WWJD....Truth or Trend?

Several years ago, someone started a little saying of " WWJD" (what would Jesus do), and it became so profound that there were all kinds of items made up with this saying on it. It was a very popular thing at that time.  Many people participated in it and sported the jewelry, shirts, cups, and what have you to make a statement.    ...... Then it suddenly just went away...The trend was over and something new took it's place.  I have heard since then, people joking about it, kind of making fun of how at one time, seemed like everyone was wearing something that said that.
I was thinking today,  maybe instead of looking at it as a trend ....a phase of life, if you will....maybe we should go back and reconsider it's true meaning.  Do we really stop, when we are about to do or say something, and think about it, or ask ourselves the question  " What would Jesus do?".  I don't think we do alot of times...myself included.   Sometimes when I hear somebody say something or tell a joke that's a little off color, I wonder, "what part do we not understand in the Bible, when Paul  tells us in Ephesians 4:29  " Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs,  that it may benefit those who listen." When we profess to be Christians.....Christ -like...... think about it.. Would Jesus tell an off color joke? or kind of fall in with the crowd and the way they are talking, just to blend in with the conversation?  Don't think He would. In fact, I'm sure He wouldn't.
What about the things we watch on tv? Now Jesus is with us all the time, and we know that, it's just we can't physcially see Him. But what if we could? Let's think about it for a minute, think about the things we watch. Are there any programs on tv that if Jesus knocked on our door, and we invited Him in to sit down, would we feel comfortable to continue to watch the program we were watching? Or would we hurry and change the channel? Guess what, that is exactly what is happening. He sees everything we watch. Are we a witness to our kids...what are we teaching them?  And do we go places that we wouldn't want Jesus to go with us...if we could actually physcially see Him beside us?
All these questions I continually ask myself....Now PLEASE....don't accuse me of trying to be soooooooo holy. If you're saying..."Well, Renee, you certainly are not perfect"  then you would be absolutely right!!  I am far from perfect!  Nothing special about me. I'm just another person who was lost in sin, gave my heart to God, failed Him so many times, backslid on Him before, made bad mistakes, then rededicated my life to Him, at times have been lukewarm, at times disobeyed His will, then asked His forgiveness, received it, and now I struggle like everyone else...every day...to make the right choices, do the right things, say the right things, watch what I do, and try my best to be pleasing to Him.  My Daddy has always told me that if Jesus wouldn't do it, or say it.....we shouldn't either.  I have been told a lot of times, "Yes but Jesus was the only man to ever walk on this earth that was perfect."  That's true, and no matter how hard we try, we will never be perfect until Jesus takes us to Heaven, then we will be made anew, but while we are here, isn't  it worth trying to be as pleasing to God as we can? 
I struggle every day with a situation that I could easily let so much hatred build up in me, and  believe me it's hard to forgive, but I have to ask God for strength to not hate, but to pray for them...and that's not easy, but that's what Jesus wants me to do. And I want to please Him, so I have to. Very hard for me....I am not perfect as I'm well aware of.
So maybe we need to keep that little saying in our hearts daily, with every thing we face, everything we battle with.........What Would  Jesus Do?......we can only do what the Bible tells us to do, what we feel Jesus wants and expects us to do, our best......   I fail so many times, but the truth is, as I've heard a lot ot times, "the only time we fail is when we don't get back up......or when we don't try".
I've been praying today, talking to God, asking Him questions, and this is what's been on my heart. You may agree.....you may disagree.  It's okay.  I just write what I feel in my heart that God is telling me to write.    Have a great weekend......  ~Renee

What a Smile Can Produce

Say cheeseeeeeeeeeeee!!!  Is that what you think of when someone mentions smiling? Smiling for a picture, smiling for the camera, that plastered on smile.... But what can a true, sincere, genuine, heartfelt, coming from the heart produce?  Well, there are so many things!
Let's see, first of all, to me, I feel much better if I'm smiling!  It actually brightens my day!  When you go to visit someone in the hospital, you don't want to walk in and have a sad look on your face, or a frown.....this would only make them feel worse.  Instead, if you walk in with a beautiful smile on your face, ready to encourage that person, you can actually help them to feel better! And that's what we should do if we go to the hospital to see someone. Encourage them, let them know you're praying for them, and give them hope that they will soon feel better!
Another way a smile can help.....when you are walking down the street...how many sad faces do you see every day...have you ever really noticed? People are so caught up in the every day things that " have to be done" , that they have no time to smile. But if you meet someone walking down the street, or even sitting in your car, if YOU smile at them, you very possibly could lift their spirits, make them feel better, show that you have some happiness! Pass that happy feeling along.
There's nothing better to me, than to see someone smile!  It makes me feel good to know someone else has some joy in their hearts!  Now you may say, "I'm not always in the mood to smile!"  Why? How hard is it to smile? Have we gotten to the point that we're too busy for that? 
Now get me wrong...do I walk around with a smile on my face all the time? Nope...didn't say I did. However, when I get to feeling down about something, if I can catch myself doing that, then I try to begin to think about a happier time, and it brings a smile to my face, and suddenly things don't seem so bad!

Let's encourage each other, support each other, and it won't cost you a dime to give a smile to the people you meet along the way. Some may not smile back, but a lot of them will. I just about guarantee it! And even if they don't respond, you never know who's watching that just might need that smile you were giving to someone else!  Come on....you can do it.....SMILE....but mean it from your heart.  It always means more that way!  Have a great day everyone!!!!

A New Season....A New Direction

Today is the first day of Autumn....a new season!  Leaves are changing colors, the weather is getting cooler, different sounds in the air, the deer are moving a little more, a new season with changes heading our way.  Soon we'll get out our jackets, feel a chill in the air.......change.....

For the past few months, I have struggled with some things in my life, decisions I needed to make, I felt like God was wanting to lead me in a new direction, and I was at a standstill, wandering around in circles.....  So I began to pray, and I mean seriously pray and seek God for direction, answers, and strength and wisdom to make those changes.  So God has been talking to me, and has truely turned my direction around in a lot of ways!  A new season....a change.... I'm looking forward to it, and I'm excited about it!

Just as God has given different seasons for our world, and they all have a purpose, He gives us new seasons, changes in our lives.  I had to grow, and learn, and listen.  I had to make mistakes and learn from them. And I will still make mistakes. Life is always a growing and learning experience. And I believe we all have different purposes in our lives that God wants to use. We are not all the same.  God uses us in different ways, and leads us in different directions, but it's all good...as long as we stay in His will and seek His guidance.  I have been at a loss the past few months as to what God wanted for my life, and what He wanted me to do as far as which way He was leading me. Today is a new day....a new season for my life.....changes ahead.....a new direction, and I intend to follow what He has shown me.

If you are seeking for your purpose, wondering what you are suppose to do, not sure which direction to take,  the first thing you have to do is began seeking God, praying for direction, read the Word, look at yourself, the talents God has given you that maybe you've kept hidden for fear of being ridiculed or made fun of.  Well, let me just tell you, there are people in this world that are always going to say hurtful things to you and about you, they will make fun of you at times, and even belittle you, but it's only because they are either jealous, or  they just enjoy hurting others, or they like to feel superior to you, or they are just plain ignorant.....but you cannot let that stop you from what you feel in your heart that God wants you to do, or what your dreams are to do.  You have to love God most of all, then love yourself, don't put yourself down, don't doubt yourself, be willing for change, don't be afraid of conflict or standing up for yourself, and BE WHO YOU ARE!  You are your own person.  You are not anyone else but YOU!  As long as you are not afraid to try, as long as you truely want God to lead you, and you are willing to go in whatever direction God wants to take you, then give it all you've got.........and do your best. You will be surprised where God will take you!  Do you feel God leading you some way other than what you are going?  Don't be afraid....pray about it....God will never lead you anywhere that He don't want you to be.  He's always with you as long as you don't walk away from Him.

I'm excited about this new journey!  And I'm finally ready!  A new season....may get a little chilly, may hear different sounds,.......but I feel like it's going to be refreshing!

                                           Keep Smiling........

Welcome Autumn!!!

It's finally arrived! Well, not officially, but next week it will be official. But the cool weather is here! I love this time of year, the leaves changing into beautiful colors, the coolness in the air, it's just a beautiful season to me. This morning, I went out on my patio, it was chilly, but I looked around me and seen the leaves falling off the trees slowly, floating down from those tall trees.  I could hear the rustle of the wind through the trees.  The birds are still singng, but they know it's getting colder. I sat down at the table and just enjoyed looking and listening to my surroundings, knowing that we were about to begin another season that God had created.  God never does anything half way. No His way of doing things is always right, and the beauty we get to enjoy that He created, is just awesome!

So, in this new season, I am beginning a new blog. I hope to say something to encourage you, inspire you, comfort you, or help you in some way. So I hope you will find something that will be a blessing to you, and just make you laugh, in my writings. Meanwhile, put those shorts and sleeveless shirts away, and get out those warm clothes....and enjoy!!