Morning Musing Over Coffee - Judgmental?

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

Nothing so needs reforming as another person's habits. ~ Mark Twain

I am quick to say that I am a very nonjudgmental person. And to most people I am. But I sometimes realize that I have slipped into being critical of those I should be most supportive of, those under my own roof. So I need to take stock, acknowledge where I'm messing up, and then, with God's help, work to be the supportive wife, mother and friend He has called me to be.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Matthew 7:1-5

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Talk or Do?

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned. ~ Peter Marshall

This has been on my mind a lot recently. It's so easy to talk about what should be done, needs to be done, and what we plan to do. But sometimes (most times?) we just simply need to do what is at hand that needs doing. 

What needs doing today?

All hard work rings forth profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. 

Proverbs 14:23

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Contentment

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

Who is rich? He who rejoices in his portion. ~ The Talmud

We're not just happier, not just more peaceful but rich when rejoicing in what we have. And this quote from ancient Jewish wisdom is further supported in 1 Timothy when Paul says we have great gain when we are content. This doesn't mean lazy, slothful or uncaring, it simply means that we know He will take care of us regardless of our circumstances and we rest in that knowledge as we do the work He calls us to do.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. 

1 Timothy 6:6

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Morning Musing Over Coffee - A Life of Purpose

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. ~ George Bernard Shaw

I love this quote about purpose. As long as each of us is breathing and has a beating heart, God has a purpose for us being here. Finding that purpose for our lives is important and I believe if we ask God He will show it us. Our purpose is important to Him as shown in the verses below. 

But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.

Exodus 9:16

The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.

1 Corinthians 3:8

Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

2 Corinthians 5:5

It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.

Galatians 4:18

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.

Ephesians 1:11

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Morning Musing Over Coffee - Plow in Season

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use. ~ Earl Nightingale

Sometimes I look at all that I want to accomplish, all my dreams, and it seems like the task is so big and the road to accomplishment so long I'm not sure if I'll make it. But what am I going to do if I don't try? Giving up is not an option so . . . I continue to try to use each day in the best way possible, knowing that He who gives the dream, gives the strength to continue on. 

Sluggards do not plow in season, so at harvest time they look but find nothing. 

Proverbs 20:4

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Morning Musing Over Coffee - Like a Donut, But Better!

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

Don't miss the donut by looking through the hole. ~ Author Unknown

It's interesting to me to look back at things that at the time seemed hard or awful and yet from my current perspective I can see that so much good has come from them. Sometimes I'm so caught up looking at the negative, or the "holes" in situations that I can't see the goodness that surrounds it. Other times my vision truly is limited and I have to trust that even though I can't see it, God has everything surrounded with His love and power and I can know that He is working for my good and His glory. And that is sweet. Like a donut, but so much better!

He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He.

Deuteronomy 32:4

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Morning Musing Over Coffee - Hard Work

Don't be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little ones well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves. ~ Dale Carnegie

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

Proverbs 14:23

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.

Colossians 3:23

Morning Musing Over Coffee - In the Garden

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn


You must weed your mind as you would weed your garden. ~ Terri Guillemets

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Holding On to the Past?

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

You can clutch the past so tightly to your chest that it leaves your arms to full to embrace the present. 

~ Jan Glidewell

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

Hebrews 11:1-2

Faith . . .is the assurance of what we do not see. 

If I'm trying to hold onto the past, how much faith do I have?  

Everyone of the great men and women of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 had a past they could have clung too. They could have raged, mourned, cried and fallen into despair and depression. And I'm sure they each had their moments when they struggled with one, many, or even all of these things. But they chose not to live there! They remembered Whose they were and by faith, looking ahead toward what they did not yet see, chose to move ahead with God. And, in so doing, they became part of a great story, a plan for humankind that went far beyond anything they could have dreamed or imagined based on anything they had seen in their past. 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:1-3

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Morning Musing Over Coffee - Yesterday's Tomorrow

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn


There are so many things that we wish we had done yesterday, so few that we feel like doing today. 

~Mignon McLaughlin


Today is yesterday's tomorrow. It's time to stop waiting for the perfect time and the perfect circumstances and simply move ahead with what God has called each one of us to do. It's time to take the day we have and use it to it's fullest extent - live, laugh, love and follow the Leader.

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58

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Morning Musing Over Coffee - He Who Began a Good Work

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When you are through changing, you are through. ~ Bruce Barton

Isn't it good to know that where we are is not where we have to stay? Every day, when we let Him God is working in our lives and circumstances to continually grow and strengthen us in Him. 

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 1:6

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Morning Musing Over Coffee -Still Small Voice

When all the noise is gone there is only God. ~ Author Unknown

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of theLord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

1 Kings 19:11-13

Morning Musing Over Coffee - No Unimportant Days

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day. ~ Alexander Woolcott

Every single day we are blessed in more ways than we can imagine and every single day He is working in our lives for our good and His glory. So let us not let this day slide by unnoticed and unappreciated but instead let us grab ahold and make the most of what the Lord is doing today.

The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad

Psalm 118:24

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Jesus On My Mind

Credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

One cannot think crooked and walk straight. ~ Author Unknown

Our thoughts are such an important factor in the quality of our lives. When we are constantly looking at how hard things are and all the ways things are going wrong it's easy to fall into despair. Then when we remember Whose we are and Who has things under control life looks so much better and our way is so much smoother. But we have to keep our thoughts focused on Him and His power instead of what may seem wrong around us. 

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.

Hebrews 3:1

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Layers

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

A grownup is a child with layers on. ~ Woody Harrelson

Do you ever just sit and pay attention to the little child within you? It's amazing what can be heard when we stop and do this. Within each child I believe God has planted the seed of the adult to come and the person that adult is meant to become. But life, other's expectations and the simple fact that we live in an imperfect, often very painful world can cause layers to develop and hide the person meant to be. 

Today let's take a little time to sit with our Heavenly Father and let Him work on peeling back the layers and finding once again who we were created to be.  

 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
Matthew 11:25

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Morning Musing Over Coffee - Talking to God

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

Pray on the shadowy hillside of hardship and on the sunny hillside of happiness. ~ Terri  Guillemets

The weather was beautiful and Michael and I were sitting on the porch enjoying the Spring weather. I was doing some online work and Michael was just relaxing. As he sat with me he chattered nonstop - about lawnmowers, the neighbor's dog, the neighbor's lawnmower, what time Daddy's coming home, the lawnmower at Lowe's, the rooster, Grandpa's lawnmower - there seems to be a pattern here. In between topics he would sings snippets of his favorite songs. 

It was nice to just listen to what was going on his mind, what his interests are at the moment, and the things he wants to do in the future (mostly ride lawnmowers). And while I have no real interest in riding lawnmowers, I was interested in hearing him talk about it because he's my child and I love him. 

It made me think of my Heavenly Father, and His desire to hear from me. He wants me to talk to Him about what's on my mind, what's bothering me,  what makes me happy. Why? Because I'm His child, He's my Heavenly Father and He loves me!

He would love to hear from you too.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 12:12

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Making Use of Our Days

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

Don't be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of. ~ Charles Richards

Time - we all have the same amount of it. From our perspective we can not imagine a time when time did not exist, or a state of being where time does not exist. We are given this parameter of for a purpose. It is a gift and  precious resource that is meant to be used to fulfill the purpose we are here for. I like the practical way use of time is explained in this video so I thought I would share it here.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 
Galatians 6:9

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Divine Surprise

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

The story of Easter is the story of God's wonderful window of divine surprise. ~ Carl Knudson

This quote made me stop and think - and then smile as I realized the truth and relevance of it. When the disciples saw Jesus die and then be buried they truly thought everything they had believed in and staked their futures on had died and been buried as well.  This was their darkest night. If only they had known, would have understood the awesomeness of what was about to take place! This dark night was but a birthing of what was to come. 

And if only we, in our darkest of nights, would only understand that this is not our end, but a new beginning, maybe the night would be easier to endure. Because for those who endure, their is a dawn of new beginning, new life. 

Just hold on and wait for the divine surprise!

 But may all who seek you
    rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
    “The Lord is great!
Psalm 40:16

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Why Pray?

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

No one is a firmer believer in the power of prayer than the devil; not that he practices it, but he suffers from it.  ~ Guy H. King

What an awesome privilege it is to be able to to talk to God at any time and know that He delights in relationship and communion with us.

The LORD is near to all them that call on Him, to all that call on Him in truth.

Psalm 145:18

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Carpe Diem

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith.  ~ Mary Manin Morrissey

We each have dreams - God given dreams - and we are placed here with those dreams for a purpose. Dreams are made to be followed. 

Carpe diem - Seize the day!

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you;  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

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