Devotions Magazine

It's Just Lotion

2009-03-23T17:11:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow is my sister's birthday. She is in the latter stages of Alzheimers Disease and it is very difficult to buy a gift she can use so I decided on lotion and kleenex. I got the kleenex and went over to the lotion counter to get a couple of simple bottles of moisturizing lotion. It hit me that I didn't know whether she could remember how to use the pump bottle or if she had the strength to use the squeeze bottle. Such a simple function that I take for granted and yet it perplexed me to tears in the middle of WalGreens.

The situation is bad enough but now the decision must be made on a "code" or "no code" for her beloved son who is literally on his death bed. Hospice has been called in but my sister has not been told how dire the condition is. We all need to have a Living Will and a Power of Attorney because we know not when we will be called out of this world. This young man of 47 years old has neither and so goes the legal battle. The family is united for a "no code" but the person who he has apparently depended on wants him "coded". God be with us as we tell his Mom he is dying. Give us the stength to let her lean on us. Lord grant me the strength to be there for her children during her illness and the illness of this brother. I have been experienced both situations and the heartache is immeasureable. My minister and my deacon are a source of strength to me. Their unending prayers have kept me going this past month. God is good and He is merciful. He listens to our prayers and when we become too weak to pray, He listens to our intermediaries. God be with me, my sisters and my neices and nephews in the coming weeks.

Loneliness

2009-03-06T20:02:00.008-05:00

For my Sister:

Vacancy

Empty eyes that once held recognition
Lips that once spoke with knowledge

A mind that had held family memories
Now blank because the thief crept in

Gone is the easy and familiar smile
Erased are her loving thoughts of Mom and Dad

Love still lives in the beating heart
God still reigns in the soul

The gait is halting and unsteady
The faith in God remains unwavering

Hands that caressed her children
Now all but useless appendages

The sister who so influenced my life
A treasure to me forever

With broken heart and tender tears
I leave her in God's loving arms

No one but God to speak to of my loneliness
Lord give me strength to go another round with the monster

Be with loved ones, Lord, who miss her so
Be merciful to this your child

God's Children

2009-03-03T11:23:00.004-05:00

Mark 10:15-16 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands on them, and blessed them.

Every day we hear another report of a child being abducted. Many times those children are found dead with no clue as to who did the deed. Sometimes they live for years with the abductor in conditions we cannot even imagine.

Just as I sit here with my Bible this morning, an Amber alert was issued for a child who was stolen in Kentucky. Even when the clues are missing and the cases go cold, be sure there is One who knows the culprit. Be sure too that justice will be completed at His hands one day. All will be revealed and punishment will be harsh one way or the other.

I pray every day for our little ones who have no defense against the evils of our world. The sick minds of those who would do our children harm work in such a devious manner, we never suspect they would act in such a heinous manner. I just plead with God that He have mercy on these treasures and that their sufferings will be brief.

This scripture tells us how Jesus feels about children and I would not want to be on the receiving end of His judgment for harming the ones He holds so dear.

2009-03-02T07:48:00.004-05:00

March Snow

Psalms 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep; for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

Sunday, March 1, 2009, came with a beautiful snow. At 3:00 p.m. the power went out and for an hour and a half, I sat and listened to the sound of the battery operated clocks make their ticking noise that I am usually unaware of. The cat and dog were sleeping, not knowing that their very non-pioneer mama was feeling the stress of QUIET.

I had just finished baking a cherry pie and I fought the urge to cut into it out of sheer boredom. As the snow began to accumulate, I watched the outside of my home turn into a winter wonderland. The beauty was breath taking and I found myself marveling at God's ways of giving us what we need.

I had no electricity but I had fire in the cozy fireplace. I've always loved the sound of a ticking clock. It takes me back to being in my Grandma's home when I was a little girl. I love a fireplace too and of course, the cat and dog always look so sweet as they lay peacefully sleeping. So I got a huge dose of all the things I love and there were no modern day distractions. I have so much to be thankful for.

Clean Your Windows

2009-02-27T08:00:00.010-05:00

My Bonnie

The following was sent to me by my niece and I think it is worth sharing.

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside. "That laundry is not very clean", she said. "She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap."
Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments. About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband:
"Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this." The husband said, "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows."

And so it is with life. What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look. I hope that you have a very blessed day

Greatest Gift

2009-02-26T08:00:00.004-05:00

Happiness

1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

Paul taught that love (charity) is more important than all the spiritual gifts practiced by the church body.

God is so big He can cover the whole world with his Love and so small He can curl up inside your heart.

The Same Only Different

2009-02-25T08:00:00.002-05:00

Peace

1 Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

Each part of the human body has a specific and necessary function. The parts are different but they must all work together. The church is comprised of many different kinds of members with the common thread of faith in Christ.

Willing Submission

2009-02-24T08:00:00.001-05:00

Sunny Day

1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

This scripture does not command supremacy of the man over the woman but rather is indicative of "the source of". Submission between equals is submission by choice, not force.

Christian Trust

2009-02-23T08:00:00.001-05:00

Feeding Time

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them unto you.

Paul could not advise the citizens of Corinth to follow Jesus since the Gospels had not yet been written and Jesus was not well known to them. This was the best way Paul could think of to point these new Christians to Christ.

Sisters

2009-02-19T08:00:00.002-05:00

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

This scripture can apply to each of us in our times of illness or despair. My eldest sister came to mind as I pondered on Paul's feelings about his own infirmities.

This sister is the one who spoiled and nurtured me as I grew from a little child to a grown woman. She is 10 years older than me so she thought of me as her baby doll for a number of years. The two of us have always been close and when I learned awhile back that she has Alzheimers, I was devastated.

When she was diagnosed, she was not in fellowship with God as she use to be. Now she walks closer to Him than ever and does not dwell on her illness. She is a prayer warrior and a great supporter of her church. I was told a few days ago that the right side of her brain is already dead. This is obvious when I see how her motor skills have disappeared. Even knowing what I know from my Mom's struggle with this same disease, I continue to hold out hope that my dear sister will not have the mental torture Mom suffered.

When I think about the whole situation, I have to be grateful for the illness since it brought her back into God's fold. I will spend every minute with her that I can while she still knows me and I will be there even when she forgets who I am. None of us know what God has in store for us so we need to cherish our physical and mental health as long as we can. In the meantime, we should always remember those in prayer who have problems we can't even imagine.

Fully Protected

2009-02-17T08:00:00.007-05:00

Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

It seems we are most certainly living "in the evil day". The armour of God is the protection necessary to get through the times we currently are living in.

Righteous treatment

2009-02-16T08:00:00.004-05:00

Thessalonians 5:12 - 14

5:12 And we beseech you, brethren,to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

5:13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

Paul was telling the people of Thessalonica to have the utmost regard for the pastors, deacons and elders of their church. He explained that appreciation should be expressed for the work the church leaders were doing. Paul also asked that laziness not be tolerated without warning and that the frightened and the weak be treated with patience.

All of this scripture can pertain to today's churches. There are all types of personalities in our congregations today and there is a right way to deal with each person we encounter.

Today's blog is dedicated to my Mother who is celebrating her 95th birthday in Heaven. She gracefully left this earth 5 1/2 years ago and I miss her so very much.

Agape love

2009-02-13T08:00:00.006-05:00

Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

We expect our children to follow the good examples we set for them. God expects no less of us and wants us to be kind and loving to others. He expects us to have love for our brothers and sisters like the unconditional love he has for us.

Greatest love

2009-02-12T08:00:00.001-05:00

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Isn't it wonderful to be loved this much?

Got Faith?

2009-02-11T10:02:00.004-05:00

Luke 17:6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

Having complete faith is easier said than done. We like to control things all by ourselves and until we learn to let go and let God, we cannot realize the accomplishments of having genuine faith in our Master.

Father, I ask that you forgive my sins and that you lead me through this day that I may be what you want me to be. Bless the little children and the elderly. Be with those little innocent babies who suffer torture and death at the hands of others. I pray you will show these little ones mercy and receive them into your Kingdom so you can hold them in your arms and give them the love they deserve. Help us to leave the judgment to you for those who would do harm to these little children. Help us to let go of our anger for the abuser and leave the vengence to you. I ask this in Jesus' name and for his sake. Amen

Trials

2009-02-10T08:00:00.001-05:00

Sun through the haze

Job 21:6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh. 7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? 9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.

Job was afflicted with many sorrows even though he loved God with all his heart. He never turned his back on the Lord but the wicked seemed to be blessed by God. The wealthy had their reward on earth and that wealth was such a fleeting thing. Job's treasure was eternal in Heaven and he proved to God and everyone who knew him that earthly suffering is no reason to turn away from the Master.

Father, I humbly come asking you to forgive any sin that may be in my life. I pray for my loved ones that they will be safe from harm but most of all, that they are saved in Jesus' name. As we begin another week, help us gather the strength we need to do at least one task that would be pleasing to you. Let me love everyone more than myself. In Jesus' name I pray.

Amen

I am........

2009-02-09T08:00:00.006-05:00

Peaceful home

I received this in an e-mail from my sister and the content is so moving, I wanted to share it in this blog.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I am saved" I'm whispering "I get lost!"

"That is why I chose this way.""

When I say..."I am a Christian"

I don't speak of this with pride.

I'm confessing that I stumble.

and need someone to be my guide.

When I say..."I am a Christian" I'm not trying to be strong.

I'm confessing that I'm weak.

and pray for strength to carry on.

When I say..."I am a Christian" I'm not bragging of success.

I'm admitting I have failed.

and cannot ever pay the debt.

When I say..."I am a Christian"

I'm not claiming to be perfect, my flaws are too visible.

but God believes I'm worthy.

When I say..."I am a Christian" I still feel the sting of pain.

I have my share of heartaches.

which is why I seek His name.

When I say..."I am a Christian" I do not wish to judge.

I have no authority.

I only know I'm loved.

Teaching the Bible

2009-02-06T08:00:00.001-05:00

Luke 17:1 The said he to the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

Religious leaders have an awesome responsibility to teach God's word and not dispense their own beliefs to their audiences. Notice the exclamation point in verse one after the warning to those who would bring woe. That punctuation in itself speaks volumes. It makes me feel so warm in my heart when we are referred to as His "little children".

Dear Lord, Thank you for the many blessings I have received this week . I am not worthy of your love and kindness and so often, I take them for granted. As we go into the weekend, protect me and help me to be a light to someone else. Bless my family and send your Angels to surround them and keep them from harm. Bless our pastor and keep him strong, ever standing for your Word. I pray for Sunday's service that the Holy Spirit will visit each and every meeting place and bless the congregations immensely. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen

I

One Drop of Water

2009-02-05T08:00:00.005-05:00

Luke 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

When it's over, it's over. There are no "do overs" when our lives come to an end so we have to get it right the first time. I don't want to be like the rich man begging for just one drop of water to cool my parched tongue.

Lord, As I approach the throne of grace, please be merciful to me a sinner, saved by grace. I beg you to be with the men and women who are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Please place your angels there to shield them and God, should they have to relinquish their lives, I pray that in death they will find everlasting life. Please send the Holy Spirit to deal with the hearts of those soldiers who might not know you that they may one more time have the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ. God bless America, I pray. Amen

Torments of Hell

2009-02-04T08:00:00.002-05:00

Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried:

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his Bosom.

This scripture portrays the dogs as being more compassionate than the rich man. Lazarus (not the same Lazarus Jesus raised from the dead) was in torment on earth but received his great reward after his death. For the first time, I noticed the plural word "torments" when telling where the rich man lifted up his eyes after he died. It's interesting to me that this word is plural and makes me believe that there are many horrors waiting for those who reject Christ and go to hell.

Dear God, Please forgive me when I fail you. I have such a sinful heart and I don't devote the time to you that you deserve. Help me to keep my eyes on the cross. Give me tunnel vision in this respect and remind me of the one who suffered so and gave His life so that I may live for eternity in Heaven. Amen

Jesus' Kingdom

2009-02-03T08:00:00.002-05:00

Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

During Old Testament times, man was looking toward the birth of Jesus. Since the birth, we are looking at His birth and how simple salvation is . Jesus' kingdom fulfilled the Old Testament and made it possible for every person born to receive everlasting life just by accepting Him as our personal Savior.

Father, I pray you will be with President Obama as he leads America into the future. Send your Holy Spirit to deal with his heart and impress on him to seek your counsel in these most difficult times. Keep him and his family safe and bless them as they forge ahead into the virtually unknown realm of today's world. Amen

Who Is My Master?

2009-02-02T15:00:00.006-05:00

Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Money is essential in our lives but how important is wealth? We can become slaves to money to the point of being obsessed by our worldly treasures. Money can be a very deceptive master with promises of power and control. Our riches can be lost in a heart beat. Our health can disappear and our happiness will be only a faint memory. If we permit God to be our Master, He will never leave us. He will be with us through all the sorrows and pain we sometimes have to endure in this life.

Dear God, help me to be humble and accept the circumstances I find myself experiencing. Keep me mindful that God, not money, is the answer to my future wellbeing. Let me ever remember that I am only here for a season after which I can join you in your kingdom if I am faithful. Amen

Let Them Eat Pie

2009-01-28T08:00:00.001-05:00

It seemed like such a long recovery for me after some surgery I had a few weeks ago. I'm not a patient person and always want to do everything at once. Needless to say, I was not a happy camper when I was unable to do my housework. I'm finicky so no one else can do the work to satisfy me. I had not even felt like talking on the phone for a couple of weeks and I really missed my regular conversations with my daughter. By the grace of God, I feel as good as new now so I was excited to have her and her family over for fried chicken on Saturday.

My oldest grandson seems to have grown another 3 or 4 inches in a month. The youngest is getting taller too but that smile never changes. He lights up my whole world when he gets that grin on his face. He and I had an interesting conversation while his Mom was out of the room. I was trying to get him to help me pull something over on his Mother and he was not having any part of it. He had an answer for every angle I came up with. Both boys are growing into strong young men with so much integrity.

My daughter and her husband (my other child) wanted pie and they got pie. I've never been a baker but all of a sudden, the art of making pies intrigues me. What I gave them wasn't the best but practice makes perfect and right now, they're my guinea pigs. They are good sports and they indulge me in these crazy whims I get - from the purple bathroom wall I had to have a few years ago to this pie phase I'm going through right now. Both of them just smile and agree with me even though I'm not making good sense.

Now I don't think luck has anything to do with having these guys in my life. I am blessed and I thank God every day that He loved me enough to give me these four tremendous gifts. I try to always appreciate them and show them how much I love them but it is so hard to really impress on them how much they mean to me.

Road Closed

2009-01-27T08:00:00.002-05:00

My husband and I took a short trip over the state line into North Carolina last Friday. We enjoyed the scenery at a waterfall that we frequent in warmer weather. The snow and the icicles made for a beautiful winter wonderland and I snapped pictures to preserve the memory of this favorite place of ours.

Coming home, my husband being the curious person he is, decided to forge ahead onto a state highway that is currently closd for reconstruction. He had wondered aloud several times why it was taking the state so long to finish this revamping. Of course, his curiosity got the best of him and he decided to take a look even though the sign said "Road Closed". I started to protest because I had some pressing housework to do but decided to let him satisfy that inquisitive side once and for all.

We drove a short distance on this deserted road only to find that the snow and ice was still covering the pavement and as we started to turn around, I saw a gentlemen off the side of the road struggling to raise his upper body out of his wrecked vehicle, waving his arms to get our attention. My husband parked our car and went to check out what was going on. The man's car had slid off the road and turned on its side, trapping him inside. When asked if he was okay, he said his back was hurting but his pride was hurting even worse. We called 911 and got rescue workers to get him out of his vehicle.

There would have been no highway crew working until Monday, the nights were going to be very cold, and this man (apparently as curious as my husband) was trapped. I believe God urged my husband to check that road out. He puts us where He needs us to be.

Hang On

2009-01-26T08:00:00.001-05:00

My sister sent this to me via email and it touched my heart.

SCARS OF LIFE

Some years ago, on a hot summer day in South Florida , a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes,socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle ofthe lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.

His father, working in the yard, saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly as he could. Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him.

From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too passionate to let go.

A farmer happened to drive by, heard his screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.

Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his father's fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved.

The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, 'But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Dad wouldn't let go.' You and I can identify with that little boy.

We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you. The Scripture teaches that God loves you.

You are a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead.The swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very grateful. He did not and will not ever let you go.

FRIENDS ARE ANGELS WHO LIFT US TO OUR FEET

Influences

2009-01-23T08:00:00.003-05:00

How many times do we stop to think of the impact others have had on our lives? In our hurried lives, we often forget to reflect on the importance of friends, family and even enemies in the footprints of our beings.

My Mom and Dad, my sisters and brother left deep impressions on me as I grew.

I had a father who was a fiery baptist minister and lived exactly what he preached; a mother who kept meals on the table, clean clothes for her children and husband, a clean house and most importantly, security in the fact that our world was never in danger of toppling; sisters who worked hard and followed in Mom's footsteps as they each married; a brother who I looked up to and loved so dearly because he treated me like I was the most special person in the world; a grandmother who never said a harsh word against anyone in her 89 years of life. I have two children who taught me the love a mother can hold in her heart and grandsons who taught me that being a grandparent is the most wonderful experience anyone can possibly have.

I have felt the sting of criticism from those who didn't feel love for me but that criticism made me stronger and, yes, even more confident. I have been the object of gossip by idle tongues but that gossip only made me more determined to be the most decent person I could possibly be.

I have a husband of 45 years who is a part of my being. Life has not always been a bed of roses but thank God, we are good friends and inseparable.

All the people in my life have made me strong, faithful, God-fearing and loving. God is good and has allowed wonderful influences in my journey. I overcame the bad influences by the grace of God and I will keep on keeping on until He calls me to come be with Him.

I thank God for the people who have blessed me so richly.

Alone and vulnerable

2009-01-22T08:00:00.001-05:00

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour;

9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

We must always be alert to the devil's attacks. When we feel weak and alone, the devil takes advantage of us. We need to seek support from other Christians and keep our eyes on Christ.

Paul's comfort

2009-01-21T13:34:00.005-05:00

1 Peter:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be amplified.

Peter wrote this letter to the Jewish Christians who were scattered about and suffering for their faith in Christ. He was comforting them and encouraging them to keep their faith regardless of the trials they were experiencing.

We do not have to suffer the horrors that the Christians of old had to endure. They were beaten, stoned to death, put in jail and executed for their belief in Jesus.

As we see the new president take office, let's all pray for God to annoint this man and keep him humble. America's only hope for mercy is that we return to the strong faith and belief in God that we once had.

Good and Evil

2009-01-20T08:00:00.003-05:00

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for the good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.

We've all heard the saying "Life is not a bed of roses". Everything that happens to us is not going to be good. We live in an evil world but God can turn evil around for our future good. Those of us who are "called" have answered the Holy Spirit in a willing manner to follow Christ as He bids. We accept the pain and burdens of life because we trust in God and know that our security is in Heaven.

Predestination

2009-01-19T08:00:00.001-05:00

Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

God wants us to be like Jesus Christ and we can accomplish this goal by reading our bibles and following in Jesus' footsteps.

Our Pilot

2009-01-16T08:00:00.001-05:00

This is a beautiful article I received in an e-mail today.

THE TRIP HOME
A pastor had been on a long flight between church conferences. The first warning of the approaching problems came when the sign on the airplane flashed on: Fasten Your Seat Belts.
Then, after a while, a calm voice said, "We shall not be serving the beverages at this time as we are expecting a little turbulence. Please be sure your seat belt is fastened." As the pastor looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many of the passengers were becoming apprehensive.
Later, the voice on the intercom said, "We are so sorry that we are unable to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still ahead of us."
And then the storm broke . . .

The ominous cracks of thunder could be heard even above the roar of the engines. Lightning lit up the darkening skies, and within moments that great plane was like a cork tossed around on a celestial ocean. One moment the airplane was lifted on terrific currents of air; the next, it dropped as it were about to crash. The pastor confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those around him. He said, "As I looked around the plane, I could see that nearly all the passengers were upset and alarmed. Some were praying. The future seemed ominous and many were wondering if they would make it through the storm. Then, I suddenly saw a little girl. Apparently the storm meant nothing to her. She had tucked her feet beneath her as she sat on her seat; she was reading a book and every- thing within her small world was calm and orderly. Sometimes she closed her eyes, then she would read again; then she would straighten her legs, but worry and fear were not in her world.
When the plane was being buffeted by the terrible storm when it lurched this way and that, as it rose and fell with frightening severity, when all the adults were scared half to death, that marvelous child was completely composed and unafraid. The minister could hardly believe his eyes. It was not surprising therefore, that when the plane finally reached its destination and all the passengers were hurrying to disembark, our pastor lingered to speak to the girl whom he had watched for such a long time."
Having commented about the storm and the behavior of the plane, he asked why she had not been afraid. The child replied, "Cause my Daddy's the pilot, and he's taking me home."
There are many kinds of storms that buffet us. Physical, mental, financial, domestic, and many other storms can easily and quickly darken our skies and throw our plane into apparently uncontrollable movement. We have all known such times, and let us be honest and confess, it is much easier to be at rest when our feet are on the ground than when we are being tossed about a darkened sky. Let us remember: Our Father is the Pilot. He is in control and taking us home. Don't worry!

We Get What We Give

2008-12-26T09:18:00.003-05:00

To receive respect, we must show respect. To enjoy the full joy of love, we must give the full joy of our love to others. To receive consideration, we must show consideration for others.

I say all this the day after Christmas when all the gifts are opened and Jesus hasn't been thought about. Next Christmas, I plan to make my gifts in the form of kindness and attention to the elderly who have no one to show a deep and abiding love for them and to the little animals who suffer at the hands of cruel intentioned people and to the little children who go to bed hungry through no fault of their own. There is where I will find appreciation and I will experience the love of Christ in my life. Gifts are way overrated and I am far too spoiled.

Greetings

2008-12-25T09:46:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday, Jesus.

Speak Out

2008-12-24T08:00:00.002-05:00

Paul Harvey says:

This is the United States of America , a country founded on Christianprinciples.One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations.Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep.** ** **

Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying. **God, help us. And if that last sentence offends you, well, just sue me.The silent majority has been silent too long. It's time we tell that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard that the vast majority doesn't care what they want. It is time that the majority rules! It's time we tell them, You don't have to pray; you don't have to say the Pledge of Allegiance; you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your right; but by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away. We are fighting back, and we WILL WIN!God bless us one and all ... Especially those who worship Him **,** **

Godbless America, despite all her faults. She is still the greatest nation of all. ** ** God bless our military who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God. **

Let's make 2009 the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions .. And our militaryforces come home from all the wars.Keep looking up.**

Let's all remember to pray in public at restaurants or any other time we feel the need for help or to praise God. Don't be intimidated - be heard as loudly as the atheists have been. God gave us a voice for a reason.

God bless and Merry Christmas.

A Christmas Gift

2008-12-23T09:23:00.004-05:00

The Perfect Lily

What a wonderful day! Cold - bone chilling cold - but today will be a bit warmer than the last two. I would not have been a good pioneer woman because I am really spoiled to complete comfort and don't care for the cold weather.

Christmas is almost here - the birth of Jesus Christ, our Messiah. As I focus on this birthday, nothing will make me tense and crazy. I'm just honored that I am allowed to celebrate His birthday freely in my own home or wherever I might be in this United States of America.

May God bless our troops who are fighting in foreign countries and do not have the freedom to openly worship their Savior. They must observe the traditions of those countries where the belief in Christ is kept secret. May God bless their families who struggle to get through a very sentimental holiday knowing that their loved one is in harm's way at all hours of the day and night. And may God bless and have mercy on America - a great nation that was founded on the belief in God and yet we have so openly decided to NOT publicly display our honor for Him. To a great extent, our freedoms have been infringed on and we as Christians need to stand up and be heard. We are a majority still but we don't make noise like the non-believers. We let God down when we don't stand publicly and announce our love and devotion and especially our acceptance of our Lord Jesus Christ.

On this upcoming grand birthday celebration, see how many people you can show the love of God to. A kind word, a smile to a weary retail worker, a prayer for the little children and the homeless who don't have the comforts we have been blessed with.

More than anything, let's all remember what God suffered some 33 years later when He saw His Son painfully dying on the cross and thank Him for giving the ultimate gift. That gift wasn't wrapped in fine paper and bows, but rather in swaddling clothes. But oh, what a GIFT. God bless each and everyone this celebration season.

What's in a word

2008-12-19T08:00:00.007-05:00

Christmas Cat

The "W" in Christmas

Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience.I had cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending.Yet, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate theprecious family moments, and of course, the true meaning ofChristmas.

My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six year old.For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant."I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then.

Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise. So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats.

As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song. Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer.

So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by its bold title.Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads.Those in the front row- center stage - held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song.

As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love."The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down - totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W".

The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W". Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together.

A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen.In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities.For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:

"C H R I S T W A S L O V E"And, I believe, He still is.Amazed in His presence... .humbled by His love.

From the Mouths of Babes

2008-12-18T08:00:00.007-05:00

WHY GOD MADE MOMS

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?

1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.

2. Mostly to clean the house.

3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?

1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.

2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.

3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of ?

1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and every thing nice in the world and one dab of mean.

2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God Give you your Mom and not some other Mom?

1. We're related.

2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your mom?

1. My Mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.

2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?

1. His last name.

2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?

3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?

1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.

2. She got too old to do anything else with him.

3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on .

Who's the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.

2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.

3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What is the difference between Moms and Dads?

1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.

2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.

3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.

4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What Does Your Mother do in her spare time?

1. Mothers don't do spare time.

2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?

1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.

2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?

1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.

2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.

3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

Angels Passing Through

2008-12-17T08:00:00.002-05:00

First Snow of 2008

This praise note came from my daughter's friend who recently moved into a newly purchased home.

Last night the neighbor (Cynthia) had us down for an "Introduction to the neighborhood dinner". There were 11 adults and 7 kids (including all 4 of us). It was nice. Much friendlier than I had anticipated.

Anyway, Cynthia prayed before dinner for the Lord to bless all of her neighbors spiritually, financially and so on. She is a good hostess and does excellent prayers.

Anyway. Yesterday (before all of this) Mike checked the septic tank and it was full (to the top)! We just had it pumped before moving in ($130). I called first thing this morning and they came on out, he was on his way to a house (or something) just about 7 miles away!! So I had the check ready and was so happy.

It HAD to be done but $130 was going to hurt. We couldn't do laundry or dished or even showers or it would have come up in the sinks and showers. So the man that came out last time came out this morning and pumped it. Mike gave him the check that I had gotten ready and had on the door. Before he left, he came and knocked on the door. I waved and smiled from the table and Mike went to the door. He took the check out, ripped it in half and handed it back to Mike with this, "Have a Merry Christmas and God Bless you all!".

Mike came back in and handed me the torn up check and told me what he had said. I sat there and tried to finish whatever I was doing without crying. Well after maybe 5 minutes I couldn't hold back. I wrote on the back of the torn check and laid it in front of Mike as I went to the bedroom sobbing. I wrote, "This was all the money that we had!!"

Makala's birthday is Wednesday, she will be 14. She had opted not to have a party, on her own, I have NEVER asked her not to have one!! I would have had to give her and IOU for her birthday as well as Christmas because we are giving her cash, she is saving everything for a laptop of her own. (I am so proud of her - this is her first savings and she is doing so well.)

Anyway, I cried and cried and cried. I couldn't stop for the longest time. When I finally got calmed back down I wrote him a letter and put it in a Christmas card and mailed it out. I had to let him know how his act of kindness has really affected us. I told him that God would bless him and his family as he had us through him today. I have heard of people doing really kind things for people but I have never experienced something so amazing in such a time of need. I feel truly blessed by God today.

GOD IS SO GOOD AND STILL WORKS HIS MIRACLES THROUGH ANGELS WHO COME IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

Reason for the Season

2008-12-16T08:00:00.002-05:00

OH, CHRISTMAS TREE

I received this from a friend of mine and thought it would be appropriate to share at this time of year.

REMEMBER THE REASON FOR CHRISTMAS!

Who Started This Christmas Stuff?

A woman was out Christmas shopping with her two children. After many hours of looking at row after row of toys and everything else imaginable, and after hours of hearing both her children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the elevator with her two kids.

She was feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday season time of the year - overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every housewarming, taste all the holiday food and treats, getting that perfect gift for every single person on our shopping list, making sure we don't forget anyone on our card list, and the pressure of making sure we respond to everyone who sent us a card.

Finally the elevator doors opened, and there was already a crowd in the car. She pushed her way into the car and dragged her two kids in with her and all the bags of stuff. When the doors closed, she couldn't take it anymore and she stated, "Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found, strung up and shot." From the back of the car, everyone heard a quiet, calm voice respond, "Don't worry, we already crucified Him."

For the rest of the trip down in the elevator, it was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. This year, don't forget to keep the One who started this whole Christmas thing in your every thought, deed, purchase and words. If we all did it, just think of how different this whole world would be.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

Anticipation

2008-12-15T08:00:00.003-05:00

Stop and think about this: If God seems far away from you, He's not the one who moved.

The little baby who was born in a manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes was so loved by His mother. We all want the very best for our children so I'm sure it made Mary sad to have her son come into the world in such a manner.

We are about to celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ and as we hurry around buying for the ones we care for, remember what is important. Nothing matters except the fact that our Lord was sent by His Heavenly Father to save a world of sinners from Hell.

If we focus on why we celebrate Christmas in the first place, there should be no worries about where we'll get the money to buy gifts.

I have personally witnessed so much stress in some friends because they lack the time to do all the things they want to do to get ready for Christmas day. This seems so insignificant when we think of what Jesus sacrificed for our sakes.

We need to enjoy the anticipation of the approaching celebration. It's exciting to be able to thank God for the wonderful and lasting gift He sent to us.

Think about it

2008-12-12T08:00:00.001-05:00

Precarious Balancing Act

Daily Thoughts Taken from Guidepost to be used for inspiration and guidance:

A Time to Think

To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible. —St. Thomas Aquinas

To Pray Lord, the greatest success I can achieve is to know You and to love You, and help others know and love You too.

Isn't it wonderful to have access to that amazing grace of God? Christmas means many things to many people but let's not forget that Jesus is the reason for the season.

Please remember to invite Jesus to His own birthday party.

Faith Through Traumatic Times

2008-12-10T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hope, the dog sitter

I need to talk today of a friend who is going through the nightmare of having a parent with advanced dementia. I say "a friend" even though I have never met her and only learned of her situation yesterday from my sister who lives in North Carolina. I feel strangely close to her after some e-mail correspondence last evening.

This lady is a Christian woman, a choir director with a beautiful voice, lives the best she can for God - and yet she is going through the most horrible time one can imagine. She is now in a place of total desolation and a heartache that never ceases. It's hard for her to feel the tremendous love that God is showering on her even as she suffers.

My sister put her in touch with me because I have run the whole gamut with this mean disease with my own Mother and now my oldest sister is gripped by the monster's hands. The disease affects loved ones of the afflicted in a way no one can even imagine and my sis felt I could in some way help this precious person get through and see that there is joy in the end.

I warned this young lady against being completely sucked into the world her loved one is now forced to live in. I went so deeply into my Mother's world, it seemed as though I would never find my way back to reality - nor was I sure I wanted to find my way back. By the grace of God, I did return even though the grief remained and still remains; however, the day arrived when I could think of my Mom and actually remember the good times. I can laugh at the funny things she said and did, even laugh hysterically sometimes because she was so funny. She and I had some wonderful adventures together even through her illness.

I believe God puts us in situations where we can help others who are suffering the same pain we have suffered. At any rate, let's pray for this precious daughter, this mother who is locked away in a dark mind prison and her dear husband who cares for her 24/7. We don't have to call names when we pray because GOD KNOWS ALL, but just ask Him to help Dee.

Unceasing Prayer

2008-12-09T20:00:00.003-05:00

Hope's View

Romans 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers.

When we pray sincerely for something we desire, God may answer in a way we do not expect Him to. Rest assured, He does answer. Paul wanted to go to Rome but he didn't think he would be going as a prisoner.

We never know how God is going to work but we need to be accepting of His will. There is one desire in my life that I use to ask God for on a daily basis until I realized that it could take a tragedy for that prayer to be answered. I believe that was God's answer to me - I can grant your request but there may be dire consequences to bring it to fruition. Now I just ask for the grace to endure. It's a situation that is totally in God's hands and He will handle it His way when the time comes. He has removed the grief this use to cause me and I now have peace just letting Him be in complete control.

God Sees All

2008-12-08T08:00:00.004-05:00

One of My Babies

This is an excerpt from an e-mail I recently received. It's a good thing to remember.

Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done... And the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc..) ..whatever it is...You need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing.

2008-12-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

Oh, Christmas Tree

Luke 13:30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

Here we are told that some influential people here on earth will be left outside the gates of Heaven. Those who are great in God's eyes and put Him first are ignored by the rest of the world today but will take their place in the kingdom of Heaven.

God doesn't care about one's earthly popularity status, wealth, heritage or power. He only cares about our commitment to Christ.

As Christmas approaches, we rush around to find the right gifts for the right people. The hustle and bustle of attending parties, cooking for family, decorating, etc. can take our minds off the birth of Jesus Christ. We are to celebrate the birth of the greatest man ever born. Let's humble ourselves before the throne today and focus on the real reason for Christmas. It's wonderful to do kind things for others but let's not get so caught up in the commercialism that we forget why we celebrate.

Hello, God

2008-12-04T08:00:00.001-05:00

Have you noticed how many times God's people are referred to in the Bible as "my little children" or "my little flock"? Either of these phrases makes me feel safe, loved and protected. These are very personal addresses from our beloved Father to us. Just stop and think about how much He loves us and how closely He holds us. Remember to seek the help of this loving Father of ours when you are in any peril or danger regardless of what it is. If God doesn't give us exactly the answer we're looking for, think about this: "No" is also an answer so He always gives us an answer even if it is "no". Trust that He knows exactly what He is doing and what is best for us.

Another year passed

2008-12-02T08:00:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving has come and gone for another year. My husband and I had a wonderful day with our daughter, son-in-law and two grandsons. The food was prepared deliciously and the conversation was fun and light. Beneath all this, I was so conscious of the blessings that God has given me. I pray I can remember these blessings each and every day of the coming year and give sincere thanks to my Father.

Let's pray for one another, for our president elect and for mercy on America. Amen

Jesus' Glorious Return

2008-12-01T08:00:00.002-05:00

It will happen like this one of these days.

You are in your car driving home. Thoughts wander to the game you want to see or meal you want to eat, when suddenly a sound unlike any you've ever heard fills the air. The sound is high above you. A trumpet? A choir? A choir of trumpets? You don't know, but you want to know.. So you pull over, get out of your car, and look up.

As you do, you see you aren't the only curious one. The roadside has become a parking lot. Car doors are open, and people are staring at the sky. Shoppers are racing out of the grocery store. The Little League baseball game across the street has come to a halt. Players and parents are searching the clouds. And what they see, and what you see, has never before been seen.

As if the sky were a curtain, the drapes of the atmosphere part. A brilliant light spills onto the earth. There are no shadows. None. From every hue ever seen and a million more never seen riding on the flow is an endless fleet of angels. They pass through the curtains one myriad at a time, until they occupy every square inch of the sky. North. South. East. West. Thousands of silvery wings rise and fall in unison, and over the sound of the trumpets, you can hear the cherubim and seraphim chanting, Holy, Holy, Holy.

The final flank of angels is followed by twenty-four silver-bearded elders and a multitude of souls who join the angels in worship. Suddenly, the heavens are quiet. All is quiet. The angels turn, you turn, the entire world turns and there He is, Jesus. Through waves of light you see the silhouetted figure of Christ the King. He is atop a great stallion, and the stallion is atop a billowing cloud. He opens his mouth, and you are surrounded by his declaration: I am the Alpha and the Omega.

The angels bow their heads.. The elders remove their crowns. And before you is a Figure so consuming that you know, instantly you know: Nothing else matters. Forget stock markets and school reports. Sales meetings and football games. Nothing is newsworthy. All that mattered, matters no more... For Christ has come.

This came to me in an e-mail from my niece. Cold chills ran over me as I read the content of this message. Just to think that we are really going to witness the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Family

2008-11-28T08:00:00.004-05:00

Enjoying summer

There are times in our lives when the burdens and heartaches seem impossible to bear. That is when we have to look up and ask God to intervene.

My oldest sister has Alzheimer's disease and I spent quite a bit of time with her on Sunday. She being 10 years older than I, there is more of a maternal feeling toward her than a sibling connection. She spoiled me when I was a little girl and after she married, I was like one her kids. She has six children and it seemed that I was the seventh. Her kids are like sisters and brothers to me and I feel doubly blessed since I have four true sisters of my own.

It is obvious that the Alzheimer's is really taking its toll on her and my heart aches in unspeakable pain when I watch the mental and physical changes she is going through.

However, she is at such peace within herself. She loves the Lord with all her heart, mind and soul. There's a new home and a new body waiting on her and that is what I have to focus on.

Let us all pray one for another and remember that if we are Christians, we can lay this old diseased body down and take up our glorified body one day.

Happy Thanksgiving and praise God for our freedom to openly worship our Lord and Saviour.

Prayer

2008-11-27T08:00:00.005-05:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

PRAY ONE FOR ANOTHER AND REMEMBER OUR TROOPS. PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE LOST AND THOSE WHO ARE ILL. LET'S REMEMBER OUR CHILDREN AND ACQUAINTANCES AND BE KIND TO ALL THOSE YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH.

Judge Not

2008-11-26T08:00:00.000-05:00

God's beauty

Romans 2:1 Therefore, thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest; for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself, for thou that judgest doest the same things.

We are charged by God to speak out against sin but we must be careful in what we say. Many times we are as guilty as the person we speak against.

Almost Persuaded

2008-11-25T08:00:00.001-05:00

Naps for the Children

Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

Even though Paul was in prison for being a believer in the risen Jesus Christ, he still sought opportunities to witness to those around him about the saving grace that Jesus offers to all. Agrippa gave Paul a sarcastic retort saying he was almost persuaded by Paul's words to become a Christian. How sad that Agrippa and the others around Paul were not moved by Paul's words.

How many times have we sat through an altar call in our own churches and were almost persuaded to make that trip down the aisle to confess our sins and to recognize the living God?

This very special week when we celebrate Thanksgiving, I want to thank my sweet saviour for making the supreme sacrifice that I may have life everlasting. I try to thank my Father for all my blessings, but I never finish because He has blessed me beyond measure.

Let's pray one for another and especially for our military men and women on foreign soil fighting for the very right that I am exercising at this moment.

Pray for Military

2008-11-24T08:00:00.001-05:00

Friends

I took excerpts from an e-mail from a friend of mine to do today's blog.

Thanksgiving is upon us and in just a few days, we will sit at our tables with our families and friends to eat a feast of "Thanks" for the blessings of the year. As we do that, please set one more place at your table for those who cannot be here to enjoy the good fortunes, fun, and food that you will have on that day. Set it in memory of our POW/MIA's who should NOT BE FORGOTTEN

Set this place for the millions of servicemen and women who have come and gone in our service ranks that we now call "Veterans" and should be remembered for their honorable service. Set it for the ones that are in harm's way TODAY, fighting in some country that is not as fortunate as we are to have the freedoms and liberties that we have as Americans.

And as you say your Thanksgiving prayer before the meal, remember them.... They are the ones that have fought and sacrificed to ensure that you have the good fortune, fun, and food that you will be enjoying on Thanksgiving!

Paul's Last Words

2008-11-19T08:00:00.001-05:00

Peace

2 Timothy 4:22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

These were the final words from Paul to Timothy. Paul was convicted as a follower of Jesus Christ and was executed under Emperor Nero. He was alone in prison with the exception of Luke and he spent his last days writing letters to young Timothy. Paul was passing the torch to Timothy and the letters were encouragement for Timothy to preach the Word of God and to keep his life pure.

Greatest Love

2008-11-18T08:00:00.001-05:00

Home Sweet Home

Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.

We have to love God more than anything or anyone. That is a tall order because of the love we have for our spouses, children, grandchildren, siblings and friends.

Rejoice in God

2008-11-17T10:16:00.005-05:00

Luke 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightening fall from heaven. 19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Jesus does not want us to place our joy in just our accomplishments but rather in the fact that our names are written in heaven. Without that, our works mean nothing. Satan was cast out of heaven because of his pride so we must be careful in our attitudes. God blesses us with certain talents which he expects us to use to the fullest extent but he also expects us to give the glory to God.

Faith

2008-11-14T08:00:00.001-05:00

Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

This scripture speaks of those individuals who have rejected Jesus Christ as their personal saviour. Those of us who have been born again through the blood of Jesus have nothing to fear of judgement.

This has been an especially difficult week for me both physically and spiritually and I haven't been as faithful in doing the blog as I should have been. I ask for your prayers that I will become stronger in my faith and achieve a kindness in my heart to forgive those who are unkind in their actions toward me.

Prayer

2008-11-13T09:39:00.008-05:00

I'm sure we all have days when we feel as though there's no need to even try. That is when we have to get on our knees and seek the face of God. When I turn my worries over to the higher power, I feel rejuvenated and light as a feather.

Dear God, Thank you for Jesus Christ. I pray that you will forgive me where I have failed you and help me keep my focus on the cross. Give me the wisdom and love to be a light to someone else today and to keep selfish thoughts from my mind. Bless those I love and send your Holy Spirit to deal with those who don't know You and the true pardon of sin. Bless my pastor and all the churches where your word is taught. Please protect and provide for my sisters. my husband, my children and my friends. I ask especially for you to send your Angels to protect the little children who are abused. Hug them all up real close and whisper loving words that only You can utter. Help us remember what the Thanksgiving and Christmas season is really about. Thank you, dear Father, for your blessings to0 numerous to count. Please have mercy on America and be with President Elect Obama that he will seek your wisdom and council. Surround our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan with your shield and protect them from the enemy. I ask all this in the name of my sweet loving Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen and Amen

Holiday Ideas

2008-11-12T11:14:00.005-05:00

As we enter this wonderful holiday season, we often spend lots of time in the kitchen cooking up delicious meals for family and friends. I found this chicken recipe in the Johnson City Press Holiday Cookbook 2008. It's a little bit different and with so much going on, it looks simple enough to save some time in the kitchen. It can be made ahead of time and frozen for later use if you like.

Poppy Seed Chicken

1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
4 c. chicken, cooked and cut into small pieces
1 c. sour cream
1 roll butter crackers, crushed
1/2 c. margarine, melted
2 T. poppy seeds

Mix together the soups and sour cream, add chicken pieces and stir well. Pour into an ungreased 9 x 13 inch casserole dish; stir cracker crumbs into the melted margarine and spread over the mixture of chicken and soup. Sprinkle poppy seeds on top of casserole. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Enjoy!!!

Let's not forget to pray one for another and especially pray for our nation and our president elect. God bless America, I pray. Amen.

Stand United

2008-11-11T08:00:00.004-05:00

Home

Luke 11:17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.

America has just elected a new president who will take the oath of office in January. The duty of every citizen now is to unite behind the president elect and pray for him to have the wisdom to seek the face of God and perform his duties in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord. United we stand, divided we fall. God bless America.

Simplicity

2008-11-07T00:01:00.006-05:00

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

How simple the plan of salvation is. Let us all join in prayer for the president elect and for our nation.

Going Home

2008-11-05T08:00:00.003-05:00

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

A loyal and faithful member of the church that I attend became quite ill several months ago. His illness prevented him from attending church and he was missed by everyone. This gentleman was musically gifted and shared his talent for the guitar with us at every meeting. He was hospitalized a week or so ago but this past Sunday, our minister said he was doing better and would be going home on Monday.

Monday came and as our friend was preparing to leave the hospital, his condition suddenly worsened and he died. Saddened to hear this news, all I could think about was that he was supposed to be going home. My thoughts then immediately went to the key phrase of that sentence and I realized that this gentle and loving man had indeed "gone home" on Monday just as the pastor had said. He left behind a tabernacle that had been invaded by staggering pain and agony. Now he is well and we cannot grieve his parting because he is free.

Contentment

2008-11-04T08:00:00.003-05:00

Fall's beautiful color parade

1 Timothy 6:6-8

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

These verses are self explanatory. I will just add that as long as God meets our needs, there should be no thought of anything else.

Let's all join in prayer for our nation and for each other.

Right and wrong

2008-11-03T08:00:00.007-05:00

Eye of the Beholder

1 Timothy 18-19

18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
19 Holding faith, and good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck;

Timothy, a young pastor of the church at Ephesus, was one of Paul's closest companions. In this letter, Paul's intent was to counsel and encourage Timothy who faced many pressures and challenges.

Timothy had been greatly influenced by his godly relatives. His mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois, helped shape his spiritual life. This tells us to be very careful of the example we set for our children.

Many times we do not realize little eyes are watching and little ears are hearing everything we do. Raising a child in a godly manner is an awesome responsibility. It sometimes takes a great deal of time for us to know the full impact our actions have had on the lives of our children.

We must pay attention to our conscience to avoid hardening our hearts to sinful acts. If we ignore what we know is right, we may lose our sense of right and wrong. We must listen to God when he speaks to us through our conscience.

Ask in Prayer Believing

2008-10-31T08:00:00.003-04:00

Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Many times we find ourselves in seemingly impossible financial situations with no solution in sight. One such situation was relayed to me by my daughter on behalf of her friend.

The family had discovered quite an extraordinary deal on a piece of property they wanted to place a mobile home on. A $200 down payment and their promise of $92 a month for 20 years gave this little family the hope of a new home on a beautiful piece of farmland.

This sweet lady very quickly realized the cold hard truth that the family could not afford the monthly payment on the property and a new mobile home along with rental expense for their existing home. The family tried in vain to contact the seller of the property only to find that the telephone number had been disconnected.

The couple then visited a devout Christian woman who lived on another lot close to the property. This prayer warrior helped the couple pray about the predicament they found themselves in. Following their prayerful meeting with this newly found friend, another phone call was placed to the seller of the property and lo and behold, a forwarding number was provided. This was not luck. This was asking God to meet a need and He provided the need as He so lovingly does for his children.

In summation, it sounds as though the couple will realize their dream of this new location for a home after all. Kindness and generosity on the parts of others in their lives along with their faith in God can turn their dream into a reality.

Family

2008-10-30T08:50:00.011-04:00

"Hope" naps with her favorite toy

It always amazes me how something so simple can bless me so thoroughly. My husband and I paid a visit to my daughter and her family yesterday and as soon as we got out of the the truck, I was greeted with a sweet smile and a kiss on the cheek from my little red haired girl. That is worth all the wordly possessions I have.

Waiting upstairs was a grandson whose very life is nothing short of a miracle. His little smiling face and those blue, blue eyes, rimmed with heavy black lashes greeted us with the brightest light one can imagine. He always lets us know in his own way how special we are to him. Conversations with him can leave me speechless because of his intelligence and ability to say something so unexpected and yet so true. He has that sweet face that I can hardly resist kissing when I look at him. I have to restrain myself more since he is growing up now.

Shortly after we arrived, the oldest grandson came home from school. I look at this grown young man and wonder how he became 17 years old so quickly. He has learned life's lessons well from his Mom and Dad - responsibility, honesty, hard work, kindness. I know he has many more lessons to learn but his foundation is strong and my husband and I burst with pride when we think about him and his bright future.

We didn't have a lot of time with them because we had plans to go to church that evening. I was concerned that my favorite son-in-law wouldn't get to see me but just as I was about to give up, he came home from work. I cannot claim him as my biological child but I love him like my own. I searched my heart before I said this to be sure I was being truthful and way deep in my beating heart, the love for this son-in-law is truly a mother's love. There is nothing that my husband and I need that my little girl and her sweet husband won't do for us if possible.

So you see, my day was filled with all these blessings and I wanted to share them although I can't express my love for this little family of mine in words.

Quilt of Holes

2008-10-29T08:00:00.008-04:00

A beautiful quilt in the making

This article was sent to me in an e-mail by a friend. It is so beautiful, I wanted to share it.

As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls.Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles;an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in every day life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air.Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose; each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me,and nodded for me to rise.My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness, and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes.Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes,creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me,with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, 'Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles.Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you.'May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through! God determines who walks into your life ...it's up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go.'

Billy Graham's Prayer For Our Nation

2008-10-28T08:00:00.002-04:00

I received this in an e-mail from a friend. Billy Graham is and has always been such a staunch man of God. I'm sure he has suffered the same temptations others have, but he prayed through and withstood the devil's slings and arrows.

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free In Jesus' name, Amen!'

Doctrine and Faith

2008-10-27T08:00:00.007-04:00

Can you see the face of God in the sunshine?

Jude was a half brother of Jesus and in this scripture, he emphasizes the important relationship between correct doctrine and true faith. The truth of the Bible must never be compromised to justify one's own life-style or wrong behavior. We need to study the Word of God and discern the correct doctrine in order to be able to detect false teaching. So many times, we construe theology as being a dry subject and we prefer to let someone else interpret for us. Sometimes we minimize the sinfulness of sin, believing that how we live has little to do with our faith. Not so. If we truly have faith, we will show it through our deep respect for God and a sincere desire to live according to the principles in his Word.

Jude 1:1-4

1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

2 Mercy unto you, and peace and love, be multiplied.

3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

John the Baptist

2008-10-24T08:00:00.001-04:00

God's Gift

John 10:41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.

John the Baptist was a great man and he led many to believe in Christ. He baptized the throngs of people who gathered to receive Christ and he baptized Jesus as well. However, there were no miracles performed by this man of God such as healing the lame or raising the dead. We all have different ways of serving God and He expects us to fully use the talents He gives us. We should thank God daily for every talent He has given us whether it be through music, art, ministry, teaching, or simply being kind and compassionate to those less fortunate. Let's all remember to pray one for another. Amen

Mercy and Compassion

2008-10-23T08:00:00.002-04:00

BFF's

Romans 9:14-15

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

This scripture needs no further explanation. God is merciful and compassionate and will save all who believe in him. Thank you, Lord, for your loving kindness. Let's remember to all pray one for another. Amen

Eternal Life

2008-10-22T08:00:00.004-04:00

Watchful Angel

1 Corinthians 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

Paul was explaining here that if Christ had not been resurrected from the dead, Christians could not be forgiven their sins and would have no hope for eternal life. I thank God that He gave His only begotten Son that I can live in Heaven forever after life on earth ceases.

Brotherly Love

2008-10-21T08:00:00.015-04:00

My sweet baby takes a nap

Philemon 1

10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord.

17 If thou count me therefore as a partner, receive him as myself.

Paul led Onesimus to the Lord while he himself was in prison. He dearly loved this new brother in Christ and interceded to prevent Philemon from killing the runaway slave. We are to be thankful when we can invest in the lives of others helping and supporting them with love and friendship. Let us continue to pray one for another. Amen

Remember this: The Ten Commandments are not multiple choice.

Dear Friends

2008-10-20T08:00:00.011-04:00

Autumn 2007

Philemon 1:4-6

4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus and toward all saints;

6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

This scripture is leading up to Paul's plea to his dear friend, Philemon, to free the slave Onesimus. Paul loved both Philemon and Onesimus. I will continue to trace this beautiful friendship in tomorrow's blog.

My uncle sent me an e-mail that contained the following quote: Life shouldn’t be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather, to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly shouting, ‘Wow! What a ride! Thank You, Lord!’ That's the way I want it to be. After all, we're going to receive a whole new body one day.

Grace and Peace

2008-10-17T08:00:00.001-04:00

Butterfly visits a flower

Philemon 1:1-3

1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The little book of Philemon is so beautifully written. It is a letter from Paul to Philemon who was most likely a wealthy member of the Colossian church. The letter encompasses slavery, forgiveness and equality.

I am thankful for each and every book of the Bible. I need a greater understanding of the Word and pray every day for more patience and kindness. The Thanksgiving season is almost upon us and we will ponder more deeply on the blessings in our lives. Let's always be aware of the many gifts God has given us and thank Him every day. Remember, we need to always pray one for another. Amen

Thanks for What We Have

2008-10-16T08:00:00.001-04:00

Kitty hides in the flower garden

Numbers 11:4-6

4 And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?

5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic:

6 But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.

The people of Israel were not satisfied with the manna that God provided for them to eat and they grumbled about what they lost when they left Egypt. They had been in bondage in Egypt but they longed for the delicious foods they had been able to eat when they lived there. We are much the same as the people of Israel sometimes. We focus so much on the things we don't have that we forget about all the things we have been blessed with. It is important that we give thanks to God for all his blessings every day. He will supply our every need. Let us all pray one for another. Amen

This is a good time to tell the readers that my scripture is taken from the Life Application Study Bible - King James Version. May God bless and keep each and every one who reads this.

Sollid Foundation

2008-10-15T08:00:00.001-04:00

Rock located along Blue Ridge Parkway

Matthew 16:18
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The rock refers to Peter as the leader of the church. It is faith like Peter's that is the foundation of Christ's Kingdom. We are to be thankful for leaders such as Peter who had the strength to give a strong confession Jesus had confidence in. We are to support our pastors and our churches in every way possible. Moreover, we are to pray for one another and leave gossip out of our conversations. Thanks be unto God for my rock. Amen

Troubled Times

2008-10-14T08:00:00.001-04:00

Fall's Beauty

Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is very difficult to be thankful when we are having problems. We need to remember that when we go through these difficult times, God is building strength in us. God works all things out for good if we love him and are fitting into his plans (Romans 8:28). The perfect love of God will always see us through the most turbulent storms in our lives. Let us pray one for another. Amen

New Christians

2008-10-13T08:00:00.001-04:00

Bringing Beauty Indoors

1 Thessalonians 9-10

9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;

10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

Paul writes of the joy a Christian feels to see another person come to faith in Christ. He thanked God for those who had come to know Christ and for their strong faith. He also prayed for their continued growth. New Christians need our encouragement and support and we need to always thank God for joy they bring to our lives.

Cell Phones vs Bible

2008-10-10T08:00:00.005-04:00

Well, I digress again. I am, however, thankful I have the freedom to express myself in this fashion so this remains somewhat in my thanksgiving theme. I received this in an e-mail and it really made quite an impression on me.

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we flipped through it several time a day?
What if we turned back to get it if we forgot it?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to children as gifts?
What if we used it when we traveled?
What if we used it in case of emergency?
This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Bible?
Oh, and one more thing.
Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.
Makes you stop and think 'where are my priorities?' And no dropped calls!

Trust in the Lord and *ASAP "(Always Say A Prayer)

Thanksgiving for Miracles

2008-10-09T08:00:00.001-04:00

God's glorious beauty

Acts 3:7-10

7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

This is a beautiful story about a man who was born lame and had to beg for alms at the gate of the temple. Peter explained that he had no silver or gold to give the lame man but he had been given the power in the name of Jesus Christ to heal. After Peter healed the man in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, all the people were filled with wonder at what had happened. More importantly, the man who had been lame praised God for this wonderful miracle that Peter had been able to perform. Miracles still happen every day. We need to ask and believe. We must have faith in God and pray faithfully that God will provide and we must ask that God's will be done. Sometimes I am impatient for God to answer my prayers right away but I am reminded that He answers in His own time and in His own way. If we think about it, the sunshine on a beautiful morning is a miracle we should thank God for. There are countless miracles in our lives if we only look around. Our children (and if we're lucky like me, a special son in law) and grandchildren who God loans to us are in our care as long as He decides to leave them with us; good parents who work hard to raise us and who love us as long as they live; spouses who nurture us and protect us through the years (43 for my hubby and me); siblings and their children who are so precious; and so many others too numerous to mention. It would take me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to thank God for everything He does for me.

Daily Thanksgiving

2008-10-08T08:00:00.001-04:00

Beautiful Rose Garden

Psalms 92:1-2

1 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:

2 To show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,

This scripture tells us to be thankful at all times. We habitually focus on our blessings during the Thanksgiving holiday but we need to remember to make the act of thanksgiving an integral part of our daily lives.

The Real Election Results

2008-10-07T08:00:00.003-04:00

Even though I promised myself I would stick to a Thanksgiving theme for awhile, this was too good to pass up. I'm just slightly spastic too so please forgive my wandering ways. I'll get back to the theme tomorrow. I received this in an email from a friend and it gave me a jolt into reality since I have really been fretting over the outcome of this election regardless of what it may be.

Top 10 Predictions No Matter Who Wins the Election

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost.

ISN'T IT GREAT TO KNOW WHO IS STILL IN CONTROL?
(Amen!)

Have a blessed day.

Personal Acknowledgement

2008-10-06T08:00:00.001-04:00

In a little more than a month, we will celebrate our traditional Thanksgiving in America. There are references to giving thanks in the Bible that I will be following during the next few weeks as we approach the season.

Leviticus 7:28-30

28 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

29 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the Lord shall bring his oblation unto the Lord of the sacrifice of his peace offerings.

30 His own hands shall bring the offerings of the Lord made by fire, the fat with the breast, it shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before the Lord.

God told the people of Israel to bring their peace offerings personally and to take the time and effort to express thanks to Him. We are not to leave it to others to express our thanks to God for what He has done for us. We have to take the time ourselves to express thanks both to God and to others who have helped and blessed us.

Paul's Helpers

2008-10-03T08:00:00.001-04:00

Romans 16:1-3

1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:

2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.

3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:

Women played an important role in the early church. Phebe helped support Paul's ministry and was highly regarded in the church. Priscilla and Aquila were a married missionary couple who invited Paul to live with them

Little Children

2008-10-02T10:30:00.001-04:00

Matthew 18:1-6

1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

These are very clear words that God will not allow anyone to do harm to his little children and get by with it. I certainly would not want to pay the consequences of turning a little child away from faith by using my influence in the wrong manner. Children are humble and have sincere hearts and we are to teach them the ways of the Lord. Those who abuse a child will be held accountable in the most severe manner. We need to pray daily that God will bind the hands of those who do physical harm and mute the tongues of those who would do verbal harm. In His own time and in His own way, the abusers will be severely punished. In the meantime, each child has his/her own angel to comfort them at all times. I believe that is why little ones can adapt to whatever their situation is. They have a comforter just as we have a comforter. Little children are much more open to the comfort than adults are.

Faith

2008-10-01T08:00:00.006-04:00

Matthew 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

Matthew 6:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Matthew 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

We tend to worry, especially in today's tumultous world, about how our needs will be met. If we have faith in our Heavenly Father, He will always make sure we are taken care of. If he cares for the lilies of the field, how much more then does he care for us?

Godly love

2008-09-30T08:00:00.001-04:00

John 15:12-13 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

How many of us can say that we love one another as God has commanded us to do? He loved us so much he went to a cruel cross and endured unimaginable pain and suffering because he loved us so much. I love my children, my grandsons, my husband and my sisters more than myself. If I am honest with myself, I cannot say that I would lay down my life for all mankind as Christ did. Christ was and is perfect and doesn't expect me to be. He only expects me to be the best I can be with His help.

Give Thanks

2008-09-29T10:23:00.003-04:00

Psalm 136:3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth forever.

Thank you God for your tender mercy which you bestow upon me every day.

The Corner Stone

2008-09-26T08:00:00.006-04:00

Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Acts 4:11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

2 Peter:7-8 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

The cornerstone of a building unites two walls and holds the building together. Christ is the cornerstone of the church and each believer is a stone. Without Jesus, there would be no church, because it could not stand.

The Minister Lays an Egg

2008-09-25T08:00:00.008-04:00

I attended a revival last week and the evangelist was not only a wonderful man of God but he had a great sense of humor which he intermingled with his sermons. Humor is a tool we can all use if we do it in the right manner. Here is one bit of humor the minister opened with one evening that I wanted to share:

A minister and his wife decided to remodel their home and in doing some of the work himself, the preacher tore out a wall behind an old chest of drawers. In the wall was a rather large hole and the hole contained 6 eggs and $50,000. The preacher called to his wife and said "Honey, you're never going to believe what I found in this wall". The wife replied"Oh, yes, I know about that. When you started preaching, I told myself that everytime you preached a stinker, I'd put an egg in that hole". The old preacher felt pretty good about himself and said "Well, that's all right then. After all these years there are only 6 eggs in that hole so I've done really well. But what in the world is the $50,000 for?" The wife then just calmly replied "Oh, I sold the eggs every time I got a dozen".

Mourning

2008-09-24T08:00:00.000-04:00

Ecclesiastes 3:4

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

No one's life is perfect. We all see sorrow at one time or another and feel as though we may never be able to pull ourselves out of the despair. If we depend only on ourselves, we are certainly doomed but with God's unchanging hand to hold onto, the mourning season will pass and life will continue. God will place us with others who are experiencing that same grief so that we may use the strength we have gained to help them through their difficult times. He will use us for good if we are willing subjects.

Hold your tongue

2008-09-23T08:00:00.001-04:00

I pray that God will give me strength every day to speak kindly of others or to not speak at all. He in turn expects me to do my part and think before I speak. I pray that all negative and ill feelings be swept from my mind and especially not leave my lips. Once something is said, it cannot be un-said. I have found for myself that when hateful and negative thoughts begin to creep into my mind, I can create tunnel vision of Jesus Christ hanging on that cross bleeding and suffering for me. That stops me cold and gets my thoughts back to where they should be. That has stopped jealousy, rage, gossip and other characteristics that I am ashamed of. I have to fight satan every minute of every day but thank God, I have an advocate Who stands with me in the midst.

Proverbs 21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

Be wise in financial activity

2008-09-22T08:00:00.002-04:00

Proverbs gives some practical instruction 0n the use of money including the fact that we need to be careful about borrowing. This is appropriate for any day but especially in today's financially troubled environment.

Proverbs 22:7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

God is good

2008-09-18T08:00:00.001-04:00

We all have our own interpretations of what miracles are. In my own life, there have been so many including the two times I was actually rescued by God from the jaws of death when the doctors and nurses caring for me had little hope for my survival. It just so happened that God wasn't through with me yet.

There are specific instances during my Mother's illness and death that made me so aware of the presence of God. To some, these may seem like small coincidences but to me, they were huge miracles.

As Mama aged, it became a labor for her to take care of herself in any manner. My career was demanding and took me out of town often so, unknown to my Mother, I placed her name on a waiting list at a nursing home. When the call came to me that the home had an opening for her, I could not bring myself to say anything to her about giving up her independence and the only home she had known for many years. I simply told the social worker at the nursing home I could not take this step at that particular time but within a couple of days, Mama called and voluntarily said she was going to have to go to a nursing home because she could no longer make it alone. That was a miracle - an answer to my prayers.

Time passed and for much of that time, Mama was very happy with her living arrangements.
Alzheimers, however, steals joy and hope and everything else a person has to hold onto and the last two years of her life were torturous. I was told by the doctor that Mama could no longer come to my world so I would have to go to hers. I spent so much time with her and I continued to keep her hair and her clothes and my conversations with her just as they had always been - and I went to her world which was a dark, frightening and confusing place.

The day before Mama died, she was in such a deep and peaceful sleep that she couldn't be awakened from. These sleeps occurred from time to time but the peacefulness was never there until this time. I called my daughter and told her this was different and that I was frightened so she came to be with me. Every time my daughter spoke with her soft, sweet little voice, my Mother would try so hard to open her eyes and there would be this smile that was almost illuminating. She knew her little red haired granddaughter was present - the little curly haired girl that was and is another huge miracle, not only in her parents' lives but in my Mama's and Daddy's lives.

The moment my Mama died, there was a rushing wind sound from her chest and, while I know this is not uncommon, the atmosphere in that room and the look on her face led me to believe that was the sound of her getting her wings.

At the cemetery, we were getting in our cars to go home and the grandson who had stayed with me and helped me through so much of the trauma saw a white feather floating down and it landed on the windshield of his dad's car. He had been so troubled by her death and he was so young and this feather was a sign to him that Granny was fine.

These are a few of my ramblings. There were so many but the greatest miracle of all is what happened after Mama died. Remember I told you about that dark world I had gone to? Try as hard as I could, there was no climbing out........until I reached for an outstretched Hand and I took hold of that Hand and I have never let go. God pulled me out of a pit so deep and put me back on solid ground. God is so good.

Slow Dance

2008-09-17T08:00:00.002-04:00

This is a poem written by a teenager with cancer. It is quite the poem and I received it in an email from a friend

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask How are you?
Do you hear the reply
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Ever told your child, We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch, Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say,'Hi'
You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there

True Beauty

2008-09-16T08:00:00.004-04:00

A changed life speaks loudly and clearly , and it is often the most effective way to influence a family member. Peter instructed Christian wives to develop inner beauty rather than being overly concerned about their appearance. Live your Christian faith quietly and consistently in your own home, and your family will see Christ in you.

1 Peter 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

1 Peter 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Humility

2008-09-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

Proverbs 27:1-4 Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. 2) Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. 3) A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both. 4) Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?