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Saturday, December 21, 2013

A Busy Christmas

And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:39-42 

Martha's priorities sound so much like all of us at Christmas. We concern ourselves so much with all the details of the holiday that we forget to spend time with our Savior. It seems that all the other things become the priority of the season. 

Jesus tells Martha that there is only one thing necessary in life. According to the passage, it seems that Mary has figured out what that is. Mary stopped everything to listen to God. Let's not tell ourselves that if Jesus were with us in flesh and blood then we too would stop everything. God wants a relationship with us and has provided His Word and the Holy Spirit within us. 

We can still listen to Christ just as easily as Mary did unless we are too busy just as Martha was to hear Him. 


This picture was taken at Sunset on the lake in Door County Wisconsin in 2009.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

If I Had My Life To Live Over by Erma Bombeck

(written after she found out she was dying of cancer).

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day. 

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. 

I would have talked less and listened more. 

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded. 

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. 

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. 

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband. 

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. 

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life. 

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. 

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.' There would have been more 'I love you' More 'I'm sorry's.' 

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute, look at it, and really see it .. live it and never give it back.


This is a picture of a parrot in my yard taken in 2009.

Friday, October 18, 2013

We Are The Letter From God That People Read!

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

In my morning devotions I read today something that my Pastor wrote: When people inspect our lives up close it gives them a better chance to see the reality of a life changed by the power of God's Word. They are close enough to actually see the Word in operation in daily life circumstances.

My family ingrained in me the responsibility I have to those around me and that my influence always be something that makes the world a better place. As a little girl I was expected to behave and make sure I was being a good example to my little brother plus watching out for him. I took that responsibility very serious because I adored my little brother. Having this mindset as a little girl is much like my mindset today with anyone that God brings into my life.

We play a major role in so many lives each day so let's not take that responsibility for granted or lose an opportunity to make the world in which we live a better place!

Your family and your love must be cultivated like a garden. Time, effort, and imagination must be summoned constantly to keep any relationship flourishing and growing. -Jim Rohn


Tuesday, October 15, 2013

The Weaver


My life is but a weaving
Between my Lord and me,
I cannot choose the colors
He worketh steadily.

Oft times He weaveth sorrow,
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper
And I, the underside.

Not till the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful
In the Weaver's skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.

-Grant Colfax Tuller

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled.


This picture was taken in Savannah, Georgia when we visited in March 2013.

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Discipleship

...and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:20

Discipleship is teaching others how to follow Jesus. We don't have to be great theologians to teach others how to follow. It's in the simple every day things that we do all day that we can teach those around us how to follow Jesus.

When my grandkids are in the car we always have a sing a long of Sunday school songs that I have taught over the years. Their favorite is "Jesus Loves Me" and we always discuss afterwards God's love and say the verse together John 3:16. I have been using my car rides with my kids and grandkids all of their life for a time to teach them about following Jesus.

May we leave behind a generation of men, women, children, and grandchildren who love Christ with all their heart!


 This is a picture of my great-nephew Corey as he pulls me along in my float
 while I am under an umbrella trying to protect myself from the sun in the 1990's.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Life Lessons

Proverbs 14:26 He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.

My parents were missionaries in Europe and they took me to church every Sunday, Wednesday night plus any other nights of the week for music practice, studies, events, etc. My Aunt Betty and Uncle Darrell also raised their own children in church and since I was at their home so often I went along. My senior year of high school I trusted in Christ as my personal Savior. I knew all about God in my head from growing up in church but I didn't have a personal relationship with Him in my heart until January 28, 1976.


God called me to ministry at 21 years of age and I also took my own children to church every time the door was open. I never let any other school or sport event interfere with church because I felt it was a priority. We have some amazing memories of our time together as a family and growing up in church.


Church is a place for children to learn how to do LIFE! There isn't any other institution here on this earth that teaches exactly what our children need in order to handle every situation for their future. There are still no guarantees that your children will turn out right but it gives them every opportunity to know the way....



This is a picture I took of my husband playing the drums with our daughter
 and her husband in 2012. They have all been involved with the Worship Team
 for many years. It is a joy to watch them all as they share in ministry 
and I am able to enjoy the music while holding my little grandchild. 

Monday, July 8, 2013

I Think I Can!

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ...

Many times we are defeated by the biggest bully in our own life ~ our own thoughts! Our minds can trick us and make us believe we cannot do something before we have had a chance to try. We see it in our small children as they begin to learn a new sport or trying something new. They do not believe they can do it until they begin to try, fail and try again. 

Some of us grow up with those same childhood fears of failure and allow our minds to convince us that we are not capable to do it, or learn it or succeed. We all have bully's in our life but many times we ourselves are responsible for allowing the bully in our thoughts to win. God clearly shows us in the scriptures that ALL things are possible with Him. Trust God instead of the bully in your head and see what a difference it can make in your day!

~Don't let the problem Work you, Allow God to Work the problem for you~
Terry Squires @OneImpactBible




This picture was taken of my office April 2012.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Teach Respect

Recently I heard someone criticizing a parent to a child because of a situation that the child had shared with this individual. I cringed as I heard the conversation because here was an adult feeling they were doing that child a favor by being critical of the parent. The child was complaining and the adult was affirming the complaint. Later that day that same child decided to share with me that same story. After she shared her story of complaint I let her know how sorry I was to hear that but that I wanted her to know how important it was for every child to honor and respect their parents even though they don't feel they deserve it. I shared the following verse:

Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—  “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.

How many times have we heard divorced parents criticize the other spouse to their children. I have heard people complain to their mates about their in-laws. We hear young people complain constantly about their parents. I have also heard parents making fun of grandparents in front of their children.

These scriptures are so important to share in these circumstances if you want someone to have a blessed life instead of a cursed life. We need to be encouraging and teaching in our words how to live a life of happiness and blessing!

I took this picture on October 18, 2013 of a beautiful full moon that was so brilliant it looked like the sun!

Friday, March 29, 2013

Love Is An Action

1 John 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

If you say that you love someone and yet talk about them behind their back then your actions do not show love at all. A red flag should go up anytime we hear someone being critical of someone else. That is what they do to us when we are not around.

A lot of us think that we are good people because we don't break the commandments. I find that most people don't even know the 10 commandments. Some of us could recite them but do we really understand what they mean. The two most important commandments are Love God and Love Others. If we are not able to grasp those two then what makes us think we are okay with the rest of the list?

It's easy to love those that are lovable and difficult to love those that are not so lovable. Don't go by your feelings but instead by your actions. If you have someone in your life who is not so lovable are you being critical of them to others with your words? Are you just tolerating them because you have to? Those are actions that have more to do with hate than love. What actions can you do to show love to those who you find unlovable? God will provide a way for you to do this in their life if you will just ask Him. Don't miss out on a great blessing by doing what God has done for all of us on the cross. †

  I took this picture at sunrise in the mountains of Spain in 2007.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

May God Be Everything~

Psalm 25:5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are God my Savior,
    and my hope is in you all day long.


written October 23, 2000:
This is a conversation I heard yesterday between my teenage son and my nephew.

son: Are you going to play football in High School?

nephew: I don't know.

son: You should play football because you can get a lot of girls that way.

me: I disagree with this philosophy!

son: Mom, to a guy, "girls are everything!"

me: Mark my words, one day you will be going to your cousin and apologizing for that statement because it just isn't true.

Later on in the car my son was listening to a song he liked about Samson. He said, Samson is one of my favorite characters in the Bible. I replied, that's interesting because he had the same philosophy you do about girls and look what happened to him. He was conquered and ended his life committing suicide in order to defeat his enemy. All because of the same philosophy of life! I suggest you change the statement, "Girls are everything" to "God is everything!" 


  "The heart of every problem is the problem of every heart!"

This is a picture I took of my husband and now adult son taken August 17, 2012.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

When Our Heart Bleeds

There are times in everyone's life that causes pain. I don't know why things happen but they do.  The best thing I know to do in the midst of all the pain is to pray, read God's Word and seek good counsel. On the days that we are not able to even manage a prayer we can ask others to pray for us. Then there are the days that even asking others to pray seems difficult, so don't do anything at all. God will meet us where we are in that moment. In the midst of the pain we should continue to press on even though we don't feel like it. There are moments we don't believe we can make the effort and just need to lie still. We can't see what lies ahead when we are in the midst of the difficulty but we need to trust in God. He is our HOPE. I am grateful to have a God that allows us to cling to Him when all hope is gone!

Pray and seek God in everything! We may not always feel Him during those difficult times but we must trust that He is carrying us.


Jeremiah 29:11-12 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

 
I took this picture at sunrise on the beach October 17, 2010 
after my nephew James passed away.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Begin With God

Proverbs 2:10-12
For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will fill you with joy.
Wise choices will watch over you.
Understanding will keep you safe.
Wisdom will save you from evil people,
from those whose words are twisted.
  
written 2007:
It seems that all the odds are against us when we want to live right; that is certainly what Satan would have us to believe. Overcoming the evil one and evil people in our life is a daily task and these scriptures tell us that wisdom and knowledge are the key to a healthy life. 
 

Wisdom and knowledge come from God and how do we get it? By reading and studying God's Word. That is why it is so important to attend church weekly; be where the Word of God is being presented as often and as much as possible, soak it in. Seems simple enough but yet people continue to struggle through life missing the message God has for them week after week. 
 

Are we leaving God last on our schedule or do we begin each week in His presence and the safety of His house and His people?

"Visit many good books, but live in the Bible." - C.H. Spurgeon 





Friday, January 11, 2013

Simple Life!

Psalms 37:4 "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your hearts desires."

We all long for more time to enjoy the simple things in life such as a sunrise, a sunset, a walk on the beach, to read a book, time with family and friends, traveling....the list is endless. Instead we spend most of our time working to obtain all the things that will actually keep us from doing the things we truly desire to do. It's almost as if we sabotage ourselves with trying to get ahead and obtain all the things we believe we need to have for our life.

Pursuing stuff can harm our time, cause stress and lack of peace. A simple life these days has to be done intentionally. We can't give in to what society thinks we need in order to have a better life. God's plan for our lives is simple ~ love Him and love others! There are so many opportunities to show our love for God and our love for others. We will not have time to do either if we allow things to control us. The sooner we learn to let go of things, the sooner we can begin to have a LIFE!

How do we begin? Prayer is ALWAYS  the key to change. Pray, asking God to guide you daily in everything you do. It's a daily walk with God!

This picture was taken at the beach May 2013.