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Barriers

July 12, 2016 by Julie B Cosgrove

This week, after the horrendous massacre in Dallas involving twelve policemen and two citizens, close on the heels of the  massive bloodshed in the nightclub Pulse in Orlando, and with all the riots in major cities across our nation, one has to wonder where is God in all of this?

On His throne, probably with tears on His cheeks. He is also in the many good people who have rallied to pray, hug and help the victims’ families and friends.  As believer, we are called to be the light in the darkness, and His light shines the brightest when things are extremely dark.  Fred Rogers, of Mr. Roger’s fame, said his mother always told him to look for he helpers in times of tragedies–evidence of God at work.

In an effort to squelch any prejudice between the Jews and the Gentiles, Paul tells the Ephesians –

 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility… (2:13-14)

God is calling us to destroy the barrier of hatred and prejudice that is dividing our nation. His command to us is to love Him and then to, by His Holy Spirit’s power, love our neighbors. This is the time for Christians to stand firm, stand strong, and stand united in love. Even if we do not approve of someone’s lifestyle, it is no reason not to minister to them in love. Jesus did to the woman at the well, to tax collectors and to the outcast. He even loved His enemies.

pray for our nationLet us pray away the barriers. Join many other Christians who are stopping each day at 8:00 p.m. CDT to pray for one minute for our people, our nation and for peace. I have set the alarm on my cell phone daily to remind me to stop, drop and pray.

Will you do the same?

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Waking and Walking

July 6, 2016 by Julie B Cosgrove

In the first Bunco Biddies mystery I wrote, Dumpster Dicing, two of the retired citizens at Sunset Acres discover a body in the community dumpster on their daily morning power-walk!  Walking in the early morning was one of the ways they stayed fit and healthy up into their sixties and seventies.

No matter your age, the more you can keep moving the better.  Studies show just a brisk thirty-minute walk first thing in the morning can do wonders for your health, psyche and metabolism.  So, recently, I decided to emulate my characters and get up, get out and get going.

people-863728_640Here in Texas, summer heat can be brutal by 11:00 a.m., so the earlier you can throw on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt and lace up your walking shoes the better.  I have chosen to rise with the sun. I have my half hour of devotional and reflection time, down 16 ounces of water, then open my apartment door and greet the day.  Here are a few of the benefits I have discovered during my early A.M. trek so far:

  1. I am meeting more neighbors. I can offer a friendly wave or say, “Good morning” and help get their day started off on a positive note. That helps me do the same.
  2. I hear birdsong, watch squirrels dashing across the branches, and even notice small insects going about their work.
  3. I notice my stature is more erect. My shoulders slump less. My lungs fill with air. It always seems fresher in the morning.
  4. I am sleeping better at night. Unless of course, one of the rafter-rumbling Texas summer storms roll through.
  5. I have some nice conversations with my Maker as I stroll and enjoy His creation around me.

In my youth, I associated summers with sleeping in, being lazy and basking. Then life, work, raising a family and volunteering filled my days.  Now, as I get older, I see I have missed out on a lot of the beautiful quiet times. True, we have to schedule them. But I am glad I decided to be more like my Bunco Biddies, Janie, Ethel and Betsy Ann, by getting out there daily and moving….hopefully I won’t find a body in my complex’s dumpster!

 

If you’d like to preview Dumpster Dicing, click here: http://www.juliebcosgrove.com/dumpster_dicing.html

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Count on It

June 28, 2016 by Julie B Cosgrove

In a devotional get in my email box, was this from Rick Warren:

Remember this:

•    God’s goodness will provide and protect.
•    God’s mercy (unfailing love) will pardon and forgive.
•    God’s goodness will supply.
•    God’s mercy will soothe.
•    God’s goodness will help.
•    God’s mercy and love will heal.

You can count on it!

When I read it, an image of a small child learning to count on their fingers and toes came to mind.??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

When asked how old you  are, the tike holds up the number of fingers. The child starts with it’s dominant hand and counts up to five.

If asked how many eggs are in the carton, then calculating the answer becomes a bit more complex. The wee one starts with the dominate hand, discovers that is not enough, and proceeds to start counting the fingers other hand and continues to ten. If more is required, the small toes begin to wiggle. 

As children of God, perhaps we should do the same in our prayer time.  Let’s start off on our dominant hand and recite the first five on Rick’s list,  then add a thumb on the other hand. Whoa- plenty of digits left!

Psalm 23 tells us that His goodness and merciful love will follow us all our lives. Use the rest of your digits for your specific “remembrances” of God’s attributes that He has lovingly showed to you. Fill in the blanks. God’s goodness will________________. God’s mercy will______________________.

Bet pretty soon you will start wiggling those toes! I imagine your mood will lift and your mouth will curve into a soft smile.  Count on it. Mine did.

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Arrgh – Cats

June 22, 2016 by Julie B Cosgrove

Okay- I admit it. My cats are driving me NUTS! But God taught me a vital lesson through them.

12359888_1173304076020731_5338883072486770344_nOne is a gorger. He starved as a stray and the Vet thinks his “no longer hungry” switch permanently turned off.  He will eat and eat until he pops…or hack it up.

The other is a grazer. The runt, he always has been passive and easily bullied out of his portion.  He would prefer I guard his bowl for two hours each meal so he can slurp two or three bites, walk away and return later. In the meantime, gorger hovers close by, licking his chops. If I turn my head, he starts to chomp the grazer’s portion down.

The Vet says to pick up the grazer’s bowl after twenty minutes. The cat is just not getting the message, so he meows and meows for me to give him back his food. It breaks my heart.  The gorger cowers when I raise my voice and tell him no, but is not deterred. We are talking about cats after all… Tough love is,well, tough.

I have prayed for over a year for God to change them. I’d love to put food down and they eat when it is presented so we can all go about our day. I would love to be able to go out of town without burdening a close friend or relative with this cat bowl guard duty. Today, God interrupted my prayer. He told me, “Pray for your attitude to change, and leave the rest to me.”

How often do our prayers concentrate on changing someone else?

Perhaps a spouse who seems distant or a child who is headed down the wrong path. A coworker that grates on our nerves or a friend who has wounded us with their selfishness.  We tearfully wear out our knees in pleas. Our tummies knot. We pray again, and again. It is always on the forefront of our minds and we mull over it like a cow chewing on cud. It is the last thought that whirls in our brains before we sleep. God, aren’t you listening? Do something. The anxiousness builds.

Here is truth: It is our attitude we are in charge of changing, not anyone else’s. Be not anxious about your life…Matthew 6:25.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  Philippians 4:6

We cannot will anyone to change. Yes, we can pray for them and leave our concerns at the foot of the cross, and we should.  But perhaps our Lord is calling us to change our attitude about the situation and to give it to Him in exchange for His peace. I read that stress is not trusting God to be in control. I have been stressing over my furry beasts and I am sure they are picking up on my angst.  My kitties are my joy- when did I forget that? When did they become my pain instead? When was the last time I thanked God for them?

Tonight, I will change my prayer.  Is there one you should change as well?

 

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Hit Me

June 17, 2016 by Julie B Cosgrove

HIT- it can be past tense, future tense or present tense verb. Perhaps because when you are hit, physically, emotionally or spiritually, time doesn’t matter. The impact is still vivid.

hand-36759_640Words can smack us in the heart, and once uttered cannot be taken back. Victims of abuse can tell you the exact time and place when that first whack from someone they thought loved them occurred. In most cases, the hurt is very real and can last a lifetime if not dealt with. You might say “hit” is Hurt Intentionally Targeted.

Sometimes, the hit is out of carelessness and is unintentional. A friend lashes out in anger with their tongue, then feels bad about it. Anyone who has been in a wreck cringes at the sound of automobile metal hitting each other. It is a very unmistakable sound. We have all seen the bloopers where a child misses an aim and hits the parent in the head or groin.

But a thought just hit me–“hit” is not always a bad thing.

Sometimes we need something to smack us to jolt us out of our complacency, or to get our attention, or to stop us in our tracks. I believe God can use these surprise hits, these blind-sided whomps, to His glory.  It may be the truthful words of a trusted friend who knows us well enough to speak them.

Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it, for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers. Psalm 141:5

Yes, to “hit” someone with the intention to hurt them is wrong, no doubt. But to smack them with God’s truth in order to steer them back to His side is a good thing. Never strike out in anger, even if you feel justified. But, if the Holy Spirit prompts you to speak truth, even if you think it may cause hurt, pray on it. If your motivation is their welfare and not your own, then ask God to help you find the strength, the timing and the words to speak. Jesus at times was harsh-tongued, but all His words were said in love.

And if someone whacks you with Truth, no matter how much it hurts, take it to God and learn His purpose for it. Examine the validity. Ask God to shine the mirror  reflecting His Light onto your heart and show you what changes need to be made. Never hold a grudge on the person who brought your personality flaw to the surface.

Above all else, if someone hits you with the intent to cause pain, forgive them. Pray for them. (That doesn’t mean condone their behavior or allow them to abuse you.) Pray for our Lord to shield and shelter you, and also that He may touch the heart of the person who has hurt you. Their actions are most likely because, deep inside, they are hurting, too.

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Eternally Young

June 7, 2016 by Julie B Cosgrove

“This statue shows a Christian woman who is old at death’s door. As she passes from this life to the next, she is no longer sick or old and does not carry the burdens of this mortal life. She is welcomed by her Savior into eternal life whole and strong to live forever in heaven.”

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Perhaps you have seen this on Facebook, as I have. Looking at the down-slide of my life ahead, how ever long that will be, this spoke to me. Getting older, I have aches, pains and diminishing energy. I am faced with the reality  that I just can’t do what I did at twenty, or even forty. And it frustrates me. To one day be out of pain and beyond the limitations of my body gives me hope. But does that mean I can’t have hope now?

I see my older friends in two categories:

1.They’re even more frustrated than I am and their conversations are what my mother called “organ recitals”= always about their physical maladies.

2. Or, they have a quiet contentment, which my mother also called “being thankful they still have parts, even though they ache.”

In fact, she had a plaque on her fridge: Age is Mind over Matter. If you don’t mind, what does it matter?

And that is where this wonderful sculpture errs, in my opinion. Physicality is so emphasized in our society. Youthfulness rules. Aging is taboo. Take this pill or have this procedure to halt it, you don’t want it. Stop it in it’s tracks. You have the right to feel young and energetic again.

Where did that come from? Other cultures honor their elderly.

Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? Job 12:12

Aging is a natural process. From the moment we are born, we age. Bodies and minds wear out, but souls do not.

I am not sure my spiritual body will be young, skinny and tall as depicted in this sculpture. I have never been skinny or tall here on earth and I always wished I had the metabolism of a cheetah instead of a sloth, so it would be nice. Living with chronic pain for decades, to no longer have that thorn in my flesh would be great as well. But that it temporal thinking.

There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another.  I Corinthians 15:40

Scripture says my spiritual body will be new, eternal and not subject to illness. I am not sure I will have legs and arms, long flowing hair, or even eyes and ears. What I do know is whatever shape my spiritual body is, it will exist to reflect God’s glory.

But in the meantime, God has use for me here.

I can do His will and reflect His glory at every stage of my life, even if I end up drooling in diapers. Yes, I have the responsibility not to abuse this body He has given me, but I also must accept it is a temporary shell which is made to wear out. That is not where my primary focus should be. Too many people turn fitness into an idol and food into a demi-god.

Aging doesn’t make me less a person, and it shouldn’t affect my attitude of gratitude. At every stage, I can serve in some capacity, even it is just to be a sweet, kind and patient person whose love for the Lord shines through her dimmed eyes and diminished memory.

Which person do I choose to be from now on – someone focused on her pains or someone focused on the One who suffered the ultimate pain for her so she can have life beyond this one?  Will my main focus be on my feeble body or His glorious one ? The aches dwelling in my joints or  His Spirit dwelling in my soul?

Which do you choose to concentrate on, and which will you reflect?

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A Steady Diet of M&M…and M

May 24, 2016 by Julie B Cosgrove

When I went through catechism, to discern if I would claim IMG_20131030_075636_787my parent’s faith as my own before God and the congregation, they taught us that Scripture should be read, marked and inwardly digested.

Jesus, according to John’s Gospel, is the Word, and He said He is the Bread of Life. We need a steady diet of the Bible in our lives. We need M&M, and M.

Mark – not just underline verses in different colored highlighters, but memorize them. Make them an important part of your thought process so at a moment’s notice if the devil is tapping on your shoulder you can respond by praying with Scripture. Let it leave a mark on your life.

Meditate – think on that verse and what the Holy Spirit is trying to tell you through it. What lesson is there in it for you, or an answer to prayer, or perhaps a head-thunk revelation? Truly learn it.

When we combine the two, then an amazing, positive, calming power envelops us and seeps through us, does it not?  Scripture comes alive, and we feel God’s hand gently upon our shoulder. The words are now personalized. We smile and whisper, “That is my verse. God wrote it for me.”

The final “M”? Masticate.  It means to chew. Chew on what has occurred, or continues to happen, in your life because of that verse. What has impacted you? How? Is there an action you should now take? Or maybe one you should not?

Mull it over for several days in prayer until you totally digest it inwardly. Let it flow through your system giving your spiritual nourishment. Feel God’s grace as it courses through your life.

MP900443254[1]_cropA steady diet of M&M, and M when it comes to God’s Word can do wonders for your health, your faith, and your attitude.  Try it.

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Stop, Then Go

May 17, 2016 by Julie B Cosgrove

Somehow eight minutes elapsed between the time I last glanced at the clock to when I got in my car. Now, I ran behind. Arrgh. I hate to be late.

traffic_light_05Of course the first traffic light I came to turned red just as I drove up. Really? One of the longest lights in my city and I am stuck at it. My fingers tapped the steering wheel as my gaze kept darting from the stop symbol to the clock on my dashboard.

Finally, green. Then, from there on in, I sailed through the next four lights, all on green! Even the left turn one onto the highway. Hurrah! Lo and behold I made up those few minutes I’d spent in frustration waiting for the first traffic light to change.

Oh – another God-lesson seeped into my brain and I slid down in my seat feeling a bit sheepish. Sometimes waiting is good. Okay, I get that.

God may have us halt for a while, but that is because it is in our best interest. It is not yet time for us to move. But when we do, in His timing, then we zip along and everything is a “go”.
Have you had that happen to you? I have. It is if every possible obstacle suddenly parts like the Red Sea. When we are in His will, paths are made straight. Waiting on God to say “Go” is well worth the wait…every time.

The next time I am getting impatient, Lord may I recall the traffic light lesson. Thank you for letting me find You today as I stared at the red, waiting for the green.

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LIGHT

May 10, 2016 by Julie B Cosgrove

Reading Gail Pallota’s eye-opening novel about dealing with a chronic hard-to-diagnose disease, Barely Above Water, one sentence popped out at me. The alternative doctor told her part of the process of getting well was to bring her issues to light – letting in God’s healing touch.

???????????????????????????????????????Jesus said He is the LIGHT of the world. How many dark crevices do each of us have we’d prefer He not shine into? Areas of hidden shame, character flaws, deep hurts we cling to out of habit, justification, denial, or fear of letting go.  I have a few, don’t you?

“Let’s not work on that one now, Lord. Let’s work on an easier one. It would be too painful to tackle that right  now. I really don’t want to go there.”

But without LIGHT, how can we pinpoint the areas in our lives that are stunting our growth, our witness, our potential to do His will?  Doctors use lasers to help eradicate diseased cells. Jesus’ Spirit uses His healing touch to cauterize the places we secretly bleed.

Like peeling off a band-aid, we need to expose the area to the light so it can fully heal.  That means others may notice the  process. That’s alright. They will see LIGHT at work. And isn’t that what is supposed to happen? Perhaps it will encourage them to expose some areas in their lives.

And remember, scar tissue is tougher. So let in God’s healing touch to that wound, whatever it may be.

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Two New

April 24, 2016 by Julie B Cosgrove

I found God today in the fact I have two NEW books on pre-order on Amazon.com. Why?

God is sooo good to this lowly writer. Plus, weekend I head to Austin to receive the “Best Religious Fiction 2016” award from the Texas Association of Authors.  I am in the finals for the 2016 Grace Awards  for Freed to Forgive and  Semi-finials for the 2015 INSPY Awards for Legitimate Lies..  His blessings are overwhelming me, and I feel so humbled, grateful and unworthy. Still, I catch myself getting all goose-bumpy and smiling.

I hope you check them out on Amazon.com.

DumpsterDicing

Paperback & eBook launches 6/3/16

http://amzn.to/21aW5Pa       

LoveIs_NavyBlues copy (1)

   

 

 

 

 

 

                                                          

 

http://amzn.to/1Vwe96x

                                                   eBook launches 5/27/16

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