Share A Cup

With Me
Blog Posts of
Elizabeth Hardcastle

1
 FORWARD

This booklet is a compilation of blog posts of Elizabeth Hardcastle from

June 8, 2008 through August 30, 2009. The posts were not obtained from a
private journal, rather from public domain via the internet.

Elizabeth Hardcastle loved to spend time with women listening to their life
situations, praying, and sharing God’s Word with them. Her blogs told
about her life and some of the struggles that she endured.

My inspiration to compile Elizabeth’s blog posts is from her post dated May
12, 2009 on ‘Time and Priorities’. Elizabeth gets to the heart of what each
woman faces … how to spend your time, how to prioritize the many things
in your life, and what really matters in life.

As your turn the pages of this booklet, be prepared to read the words of
wisdom through the everyday life of Elizabeth Hardcastle. Spend time
pondering what she has to say and how those words speak to you personally.

But first, get yourself a cup of coffee or tea, and join Elizabeth through her
writings as only she can say …“Share a cup with me!”

Susan N. Meyer
Her Sister-in-Christ

Source: http://shareacupwithme.blogspot.com/

2
 INTRODUCTION

Elizabeth Hardcastle’s blog opens with a beautiful and inspirational

message …

My Perfect Cup

“Along time ago God taught me that He had assigned me my cup (Psalm
16:5) and that He is perfectly capable of filling it to overflowing (Psalm 23).
All I have to do is abide.

At times this is easy, but most times I struggle to fill my cup myself. My
prayer is that through this blog, I can comfort others with the comfort I
have received!

Blessings to all!”

Elizabeth Hardcastle

3
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Work in Progress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
The Long Awaited 2nd Post . . . . . . . . . . 7
A Line in the Sand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
The “Thoughs” of Life . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
God Came Home From Work . . . . . . . . . . 11
Joshua 12: 8-24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Ammo for the War . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
King Number One, Come On Down . . . . . . . 15
Today . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Say Cheese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
The Armor of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
The Possibilities Are Endless . . . . . . . . . . 20
Daily Bread . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Day of Beautification . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
My Lungs - Can’t live with ‘em, Can’t live without ‘em . 29
Verses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Time and Priorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
“ …And the greatest of these is love” . . . . . . . 34

4
Friday, June 6, 2008

A Work In Progress
This whole blogging thing is new to me. Hopefully I will get better as time progresses.
Mmmmm, what to write on my first post. I could do the "50 things about me" list.
Okay, that is what I will do.

1.) My maiden name is Berchelmann

2.) I have been married to Mike for almost 19 years
3.) I have over 50 coffee cups
4.) I like coffee
5.) I have 3 sons
6.) I have 2 dogs
7.) Over the years we have had at least 10 rodent type pets
8.) I am a pack rat
9.) I have 3 sisters (Shout out to the girls!!)
10.) I have 1 brother
11.) I have Lupus
12.) I can be extremely silly
13.) I don’t like to have my own pity party, but will love you through yours
14.) One of my sons plays the electric guitar, the other plays the drums
15.) I don’t live in a quiet house
16.) I make friends easily
17.) I keep friends forever
18.) I am not good with boundaries but am working on it
19.) My favorite book is the Bible
20.) My Grandmother was the most influential person in my life
21.) I miss her terribly
22.) I enjoy my sisters
23.) My brother is okay too
24.) I love to play games
25.) I will never buy plastic rims glasses again
26.) I color my hair
27.) Actually, Deb colors my hair (Shout out to Deb)
28.) My husband thinks I am cute
29.) My husband has at least 6 different names for everyone in our family
30.) In the fall I am a deer hunting widow
31.) I love ministering to women

5
32.) One of my dogs is a Yorkie named Sadie Mae
33.) The other is a white Lab named Gracie Lou
34.) I have never surfed
35.) I am turning into a health nut
36.) I turned 44 in April
37.) I celebrate my birthday for a week and call it Lizapalooza
38.) I have a princess complex
39.) I love my boys (all 4 of them) like crazy
40.) I wear a size 12 and am okay with that
41.) I have a lot of favorite Bible verses
42.) I love Crocs
43.) I love watches
44.) Teenagers are challenging
45.) I have 2 of them
46.) I have always wanted to be a wife and mother
47.) I love my own cooking
48.) My favorite color is Lime Green
49.) I homeschool an 11th grader, a 10th grader and a 5th grader
50.) I am hopeless in love with Jesus

That was silly I know, but it gave me a good practice run at blogging.

Talk to you soon....

6
Sunday, July 20, 2008

The Long Awaited 2nd Post

God is good!!! I love seeing Him answer prayer! He cares about even the smallest, day
to day stuff we deal with. A friend and I were laughing this afternoon about how we
pray and pray for something and when God moves we are stunned and amazed. "It
worked, It really worked!!" God wants a relationship with us. He wants to answer our
prayers.

I don't know about you guys, but I am tired of this mediocre Christian existence. I
want to live by faith not by sight. Trusting in God to meet all my needs according to
His Riches in Christ Jesus. There is so much more out there for us. Let us go before the
Throne of Grace with Confidence!!

Hopefully my next post will come sooner!!

7
Sunday, July 27, 2008

A Line in the Sand

Everyone has them. A place that says I will go this far and no farther, or you may come
this far and no farther. I am standing at that line.

My teenagers are standing there with me. I am perplexed. I know what I think I should
do, but then I will be hated and so very unpopular. Here is the story. My boys want to
see "The Dark Knight". I did what I do every time we want to see a movie. I check out
Screenit.com and family.org. Enter the line in the sand. My line has always been
absolutely no F bombs and no G-d's. Well guess what. DK has the latter. Everyone
tells me you can’t hear the G-d. "If it is there, we didn’t hear it." I am usually not so
wishy washy. This is the movie of the year and our whole family has been waiting to see
it. "Please Mom, Please" AHHHHHHH! I don't do the role of bad guy well. I want to
be the fun one.

Pray with me as I seek God’s peace in this area. Isn't it great that He cares about the
smallest thing?

8
Monday, August 11, 2008

The "Thoughs" of Life

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vine,

Though the Olive tree fails and the fields produce no food,

Though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables
me to go on the heights." -Habakkuk 3:17-19

This was the scripture God had for me this morning. So I began to pray. Lord what are
the "thoughs" of my life. So here is a partial list.

Though I have been sick since I was 8 yrs old....

Though I have scars on most of my body...

Though I cannot bear children...

Though my marriage is not perfect....

Though my children aren't either...

Though friends betray and strangers judge...

Though I have stupid food allergies...

Though I have lupus...

Trust me the list could go on and on. The "thoughs" keep coming and I often wonder if
they will ever stop. The "thoughs have the potential to weigh me down and steal my joy.
I ask Him over and over, " will I ever be 'though' free?"

9
Then He whispers to me, "My grace is sufficient for you and my strength is made perfect
in weakness." I must learn to write the "yets, therefores and I cans" across my thoughs.
"Yet I will rejoice in the Lord!" Yet I will be joyful in God my Savior." "Therefore, there
is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." "I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me." Will the "thoughs" rule my life? Will they decide my level of
joy? No! Why? Because in all things "we are more than conquerors through Him who
loved us!!" (Romans 8:1) "For I am convinced that neither life nor death...will be able to
separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 35-39)
The "yets, therefores and I cans" far outweigh and out shine the "thoughs". So here is my
question to you. Can you rejoice despite the "thoughs" in your life? Take some time and
prayerfully list them out, then lay them @ the feet of Jesus and leave them there. Pick
up the "yets, therefore and I cans"! Make the Sovereign Lord your strength for only He
can make your feet like the feet of a deer and enable you to go on the heights!!

10
Tuesday, August 26, 2008

God came home from work....

My friend Alex and her 4 yr old Isaiah were over the other day. He was sitting on the
bench with his mama and I had my back to the door. My front door opened and I asked
"who is it Isaiah, who is here." And he calmly stated that God had just come home from
work. My husband was quite flattered to be called God and he and Isaiah did
"knuckles". Mike praised Isaiah for teaching these women to respect their men! On and
on it went. When we finally got Mike and his now over inflated ego out of the room,
we asked Isaiah why Mr. Hardcastle was God. "He has a beard, and God has a beard."
was the answer. Pretty simple.

This was just going to be a cute story blog, but now I think I am going to preach a
little. I have been learning a lot about the respect men need from us as wives. Now
maybe God is a bit of an over reaction to respect, but there is some lesson to be learned.
Mike did nothing to be called God. He didn't part the Red Sea, heal anyone or give sight
to the blind. He simply has a beard. Why do we think we need a reason to respect our
men? We as wives are called to respect them, not just when we think they are worthy,
but even when "they just have a beard." The world is hard on them and they are beat
when they come home. Let us strive to greet them in a manner that says "God just came
home from work!”

Have a great day!!

11
Sunday, January 11, 2009

Joshua 12:8-24
I can compose my own list of kings. Kings that have settled on my Promised Land.
Kings that need defeating one at a time. Kings like: rejection, idolatry, sarcasm,
bitterness and hypocrisy. The list could go on and on. Therefore, I am at war. These so
called kings have reigned over my inheritance long enough. My Promise Land has been
invaded and God has given me this passage as a declaration of war. Not all of them at
once, that would mean overwhelming defeat, but one king at a time.

It is time to armor up (Eph.6) and let God bring about the victory. Having done
everything to stand!! It is Gods battle. I cannot get victory over them or they would
already be gone. I am diving into the Word and finding out what God says about these
kings and one by one I will see them defeated. 2Peter 1:3-4 tells us "His divine power
has given us EVERYTHING we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of
Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us His
very great and precious promises, SO that through them you may participate in the
divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."

You know what that tells me? It tells me everything I need to defeat these kings is in
God’s Word. I want to live the victory. Do you?? Join me if you will. Prayerfully make
a list and set out on a journey of truth and claiming our rightful inheritance!!

Pray for me as I pray for you!!

12
Sunday, January 25, 2009

Ammo for the war....

These are some of the verses God has given me in my battle against my kings.

*Ephesians 6:10-17*
"Finally be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the ful armor of God so
that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against
flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of
this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be
able to stand your ground and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm
then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist with the breastplate of
righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the
gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can
extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the
sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. "It is time to armor up!! Our only
defensive weapon is the Word!! Get in there and learn it!!

*2 Peter 1:3-4*
"His Divine Power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our
knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has
given us His very great and precious promises so that through them you may participate
in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."

We are able to participate in His Divine Nature through His word!! If that isn't
enough, we also can escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires! If that
doesn't make you want to dive in nothing will.

13
*Colossians 2:9-10*
"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given
fullness in Christ who is the head over every power and authority."

All these kings on my inheritance, Jesus is their head. It is all about Him, the battle is
His!!

*Colossians 2:13-15*
"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God
made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written
code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us: He took it
away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities he made
a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."

They are already disarmed, and publicly embarrassed. Why do I let them reign exactly??
Freedom is on the horizon!! The battle is the Lords!!

14
Wednesday, February 4, 2009

King Number One, Come on Down!!!!

Through a series of events and a few Godly people, God has revealed my 1st king to
begin defeating. The king wrongfully reigning on my inheritance is FEAR! Fear is real
and very bossy in my life. He comes disguised in many ways. He never shows himself as
the demoralizing, oppressive vermin that he is. He is tricky and deceitful. I am afraid he
will be the hardest king to "de-throne"! ;-) I doubt he will go down without a fight,
therefore I will armor up daily and pick up my only defensive weapon (God’s word) and
prepare for battle.

God has given me Psalm 34 to lead the charge against fear. Verse 4 in particular! "I
sought the Lord and He answered me. He delivered me from all my fears." Do you see
that?? He delivered me from most of my fears? No! He delivered me from some of my
fears? No! He delivered me from all my fears!! All my fears, not one left standing! I
can’t wait!!

15
Friday, February 6, 2009

Today

Today I am sitting in the Dr’s office for 8 hours. My youngest son is being tested for
Dyslexia and Central Auditory Processing Disorder. That’s my baby you know. I am
just a little mother bearish about my children. He is back there with strangers and they
are making him uncomfortable, and I am not allowed to go back there. Not my idea of a
good time.

After the 1st 4 hours we took him to lunch. He said it wasn’t too bad and she was
pretty nice. He said she didn’t care if he spelled words wrong as long as he tried, but she
wasn’t allowed to tell him what one word meant. How rude la, la, la!!

I love that child. He is such a gift to us as a family. Pray for him if you think about it.
I am hopeful that this will be the beginning of a plan of attack for his reading
difficulties. He is hopeful as well. I will be sure to let everyone know what we find out.
He is being so brave. I am proud of him.

More later.....

16
Monday, February 9, 2009

Say Cheese!

Okay, so this is totally off the subject of the Kings in my life, but God showed me
something really cool today and I must share.

When I was having my quiet time this morning, the devotional book I love (Streams in
the Desert) was about stillness. It compared the stillness needed as we sit before a
photographer to the stillness needed as we sit before God. You see, as we sit for a
portrait we must be still and quiet so we can hear the photographer tell us how to move
to get the best image, or likeness, possible on the film.

The same is true of God. We are daily being transformed into the image of
Jesus.(Romans 8:29) We need times of stillness in order to hear that still small voice
that tells us which was to move so the image of Jesus appears in us clearly to others. In
the flurry of activity called today, are you taking time to be still?

Psalm 46:10 says " Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the
nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

See, God doesn't need our activity to be exalted. He has that covered. He desires our
stillness before Him so He can gently lift our chin just so and say " Now hold that,
because in this light, you look just like My Son!"

Say Cheese!!

17
Wednesday, February 11, 2009

The Armor of God!

" Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God
so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not
against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the
powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be
able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand."

My prayer today for myself, my family and my friends is that we will be all armored up.
When we 1st came to Calvary, the leader of the life group we attended told me that she
and her husband "put on their armor daily." They prayed each piece into place. That
really impacted me. I have been praying my armor on since then. So here is my prayer for
us today....

Let us all stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around our waist. Jesus is the
way, the truth and the light. When we know the truth, we are set free. There is freedom
only in Christ. May we know the truth, walk in truth and speak the truth in love.

Let us secure the breastplate of righteousness over our hearts. We must guard our
hearts, because out of them flow the wellsprings of life. We must be careful what comes
in and even more careful what comes out. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth
speaks. 1 Corinthians 1:30 tells us Jesus is our righteousness! It is all about Him.

May our feet be fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Let the
peace that passes understanding guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Jesus is our
peace. (Eph.2:14) Since they are the "shoes" of peace, let’s walk it out. Taking our peace
with us and sharing it will everyone.

18
"In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all
the flaming arrows of the evil one." I don't know about you guys, but I want to
extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Lord, increase our faith!!

"Take the helmet of salvation..." Father, give us the mind of Christ. Help us to take
every thought captive! May your peace guard our minds!!

Our only defensive weapon. The Sword of the Spirit! Be in the word, know the word,
use the word. God has given us everything we need for life and godliness in His word.
Take time daily to ingest the Word of God. Spend time seeking out His promises and
pray!

Pray for me as I pray for you!!

19
Monday, February 23, 2009

The Possibilities are Endless

"Nothing is impossible for God."-Luke 1:37

We serve a God of possibilities. He has given us Everything we need for life and
Godliness. Because of that and that alone, the possibilities are endless.

It is possible for me to be anxious for nothing.

It is possible for me to walk by faith not by sight.
It is possible for me to bring every thought captive.
It is possible for me to be holy as He is holy.
It is possible for me to have strongholds demolished.
It is possible for me to love my enemies and bless those who persecute me.

I could go on and on....Do you see it?? Do you really see that all Gods promises are
"YES" in Christ Jesus? Do you see the only thing limiting us from living and walking in
victory, despite our circumstances, is us? God Has Given Us Everything We Need For
Life And Godliness!! Not will give. Not might give. Not even should give. Has given!!
It is done! We have all we need!! The real question is ... are we going to accept the
gift?? By faith are we going to reach out and take the very "great and precious promises"
and apply them to our lives? Easier said than done, huh!

I use what I call the "Ask, Seek and Knock" Method. Matthew 7:7 tells us "Ask and it
will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

1st- I ask. Prayer changes things. And if it doesn't change "things", it changes us. I take
my struggles to God and ask him to reveal His purpose and will.

20
2nd - I seek. I get into the Word. Everything we need for every imaginable situation is
in there. Remember...."His divine power has given us everything we need for life and
godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.
Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through
them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world
caused by evil desires."-2Peter 1:3-4

3rd - I knock. I take the scriptures God gives me and I memorize them, I quote them
and I pray them back to God. He is faithful!!

Through prayer, the Word and Faith in my powerful God, I believe the possibilities are
truly endless!!

21
Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Daily Bread

Lord,

Give us this day our daily bread ... Just enough for today.

Don't give us tomorrow’s bread, because we will surely use it all up today.

Don't give us yesterday’s measure, because yesterday is over and stale bread isn't very
useful!

Give us today's bread! Fresh, warm and ready to share with whomever and where ever
you lead!

In Jesus Name,

AMEN

22
Saturday, March 14, 2009

Day of Beautification

Deb came to town!! We love it when Deb comes to town because it means Pretty Party
Day!! We drink coffee, we eat chocolate, laugh, do hair and wax eyebrows!! It is a
girlie day and with a house full of boys I don’t get a lot of those! Here are some pictures
of the highlights (and low lights) of our day.....

Me before beautification took place!

23
Ta before beautification!! (still pretty though!!)

This isn’t so bad......

24
"You didn’t say 3!!!"
No Pain, No Gain!!

Ta rockin' the Foil!!

25
Picking up any good stations??

Plucking some strays......

26
 Ta and I....We are a work in progress!!

Two peas in a pod...both with great hair!! Thanks Deb, You rock the Catbox!!

27
All Hail the Queen of Beautification!!

28
Sunday, April 26, 2009

My Lungs...Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em!

Okay, so it has been a long time since blogged!! God told me to blog about this subject
about 1 month ago, and it has taken this long for me to do it. I thought it would be
better not to worry everyone and go through this alone. God is so patient.
Anyway....here goes...

At my last appointment with Dr. Gilbey (pulmonologist) she dropped the T word.
Transplant. Had it been a year earlier, I wouldn't have even let her finish the sentence.
I listened. She has another patient that is on his second year post transplant and is back
at work and completely off oxygen. Amazing right. I cannot even imagine what that
would be like. So...she didn’t even know if I would qualify, but she wanted to let them
make that decision and I agreed to let her send in my records and see what happened.

About 3 weeks later they called and wanted to verify insurance stuff. Nothing to get
excited about. Nothing to worry about. Then came the next call. The week of my
birthday they called. They wanted to schedule the first evaluation appointment. So
schedule we did. May 11. Mike and I will drop the kids off at the in-laws on the 10th,
and go spend the night in San Antonio. We get up on the 11th and have a full morning
of testing and a appointment with the Transplant Dr. @ 1:00pm that afternoon.

This is a decision I cannot make. God will have to do it. My mindset changes daily. It is
too huge. Some days it is more than I can bear to think about. The ‘what ifs’ are
overwhelming. I can tell you what I would like. I would like to go in and the Dr. tell

29
me that my lungs aren't bad enough yet and come back in 10 years. That is what I am
praying for.

What I am scared of...well, there are several things. One, that my lungs are sick enough
but I don’t qualify for a transplant based on other criteria. Two, that my lungs are sick
enough and I do qualify. Kind of a damned if I do, damned if I don't. There are so many
aspects to consider. Please pray for me if you think about it. Pray for my family, my
husband in particular. I am certain this is more than he signed on for when he said I
do!! I am doing my best not to worry about anything, but in everything with prayer and
petition to present my request to God!! His peace is awesome and I sense it at every
turn! I will keep you updated as things progress!!

In His Perfect Peace,

Elizabeth

30
Friday, May 1, 2009

Verses

Just thought I would share some of the verses I have been praying, meditating and
memorize during this time as I wait for the appt. on May 11.

Exodus 15:26b " ..for I am the Lord who heals you."

Psalm 27:13&14 "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the
land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

Psalm 28:6&7 "Praise be to the Lord, for He has heard my cry for mercy. 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 29:10 "The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King
forever. The Lord gives strength to His people; The Lord blesses His people with peace."

Psalm 30:2 "O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me."

Psalm 40:1-3 "God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore
we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the
sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging."

Psalm 46:5 "God is within her she will not fall. God will help her at break of day."

Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I
will be exalted in the earth."

31
Psalm 109:26&27 "Help me O Lord my God; save me in accordance with your love. Let
them know that it is Your hand, that You, O Lord, have done it."

Lamentations 3:57 "You came near when I called you, and you said, 'Do not fear.'"
Hebrews 4:16 "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we
may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Joel 2:12-14 "Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for
he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents
from sending calamity. Who knows? he may turn and have pity and leave behind a
blessing-"

I both want and need to see God in this. I need to know that I know what His plan in
all this is. Ultimately, no matter what I ask for, I want His will. A couple of things I
know for sure...

He does not want me to fear.

He wants me to cast all my cares on Him.
He knows the plans He has for me.
He loves me.
He is the Vine, I am the branch apart from Him I can do nothing.
Through Him I can do all things.
When I am weak, then He is strong!

Pray for me as I pray for you,

Liz

32
Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Time and Priorities

How would you live if you only had 5 more years? What would you change? What
things would you do or even not do.

Would you shut down your facebook account, would you turn off your tv? Would you
focus on your family, share Jesus with the lost and minister to the church?

So many questions, so few answers! Time is a funny thing. We really have no control
over it. It marches on, is on our hands and stops for no man. It seems like yesterday my
17 year old was a baby, now he is almost a man. How did that happen??

God tells us in Ecclesiastes 8:7-8 "Since no man knows the future, who can tell him
what is to come? No man has power over the wind to contain it, so no one has power
over the day of his death." Psalm 31:14-15 says " But I trust in you O Lord; I say 'You
are my God' My times are in your hands."

The truth of the matter is this, none of us know how long we have. What are you doing
with the time you have been given? There is no time for grudges, pettiness and
unforgiveness. Lord, Teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of
wisdom!!

Pray for me as I pray for you!!

Lizzy

33
Sunday, August 30, 2009

"....And the greatest of these is love!"

I wrote the following about 3 years ago. God has been showing me lately that Love is
really all that matters. Loving God first and then others. Anyway...hope you like it!
Matthew 22:36-39

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "Love the
Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This
the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it. Love your neighbor as
yourself."

Let me not love God with just my heart, lest I become too emotional and it be all about
what I feel.

Let me not love God with just my soul, lest I become too spiritual and it be all about
what I am.

Let me not love God with just my mind, lest I become too intellectual and it be all
about what I know.

Let me not love God with just my strength, lest I become too physical and it be all
about what I do.

Let me love the Lord my God with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind and
with all my strength. Then and only then, will I be truly able to love my neighbor as
myself!

Pray for me as I pray for you,

Lizzy
34