what many perceived, for he is the visible image of the invisible God.  Jesus' perceived image isn't what endured beyond His death and resurrection.  What endured, is His actual image.

So sit back and think about who you are.  Who are you when around others?  When around your friends; around your family - are you the same person, and are you giving a perceived, projected, or an actual image?  Seriously, I want you to stop and think about this.  I did.

All of us want people to think good of us.  I'm one of those people.  I don't want people to know my bad days or my bad thoughts (well, obviously you do, if you read in here!).  But I don't want to be known by those.  I don't try to pretend I'm better than anyone else (I'm definitely not!) and I don't want others to look at me and think that I'm boastful or prideful (you know how pride and I fight all the time!) but I want them to see the REAL me.  Broken, bruised, yes - but one who has surrendered their life to the One who can save me.  It doesn't mean I don't fall at times; but when I seek Him, and ask forgiveness, I know that He will help me give up the things that try to take me down and will set my feet on His firm found dation of solid ground.  

We have seen what pride has done to some people; and sadly they don't realize that people reject them for their pride.  We all know people like that.  What can we do with those people?  We pray for them, that their eyes will be opened, and we forgive them for this projected image.

We have seen what people do when they want others to think highly of them - when in reality, we know they are not who they think they are (even in their minds).  

Why can't we be the person we are?  What causes us to be afraid of who we are and don't want others to see it?  The thing is, when judgement comes, God sees all.  Who are you, really?  Be that person! Don't hide behind who you think you are or want to be.  Don't be 'like' someone else, be yourself!

Ok - I had that on my mind because of my reading for today so wanted to get it out there before I forgot and moved on. So now that you have skimmed through all that.... 

We had our Revelation study last night at church and it went well.  Because we don't get home until about 8:45PM (past our bedtime!) we stay up another hour or so just to relax and get ourselves ready for bed.  And what happened this morning?  I woke up at 3:15AM, but was able to go back to sleep - after all, I had 45 minutes more, at least, right?  I woke up next at 5:20AM!  So I'm having to skip some of my reading this morning so that I can type in here and get on the work computer (which I already have up).  (So am I perceiving, projecting or actual?)  Trust me - this is me, running around like a chicken with its head cut off because I'm running behind my 'schedule'!

Today is work; still trying to learn aspects of PowerPoint. I know some basics, but I need to learn more. Watching YouTube videos to hopefully find the answers I need on how to fix a PowerPoint slide.  Yesterday wasn't that busy so was able to watch some (then got bored and turned it off).  Today I'm not sure what all I will have to do; I know I have 3 meetings I need to move as soon as I can.  Was waiting on responses of availability when I signed off last night.  My workout is at 5PM so no rushing around there. Then we are taking a grandson out for his birthday.  Nothing fancy; probably will just go to Mercer's not far from him.  Housecleaners are coming today so I need to do pick up off the couch and straighten a few things.  I think this time I will not have this room cleaned; my amazon boxes are stacking up (I have no place to store the items inside for now - Christmas gifts).  So - for at least two months he can skip this room, as we have done before.  The only thing it really needs is the carpet done but I have boxes all over it so may as well skip it.

And with all that - I need to get off here and head to the work computer.  Once I sign in and skim messages, I'll get dressed as the housecleaners will be here between 8-8:30AM I think.  They do a great job cleaning, for sure, since hubby won't clean and won't let me (except when he's gone and I can sweep and mop the kitchen floor!).  I'm usually embarrassed things are messy, but they don't get touched except once a month.

Today is my youngest son's birthday - 51 years old... doesn't seem possible.  Grateful God has answered my prayers and protected him all these years; he has done some really stupid things.  As we all have, but.... and I'll leave that there. Happy birthday, son, just in case you read here.

Blessings!

Is it this crazy weather we are having?

 I woke with another dull headache at 3AM this morning.  No, I did not get up and stay up.  I told myself I was going to go back to sleep, but I did not.  Laid there and all kinds of thoughts were going through my head.  I arose before 4AM, but only because I was starting to toss and turn and hubby was still asleep.  I grabbed an excedrin on my way to my room, hoping my headache would go away.  It has not entirely gone away yet, but hopefully will go that way. I do have my coffee so the caffeine should help as well. 

So good to see my oldest son and a grandson yesterday morning.  They happened to be in the area and stopped by for a little bit.  Always good to see them.  Hoping they were able to get their little mission accomplished yesterday. 

Yesterday was a busy day at work and I spent nearly the entire day trying to get these board meetings on the calendar for 2026.  I think it was around 3PM I just sent them out. I was wiped out.  I also got the Prep meetings scheduled; will hold off on the 'review' because I don't think this board needs them.  I may check with my male boss, though, just to make sure.  Come December I may be creating MORE board meetings as if CMS agrees, we will be taking on another board.  That would give me three to manage. Whoo hoo. Doesn't that sound like fun?  But then, I love having a responsibility that is mine.  That responsibility?  Making sure a clean PowerPoint deck is in the folder for that meeting. Making sure minutes are created and inserted in that folder.  Making sure all the invites have been responded to. Making sure we will have a quorum of board members attending (we cancelled August's meeting for one board because we couldn't get enough board members at one time) (that's what happens when you have doctors on the board; they are all very busy!).

It's Tuesday and I'm not sure if my daughter is coming over here or I'm going there.  We had 'fun' last Tuesday when she came over and baked.  I cannot remember when my daughter and I got together to bake. We didn't do it when she was growing up...  probably because I didn't do much baking back then.  I do a lot of baking now because I give it away. Yes, September and October might be a little early to do baking and put in the freezer, but I usually have to bake more throughout November and December because I give it away before the holidays.  I don't care.  My love gift is giving to others and although some of what I make isn't healthy.... it sure is good.  And hubby has taken to the peach muffins - he likes to have one every morning with his coffee he says.  And you know what?  I'll make him peach muffins.  I'll make him strawberry muffins if he wants them.  

At our age, we should enjoy every bite of what we eat and not be concerned about cholesterol or sugar or anything else - right?   He hasn't dropped any more weight, and is eating (trust me, he's eating!), but he isn't gaining weight either.  His kidney doctor appointment is Friday.  That will probably require more tests from THIS doctor to figure out what is going on. But, Dr. Mark has sent this new doctor hubby's blood tests and other reports and his own comments, so we are hoping that it will only require a test or two in order to get an answer as to what is going on within his body.  Still haven't heard from Dr. Mark but think he may be waiting until this doctor examines hubby.  It's hard at time to keep a positive thought process going when hubby is so scared.  Is it lying when I say everything will be ok?  

I Chronicles 17:16 (NIV):  Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said: "Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that You have brought me thus far?

I love to read I and II Kings, I and II Chronicles because they tell the stories of the kings in a shorter version.  It's all wrapped up in there.  I love to read I and II Samuel by themselves, as well.  But in this verse, to wrap it up in a bow....  David decided he had a beautiful mansion and felt guilty that the Lord God did not have a mansion.  So David purposed in his heart to build God a mansion, even greater than his own.  He tells Nathan, the prophet, and Nathan tells him to do what his heart tells him to do.  But then.

Nathan leaves and then God visits Nathan and has a talk with him.  So Nathan goes back to King David and tells him that in all the years that God had lived in the tent after leaving Egypt and bringing the people to Israel, the Promised Land, never did God tell any of them to build him a mansion.  And King David could not build the Lord God a mansion either.  BUT, his offspring, his son, Solomon, would build the temple for the Lord God.  David was humbled that God was saying his son would be on the throne after him.  So David went into the place he sat before God and worshipped Him.  And in David's humbleness, he cried out to the Lord... "Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that You have brought me thus far?"

Have you ever stopped and asked God, "Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that You have brought me thus far?"   Have you ever sat back and looked over your life - the good and the bad - and thanked God for bringing you through those times when you probably should not have come through it? Has He brought you through journeys you never should have taken?  Have you ever paused to thank Him for bringing you to where you are today?

And what about your family?  It doesn't matter if you or your family are successful; are you their example to follow Jesus?  Do they know you love Jesus, even when you make mistakes?  Do they know that you will - even occasionally - stop and send up a prayer for help, because you know you can not do this life alone?  You know people are praying for you - do your children know you are praying for them?  

I get it - sometimes it is hard to open up and make yourself vulnerable, especially when you know people do not believe in God for one reason or another - they are angry, they have been hurt, they didn't get their own way - so they reject God.  But you, you know God. If you are reading this blog, you know that God is Lord of my life.  I may not share openly with others unless I'm in 'like crowd', because, like you, I am a bit shy/awkward and not sure of what to say that I won't have to defend. But when I know I am right, I will stand my ground. (In fact, my older brother and I had this discussion just yesterday and I just told him that if he didn't do something, he would not be going to heaven.  And it isn't the first time we have hit on this topic.)  I'm not judging anyone.  I do my own battles to get my life in line with what I believe.  You can't keep putting off surrendering to Jesus.  One of these days it will be too late and when it is time - you won't have a choice.  You won't have that final second (more than likely) to say "Jesus, forgive me!"  My prayer is that all my loved ones will find Jesus before I pass away.  

So if I live to 103, they have plenty of time, right?  But what if I don't?  My heart is broken over family members who have literally turned their backs on God for various selfish reasons.  Isn't there always two sides to the story?  But the bottom line is, God is, and always was, and always will be - in control. But He also gives us free will to do and to think and to act as we want.  That is why many of us (me included) are such a mess at times.

Oh that all my family would love Jesus and follow Him!  That would be a parent's greatest joy!  So we continue to pray for those who are like lost sheep.  The Shepherd still goes out to find them, and will bring them home, when they are willing to be found.

The Lord has brought us 'thus far'.... are we humbled? Are we grateful?  Are we surrendered?  We never know which sickness, which age, which accident, which problem - will take us from this life.  God has brought us 'thus far'.... where will you go from here?

Blessings!

Yesterday was a good day.

 I got so much done yesterday and it really did feel good.  I didn't head out of the house until after 9AM. I had checked to see what time everything opened so that I didn't waste a lot of time.  I actually said a prayer as I started out that God will direct my path, give me clear and easy lines and help me get everything accomplished.  He did.

I first went to UPS.  NO ONE was standing in the Amazon return line so was able to get in and out in just a few minutes.  From there I thought I would go to Kohls to send off another package, but I wasn't paying attention and turned at a light too soon - and found myself at Winco, where I also wanted to go.  I needed to pick up more jars for salsa and pickles, plus a few other things.  I had time - so went ahead and did my Winco run...and still had a little time.  A couple blocks later I was at Kohls and NO ONE was in the Amazon return line again.... so took care of that, AND did a little shopping while there.  Decided to go on over to Cracker Barrell cause I wanted to look through the store as well.  I walked around until my friend arrived and then we had a great lunch.  I got the chicken tenders - and they were really good! - and I couldn't eat them all (so brought home - hubby had them for his dinner).  After my friend went back to work, I did a bit of shopping there, and then headed on over to Michaels, where I needed to pick up a foam cushion.  Then on to JCP at the mall.  That one I figured I would be standing in for awhile - but there were only 3 people ahead of me!  Got that taken care of, walked around a little bit to see if there was anything I absolutely needed (I have a credit - I need to use it, right?) but found nothing so left.  Did a quick run down to the daughter's to check on something and then finally made my way back home.  Put groceries away; heated up dinner for hubby; made two batches of gingersnaps; and I was done for the day.  Crochet'd a little while hubby slept in his chair.  Neighbor text'd he had left the garage door open again... he had gone that way to get the mail.  

So that was my day yesterday and I feel I really accomplished something and got a lot done.  And it felt so very good being out alone and just me and God.  He answered my prayers to get things done quickly and got all I wanted done.  Yesterday was a very good day. But, alas, today I am back at work.  Last time I looked - 135 emails... of which perhaps only 10 pertain to me.  I will hit those early this morning.

2 Samuel 7:18 (NKJV):  "Then King David went in and sat before the Lord; and he said, "Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?"

Have you ever taken the time to sit before the Lord and just ask Him 'Who am I, Lord?' and wonder why such good things have come to you by His hand?  In the above scripture David was praising the Lord, for he had been told that his, King David's, kingdom would reign forever (as his generations  followed in the Lord's obedience.  But, alas, they did not, beginning with Solomon himself!)

There is a song out titled 'Who Am I" by Casting Crowns, using those words as well, and whenever I hear it, I often stop and ponder 'Who am I' to God, that He would bless me with all that I have.  Here is just the first verse of it - look it up to get the full effect of the words.

"Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth / would care to know my name, would care to feel my hurt? / Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star / would choose tot light the way for my ever wandering heart?

Not because of who I am, but because of what You've done / Not because of what I've done, but because of who You are.

I am a flower quickly fading, here today and gone tomorrow / A wave tossed in the ocean (ocean), a vapor in the wind / Still, You hear me when I'm calling, Lord, You catch me when I'm falling / And You've told me who I am / I am Yours, I am Yours."

I often wonder 'who do I think I am' when I have been blessed with so much.... and I am reminded that I belong to Him who provides all things.  We have a place to live, a job, food on the table, cars to drive, children and grandchildren and great grandchildren,  who I would give my life for.  We all have been blessed with so much..... but do we stop and thank Him for all these blessings.... Oh, I do daily, many times, for He has been so good to me.  And it isn't because of anything I've done; I wouldn't give myself the time of day many days.... yet I am still the 'apple of His eye' and I know that I am loved, even when I am feeling unloved by others.  I am loved by the One who created the heavens and the earth; the One who created me, who knew me before I was even formed.

And He loves you.  He gives you good things; even when you don't always think they are good.  He is faithful in all things.  He is good.  Take a moment and just tell Him 'Thank You".  

Blessings!