"DETOUR"

By: Donna Selma Lind

There we were traveling down the highway doing about 70 mph, the GPS warned us ahead of time to stay in the left lane. I repeated  the warning loudly to my husband "STAY IN THE LEFT LANE." Suddenly the GPS screen went goofy. It started to scramble up on the screen, the map and directions were blinking on and off and the arrows and road names were jumping up and down on the screen like an EKG readout after downing a pot of coffee! I repeated "STAY IN THE LEFT LANE."

The GPS changed her course and announced turn right at the next Exit.

"DON'T LISTEN TO HER" I instructed " STAY IN THE LEFT LANE!"

My husband snapped "The GPS said to turn right at the next Exit!"

"DON'T LISTEN TO HER, I HAVE THE MAP STAY IN THE LEFT LANE!"

Not being able to listen to two women shouting directions at the same time (me and the GPS) he chose the GPS and turned right at the next Exit!

A thunderous discussion ensued as we drove around lost for the next 20 minutes.

 (Have you ever had a thunderous discussion with your spouse when you were lost?)

 The GPS straightened out and we finally got back on track and on road we were supposed to be on. Traffic was backed up and we saw a bunch of flashing lights and emergency vehicles ahead of us. There had been a multiple vehicle accident. Tow trucks, Fire engines, Police cars, and Paramedics were racing to and from the scene. 

We looked at each other and realized if we had stayed in the left lane like the GPS and map originally directed us, we would have likely been in the middle of that accident! 

But for the saving Grace of God go us.We immediately began praying for all of  the people involved in the accident.

We have no explanation as to why that GPS suddenly went crazy and took us off our charted course. Nor can we explain why we could not find another exit to turn around and get back onto the highway, or why we had to drive around lost for 20 minutes, except for the hand of God and  his hedge of protection!

"For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go." Psalm 91:11

How many times has God protected us from danger? How many times has he given us another chance? 

How many times has he provided a way out?

Life is a journey. We travel down the road and many times we are not reading his Guidepost's along the way. We don't listen to his voice when he is warning us that we are going the wrong way. We end up lost on roads that are dead ends and we feel like we have no way out.

Sometimes it's a relationship, a job, a place,a thing. Either we end up on the path because we chose it ourselves, or we hitched a ride on someone else's wagon.

 The only road I want to be on is the road that leads me to the Lord! 

"Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow." Psalm 25:4

I have spent too much of my life going down the wrong roads. Wasted too many years choosing my own path or following someone else's. I want to live out the rest of my life on the road less traveled walking hand and hand with my savior. 

If he says "Go" I will go. If he says "Stay" I will stay. Wherever he goes I  will follow. 

There are going to be bumps and Detours on the Journey, some are Divine Detours that God places in our path in order to protect us or teach us something along the way. Some bumps and Detours God places in order  to slow us down when he is trying to talk to us and get our attention.

Just like when God re-routed our path so he could protect us from the accident ahead. Thanks be to God!

Let's all make sure to tune into the Holy Spirit's GPS for: Guidance. Protection. & Strength.!

You are not alone on this journey.God is with you. Even if you are lost, He is with you. If you took the wrong road, he is with you. It is not the road behind you but the road ahead of you that counts! 

"In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:6

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord and share the Good News!

Donna Selma Lind

*Click below and enjoy the Journey with Third Day MOUNTAIN OF GOD*

"CONQUERORS OF CLUTTER"

By: Donna Selma Lind

"In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." Romans 8:37

It's that time of the year. The time when I get into my Fall nesting mood. You know the mood, when we swap out the summer clothes for warm knitted sweaters, scarves and boots. And summer beachy home decor for comfy quilts, toasty fires and  pumpkin spice coffee, candles and everything else pumpkin!

It is also the time of year when I like to become a "CONQUEROR OF CLUTTER!" 
Spring and Fall at my house are the two seasons that I like to do a thorough cleaning of  everything in our home. I get what I call "The urge to purge." This involves de-Cluttering every room in our house from top to bottom.
I do an inventory of all my stuff and then I make three piles: KEEP. SELL. GIVE AWAY.
No Rocket Science here, just basic CLUTTER CONQUERING 101.

I have discovered that :THE MORE STUFF WE HAVE, THE MORE THE STUFF HAS US!

Stuff leads to clutter, clutter leads to confusion, confusion leads to stress and anxiety, which leads to unrest and no peace!
When we have too much stuff  it not only clutters our home, it also clutters our mind.
It costs us more time because when everything is a confusing mess we can't find anything. When we can't find our stuff it also costs us more money because we go out and buy things that we already have but can't find at home in all our clutter!
Clutter and disorganization steals our time, money, peace and joy!

All that stuff is a heavy weight that keeps us in bondage. 
TIME TO CONQUER THE CLUTTER! 

"We must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that distracts us."
Hebrews 12:1

A big thing that keeps us chained to the STUFF are all the sentimental memories that are attached to our things. I get it. I can look at a dish or a chair and a flood of memories hit me of a family holiday or a special person who something reminds me of and suddenly I have a tight grip and I am not ready to let go of that object.
But I learned a little trick years ago that helped me to let go of some things. Since just  looking at the things transported me back to the memories, I found if I took a photo of the object it had the same effect! I was able to let go of alot of STUFF but keep the memories alive by looking at the photos! The memories are in my heart not in the stuff!
It doesn't mean I have gotten rid of everything but I have been able to get rid of a ton of stuff that was weighing me down.
I know it can be overwhelming for so many of you out there that are living under a mountain of clutter. You know who you are. In fact right now you are looking around your home cringing at the thought of where to even begin to start the process.
Well take a deep breath, understand it is a process and it takes time, but YOU CAN DO IT! Repeat after me: "I CAN DO IT! I AM MORE THAN A CONQUEROR IN CHRIST JESUS."

Do you want to live clutter free?

Here are a few ideas that work for me.

I RESIST BUYING AND BRINGING STUFF HOME! (Window shopping is still free! )

Use it or lose it! Have I worn or used this in the last year? 

Do I love this ? Does this give me pleasure? 

Am I holding on to this out of guilt or obligation? (This applies to relationships too!)

Whatever is tucked away in a box , closet or in storage and I haven't seen it, used it or worn it in a year, it is time to get rid of it!  

Can I Bless someone else with this?

I Organize and Label everything! 

I keep things in the same spot so we can easily find them. (Keys, phone, purse, backpacks, etc)

Communication Boards. ( Family Calendar/Schedule. Each family member has a dry eraser board for reminders and chores.  

I heart Baskets, Bins and Bags! ( I like a place for everything and everything in it's place! ) 

If something is keeping me from my time with God then I need to limit it or get rid of it! 

If  I had to choose and limit the things in my home that bring me joy and I use on a regular basis what would they be?
 (My Bible, Husband, Laptop, Label Maker, Fuzzy Socks, Books & Animals.)


There are a ton of organizing ideas on Pinterest that you can get ideas from. 

Pick something you can stick to and get started- one file, one pile, one mile at a time!
I hope this inspires you to get going. Just think of the freedom you will have to do things that you love instead of being tied down to taking care of things!

"Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." Colossians 3:2

 YOU CAN DO IT!  YOU ARE MORE THAN A CONQUEROR OF CLUTTER!

Write to me in the COMMENTS box and share your ideas and Victories with me.
 I would love to hear from you!

HALLELUJAH! 

PRAISE THE LORD AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS!

DONNA SELMA LIND

"SPECIAL NEEDS"

By: Donna Selma Lind

"And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

Last week I was leaving the Doctors office and noticed a young woman a few steps ahead of me in the parking lot. I offered a friendly "How is your day going?" She sniffed her nose in the air and mumbled under her breath, "Like you really care!"

I started praying "Lord, bless this young lady and please give me an opportunity and the wisdom to minister to her."

The Lord spoke to my heart and gave me a word to share with the young woman.

"You're a single Mom aren't you?" I asked

Yes

"You are exhausted ?"

Yes

 "Haven't gotten much sleep lately have you?"

No

" You feel afraid and alone?"

Yes

"You've been hurt and not sure you can do this anymore?"

Yes, Yes! How do you know?

She told me she was a single Mom and has a six year old boy that is a "special needs" child.

The little boy's Daddy took off and left her when her son was a baby.

Her new boyfriend is in prison.

Her family isn't talking to her anymore because she chose to stay with her boyfriend and visits him in prison. So, she came to stay with a friend for awhile. She was so discouraged.

Everywhere she goes she said people make comments about her son.

 They say to her :

 "Get your kid under control."

"Tell him to be quiet."

"You shouldn't take him out in public. "

"What's wrong with him?"

"What's wrong with you?"

"He is bothering our customers,we need you to leave."

"You're a bad Mom."

She said she didn't know what to do or where to turn.

I told her How sorry I was that she was going through all this, and that I cannot imagine the pain that she has endured. I wanted her to know that what those people said and did to hurt her and her son were wrong. 

I expressed to her that she was very special and that God loved her very much. 

"How do you know?" she snapped.  

Because, I said. He chose you to be the Mom to your very special needs son!

He knew your heart and he put an extra special scoop of love in your heart so that you could love your little boy like no one else could!

That's beautiful, I never thought of it like that ! Tears were streaming down her face.

Do you really think God chose me? 

Yes, I assured her. God loves you both so much He picked you to be the Mom, and He picked your boy to be your son because you also needed someone with an extra special scoop of love in his heart  to love you like no one else could!

I put my arm around her shoulder. Can I tell you something?

Do you know that God loves you both so much? More than you can ever imagine! He loves you so much he died for you!

You are not alone. He will never abandon you. He wants to help you. 

Have you ever given your life and heart to Jesus? Would you like me to pray with you now?

I held her hands. I prayed. She repeated after me. She asked Jesus into her heart to be her Lord and Savior.

She cried. I cried. And the Angels in Heaven rejoiced!

I hugged her. I invited her to come to church with me. But she wasn't sure about how long they would be around. 

She thanked me over and over for taking the time to care and for"being real".

She said she felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of her. She was smiling , and I told her our meeting was no mistake. God divinely arranged for us to meet so she could know how much he loved her and her boy!

As I drove out of the parking lot something hit me. While her son is a"Special Needs"child, 

everyone of us has a"special need"of some kind that we are longing to have fulfilled.  A need that only our Heavenly Father can  know. A need that only our Heavenly Father can fill. 

God knew that young woman needed to be encouraged, reassured and loved. 

He knew that her hope needed to be restored. He knew she was ready to give up. 

It is in the dark crevices of our heart that He sends his light to shine forth like the noonday sun in order to dispel the darkness.

Everyday is an opportunity to be used by God to further his kingdom and to shine a light into a dark world.

Let us pray everyday that God would point out to us the one with a"Special Need."  

That we may have compassion to come alongside of them and to have the heart of the Father to  love them.  To be patient, kind, gentle and forgiving. Not to point out wrongs but to point them instead to Heaven. Love Never Fails.

"I will never fail you..." Hebrews 13:5

HALLELUJAH!

PRAISE THE LORD AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS!

DONNA  SELMA LIND