Genesis 1:21  So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Psalm 8:8   the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

Psalm 104:25  This great and wide sea, in which are innumerable teeming things, living things both small and great.

 

I am so blessed to live on the east coast of NC.  I still enjoy four seasons, but LOVE the milder winters here compared to New England where I was raised. And frequently in the winter months, we get to see dolphins playing in the waves. And it is awesome. A blessing.

Here I get to occasionally enjoy the dolphins playing, jumping and sometimes just meandering north or south; watch with regularity the speedy little birds which dash in and out of the water pecking quickly, gobbling their food; I watch in amazement and appreciation as pelicans just glide over houses, seemingly close enough to scratch their bellies on the rooftops, and I see the many facets of the ocean’s attitude. It may be grumpy and stormy one day, then serene and quiet the next almost looking like a lake.

And then, rarely, but with a deep appreciation at this blessing too, I get to see a whale. It is humbling, mighty, awesome, and for a moment, my breath is taken away, and immediately, I am giving thanks. I give thanks often at the gift of eyes to see, ears to hear, and all the wonders of this world I have been blessed to enjoy. But to see a whale going by, blowing air out every several seconds as it comes up, then slowly dips into the water, is a bigger gift. It is rare here. So maybe that is why I am more appreciative.

I am in a position to see ocean life and it is humbling. God created these magnificent creatures, and there are SO many different ones, and I am amazed and awed. And very blessed He led me here.

We get more daylight here in the winters than New England.  The sunrises are slightly earlier, and the sunsets are later, almost by an hour. Yet, I enjoy just a bit of winter, usually no snow, but a few cold days, and then March brings flowers poking their colors up.  And we might just see a whale again around March and April.  

  Yes, I have been blessed and awed to live in this area of God’s creation. Thank You, God.

There are many blessings for “mybellaviews” living at the beach.

 

Psalm 37:7, 9   Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; ….  But those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.  

Psalm 62:5   My soul waits silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.

Psalm 27:14  Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say on the Lord!

James 1:2   My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials (in this case waiting), knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  Parentheses mine indicating waiting can be a trial

 

There are so many verses where God commands someone to “Wait.” He wants us to listen and to follow what He says exactly. In order to do that, we have to hear Him and obey. We have to develop patience.

Too often in my life I have jumped ahead, not waited, even with periods of unease and anxiety in my heart. Sometimes, I have felt like I was trapped, had already committed and then didn’t know how to end it, escape, take back my words and say “changed my mind. This just does not feel right at this time.” My first marriage was done like that. I had a bad feeling, and should have fled, but I chose to go through with it, and just prayed it would be okay. But it was not.

There have certainly been other times that my wants and needs were handled against the whispering in my heart to wait, to not go ahead. They are distinct in my mind. That is a now a lesson I keep and obey as with this disobedience and the selfish act of doing MY will, I have gotten into situations which have been costly, financially, emotionally and mentally. And totally my fault, It actually kind of amazes me that I was disobedient a great number of times until now I’ve GOT it.

I will still find myself impatient at times… but still I wait. Sometimes my heart aches with the wait and not getting the deepest desire of my heart, but I refuse to take matters into MY hands any longer.  I believe that delays God’s true answers. 

Certainly as parents, we had to say no and there times my own children had to wait for things. Perhaps we did not have enough to buy them what they asked for, or we felt they were too young to have what they were asking for, or legally, they were not of an age to receive it, for instance, license to drive.

I read something from Max Lucado a while ago about waiting, and wrote just the idea down, rather than his words, the book, or anything else. But the thoughts were we hand our prayers to God, then we wait hopefully, patiently, expectantly, and FORWARDLY.  I liked that. We go forward each day, and perhaps that moving forward will bring what we wait for and expect. I tend to occasionally lose sight of waiting expectantly…expecting to receive my answer especially when a long time has passed. And I tend to trudge through my days, without the forward planning and moving.

Wait…. I don’t always do it patiently, although I am better at waiting than a few years ago.  I think we all can feel impatience waiting at times, but I have learned that God’s timing is better, and His decisions are made for with my best interests in mind. And He certainly knows far more about my days, my life than I do. He knows what happens in my life book, and I can look only at the present and the past.

I often need to re-read these verses, and maybe you have a need to see them and be reminded to wait…for His timing.

I hope this peek into ‘myBellaviews’ helps you wait a bit longer

Proverb 12:18-19   There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health. The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

 James 3:5, 6, 8   Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell…. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

James 1:26   If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

 

Our tongues can be vicious little muscles spewing out ugly thoughts, opinions, remarks, curses, and so much more. Some people don’t say nasty hurtful things, and one recognizes those folks have kind and loving hearts. 

But we have all heard nastiness uttered.  Sometimes, we can remove ourselves from the presence of those folks, although we may have to tolerate hearing it for a few moments until we can speak, and hopefully, give a gentle, loving rebuke.

We are all free to think our thoughts and opinions, but it is unnecessary to use spew those thoughts and words. Many think they have free rein to give voice to nasty thoughts, gossip, cursing and more.  Sometimes, there are such vile utterances.

Many have no idea how often this small muscle can cause so much damage and hurt. And yet, the tongue speaks from the heart often, so although the words pour out, it is from the heart that much of the nastiness lives. Gossip, angry words, cursing, negative thoughts and statements about whatever over time pull at others.

There is a need to leash our tongues from speaking in a negative manner…and better yet, to leash our thoughts and try to resist negative thoughts! Jesus did not speak in a negative or vile manner. He spoke with gentleness and love, and certainly had a large fan base following Him about.

It is my prayer, daily, that I do not speak hurtful, hateful comments, and I try to not have those thoughts. But I do at times still working on it. When I catch those negative thoughts I stop them, rebuke the devil for trying to poison my thoughts, words and actions. 

Unless I can say kind things, not gossip, swear and so forth, I would rather be quiet altogether. Frequently, I am not. I will hear myself expressing something negative, and then try to hold my tongue and stop all flow of my words. I don’t want to utter unkind and uncharitable things, swearing, or gossiping, so once I’m aware, I try to stop that rush of words.

If one cannot say anything kind, say nothing. That was a phrase my mother used frequently. And in all truthfulness, I never heard my mother make unkind remarks or gossip about anyone. That was a wonderful example to have growing, and I remind myself of it often when I when negative things are uttered from me.

I want to be kind with my words in all manner, not just for ‘mybellaviews.’

 

Proverb 12:18-19   There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health. The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

 James 3:5, 6, 8   Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell…. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

James 1:26   If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

 

Our tongues can be vicious little muscles spewing out ugly thoughts, opinions, remarks, curses, and so much more. Some people don’t say nasty hurtful things, and one recognizes those folks have kind and loving hearts. 

But we have all heard nastiness uttered.  Sometimes, we can remove ourselves from the presence of those folks, although we may have to tolerate hearing it for a few moments until we can speak, and hopefully, give a gentle, loving rebuke.

We are all free to think our thoughts and opinions, but it is unnecessary to spew those thoughts and words. Many think they have free rein to give voice to nasty thoughts, gossip, cursing and more.  Sometimes, there are such vile utterances.

Many have no idea how often this small muscle can cause so much damage and hurt. And yet, the tongue speaks from the heart often, so although the words pour out, it is from the heart that much of the nastiness lives. Gossip, angry words, cursing, negative thoughts and statements about whatever over time pull at others.  But how lovely to be in the presence of those who speak gently, kindly, and without malice to others.

There is a need to leash our tongues from speaking in a negative manner…and better yet, to leash our thoughts and try to resist negative thoughts! Jesus did not speak in a negative or vile manner. He spoke with gentleness and love, and certainly had a large fan base following Him about.

It is my prayer, daily, that I do not speak hurtful, hateful comments, and I try to not have those thoughts. But I do at times still working on it. When I catch those negative thoughts I stop them, rebuke the devil for trying to poison my thoughts, words and actions. 

Unless I can say kind things, not gossip, swear and so forth, I would rather be quiet altogether. Frequently, I am not. I will hear myself expressing something negative, and then try to hold my tongue and stop all flow of my words. I don’t want to utter unkind and uncharitable things, swearing, or gossiping, so once I’m aware, I try to stop that rush of words.

If one cannot say anything kind, say nothing. That was a phrase my mother used frequently. And in all truthfulness, I never heard my mother make unkind remarks or gossip about anyone. That was a wonderful example to have growing, and I remind myself of it often when I when negative things are uttered from me.

I want to be kind with my words in all manner, not just for ‘mybellaviews.’

 

1 John 5:21 “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen”

Exodus 20:3, 5 “You shall have no other gods before Me……you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.”

Romans 8:5,8 “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Romans 12:1.2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Yikes! I was in trouble. These were not nearly all the verses on addiction and keeping one’s body clean. Ahhh, no help for me. Loser. I’d been smoking for years……decades? Centuries? A long time anyway!

 

I am an addict, although I am not still partaking of my vice. Through the power of the Holy Spirit I am free of it. Finally, my mind got right, and I realized this was a problem—not just a willful problem.

I was enslaved to tobacco, nicotine and tar. Sounds gross, doesn’t it? But I was enslaved to those dried leaves, rolled into neat white tubes. And not only enslaved. The other part of the power breaking for me was to realize I had set these expensive little tubes as something to worship. Not that I ever prayed to them; I did not; but they were on my mind constantly.  I need one now; how much longer can I escape and light up? When can I have a break–I NEED a cigarette…. And so on. those rotten things held a control of my mind and body.

I prayed to find a store to replenish plenty of them if I was going to be away from my particular brand of vice; if I was going camping with a bunch of friends, or knew that I would be someplace it would be difficult to replenish. So I would stock up, depending on the length of my plans, I would have a carton, maybe two!

However, I came across several verses from scripture in the period of two to three days all condemning and convicting me of my enslavement to smoking cigarettes. I had placed the importance of them, over God. Yuck, what a terrible feeling of guilt and waste that was.

But I didn’t want to be ENSLAVED to something material, something tangible. I mean, really, a cigarette? You light it and five minutes later—ash. Poof and you could blow it around your home.

But I was enslaved, addicted and dependent on them. I nervously planned what to do if I went to bed and only had two smokes left. ‘Ok, ok, get up, while coffee brewing, smoke first one. Have a couple sips of coffee, jump in car, light the last remaining smoke, and drive to nearest store and buy a couple packs.’ The idea of not having cigarettes, caused my hands to shake, my anxiety and grumpiness to surface, and my thoughts concentrated on them. If my brand was sold out, okay, grab the next best. 

Our thoughts are to be on God.  We are to pray and give Him thanksgiving.  I was NOT doing that when every thought was about the cigarettes.

So now, I had to face facts. I truly wanted to live a good life. Of course I would NEVER be pure and good and without sin. But, here, in black and white, I read how I was polluting the temple; God’s dwelling place (my body) and it had to stop. Sickening, nasty. My behavior was gross, and sinful.

The idea I needed to stop smoking and inhaling my cigarettes frightened me. I used them as my crutch, my comfort, my ‘calm down-go to.’

I told myself, ‘I’m not really addicted. I could stop. I LIKE smoking.’ But my lies didn’t drown out the truth of God’s word from His book, the book I loved to read, to seek, to learn from.

So, finally, I chose a date, Christmas, and made the commitment I would quit for His birthday. And I did.

It was without fanfare, and without much struggle. I won’t say thoughts and desires to have a cigarette after a meal, or when chatting with other smokers didn’t cross my mind. Certainly, they did. But they didn’t control me, overpower me, or feel much like a struggle. Because I asked for help….and He freely gave it.

When any deceptive thought or lie such as ‘Give in and have just this one. You’ll feel soooooo much better. Have just one…’ crept and slithered into my mind, I confronted the devil and told him to GET OUT! I was not going to agree to even one.

After all this time, I knew I was an addict. I couldn’t have just one. Because one cigarette would turn into a pack—then all twenty in a pack would go up in smoke….. and I would go back for more.

But, thank You. I knew where to find help. I had read and absorbed your words, your many verses on this, and fearfully and doubtfully (since it is my own self I don’t trust), I put my belief in You, and tried.

I made no promises to be successful. I picked my quit date, and when was weak and wanted ‘just one’ I asked for help, and told the devil to flee, to go, to GET OUT and AWAY from me. And he left, God stayed, and I steadied. And then suddenly, I was a non-smoker. And I honestly do not know how long it’s been, but I can say I am truly delighted to no longer be enslaved to cigarettes.

So, I am a non-smoker presently, but I am and always will be an addict. I do believe if I chose to have a cigarette now, I would be a smoker within a moment. I am an addict. But I strive to be free of the sins of addiction and pollution.

Thanks for Your help. Again! Another blessing, another one of Mybellaviews….free of enslavement.

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