Red Bird Thoughts

We pray for many things, but often forget to pray for God will comfort us. His name is Comforter. To comfort is something He loves to do. To experience comfort is to be more aware of the things around you that God uses.

Things you feel, smell, hear, see and even taste.
There are seasonal comforts. From winters hot soups to a cool summer shower.
There are friends whose presence is like a warm scarf on a cold day.
There are books with words that calm and settle you.
There is the comfort from looking deep into a dog’s eyes who loves you.
There is the comfort of knowing God is present in His word.
There is the comfort that comes when you are comforting someone else.
Ask for comfort.
It comes.

'There is the comfort that comes when you are comforting someone else.'

Very true!

I have been on a palliative care placement for the last week. Tough but amazing, caring for those who are dying and their family is such an important area that needs to be cultivated. I came out of a training session. It was cold and rainy which kind of fitted with how sad and difficult it is when we are faced with someone who is suffering. There was also a glorious rainbow which spoke to me of God's love for us and how our lives and the number of our days are in his hands.

There is a difference between carefree and careless. Careless is about not being concerned at all, while carefree is not being concerned about the outcome.
Carefree people care about what they are doing, but accept whatever is the end result.

Carefree people are relaxed, living in the moment, have a positive attitude and their faith is strong.

Carefree people use obstacles as an opportunity for learning or self improvement.

Carefree people do not need the approval of others. When they accomplish something amazing, they keep it to themselves, letting others figure it out on their own.

Carefree people drop their expectations of others, and accept what others are able to give and accept what they cannot give.

Carefree people do not expect a reward or acknowledgement of their charitable gifts or service.

Carefree people make the BEST friends!

Buzz Aldrin took communion on the silent surface of the moon, 250,000 miles from home. As he poured the wine into a chalice, because of the limited gravity of the moon, the wine slowly curled and gracefully came up the side of the cup before it settled down. He read the scripture “I am the Vine, you are the branches”.

The very first liquid ever poured on the moon and the very first food eaten there was the communion elements.

We may take the Presence of the table with us wherever we go. Even without the elements present, the Bread of Life and the forgiveness in His blood is on the table of our heart.

Always inviting us to partake.

EST. 5:12.
Haman said moreover,
Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet
that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king.

God first conformed to us – our form and our nature – so that he could best communicate in personal ways. He experienced our feelings, temptations and desires. He did this in order to take upon himself even our sins.

Now it is our turn. He has put in us his nature through the Holy Spirit, and encourages us to conform ourselves to him. So we can now best communicate him to others as we experience his feelings, his will and purposes.

We do this in order to take upon ourselves his glory.

Joi, the picture didn't show up..

The pic has a cross on the left side and red bird is on the right side standing straight with his arms stretched sidewards like Jesus crucified. The caption is CONFORM. And there is fireworks everywhere. Jk on that last part

It is fine on my computer.

The word Conform is not perfectly clear. But the picture is.

I looked in my "Red Bird Art" folder, and saw I already have it from when you posted it on that thread.. lol

Desire is something we want that we don’t have at the moment. But when the object of our desire becomes ours, we look at it much more closer and realize, like the apple with worms, that most of the satisfaction of our desire took place in our imagination of what it would be like.
Desire is a God given gift to our souls. It is what causes us to thirst for God. But we want him to be what we imagine we need. The one who will meet our every desire, the one who will keep us from every trial and pain throughout our life.

Yet, God also desires. But he knows exactly who we are with all of our imperfections, and greatly yearns for us to give ourselves to him. . He created us for his pleasure, and desires to be the object of our worship.

He desires you specifically.
You with your faults. You with your weak love for him.

Because there is a part of his heart that only you can fill.

Big amen to that!


2 CORINTHIANS 3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

We must change the word “discipline” to something that sounds better. It is such a harsh word that takes away our freedom to do what we want when we want to.

Could we say, “Going for the gold?” It keeps the challenge but promises something good. It also means that something is competing with us, trying to push us back. We choose to be stronger than the “something”. It can be empowering. Too often we are only focusing on what we need to give up. That’s depressing.

But we can have a vision to hold onto – the “gold”. What’s your gold?

We are to entreat God’s favor – Ps. 119:38
Favor encompasses the righteous as a shield – Ps. 6:12
His favor is as dew upon the grass – Prov. 19:12
Whoever finds wisdom obtains favor of the Lord – Prov. 8:35
A good man shows favor – Ps. 112:5

[FONT=&quot]The best definition of the word favor is “demonstrated delight”[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Favor is God’s “I’m for you”.[/FONT]

A good friend is cultivated. Plant good seeds and you will have a relationship that will last through the years:
Always speaking what is true..
Accept them with no conditions or expectations..
Respecting their boundaries and opinions.
Always giving them mercy by keeping no record of wrongs.
Praying for their needs. And then only acting as led by the Spirit.
Acknowledging their value and gifts.
Showing gratitude at all times.
Offer help when needed.
Laugh a lot together.
Give them your quiet, silent presence when they are mourning or depressed.
Remember their birthdays and celebrate who they are.
Respect their need for privacy and space.
Don’t overload them with your problems. Take issues to God first, and let Him be the main Counselor/Advisor.

Thank you for this picture, Joi. I buried Teddy with Tequila. It seemed right, burying two life-long friends with each other. My mom made Teddy when I was a year old, and throughout the last 45 years, Teddy got very raggedy and torn.. So Teddy was 45, and Tequila was almost 16. In fact, her 16th birthday would've been on December 1st. I cried alot of tears onto Teddy throughout the years, and told him all my secrets, stuff that my FAMILY doesn't even know about. Teddy and Tequila were my best friends, and more loyal than any human friends. And now, Tequila has a new pain-free body, and Teddy has been restored to his former glory.. lol

These are the gifts I like to receive:

The gift of undivided attention.
The gift of someone’s time.
The gift of a person’s creativity.
The gift of something I need.
The gift of something to make me smile.
The gift of acceptance – not being judged.
The gift of someone’s real thoughts.
The gift that is of a sacrificial nature.

In thinking about these gifts, I realize that God, himself, has given them all to me. Now, can I give these back to him? And with the same love?

the part about laughter reminded me of

PROVERBS 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine,

Amen, Very edifying!