Is Your Light on the Lampstand or Under a Basket?

Good morning world! My time flies by quickly. I recently re-read my very first post entitled 'In the Beginning' and had to laugh at the fact that I said my intention was to write daily! Lofty goals for a busy mom of many! As you can see I have fallen quite short of that goal!! What can I say? Time gets ahead of me! Today is Totally Tripping Tremendously Thankful Thoroughly Thoughtful Thursday! For those of you that have been following my blog all along you already know that I am on a health and wellness kick that has overflowed from my mindset to my physical well being. I began this weightloss journey on September 15th and here I am almost to the end of my sixth week. To date I know as of last Tuesday I have lost 30 pounds! I also know I have lost 28" off the 5 major areas that I took beginning measurements from. I think that qualifies for rocking ones program! I have offered to help anyone who would like to get the same results. My email address is wendyglidden123@gmail.com Feel free to write me there or you could always like my fan page on facebook https://www.facebook.com/YouAreWorthyToo and send me a message there if that is an easier way for you to connect. I am here to simply inspire, encourage and help you with any and all of your goals!

For those that have read past Thursday Posts, you already know that today is dubbed as Thankful Thursday. I have actually extended that to Totally Tripping Tremendously Thankful Thoroughly Thoughtful Thursday!! What are you thankful for today? What acts of thoughtfulness have you performed? It is amazing how with just a little thanks and kindness performed in your daily life your life will begin to seem more abundant. Today's encouraging word by K-love is this:

...let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

~ Matthew 5:16, NLT

When I first read that this morning I was torn. Many perform good deeds simply because they believe in something called Karma and they just do good so they might benefit in the end. Others perform good works in hopes that their good deeds will get them into heaven. When I read this verse I was like hmmm our good deeds are not what save us and truly we are not meant to brag on them are we . . . So you know I had to go to my bible and dive a little deeper into today's message. I am taking it to the beginning of verse 13 which has the subtitle above it in my MacArthur study bible reads: 'The Similitudes'

verse 13: "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men."

verse 14: " You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;

verse 15: nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

verse 16: Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

In other words don't hide in your home if you are a follower of Christ. Step out, spread the good news and allow your light to shine. As with the more you seek, the more you will find also goes the more you do the more you will see the blessing in helping others, the more you will do but not because you are seeking reward but because you truly enjoy being the hands and feet of Christ. In other words allow your light to shine and give Glory to God in all you do so that those who see your light will know the source and seek out the Lord themselves. 

Admittedly I could be completely wrong. Lord knows I am no bible scholar. I am just a simple girl who is seeking the Lord with all her heart. I want to be that light that shines in such a way that I glorify my Father who is in heaven. Reminds me of a song I heard a while back. It's called "We Are" and it is sung by Kari Jobe for those of you who cannot watch this on the device you are using. Awesome song, hope you take the time to listen to it!

A funny thing happens when you give your life to Christ. You really do get a new heart and life just changes. Believing and following are so drastically different. If you are a believer, you should so jump in with total Faith and begin following Christ. Your life will change in ways you could only dream of. Obviously this does not mean all of a sudden you have no enemies or problems for even Jesus had those! It just changes the way you live through all things. The good and the bad. I want to be a city on a hill. Do you?

Father today I pray that more of your children begin to follow Christ. I thank you so much for my life and this crazy journey I have been on. There is not a single person on the face of the earth that I am better or worse then. I love that for with that knowledge I can be friends with anyone. No need to fear judgement of past mistakes or future ones for that matter! Thank you for your grace and mercy and your never ending lessons. I love how you move me, stretch me and force me to grow. I love who I am in Christ! Thank you for taking the time. I am a mere spec when it comes to all you have created. What a wonder it is that you take the time to help me. Thank you Father. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Wendy, walks with God,
Mom of Many

© Wendy Glidden 2013

Bad Things Happen to Good People!

Wild Wacky Wonderful Wednesday! Thank you Father for stations like K-Love and Moody Radio. Stations that cause my heart to leap with joy. Songs that hit home so close at times I find myself crying through my joy. Tears of Joy. I shed them more now than ever. I don't really know how I let the evil one trick me for so long. Me! I consider myself somewhat intelligent! How did I not recognize what was going on? I know the answer to that question now. I never got into The Word of God. I did not have a bible close by and I certainly did not go out of my way to pick one up. On the few occasions I did take a peak, I was checking out the last book. Revelations. Man was I ever missing out!

It's no wonder those that hear about Jesus and all He did for the first time get so excited. The gospels are awesome but the book of Acts, Romans and Hebrews are mind blowing. They are get up on your feet and get excited about life books. I am getting ready to find and go through "The Romans Study". If you want to know who you are in Christ, I've been told this is the study to do! Let me know if you are interested in doing this study as well. I think if you've been reading self help books this may just be the best one yet! What do you have to lose? Way less than you have to gain!

This week I have been under attack at every turn. My car broke down. I have not made it home before 9:30 either night. Does not leave much time to be still! Regardless last night I was trying to find the verse in the bible in Isaiah regarding honesty. I had heard a lesson on Moody Radio. It had to do with not destroying the city should God could find one honest man. Forgive me for I know not who was talking on Moody nor the program I was on. I think it was the financial one. The topic was honesty. This man said there were over 100 accounts in the bible where honesty is mentioned.  I did not find the one in Isaiah quickly, so I flipped to the back of my bible to see if there were verses listed under Honesty. I found only 3 listed in my bible and one of them happened to be in Job. I don't know why I get so drawn into Job but this is the second time I have gone to look something up in that particular book and have found myself reading chapters of it. I can almost hear Job. I have yelled out at the Heavens in such a manner and it makes me smile a little. Just knowing that I am not the first to get angry at God for my never ending trials. Particularly what I read last night. I brought my bible with me . . . let me find it.

I just have to type it out. It is so awesome. I am in my large print MacArthur Study Bible, Job, Chapter 6 & 7 in its entirety:


Job is a hard book for many. We struggle with the thought that God does not always leap in to rescue us from something. Prior to Chapter 6 and 7, Job's Friends suggest that the Innocent Do Not Suffer, therefore they assume that Job must have done something truly awful. Chapter 6 is Job speaking to his friends and chapter 7 he is directing his words to God!

With that being said, Let's Jump into the Book of Job, Chapter 6:

The Chapter Heading is: Job's Friends Are No Help!

Then Job answered, "Oh that my grief were actually weighted
and laid in the balances together with my calamity!
For then it would be heavier than the sand of the seas;
Therefore my words have been rash.
For The arrows of the Almighty are within me,
Their poison my spirit drinks;
The terrors of God are arrayed against me.
Does the wild donkey bray over his grass,
Or does the ox low over his fodder?
Can something tasteless be eaten without salt,
Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
My soul refuses to touch them;
They are like loathsome food to me.

Oh that my request might come to pass
And that God would grant my longing!
Would that God were willing to crush me,
That He would loose His hand and cut me off!
But it is still my consolation,
And I rejoice in unsparing pain.
That I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
What is my strength, that I should wait?
And what is my end, that I should endure?
Is my strength the strength of stones,
Or is my flesh bronze?
Is it that my help is not within me,
And that deliverance is driven from me?

For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend;
So that he does not forsake the fear of the Almighty.
My brothers have acted deceitfully like a wadi,
Like the torrents of wadis which vanish,
Which are turbid because of ice
And into which the snow melts.
When they become waterless, they are silent,
When it is hot, they vanish from their place.
The paths of their course wind along,
They go up into nothing and perish.
The caravans of Tema looked,
The travelers of Sheba hoped for them.
They were disappointed for they had trusted,
They came there and were confounded.
Indeed, you have now become such,
You see a terror and are afraid.
Have I said, 'Give me something',
Or 'Offer a bribe for me from your wealth'
Or 'Deliver me from the hand of the adversary',
Or 'Redeem me from the hand of the tyrants'?

Teach me, and I will be silent;
And show me how I have erred.
How painful are honest words!
But what does your argument prove?
Do you intend to reprove my words,
When the words of one in despair belong to the wind?
you would even cast lots for the orphans
And barter over your friend.
Now please look at me,
And see if I lie to your face.
Desist now, let there be no injustice;
Even desist, my righteousness is yet in it.
Is there injustice on my tongue?
Cannot my palate discern calamities?

My study notes include this: Job rebuked his friends with sage words. Even if a man has forsaken God (which Job had not) should not his friends still show kindness to him? He described his friends as being about as useful with their counsel as a dry river bed in the summer.

The Chapter Heading for Chapter 7 is: Job's Life Seems Futile

** Remember this Chapter Job is speaking to God.

"Is not man forced to labor on earth, And are not his days like the days of a hired man?
As a slave who pants for shade, And as a hired man who eagerly waits for his wages,
So am I allotted months of vanity and nights of trouble are appointed me.
When I lie down I say, 'When shall I  arise?'
But the night continues, And I am continually tossing until dawn.
My flesh is clothed with worms and a crust of dirt,
My skin hardens and runs.
My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle,
And come to an end without hope.

Remember that my life is but breath; My eye will not again see good.
The eye of him who sees me will behold me no longer;
your eyes will be on me, but I will not be.
When a cloud vanishes, it is gone,
So he who goes down to Sheol does not come up.
He will not return again to his house, Nor will his place know him anymore.

Therefore I will not restrain my mouth;
I will speak in the anguish of my spirit,
I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
Am I the sea, or the sea monster,
That You set a guard over me?
If I say, 'My bed will comfort me, My couch will ease my complaint',
then You frighten me with dreams
And terrify me by visions;
So that my soul would choose suffocation,
Death rather than my pains.

I waste away; I will not live forever.
Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
What is man that You magnify him,
And that You are concerned about him,
That You examine him every morning
And try him every moment?
Will You never turn Your gaze away from me,
Nor let me alone until I swallow my spittle? (another way of saying "catch my breath")
Have I sinned? What have I done to you,
O watcher of men?
Why have You set me as Your target,
So that I am a burden to myself?

"Why then do You not pardon my transgression
And take away my iniquity?
For now I will lie down in the dust;
And You will seek me, but I will not be."


My study bible paints the Background and Setting of Each Book. Within this information, I found this, "This book begins with a scene in heaven that explains everything to the reader. Job was suffering because God was contesting with Satan. Job never knew that, nor did any of his friends, so they all struggled to explain suffering from the perspective of their ignorance, until finally Job rested in nothing but faith in God's goodness and the hope of His redemption. That God vindicated his trust is the culminating message of the book. When there are no rational or, even, theological explanations for disaster and pain, trust God."

I love this. You see, I think many of us go through this. I find it comforting to know I have not walked this road alone. Let us not forget the true way to treat a friend when they are going through their own trial. Let us not judge. Let us be thankful the burden is not ours and let us love our friends through all that comes their way. Let us pray for one another. Showing true sisterly and brotherly love.

Bad things happen to good people all the time. Satan wants us to believe it is Karma. You get what you deserve. My question is, 'Who decides what we deserve!? and 'What harm has an innocent baby ever caused?'

I know one truth, God loves us. Plain and simple. I don't know what could be more comforting to hear. My God loves me! Me!!! It's not hard for me to fathom He loves those I see as more deserving. It dumbfounds me that He also loves me. It's why the song Redeemed causes me to cry. When he says the line "All my life I have been called unworthy. Named by the voice of shame and regret. But when I hear you whisper 'Child lift up your head' I remember Oh God you're not done with me yet! I am redeemed." I am filled with so much abundant Joy I want to shout from the mountain tops! It really is good news my friends!

Father I come before you today singing your praises. I too felt like Job more than once. Wondering what I might have done to deserve such torment, such overwhelming pain. When I came to the end of my own strength and was weeping to you on my knees and you spoke to me, I have no words to express my gratitude Father. I was dumbstruck. After all my trespasses, you would answer such a foolish girl as myself. Just thinking about your love has me tearing up with streams flowing from my eyes. Thank you for your Grace. Thank you for your overwhelming love. Thank you for finding me worth answering, worth comforting. I am so very grateful. I ask today that you also go to my brothers and sisters who are facing their own battles. Those who are on their knees praying for help. Answer them Father. Speak to them as clearly as you have spoken to me. Speak to me again! Speak to me daily. Life is not the same without your presence. I know you are with me always. It is nothing compared to Hearing your calming voice. I love you Father. May my fellow brothers and sisters find their way home. Won't you call out to them loudly Father. In such a way as they cannot deny. We all need to feel your presence Father. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Wendy,
Mom of Many

© Wendy Glidden 2013