Accountability

"Know ye not ye are the temple of God.....if any man defile the temple, him shall God destroy... II Cor. 3:14-17

I've been working in a small town in Missouri this week.  The office is on the town  square, also the County Seat.  A sedate old courthouse graces the middle of the little town. I have a big window in the office and can see the coming and going of all the county this week.

Somehow this gathering place for accountability for hundreds of people has intrigued me. I've watched dignified people walk into it. But mostly the common people enter the doors. I wonder how their lives are changed by the accountability they face within those walls. If you live in this county, you will probably be answerable for something within this edifice at some point in your life.. it's what the governing of people is all about. It can be good or it can be negative.  It depends upon how each person handles his accountability.

One source says:

How true!! Our choices always affect our circumstances....

I took a van load of youth to visit the Missouri State Capitol not so long ago. We were intrigued by the money and planning that went into this monumental building. Walking the halls, we sensed a certain amount of awe. We were quiet as we stood in the lawmaking chambers and reflected on how the decisions made there affect us daily!

We took pictures of ourselves on the steps where thousands have climbed to make laws. It was also gratifying to know we have a structure of government that seemed to be protecting us. That is debatable these days, but the idea of what our founding fathers established was a good thing: making us all accountable. 

The U.S Capitol Building in Washington D.C. Is even more beautiful and imposing. I have visited it dozens of times and am always overwhelmed at the power and authority that lies within the confines of those halls. Our country was founded on accountability and that is what made it great. Unfortunately, our present generation is not wanting to take responsibility for themselves in so many things, resulting in chaos and a lack of protection over its citizens.

 

For the last several weeks, I have been changing my eating habits. I was having some health issues I needed to address, and from experience, I know what I need to change in my food consumption. I had a little accountability in my plan. I was doing great, but also aware that accountability to yourself can weaken quickly. We've all been there; done that. Traditionally, change in lifestyle lasts a week or two and fizzles.

I was blessed to be invited into an accountability group that I felt comfortable with.  It has worked wonders for me. Every evening, we make each other accountable for the goals we are working toward. It's been very strengthening and enlightening, as well. Having others involved has been a great choice!

This morning, my devotional scripture was the Corinthians passage about our bodies being the temple of God... we are not our own. I was challenged again to be accountable to God for everything in my life. I cannot isolate any thing in my life from Him.. and if I choose to think I can, He will cause circumstances to evolve to get my attention! 

Thank you, Father, for creating this kind of necessary accountability in relationships, in government, and in my daily personal life.  It really works!!

 
 
 
 

Renewal

Isaiah 40:31: "They that wait upon the Lord... shall renew their strength..."

Renewal implies resfreshment, a watering, new strength.  

I love to give.. I love to water.  But sometimes the soul knows when you need to get away to wait on God for new inspiration.

So Toney and I, after an intense month or so, needed such a refreshing. We headed in a general direction for a couple of days get away.

We drove to a little restored village that we had visited many years ago. It was a quiet Monday morning. Not many people around. The relics and displays of bygone days calmed us as we quietly and slowly strolled through the peaceful little place. We felt our spirits being stilled .

 
 
 We sat in a little restaurant and enjoyed two of our favorite foods: fried green tomatoes and coconut cream pie. Grabbed our forks and just shared the plate!!

 We drove around a lake, visited a luxury resort, where we only looked because we surely couldn't afford to stay, and ended up in a little cabin called the " Chicken Coop. We are used to tiny places and feel comfy in them!! 

We love searching out unique restaurants.... found one where Toney enjoyed wonderful catfish. Rustic, quiet, good food.. perfect setting for the evening.

 

We hiked the dam walkway for a spell... shared our thoughts, did some talking to God, enjoyed reading a spell, and slept cozily in the little cabin.

 
 

By the second morning, we were feeling relaxed and peaceful so just drove... ending up in a little Oklahoma town where we lived 40 years ago. I guess we are getting old, because we spent quite awhile reminiscing.  Life has sure gone a lot of different and unexpected directions. But we always look back on God's mercy through all those years.  We were feeling so blessed.  

Toney's old barber shop in Nowata, OK.

Our first home we bought...we were so proud of it!!

We enjoyed breakfast at a little restaurant that had been in operation for over 50 years; had lunch at a small town grill.

 We drove through the little town of Pawhuska, quickly decided we'd exchange the crowd in the Mercantile for driving to the Drummond Lodge. Some beautiful ranch land....

 

 

We captured the back roads of Oklahoma on our peaceful drive back home.  It's amazing how renewed we both were from just a few hours of shutting down and relaxing.  

I love meeting God as He waits for us to "come away" for awhile. He examples this for us in the writings of his three short years here on earth.  Yet he got so much done!!

So we're back at Pearl of Grace Ranch, our spirits and bodies renewed and ready to get back to work!!

It's easy to wait and seek God in  the beauty of nature's renewal and seeing life through the simple things!

It doesn't take a lot of money or even time to get away. You don't have to travel to an exotic island or popular tourist attraction.  It only takes a few hours to lay everything busy aside, seek out some quietness, be ready to clear the air and talk to God.  I recommend it...