When I read Scripture I see myself in many characters in the Bible.
In Peter, I see my “open mouth, insert foot” tendencies. Often times my mouth gets to running before my brain is in gear! I have had the reputation of being a “loud-mouth lime” type of person.
In the Apostle Paul, I see myself commiserating over the dilemma of trying to be obedient to God’s will. “What I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, I do.” (Romans 7:15 NIV)
Obedience is not an easy thing to accomplish at times. King Saul found that out first-hand. Under instruction from God to go to battle against the Amalekites and completely destroy them, man, woman, child, and livestock, Saul thought he had a better plan. Not only did he disobey God’s command to annihilate the Amalekites, he took King Agag as his prisoner and took the best of the livestock for the spoils of war. His excuse to Samuel was that the “people” spared the sheep and oxen for sacrifice to the Lord. Samuel saw through his excuses and declared, “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.” (I Samuel 15:22)
When Allen and I lived in Montana, I heard a pastor on our local Christian radio station speaking about this Scripture passage. He said something that has stuck with me all these years later. He said, “Look at the word ‘obedience’. Write it out on paper. In the middle of the word is another word, DIE. Obedience is dying to your own will to do God’s will.”
Dying to my will is not easy – it’s a daily struggle. However, I do not have to be discouraged. The Apostle Paul assures me that, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
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Donna Knuth Rice
I am trying a blog for the first time in my life, and frankly, I feel like I don't have a clue as to what I'm doing! But, here goes.
I work at a Christian Television network in the Correspondence Department, where I write letters and emails to our viewers, pray with them for their needs, and send materials they request.
I am a Christian. I was saved at the age of 11 during a youth meeting at my church. My pastor led me to the Lord, and to say the least, my life has been an adventure.
I am a widow. My late husband, Allen, passed away after 34 1/2 years of marriage. He had been sick the last seven years of his life, and it was a struggle, for him and for me.
We met as part of a singing group that was affiliated with a Christian Radio station, and we sang together all through our lives together. We both worked in television and radio all through our married life, mostly for Christian stations.
Besides singing I also play flute. I had the luxury of having parents who started out as music teachers...so music was in our house constantly.
Some people describe me as being a loud-mouthed lime type...can't disagree with that. I have a tendency to put my foot in my mouth more times than I can count! I also have a tendency to say exactly what's on my mind...which is why I get myself in so much trouble! LOL! Trust me, that's something me and God have been working on for a very long time.
I have no children here on earth, although I have a baby in heaven. My baby here is my dog Jack. He's a black lab/ chow mix. He's a big boy....thinks he's a lap dog!
Can't think of much else to say. The reason I started this blog is because a few months ago in church, a guest pastor came and delivered a message, and when he asked for those of us who wanted prayer to come forward, I did. When he came to me he asked me if I did any journaling. I told him no 'cause I wasn't very good at it. He told me to start, and prophesied over me that my journal thoughts would impact other people. I wasn't sure just how I was to go about doing this. In fact, I was a little hesitant at first. I started journaling at home, and our assistant pastor's wife asked me to submit something for our Senior newsletter. I didn't the first edition, but something I had heard on Christian radio a long time ago and has stuck with me all these years, came to mind so I submitted an article. That article will be my first post.
I don't claim to have all the answers, and my thoughts may seem a little "out there", but I feel God has been prodding me to do this, and so here I am.
I hope what I post will bring encouragement, and "Something to Think About".
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