Firsts and Lasts

Hello friends, it’s been a while since I’ve written. Life has been a whirlwind for weeks and it is really good to have time to sit and write again. It is so therapeutic and a lot cheaper than a counselor! J I had a thought a couple of days ago about firsts and lasts but did not have the time to write. So, I’d like to share those thoughts if you feel like reading.

             Let me begin this paragraph by saying that I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that you will have a very blessed new year. The month of December was very different for us this year. There were many firsts and lasts. Adam and I had acting roles together in our Christmas musical at church– a first. He did his first solo every! It was our final Christmas musical with our dear friend and Pastor, Gene – a last. We also had our last meeting and our last service with him, his family and others on Christmas day – tough but exciting lasts. Dustin spent his final Christmas with us as a single man – another last and I started this blog, certainly a first! A friend invited me to a very intense Bible Study – a first because it is with a group of ladies at a church other than my own. I could list so many other lasts and firsts, but I don’t want to bore you. (Sorry if you are already bored.J)

            Lasts are often challenging and even painful, depending on the circumstances, but sometimes lasts can be positive. Well, I may seem to be going in circles here, but I do have a point so I guess I should get to it. The thing about lasts is that they often lead to firsts! Let me explain…

            When something ends, something else usually begins. Not always, but often. That reminds me of a verse that my pastor friend gave me a long time ago. In Philippians 1:6 it says this, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” I believe that this verse tells us that if God started it, He will be faithful to complete it. That is very encouraging to me, especially when I think about lasts. It may seem like the end of something, and it may be, but we have the hope of something new!

            Change is sometimes a very difficult thing, and I’m not sure I like it. For the most part, I like things to stay the same; comfortable and familiar. Well, I’m learning that God does not always leave us in the comfortable and familiar places. If He did, we might never grow spiritually. We would never learn to trust Him in the tough times and we might miss the opportunity to see His power at work in our lives if everything stayed the same.

            In this year of firsts and lasts, joyful and somewhat painful, friends moving on, weddings, new ministry opportunities, new church leaders, shaky economies, health issues, new babies, days passing quickly and fresh starts in the new year, I believe, as I’ve said before, that we always have One Constant in our lives if we are believers in Jesus Christ. We can trust Him. He already knows what our futures hold, He knows about the firsts and the lasts. He allows every one of them and He is right beside us as we walk through each of them. We can have hope that for every last, He has a new first for us. It may not be the same, it may not be what we expect, but it will be just what He has planned for us if we watch for it and follow Him. So, as we begin a new year, and as we face new days and new firsts and lasts, my prayer is that I will look to the One who can show me how to walk through them. Only He knows what is in store for us, but one thing I do know, no matter what comes our way, no matter who moves on from our lives, no matter what joys or sorrows may come, He is faithful. His mercies are new every morning and for that, I am so thankful!

 “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” 2 Thess. 2:16-17

Holy Bible, New International Version 1984

What's in My Bucket??

           Recently, I joined a women’s Bible study that is a mix of many denominations and many different women from all walks of life. I have already met some incredible ladies. I’ve been two times and it has blessed me so richly. It is very structured, and the entire time is spent strictly studying God’s Word. You know how we women can rabbit trail all over the place, but this study keeps us on the task of delving deep into God’s Word. I love it. We study at home, then meet together weekly to discuss our answers and then sit through a lecture. At home, we go over our notes from the previous week and then start the process all over. It is such a blessing. Wow, I’m blown away every time by what we learn. I pray that it sticks in my old brain!

           This week our study focused on Hebrews 11-13. We learned about many of the “heroes” of faith, Abraham, Noah, Moses…” It was wonderful to be reminded of all of the truths of this book. There were many wonderful lessons throughout the study. Chapter 11 truly is the faith chapter. I felt so encouraged as we left today. I’m thankful for the friend who invited me and told me about the study.
           I want to share a couple of the comments that our speaker shared today in the lecture. There was so much that really grabbed me, but these few things have stuck with me throughout the day today. First, after studying these chapters, I’ve realized once again just how much I need God’s Word in my life every day. If I want to live out and demonstrate a life of faith, and I do, then I must be consistently filling myself with God’s Word. I really desire to respond back to God’s Word with a trusting and obedient heart. I want to persevere and finish my faith race well, fixing my eyes on Jesus until I see Him face to face.
           Secondly, the speaker made a comment about buckets. She asked us a question. It was something like this; “What comes out of a bucket when it is kicked over?” She answered, “Whatever is it most full of.” Wow! That brief question really got my attention. It made me wonder what I am “full of”. Is it myself, or my loved ones, selfishness, pride, sin, materialism, busyness…? Or, is it Jesus Christ and His Word? What is going to flow out of me when I’m kicked over? I hope the answer is more and more of Jesus and His Word.
            We also talked about what faith really is. As she put it, “Faith is not merely THAT we believe, but WHAT we believe”. Lots of people believe. but, what is it that I believe? Do I know the facts of God’s Word? If all of my many Bibles were taken from me, how much of His Word would I be able to recall? She finished her lecture saying that she believes in some ways, Hebrews is still being written. In some ways, our faith walks are being recorded before God and before others. She asked what we thought would be “recorded” about our own personal faith walks. Will there be one sentence about my faithfulness or will there be a paragraph? I pray with all of my heart that I can live a life that demonstrates my faith in Christ to others in powerful and profound ways. Do I have a thankful heart? Do I worship God in all circumstances? Do I spend more time in God’s Word than I do watching my favorite TV show? Am I following the examples of the faith heroes in the Bible, or more importantly, of the One who died to save me? I pray that my bucket is full of more of these things than of the things of this world. If I’m kicked or put under pressure, I hope the love of Christ pours out of me. I know this is not always true of me. In fact, more often than not, it is probably not true. But I pray that my bucket is filling up with more of God’s Word and that it is changing me. So, I’ll close with a question to you, what’s in your bucket??

Laughter Truly is One of the Best Medicines!

           Last night, for various reasons, I did not sleep well and when this girl doesn’t get a good night’s rest, it is NOT a good thing. It throws my body and my emotions in to a mess to say the least. I needed to be up really early this morning to get some housework done and so that I could go to a doctor’s visit with Kenny. I was so tired, but more than that, my emotions were a bit out of sync. It’s a girl thing, you guys just might not be able to relate.

I drug myself out of bed and started the day. It was pretty quiet in the car on the way to his appointment. I tried to reflect on what I had read in my quiet time this morning before I left home, but my brain was just too tired to recall anything. We went into the doctor’s office and it was packed! It was almost standing room only. All I could think about was sitting in a room full of possibly sick people and that I wanted to douse myself with hand sanitizer!

The doctor was running about an hour behind. It’s funny how they have those little signs that tell us that if we are more than ten minutes late to an appointment, they will charge us or cancel our appointment, but it does not bother them to waste the patient’s time. Grumble, grumble! Finally, Kenny’s name was called and we were greeted by the friendliest nurse. She welcomed us with a huge smile and said a very nice “Good Morning”. I forced a smile and we followed her to the room where we would end up waiting a very long time. We could hear the doctor in the hallway for what seemed like forever discussing another patient’s poor fate openly with our door wide open, so much for patient privacy. His situation did not sound good. Poor fellow. (Not that we were listening..LOL!)

The doctor finally came in and delivered pretty good news. Most of Kenny’s tests were good. She did say the same thing that every doctor says to us at our age, “Cut fat intake and exercise more.” Did they really want our co-pay just for that advice?! Grumble, grumble again. We really like this doctor. It turns out that she is a real hoot.

While waiting for her, I was trying to finish up a biography that I’ve been reading for some time. It kept my attention, but did not really lighten my mood, but boy when she came into the room, something really unexpected happened. At some point between the discussions of fatty livers and high cholesterol, we got on the subject of cheese of all things. I mentioned that Kenny really loves Italian cheeses sprinkled on everything and that set her to talking about her husband. She explained that they had been married for 44 years and that since his retirement from the military, he has become her personal chef. She told us story after story about how he had rearranged her entire kitchen (in true military fashion)! Well, very unexpectedly, as the three of us laughed out loud for fifteen minutes or longer, the heaviness of my mood lifted. We laughed until I thought we’d all split a gut! At least if we had, we were at the right kind of doctor’s office – a gastroenterologist! J For once I can say that a doctor’s visit was enjoyable! She even told us that she had really enjoyed our visit too!

Well, I guess you wonder where this is all going…but if you know me well, you are used to that! Later when I got home, I re-read some things that I read this morning and came across the verse about laughter in Proverbs 17. In verse 22 it says, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” I know this may be a stretch, but I believe that God knew that Kenny and I both needed that laughter. We left there and went into the drugstore and ran into one of our son’s friends. He had on the funniest Christmas hat and again, we shared laughter with him. Then, I had a brief phone call with an old friend and he made us laugh hysterically too! This verse really is so true in life!

           We have so much to be grateful for and the joy that God allows us in the small, silly things is just one of many things that I am thankful for. My spirit has been so much lighter since our visit to the doctor. What a pleasant surprise from the Lord. (And I do believe it was a gift of grace from Him today!)
         
          The one thing that all of us can be most thankful for is the reason for the current Christmas season. Our Lord came to the earth as a lowly human baby, God in the flesh, so that He could live and die for us that we might have salvation. That alone should cause us joy like nothing else in this world.
        
          This weekend our church, (Seaford Baptist) is putting on our annual Christmas musical. I’ve been a part of this for more than twenty years and this year, for many reasons I believe that it may be one of the most memorable, not only for me and my family, but for our church. If you have the time this weekend, please take some time off from the craziness of daily life and come to see the production. (Fri and Sat at 7 PM and Sunday at 6 PM) I promise you it will bless you if you come. Life is so short and this year I really want to spend more time laughing and enjoying life with family and friends and less time running at the speed of light to get things done. Won’t you join us for a little joy this weekend? I hope so! God bless you and thanks for reading.

“Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them. The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.” Psalm 126:2-3

Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV)

Our Den and It's Many Faces...and All of Our Boys. (Dec 4, 2011)

            Well, most of my blog writings have been pretty serious up to this point, so I thought I’d try something a little lighter today. It has been a pretty busy week this week with church musical rehearsals, event planning and daily life. So, today after a very moving and meaningful church service, and lunch with friends, we headed home for a little “r and r”. As soon as we walked into the house I was reminded of just how busy this week has been. Our den showed many signs that I had not been here to keep up with it all!

            There was much evidence that our house had once again been filled with several house guests over these last few days. When I say house guests, I mean the ever-changing group of twenty-something guys that hang out at our house several days a week. There was also much evidence that I am not only the mother of two sons, but of many sons, and oh how we love each and every one of them. I call myself “a mother of many sons”.

            Our lives have been filled with so many wonderful moments because of all of these young men. Some have lived with us, some have slept many nights on our couch and some we only get to see every now and then. We’ve spent enough money on groceries to have taken many very nice vacations, but I wouldn’t trade any of those wonderful moments and memories with them for anything. When they start their own lives, and get their own places, we are really going to miss these sounds of life.

            Back to our den, it often doubles as a hotel, a bedroom, a gaming room, a counseling center, a restaurant, a movie theater, and just a welcoming kind of place to hang out. If we added up the number of guys (and gals at times), I’m sure it would be way in the hundreds. We’ve had friends of friends here that we’ve never even met before! There are a couple of these guys that we could probably claim on our taxes, and two that we even affectionately call “Number 3A and 3B”. They know who they are. Some of our boys have gone into the military, some are married and have their own kids and some have moved across the country. We have beautiful memories of sleepovers, game nights, group dinners, great conversation, slurpee runs and our annual Christmas Eve stocking stuffer tradition. (That’s another story for another day!)

            I don’t think they know how much they have blessed our lives by spending so many hours in our den. If you ask them, they’ll tell you that I’m one tough momma! I get on them if they leave behind messes for me to pick up, or if they take their eyes off of the important things, like their relationship with the Lord. We pretty much have two basic rules, one is that after one visit, you basically become family and you are on your own in the kitchen, and secondly, don’t keep momma Terry up once she goes to bed! It makes me smile that they just keep coming back for more! They just want love, food and a place to be part of a family. We REALLY do love each and every one of them as family. When our front door opens, we are always waiting and surprised to see who will come around the corner into our den. Will it be one of our two boys or one of our many “adopted” sons?

            So, today when I walked into the den and saw a several TV’s, empty soda cans, pillows, blankets, a game table and pizza boxes scattered just about everywhere, my first thought was, “Oh boy, what a mess.” But then, I was reminded again of all of the fond memories and the wonderful sounds of life that they bring to our house and I just cannot get frustrated. After all, God has blessed us richly through our simple and comfortable den. It’s not that special, it’s just available.  

            We are so grateful for every moment that we have with our boys and anyone else who comes by for a visit, whether it’s a visit to Hotel Roberts, Terry’s Diner or the Pink Room. So, come on by for a cup of tea, a cookie bar, or even a slice of pizza. We’d love to have you anytime. Our home is always open and the lights are always on. Time passes so quickly and we want to spend every moment we can with our precious family and friends. What blessings you all are to us! J

Christmas in the Pink Room

I'm a Mary Wanna-Be!

            This morning I read from one of my favorite devotions (Jesus Calling) and from Luke 10, along with some other passages. There in Luke is the familiar story of the two sisters, Mary and Martha. If you haven’t read about these ladies, I strongly encourage you to, especially you ladies. In some ways, I think us women have a bit more trouble with the Martha syndrome. You see, I tend to be more of a Martha most times. I want to fix everything, I want everything just right, I’m a strong detail person, I like to think I’m in control, and I forget sometimes that the very best thing I can do is just sit at Jesus’ feet the way Mary did. The Bible says that Mary “…has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” In my heart I want to be a Mary, but often, I struggle and strive and I turn back into a Martha.

            The good news is, that I’m growing and changing and realizing more and more that I really do need to choose the better thing. Any time spent sitting quietly in God’s Word, in worship and in prayer is definitely the better thing. I’m not saying I have this all down, because boy I don’t! Just ask my family and friends!

            This morning was Day 3 back on the old treadmill. (the treadmill of exercise, and of life by the way!) I put my iPod on full volume and went to work. As usual, another one of my favorite songs came on. It was “Our God” by Chris Tomlin. The bridge in that beautiful, encouraging song goes like this, “And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us, and if our God is with us, then what could stand against…”. Well, as I thought about the whole Mary and Martha thing, and as I reflected on the whole “then what could stand against…”, I actually could think of a LOT of things that feel like they are standing “against” us. It just seems like these days there are lots and lots of hard things. I think we all wonder whether there are actually more difficulties, or whether it’s just our age or the times or whatever, but the truth is, now is the time we live in and it feels like a lot to me. (And for some of my dearest friends too, I happen to know) Sometimes we let these difficulties pile up on us.

            Anyway, as I reflected and listened to the song on the treadmill, I began to pray out loud. I was honest with God and I told Him how I felt about the song lyrics and His promises concerning trials and about the things that come up against us. As I prayed, I told Him that with everything in me I want to believe these words, that if He is with us and for us, (and He is!) then nothing, can stand against us. As my deep, agonizing prayer finished, I did believe it more than ever. I did realize that no matter what, nothing can separate us from Him or His love. You see, in my heart and mind, I cannot help but live with that hope. I really don’t know how not to. Because I am His child, my heart won’t let me think any other way. It is wired into me that He is my HOPE! And yours too!

            His Word tells us that we will have trials, but that He will never leave us alone in them. Today’s time on the treadmill and in study revealed again to me just how deeply desperate I am for Him. I absolutely cannot live without Him, nor would I want to try. The more I know Him, the more I see just how much I need Him and the more I see how much I need Him, the more I want to know Him. It’s a beautiful cycle.

            As much as I sometimes dread getting out of my warm, cozy bed and going out to our chilly garage to get on that blasted machine, more and more I look forward to that time of worship, prayer and reflection with my Lord. So, maybe, just maybe, I am becoming less of a Martha kind of girl and more and more of a Mary kind of girl. So, the next time you see or hear me acting like Martha, gently remind me that I must rest at His feet and that I do not have to take on the world by myself, because, if my God is with me, and He is, then nothing can stand against me or stop me…or you!! Well, I’m sure Martha did have some things that she really did need to get done at some point, as do I, so I’m back to work! J

God bless and thanks for reading!

Jesus Calling: Young, Sarah, Thomas Nelson; Special and Rev edition (October 12, 2004)

The Holy Bible: New International Version. 1996 (electronic ed.) (Lk 10:42). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Our God: Tomlin, Reeves, Myrin and Redman, 2010 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing), sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing), Said And Done Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing), Vamos Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing), SHOUT! Music Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing), worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

A Warm-Fuzzy, Cup of Tea Kind of Day

I’m sitting in the Pink Room, the house is very quiet, well except for the soft snoring sounds of the two extra guys we have sleeping in our den. It is raining outside, a gentle rain that seems to calm my heart in some ways. It seems that too many of these kinds of days in a row can leave me longing for sunshine. Normally, I’m a sunshine kind of girl. But, today, I welcome the rain. I’m the same way about snow. When it rains or snows like this, it sort of gives me that feeling that I have permission to slow down and just rest, reflect and maybe spend a good deal more time studying God’s Word, listening to worship music, or reading a good book. It’s a nice feeling, a warm-fuzzy kind of feeling, a cup of tea kind of feeling.

So, as I sit and listen to the gentle rain…and the gentle snores, it causes me to reflect once again on how grateful I am to be a child of God and how grateful I am for all of the sounds of life, both quiet and loud. It makes me think about just how quickly time passes, about how things change so rapidly, and about just how much I need the constant of God’s Presence and His Word in my life. It seems, like I’ve mentioned before, that everything else around me is swirling with change. The rain reminds me that God remains the same, always. He does not change, He does not leave, He is everlasting and ever faithful. Just as He always sends the rain to nourish the earth, He gave us His Spirit and His Word to guide and nourish our lives.

It is in these still, quiet moments, that He reminds me of one of my favorite verses, Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” He beckons to me every morning to come to Him quietly, to be still and know, to listen, to rest, to trust, and to seek Him first in my day. And, when I do sit and enjoy the gentle rains, and soak in the Word of God first thing, what a difference it makes in the rest of my day. Every time I sit down in the quiet, I can feel His peace wash over me, His love surround me and His promises flood into me.

The next step is to get up from this quiet place of God’s Presence, and to walk in it for the remainder of my day, to remember that He is walking right beside me, step by step, through the change of each day, through every situation, whether joyful or challenging. I cannot just sit in my favorite room all day, I do eventually need to get up and take care of my responsibilities. But, I’ve got a little more time. So, for now, I’m just going to sit back, listen to the rain and soak up His Word, because I need it to face the day and to feed His sheep, just like our newly planted grass seed needs the rain in order to take root and grow.

Thanks for reading. God bless you

The New King James Version. 1982 (Ps 46:10). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

How Will They Know Us?

           This morning I finally did it. After more than a full year, I was able to get back on my treadmill without falling off. (That old vertigo had me down for a long, long time, but praise God I’m up again!!) And, boy did I need it even more than I thought I did! Not only have I put on a few inches, but what I didn’t realize is just how much, to my great surprise, that I love that time on my old treadmill. You see, it’s not the exercise that excites me, but that the whole time I walk, I listen to my favorite worship playlists. I pray, I sing and I lift my hands to Him freely, (well, one hand at a time now cause I have to hold on with the other!) I just love that time with Him. It’s private, quiet, and such an incredible time of worship and praise. I’ve had some of my most meaningful times of worship on that treadmill. I’m so grateful this morning to be able to physically spend that time not only exercising my body, but exercising my faith too.

            As I listened and worshiped, one of my favorite songs came on (and boy do I have a lot of favorites…I eat, breathe and live worship music!) It is a song by Christy Nockels, called, “By Our Love”. Oh it is so beautiful and it really makes me think about how I live and about how others will KNOW that I belong to Jesus. Will they see me and all of my human ugliness, or will they see Jesus? I hope that more and more, they will see Jesus. Oh how I long to be His hands and feet to this hungry world.

            Also this morning, I read that familiar passage about love in 1 Corinthians 13. After reading, I asked myself again what my love towards others looks like. I’d like to think that I’m a pretty loving person, but truthfully, in my humanness, I love conditionally, and on my own terms. If I’m hurt by someone, I tend to pull away and try to protect my heart from further hurt. It’s really easy to withdraw and try to hide in a “safe place”. But that’s not how Jesus loves. He loved us so much that He died for us. A pastor friend once told me that loving others is often going to lead to hurt, but that if I close up my heart and stop loving others, it will turn to cold stone. What a horrible thought. I do not want a cold stone heart. I desire a tender, gentle, loving heart that is full of Jesus’ light, even if it means getting hurt at times. When others look at me, I really want them to see the kind of love that God extends to me every day. He is so merciful, kind, loving, gracious and just. I so desire for my loved ones and every person I meet to see this kind of love. Like the song says, “The time is now, come church arise, love with His hands, see with His eyes. Bind it around you, let it never leave you, and they will know us by our love.”

            It blow it a million times a day when it comes to loving others, especially with those who are closest to me. It is my deep desire that as I spend more time in God’s Word, as I seek Him first, as I surrender to His will, that I will look more like a loving child of God than a stinky sheep. So, the answer to my question, “How will they know us?” is that they will only see Jesus if we start loving others the way He has loved us. I absolutely cannot do this on my own because I really am just a stinky sheep. But, by His grace, may all who encounter me today know that I’m His child and may they know me by His love, and I pray that they too will be drawn to His incredible love. It is so deep, long, wide and high! God bless and thanks for reading!

By Our Love, 2009 worshiptogether.com Songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

Disposables

      “The grass withers, the flower fades,

      But the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

                It seems like in today’s world just about everything is disposable. Disposable plates, containers, diapers, etc. Even many employers see their employees as disposable in some ways. We are a people who want everything fast and then when we are done with it, we want to be able to toss it into the trash or dispose of it as easily as possible. There is so much trash that our counties and cities pay people to pick it up and take it to huge city dumps. Collecting trash has become a very large and profitable business.

            A few folks have decided to try to make a difference in this trash issue. Many have found creative ways to reuse and repurpose items from the past. With a little tender loving care and a coat of fresh paint, an old piece of furniture can go from trash to treasure. This process has also become a large money making business. But, the fact still remains that most of us want things to be as disposable as possible.

            There is one thing that is not disposable and that will last forever. It has existed and endured for thousands of years already and will continue to do so throughout all generations. In Isaiah, we read that things like grass and flowers fade away, but, “the word of our God stands forever.” What an incredible promise. We may not always have a hard copy of God’s Word in our hands, but His Word will last forever. It is NOT disposable. It is everlasting!

            There are people in this world that would do anything to just get a small part of the Bible in their hands. They meet together in secret places to share what they know of God’s Word with each other, even risking their own lives to do so. Some of us have many copies of the Bible in our houses. I have at least 14 copies of the Bible and a massive Bible study software full of just about any version of the Word that I could ask for.

            As I get older, and hopefully a little wiser, I have become more and more aware of my great need for God’s Word. I desire it and hunger for it more than I ever have, I believe. Perhaps as I get older, there seem to be more circumstances that push me toward His Word. As I’ve mentioned in previous blog posts, His Word has become my sanity. And I mean that with all of my heart. I still do not spend as much time in it as I’d like to sometimes, but I try to sit down with His Word every day. I know that I have to do so in order to keep growing closer to Him and to be able to exist in the crazy world.

            I am so encouraged that Isaiah tells us that God’s Word will endure and stand forever. I need it. I want to hide it in my heart more and more so that one day, if for some reason I do not have a hard copy or an electronic copy in my hands, I will be able to search my heart and find His Word hidden there when I or someone else needs it.

            Like I said, I am not a champion of God’s Word. I have not studied or memorized nearly enough of it, but I’m not going to stop pursuing this goal. I will keep reading, studying and memorizing. I strongly encourage you to do the same. His Word is so powerful. It is what we as believers need most, even more than literal food I think. I pray that you will join me in diving into His Word every day. Eat it like it may be the last time you get to hold a Bible in your hands. Let’s encourage one another to study it and to memorize it. I’m so thankful for those who study it for hours and days each week in order to teach us His Word. Well, I can hear my stomach growling, desiring some of those wonderful Thanksgiving Day leftovers in my fridge, but first I’m going to sit down and finish studying Isaiah 40, and fill my heart and mind with God’s food first. Won’t you join me? Oh, and I think I’ll use a real plate instead of a disposable one! J

God bless and thanks for reading!

The New King James Version. 1982 (Is 40:8). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Thankful!

Psalm 116:17 “I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving

and call on the name of the Lord.” (ESV)

            Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. And today, as I begin the long, but enjoyable hours of preparation in our kitchen for the family meal tomorrow, I am not only focused on the recipes and the aromas of this season, but on the sweet aromas of God and His wonderful blessings to us. There are so many. Not everything in life feels good or is good, but God is always good. He is always faithful, always gracious, always merciful, always loving, and always just. We have so much to be thankful for, even in the painful times I believe. But, it is sometimes easier said, than done, to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise to Him.

Psalm 116:17 tells us to offer a “sacrifice of thanksgiving”. What does this look like? What does it mean? How do we do that even on the days that are not so easy? While reflecting on this, it really made me wonder if I am really offering my thanksgiving to Him in with an attitude of sacrifice. I looked up the definition of the word sacrifice and found this:  “sacrifice—According to Mosaic Law, an offering to God in repentance for sin or as an expression of thanksgiving; Christ as the ultimate sacrifice for sin.” Am I doing this? Is the aroma of my praise pleasant to Him?

This week, every time I went to my face book page, I noticed that one of my friends had been writing one thing that she is thankful for every day. This made me smile and caused me to reflect on what I am thankful for. If I really took the time to make a list, it would take me quite a long time to write it. Again, I’m not saying that everything is good or even praiseworthy, but, our God is and I want to focus on that as much as I am humanly able to do. He deserves our praise whether we “feel” like it or not.

At times, my flesh, or my humanness really wants to focus on my hurt feelings, or my physical pain, or the things that are going on around me in this world that bother me. But, my spirit desires to trust God, because He has indeed proven Himself faithful in my life and beyond worthy of my sacrifice of praise. If I look back and begin to count all of the ways He has blessed me, protected me, saved me and loved me, again, it would be a LONG list! So, today, I want to sacrifice some of my time, my heart, my resources, my words, my money, all of these things, in order to offer a pleasing aroma to my loving and generous Father. How about you? What will your sacrifice of praise be to Him today…and every day? God bless and thanks for reading! May it encourage you deeply. J

Pratt, R. L., Jr. (2000). Vol. 7: I & II Corinthians. Holman New Testament Commentary; Holman Reference (447). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

 “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

             I am always so surprised when God uses me or works through me. I am also amazed when He takes this extremely weak vessel and by His power makes it useful for His kingdom purposes. Everything about me is weak and broken, and yet God pours His power and strength into me so that I can accomplish His work. His Word says that we can do “all things” not because we are able to do so on our own strength, but because He gives us His strength.

            Yesterday, after our church Christmas Musical rehearsal, I started thinking about who I used to be compared to who I am today. I’ve never been someone who is extremely comfortable speaking in front of people, or doing anything in front of large groups of people for that matter. And yet, deep inside of me, God has placed a strong desire to worship Him through the creative arts and that involves a lot of “up front” kind of stuff. When I’m at home by myself, I love to play my worship music and sing out loud, dance around the room (when my head’s not spinning) and I also love to be a part of leading others into genuine worship of our Lord. When I am doing this, I am truly joyful and feel great fulfillment. Many years ago I would have never taken the risk of putting myself out in front of people in these kinds of roles. In fact, I was pretty afraid of trying anything new or challenging. But God placed some dear, encouraging friends around me who pushed me out of my comfort zone and loved me closer toward who God made me to be. They believed in God’s power in me.

            Well, I’m still not that comfortable standing up in front of lots of people, but, a long time ago, I learned that if I just take the first step out onto the water, God will part the sea. If I just make myself available to Him with a willing heart, He will do the rest. It is a powerful, wonderful feeling to see God work in and through us. Every time He works like this, it reminds me of just how gracious He is to allow us to be His hands and feet on this earth.

This year, our youngest son and I have major roles in our church musical and we are both being pushed way out of our personal boxes. God promises that He will strengthen us to do His Work, and yesterday, at our first full cast rehearsal, God did just that. We were both pretty nervous, but as we stepped out in faith, He gave us and others everything we needed to remember our lines and to act out our parts. He was faithful and strengthened us. He showed us that if we give ourselves to Him, He’ll give us all we need to accomplish His purpose for us. Why am I surprised by that?

            This is not just true in certain situations, like acting in front of large crowds, but in every situation of our lives. God is with us, promising us His power and strength in small things and in the really tough ones. Do I really believe this in my life? Will I believe this when I am nervously standing on that stage in December for our musical? Do I trust Him to strengthen me in the difficult challenges of life? When people hurt me or when someone I love is sick, or struggling, do I trust that He is there and offers the promise of His power? Do I trust Him enough to empower me to tell my neighbor about Jesus? I believe that I do trust Him, but not nearly as much as I should. My desire is to trust God’s goodness, power and wisdom so much that I live my life in a very radical way, not wasting a single moment being too afraid to step out and do the work that He lays out before me.

            I do not know what the future holds, but I do know that up to this point, God has been so faithful. I also know that His Word tells me that I can do all things by His strength and power. Now, the key is to learn to live out what I know and believe. That’s the hard part. I hope that I’m not the same person I used to be. I hope that I am becoming a person who deeply trusts the Lord in any and every situation. I pray that I’ll continue to put my toe in the water, expecting God to part the sea. What is God asking you to do today that might take sticking your toe in the water? Go ahead, get wet. You can trust Him!      

The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001 (Php 4:13). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Stinky Sheep

“Be content to be a simple sheep, listening to My voice and following Me. I will lead you into restful green pastures and guide you along paths of righteousness.” Jesus Calling/Ps 23:1-3

I LOVE sheep. They are not really that beautiful, or smart. There is really nothing special about them, but I love them. I’ve always been fascinated by them. My real fascination deepened when I taught a study years ago based on a book about sheep and Psalm 23 to a small group of ladies. At the end of the study, all of the ladies blessed me with gifts of stuffed sheep, bobble head sheep and pictures of sheep. I know it is weird, but I have a small collection of sheep in our home. (Not live ones!)

                My love for sheep really grew out of the Scripture that we studied together during that time. I know how familiar Psalm 23 is to many, but I really have a special place in my heart for it. It is a beautiful picture of just how much we are like sheep and just how desperately we need the love, care and guidance of our Great Shepherd. I see myself and all of God’s children as stinky sheep. Sheep are not the smartest animals in God’s Creation. They must have a shepherd guiding them in order to survive. On their own, they would mostly likely never eat or drink and might often find themselves in dangerous situations. If they fall over, they do not even know how to get themselves back up! Sound familiar?

                I was once on a youth mission trip and while driving down the road, I spotted a large flock of sheep. I was so excited to see them, that we stopped the whole youth caravan so that I could see them up close and personal. I walked up to the owner’s door and asked if it was okay for me to visit his sheep! To my great joy, their caretaker, George, offered for me to hop right on his tractor and take a ride way out into the pasture to visit his sheep! I was thrilled, and a little nervous. I held on for dear life as the rickety tractor climbed the rocky hills to the top. It took a several minutes or more to find them. He explained that they may not come out because for some reason, they were not fond of women. (Go figure!) However, when we got close, he called out in a very loud voice, “Ewe, Ewe!” I was a bit startled by his loud call. But, immediately, the large flock of sheep came to their beloved shepherd without hesitation! It was magnificent to behold and I was so blessed by the experience. I will never forget it. He invited me to come back one Spring to see his little lambs, but I have never been able to go back so far. Someday maybe!

                I am becoming more and more aware of just how much I need my Shepherd. I am a stinky sheep for sure and I need my loving, merciful and wise Shepherd to lead me though this life to “restful green pastures”. The Bible tells me that if I am His sheep, I will listen for and follow His voice. There are always SO many other voices trying to call me away from my Shepherd and into areas of danger and confusion, but more than anything, I desire deeply to hear and obey my Masters voice.

                We can learn much from these stinky, not so clever creatures. Though they may not realize just how helpless they are, they are smart enough to listen for their master’s voice, and come running to him when he calls. They are also smart enough to know that he is their protector and provider. I hope I can keep learning to follow my Great Shepherd in the same way. He knows me better than anyone else and knows just what I need. He is our Protector and Provider.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11

 “Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” Psalm 100:3

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28

Jesus Calling, Young, Sarah – 2004 Thomas Nelson Publisher

The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001 (Jn 10:11). (Jn 10:27–28) (Ps 100:3). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

               

               

Surely the Laundry is Not My Only Purpose!

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6

                “Work” – that one little word can conjure feelings of dread, of joy or of accomplishment. My work today seems to be the endless pit of laundry that is calling my name loudly. (Our house is filled with guys, you’d think that there just wouldn’t be that much laundry!) My hope is that I have a greater purpose today than just laundry. My prayer this morning was that God would give me purpose today, purpose in His kingdom work. Accomplishing His will today is the most important work that I can focus on. It’s not that my household duties are not His work. His Word tells us that we are to do everything as if we are doing it for Him, even the things that may seem trivial to us. (Colossians 3:17; 3:23)

                My point here is that I believe that we were all put on this earth for a particular purpose. God has a plan for our lives. One of my favorite verses reminds me of that very thing. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” What a wonderful promise! We’re not here simply to live and die, we are here with a purpose and plan. God’s plan. He has work for us to do! We are His hands and feet, “Jesus with skin on” as a friend used to say. That excites me!

                Twenty or so years ago, a pastor-friend taught me Philippians 1:6. There were a lot of changes about to take place in our church at that time and some were not easy. Sometimes change is difficult and a little scary. The older I get, the more I realize that sometimes I am not that comfortable with change. I often like some things to stay just the way they are. We all like to get a little too comfortable in our lives, but God often has other plans. He uses change to grow us, to teach us and to remind us that He is the only real Constant in our lives.

                I often joke about what I want to be when I grow up, and I’m not really sure yet, even though I am definitely what some would call  a “grown up”. I know what I’m passionate about, my Lord, my family, worship, friends, helping people, loving people, sharing the Gospel with everyone I run into, and various other things. Today as I sit in the Pink Room studying and writing, I’m a little fuzzy about my purpose. What I do know is that God is not fuzzy on my purpose at all. He knew it before I was ever born. I believe His Word, and it says that He has a purpose and plan for my life and for the lives of those I love. It’s a little scary sometimes when I start dwelling upon what is to come, but when I remember His promises, I can relax a little and just walk in the steps that He’s given me enough light to see right now. I do not have to worry about the big picture. He’s got that one covered. If I fret over tomorrow, I might miss His what He has for me today. I sense in some ways that He is doing a new thing in my life and I need to make sure I’m listening so that I do not miss it. So, until I have a better idea of what that is, I’m going to spend some time doing what I love most, praying, reading His Word, writing and listening to some of my favorite worship music, (singing along loudly!). Oh…and I guess I’ll get to that laundry, unfortunately, it is still calling my name!

God bless you today and thanks for reading! J

The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001 (Je 29:11). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001 (Php 1:6). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Changed Focus, Changed Heart - Prayer

Yesterday morning, I woke up with many heavy things on my heart. My focus was a bit out of whack to say the least. Because I have such a tender heart, at times, I allow the hurts and problems of this life to almost overtake me and throw me into a possible pit of despair. I’m just being honest here. I do not know how to be anything else. God is so good, but at times, life is just plain hard. There are many things on my mind and heart. As I’ve mentioned previously, there is much change going on in this season of my life. Life is changing so rapidly, my heart and brain cannot keep up! I see people that I love suffering, I have pain in my own life, I know a little boy who should be living life to its fullest, but instead, he is fighting the battle of his life (cancer), friends losing their jobs, people leaving my life who I’ve been close to for years, friends hurting, marriages struggling, people who are completely lost without Jesus,…and I could go on and on. I’m sure you all have your own list too. If I allow myself to stay focused on these situations, they will paralyze me and render me useless in God’s kingdom.

                Instead of focusing on the circumstances, it is my desire to lay these things at His feet and entrust them all to the only One who is truly in control. I have no control over people, their lives or over anything else really. But, there is one thing that I can do to keep my focus in the right place. PRAYER!

              So, I started digging out of the pit. I called a dear friend and she stopped by for a visit. As we talked and shared with one another, we were reminded of the faithfulness of God and of just how much we need His Word and prayer in our lives. Our new saying has become,”God’s Word – our sanity”. We talked until our talking spontaneously turned into heartfelt prayer. We both cried together as we prayed for our kids, ourselves, our loved ones, our church, the sick, the hurting and the lost. A verse came to our minds at that point, from the psalmist. Psalm 56:8 says, “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” I believe that God saw every tear that my friend and I shed yesterday. He hears our prayers and answers them, if we ask in His Name and His will. We can cast every concern on Him.

                As we talked and prayed, almost immediately, the heaviness was lifted from my heart and my eyes went from the cloud of circumstances, to the beautiful gaze of my loving Savior. As of right now, to my knowledge, none of the circumstances have changed. What changed was my focus. I placed these people and things at the feet of Jesus and was able to breathe in the peace and freedom that He offers His children. I went from a place of heaviness to the place of allowing God’s peace to wash over me and rule in my heart. I know to some this may idea may sound difficult and unrealistic, maybe even pointless. But it is not. He cares so much and longs to have conversation with us. I know myself, and I know that if I did not have God’s Word in my heart, and the ability to go to my Heavenly Father in prayer, I could not keep living in this crazy, mixed up world. When I practice His Presence, it changes my focus. And for that, I am so thankful.

I’ll close today with a couple of verses that remind me of His promise of peace. Thanks for reading!

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15

“…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001 (Php 4:6–7). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001 (Col 3:15). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001 (Jn 16:33). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001 (Ps 56:8). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Surrounded By a Cloud of Witnesses

This morning, before I even got out of bed, a dear friend of mine sent me a verse from Isaiah 41. She did not know how much I needed that verse today, but God did. She opened her Bible, came to that verse and thought of me. It is so amazing to me that God knows every day just what we need and He uses the people in our lives to meet those needs. God often uses a beautiful reminder like this from a friend to encourage us or to teach us, but at times, God also uses difficulties to shape us. He places people in our lives to help us, encourage us, lead us, instruct us and sometimes even to hurt us, so that we will cling only to Him and Him alone for our strength.

Today, I am missing a particular person who made a huge impact in the lives of our sons and in the lives of so many. His name was Danny and he is no longer with us. He is with Jesus. He was our youth pastor for at least ten years. He gave so much of his life for others. When he died our 1200 seat worship center was filled to overflowing with people whose lives were touched by him in some way. He loved the Lord and he led many to Jesus. He made us laugh, he taught us God’s Word, he did crazy things that at times drove us crazy, he even hurt us, because after all, he was only human, but he loved us and showed us Jesus in so many ways. He pushed us out of our “boxes” and he helped us to see who we are in Christ. He even talked me into jumping off of a 30 ft. cliff one time into a very deep river in WV, and I don’t like heights or swimming! He just had that kind of influence over people. Our sons are who they are today partly because of him.

Remembering him today on the fifth anniversary of his death causes me sadness, but more so, it causes me to think about those who are still with us, especially those pastors and people whom God has put into our lives to guide us. I am so thankful for the godly leaders that God has sent to our church in the past and in the present. Some we’ve had the pleasure of knowing and serving alongside for more than twenty years, some for a little less than that, and some who we are just getting to know. I am grateful for these men and their hearts for God and His people. I posted earlier on FB that, they pour themselves into God’s Word, and then pour all that they have back into us. They spend much of their week feeding on God’s Word so that they can feed us on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. But, not only this, but, they pray for us, teach us, lead us, visit the sick, encourage us, believe in us, allow us to serve in places we never would have dreamed we could serve and they simply love us, even when at times, we’re not that loveable.

Another pastor friend of mine, and counselor once reminded me of some verses in Hebrews 13. Verse seven says this, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.” Verse seventeen says, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

Again, I remember our friend Danny today, and miss him, but celebrate his life. I’m also so grateful for our pastors, our families, and the dear friends that God has placed around me to teach me and spur me on towards Jesus.

Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us to keep meeting together and encouraging one another. It says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Danny and our pastors have taught us so much. I know there are some people in my life today that I really need to encourage, ask forgiveness from and to love. I do not want to miss the opportunity to do that while there is still time. I not only want to imitate the lives of Danny and our godly pastors, but I want to imitate the life of Jesus Christ. I know I fall so short of this all of the time, but may God give me the strength to do walk faithfully. (Scripture from Holy Bible, ESV)

I Am Adopted!

Recently we spent an evening with some good friends celebrating the 3 year anniversary of the adoption of their beautiful little girl from China. She is a joy and a light not only to her family, but to all of us who began this journey with them several years ago. I remember praying for her every day, before we ever knew who she would be or when she would come. We all waited and prayed with them as they began the very long process of bringing their precious little girl home. Once she arrived, we watched her from a distance and waited for her to warm up to her own family, and then to our very large family at church. We couldn’t wait to hold her and touch her, but it needed to be in her own time. As I watch her interact now with her family and with us, my heart explodes with joy, warmth and love. Imagine what her life would have been had she been left in China and never welcomed into her family.  There is NO doubt in my mind that she is with the very family that God intended her to be with, and to witness the love that is given her by her parents and siblings is beyond overwhelming. She is loved and loves with great abandonment and joy!

As I read from Ephesians this morning, I was reminded that I too am adopted! As I thought about our little friend, I realized that in some ways my story is a lot like hers. I was once far from my Heavenly Father and through His Son I was brought back to Him and adopted into His family! Ephesians 1, tells us that, “In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” It also says, “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.” (1:5, 11) This is incredible news! I am adopted by the Creator of all things! He loves me so much that He sent His Son to die so that I could belong to His family. And, not only am I adopted, but I have a guarantee of my inheritance! Ephesians 1:13-14 says that I have been, “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” I have an inheritance in the Kingdom of God and one day I’ll be with Him in Heaven, my eternal home!

Wow! I can know that same kind of love and security that my little adopted friend receives from her family, only I am receiving it from the God of the Universe! If that does not make my heart explode with joy, warmth and love, then I’m not sure what will! One definition of adoption means this, “to formally and legally declare that someone who is not one’s own child is henceforth to be treated and cared for as one’s own child, including complete rights of inheritance.” Because I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I have confidence that I am God’s child and that He will love and care for me as His own. I belong to the King!

The good news is that anyone can be adopted into God’s family! It’s not an exclusive club! The Bible says in Romans 10:9 that, “… if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”  I am so encouraged today by this news! I’m so thankful for our sweet little friend who has been adopted into her precious family and for the reminder that I am loved and adopted into the family of God. I pray that this news encourages all who read it and that if you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, that you will make that decision today and be adopted into His family of love, mercy and grace! What are you waiting for?

The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001 (Ro 10:9). (Eph 1:5, 11, 13-14). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Vol. 1: Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament : Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (463–464). New York: United Bible societies.

Is My Grasp Too Tight?

The answer is a very strong YES it is! Sit quietly with me and hear about what God is teaching me, as I sit in my favorite pink spot, enjoy a cup of hot tea in my favorite Peanuts cup, and look at the beautiful colors of one of my favorite seasons.

 I think I’m learning something about myself that is difficult to accept, yet somewhat easy to change as long as I am holding on to the right One. You see, God’s been trying to tell me loudly that I have too tight a grasp on the people I love and the things of this world. I believe that He wants me to hold more tightly to His hand and to trust Him rather grasping so tightly to the things that can so easily be taken away.

I read several devotions each day after studying my Bible and one of my favorites is Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. (A dear friend gave me this wonderful book!) It always seems to be so relevant to what I am studying and to what is going on in my life. Just the other day, I was thinking about this idea of holding too tightly to temporary things when I picked up that little book and read this…

 “…My main work is to clear out debris and clutter, making room for My Spirit to take full possession. Collaborate with Me in this effort by being willing to let go of anything I choose to take away. I know what you need, and I have promised to provide all of that – abundantly!”

 “Your sense of security must not rest in your possessions or in things going your way. I am training you to depend on Me alone finding fulfillment in My Presence….Instead of grasping and controlling, you are learning to release and receive. Cultivate this receptive stance by trusting Me in every situation.”

Wow, you could have knocked me over with a feather after I read this! I do hold too tightly to my husband, my kids, my friends, my ministries, and not tightly enough to my Lord. These are sometimes tough lessons. He wants me to remember that He is all I need. He knows me best and knows what and who I need in my life. He is the only One who will set my paths straight and show me what is to come in this next season of life.  I CAN TRUST HIM! I do not need to hold so tightly, I do not need to try to grasp or control the future. He is already there!

I love my husband, my kids, my family, and my dear friends, and I’m SO thankful for them, but I must learn to love and depend on my Lord more than on them. I must let go and grab tightly to Him.

Two of my good friends reminded me of some important things recently and I dearly love them for always pushing me out of my box, and for reminding me that Jesus is the true Love of my life. One said this, “that it is so freeing when you finally let go”. The other reminded me that this place is not our home, and that we need to stop trying to make it our home, and that even if everyone I love was gone, I would still have Jesus. You see, we have an eternal home and we should long for that home as we live out our faith here, depending more on Him as we walk through our daily lives.

 I’ll close with another reminder, that is, that if we trust Him and Him alone, He will guide us and lead us in right paths. He is faithful and trustworthy! May I walk each day knowing that He is my security and peace, He is my first Love and He is the One who will never leave me or forsake me.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” Amen and Amen!

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young – 2004 Thomas Nelson Publishers

Ready, Set, Here We Go!

 So, I've been thinking about blogging for a very long time and after reading a couple of friends blogs recently that have really blessed me, I've decided to take the plunge and dive in to the world of blogging. I find myself wanting to write things down often, and to share thoughts that come to me while sitting quietly before the Lord in my Pink Room, or while sitting in church or wherever. It often seems like too much to put on Facebook in my status, so here we go. I hope it blesses someone out there.

Today, I was sitting quietly in my favorite room, affectionately known as the Pink Room, because it is very pink! It is a sweet place to escape when I need a few minutes of quiet, or when the den is FULL of our sons and their friends. You'll here about it often, forgive me if you tire of it. : ) Today, while reflecting on what I had read this morning, in Psalm 91, in Ephesians, and in two of my favorite devotionals, I was distracted by just how beautiful the colors were outside the windows of my little room. There were reds, golds, oranges, and greens. If anyone looks at these beautiful colors and can proclaim that there is no God, I just do NOT get them! I love this time of year, however, this year I find myself really reflecting  not only on the fall season, but on the seasons of my life. Wow, how the time is flying. So many changes that I cannot keep up with them. But in all of this, I really want to remember that in every change and in every season, my God stays the same. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, and His promises are forever. I can trust Him. So many people come and go in our lives, time passes before we can blink and we cannot get it back. But God is faithful.

I recently heard something that really encouraged me...Jesus was there before I was born and He is waiting ahead of me with arms open wide to receive me. And...He walks with me through each and every season. He is our refuge and our strength and He covers us with His feathers. I love white feathers, and snowflakes and the verses in Psalm 91 remind me of the care of Jesus and the covering of God. He cares so much for us. In the future we'll talk about things like His Presence, Peace in all circumstances, what I'm gonna be when I grow up and oh, white feathers and snowflakes...another story for another day. God bless!