Vicki Pooley

Thanks for the encouragement

Just a quick thank you to those of you who have told me that you enjoy my blog. I often wonder if anyone is out there in cyber space...thanks for letting me know that you are out there and alive and well =)

New Level

the humiliation of being a Christian. Naturally, if a man does not hit back, it is because he is a coward; but spiritually if a man does not hit back, it is the manifestation of the son of God in him. When you are insulted, you must not only resent it, but make an occasion to exhibit the Son of God. You cannot imitate the disposition of Jesus; it is either there or it is not. To the saint personal insult becomes the occasion of revealing the incredible sweetness of the Lord Jesus. Oswald Chambers

The proof is in the making of a man or woman. If we aspire to a greater good, this would be a level worth attaining. Don't our lights shine the brightest when they are surrounded by a dark night? We give up our will for His...giving no place to the devil. We know he, the enemy is always jockeying for an unrightful position.

When we are pressed, may the love of Christ be the first thing other's see. This is a life-long aspiration, and once we reach one level of loving other's then the bar is once again raised to a higher level.

Max...striking the pose!

This picture goes with a couple blogs back...too funny! Loveable, Max! This is more than a semi pose, but not the full one, but you get the idea.

Father's Day

Had a wonderful Father's Day, with the family.

 At the end of our night out, we caught a beautiful sunset. My heavenly Father displayed His wonderful art work! Happy Father's day, Jesus. =)

Family is important to our family. I am thankful for special days, because it causes us to slow down, and take time for one another. Robert's Mom is feeling SO much better and she was able to spend the afternoon and evening with us.

Robert said that he had a great Father's Day. His restaurant was the Fish House. Great food! But my favorite part was being with the one's I love.

We got to sit on the outside deck...felt like I was on vacation.

Here are two hopeless romantic's just before the sun began to set.

I am glad that Robert had a wonderful Father's Day...he certainly loves his baby girl, Leanna!

The Highest Compliment

My love-able cat, Max is ministering to me today. Not sure exactly how long we had Max before we looked over at him one day, and there he was stretched out flat on his back, feet up in the air, and his little belly looking up to the sky. What a sight!!

I was laughing with a friend about it, and she said, "well, you know, when a cat lies on it's back, it is a sign of trust." Hmmm...makes sense...the belly is one of the most tender spots on a cat, and they are on their back and couldn't spring into action quickly, and it's a vulnerable pose =).

This morning I woke up and there was Max, striking the pose! I walked past him, and he didn't even flinch! His eyes were closed, he was at total peace. I thought he would at least spy out the land, but nope...total chill.

I did a little test. When I walked past him again, I walked a little closer to see if he would stir. Nope...total peace.

Cat's are smart. Max knows me...he knows my scent, my sounds, my crackling knees, and my touch. Today he gave me the highest compliment...he said, in his way, "I trust you!" I can be vulnerable with you, and know that I am safe.

God Thoughts

 "Let the wicked forsake His way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord; and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa. 55:7-ff).

The above scripture says, our thoughts are not His thoughts (God's thoughts), and our ways are not His ways.

Can you imagine what it would be like to be inside the mind of Christ? I know when we read our bible we are learning "God thoughts." But I was also thinking about  the random thoughts Christ has...

The bible tells us that a "double-minded" man is unstable in all of his ways. We are out-of-order...out of balance...thoughts and ways go hand-in-hand.

I was channel surfing the other day and stumbled on the Dr. Phil show. I don't get see his show very often, but this show caught my attention. He was helping a family that was in serious turmoil. The Mom was completely on a different page than the rest of the family, and the rest of the family was not doing anything to help the situation. Dr. Phil continued to try to get both sides to see what he was pointing out to them. Finally, exasperated he said something similar to this (can't remember the exact word he used), but he said, "If insight was lard, there wouldn't be enough here to grease a pan with!" They were NOT "getting it!" I wonder how often we "don't get it!"

We spend a good bit of our time being impulsive, rushing to judgement, running ahead of God, making our own plans (leaving God out), and just in general not seeing what God is trying to show us.

We need to have more of those "God thoughts!" If we do, we will be a blessing, instead of being a pain in the hinder parts. Be a blessing. Wherever God has you...be a blessing! Can I say that again...be a blessing!

I had this crazy thought one day..."What if everyone could hear every thought I was thinking? No built-in sensor's, no time to process the thought, change the thought, etc. I had some fun with this question. I asked some of my client's and friend's what would they think about that, if it actually happened. Their thoughts out there for all to hear. Everyone of them "gasped"...no way!, that would be terrible!, I wouldn't have any friends!,...then we all laughed and realized we have another reason to be thankful. :)

Christ would be okay with us hearing His thoughts...even unsensored.

My prayer is that one day, no matter what I am thinking, I wouldn't be upset if anyone heard it...even unsensored. If that ever happens, it will be a miracle happening on an ordinary day! Just the same, it's something worth striving for!