Category: Book

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Quiet Moments with a Friend

Do you have a friend or family member that you would just like to sit with for a while and have uninterrupted conversation? You’ve been there I’m sure – talking to them on the phone or visiting with them in your living room or on the patio only to have someone interrupt the conversation, take the attention away from the what the two of you were saying and highjack the moment.

I hate when that happens because it’s a rare occasion that I can enjoy true one on one conversation with those I love.

Some people tell me that they just can’t imagine getting up as early as I do each morning and ask “how do you do it”. I don’t really “do it” anymore. It has become habit and it happens whether I think about it or not. I used to rise early to get out in the fields and bail hay or to have quiet before the kids got up but now I really can’t imagine starting my day any other way. Enjoying the morning sunrise with the Lord is the best!

This morning I was praying and told the Lord how glad I was that we have this time uninterrupted. How special it is to know that when I get up to meet Him, he’s already here. Yes, I know He never leaves me and is with me 24/7 but just sitting and talking about things early in the morning is the best.

And then it happened…

The interruption! What at 4:30am I had an interruption and it was of my own making. As I was telling the Lord how great it is to have time with Him my mind began to wander and I found myself composing my morning devotional on how great morning quiet time is! Really!! I wasn’t enjoying the moment we had to share but instead was planning for something completely different.

Oh Lord forgive me for being rushed and inattentive.

“I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart.
I will tell about the wonderful things you have done.
2 You make me happy, so I will rejoice in you.
God Most High, I praise your name.” Psalm 9:1-2 ERV

You know as well as that you can’t have a true friendship if only one person does all the talking. That isn’t conversation – that’s a monologue! I don’t want my time with the Lord to be one where I tell him all my joys, my disappointments, my needs and desires and then say “Amen” and walk away. No, I have to listen to what He tells me more that I expect to listen to what I say. That’s true relationship – learning about your friend by listening!

The sweetest moments of the day are those went I know that God is there and has given me an invitation to come and spend time with Him.

“Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me.” Jeremiah 29:12-13 ERV

Yes, today I am thankful for the quiet moments – the moments of one on one with my God who loves me!

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How High Can You Count

This will take you back some – remember “Thank You” notes. You know the ones you sat down and wrote to your friends and family after a big birthday, Christmas, graduation or wedding? Those are the ones. I still send them and more importantly I love getting them.

Now let me ask, did you send them because your parents made you or were you really wanting to tell someone thank you for what they had done?

Have you ever been around a parent who had to coax their child into saying thank you? If the child is small, you appreciate that the parents are raising their children to have good manners, but if the child is a teen and they have to be told to say thank you, the meaning is lost.

“And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the Lord, offer it at your own will.” Leviticus 22:29

A thanksgiving offering was a sign of worship in the Old Testament and it was an offering of unleaven bread and meat. But it was offered by free will. We don’t tell God thank you out of obligation but out of love.

We should always be mindful of the many things He has done for us; the sunrise, the air we breathe, the love of our spouse and children, His love for us in sending His Son to die. So many things to be grateful for – make it a sacrifice of thanksgiving – stop what you are doing, block out the distractions and give thanks.

“Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful. 16 Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives, while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.” Colossians 3:15-16 ERV

This verse tells us to let our lives be filled completely with what Christ in His love has done for us, when we do we will also be filled with peace and then we will eagerly desire to come to God with thankful hearts.

There’s an old hymn, Count Your Blessings, and it goes like this: Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God has done. Count your blessings, name them one by one. And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Start counting…

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Overflowing with Thanks

Thanks Giving

This morning my heart is full and my memory bank is running over. So many times the Lord has provided in our lives and they are all flooding in this morning. Let me share just a few times that are fresh in my mind.

But wait, let me first tell you what sparked this avalanche of thankfulness. This morning I was reading about giving and the blessings that come from being someone who gives generously. There was a time that we put God to the test on the faithfulness of His word. We didn’t know we were doing that but we were.

We had one Scripture verse that we wanted, no, we needed to be true!

“I pray that God will take care of all your needs with the wonderful blessings that come from Christ Jesus!” Philippians 4:19 CEV

We needed for the Lord to supply all our needs. We had been out of work and without a place to stay. We were parents with small children and we were doing everything we could to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table but we were lacking. And we had a heart to trust God and His word.

Those are the memories this morning. At the time Dave was working for a crop dusting company. One of their growers was a vegetable farmer who had a large vegetable market in town. When they would harvest the fields he would tell the guys to stop by the fields and get some broccoli or potatoes or carrots, whatever and take it home.

I recall the one time Dave came home for lunch and he had the pickup bed of his Datsun truck loaded with broccoli. We couldn’t eat that much in a month but we were grateful. In fact, I served Dave a large plate of steamed broccoli for lunch. Then we loaded up the kids little red wagon and sent them up and down the street, knocking on the neighbors doors, offering them all fresh broccoli.

Later that day a dairyman friend stopped by. He had been to the butcher’s and was headed for home with the beef he had picked up and decided to stop in for coffee. Before he left, he had given us about 50 pounds of meat and 10 pounds of cheese. Now when Dave came home that night I was able to serve him hamburger and broccoli with cheese sauce. Seriously, God had supplied!

Or I could tell you of the time that I got a call from the butcher’s and they asked me to come and pick up some meat that had been left for us. When I got there they asked what kind of vehicle I drove. Strange question – they wanted to make sure I had a big enough vehicle to haul all the meat home! Yep, they filled up my Jeep Wagoneer – I mean filled it! So much so that I had no room left in my empty upright freezer and the freezer of the refrigerator so I called around to find anyone that needed meat. I had more than enough.

We lived out the verses below! Give and it will be given back, running over! Yes, it ran over.

“I’m telling you to love your enemies and do good to them. Lend to people without expecting to get anything back. If you do this, you will have a great reward. You will be children of the Most High God. Yes, because God is good even to the people who are full of sin and not thankful. 36 Give love and mercy the same as your Father gives love and mercy.

37 “Don’t judge others, and God will not judge you. Don’t condemn others, and you will not be condemned. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give to others, and you will receive. You will be given much. It will be poured into your hands—more than you can hold. You will be given so much that it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you.” Luke 6:35-38 ERV

But this is the other thing that ran over…thankfulness! Thankfulness to the Lord and thankfulness to those who were used to provide our need and finally, thankfulness from those that we were able to share with.

See what I realized this morning is that when we give thanks, when we are truly thankful and express it, it comes back to us also – more than we can hold, spilling over into our laps. We are given more of what we need so that we can give more thanks! Give thanks and there will be more opportunities to be thankful.

Now lest you think I am a super saint, I will admit that there are times when I haven’t been as trusting. When I’ve been more inclined to complain. Times when failure and demise seemed eminent and I had lost almost all hope of survival. Times that I wasn’t looking to the Lord but in those times He still provided, using other people, He provided.

In my faithlessness God was still the faithful Father. How can I not give thanks to the One who gives me unconditional love and the Father who keeps His word to provide!

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The Best Part of Waking Up

Now if the advertising community has done its job you know how to finish the words of this morning’s title. But this morning I sit here with an empty cup! Shocking, I know but true all the same. Yesterday morning when I got up and started the coffee brewing I heard the GFI break kick off. So I reset the breaker and it popped again. Then I moved the coffee maker to another plug with the same result. Finally on the move to the third outlet it stayed on and I had coffee. But I also knew I had a problem.

No, not my addiction to the black full bodied substance that fills my cup but instead my problem was with the electronic device that produces the savory brew!

Yes, my faithful appliance had made its last pot of coffee. I didn’t run out right away and buy a new pot. I had to take some time to research them and made the determination that when we go to town today we will find the right pot. Then I went on about my day unaffected by the loss of this well used appliance. However, as I started getting ready for bed last night I realized that part of my routine was interrupted. I didn’t have a coffee pot to “get ready for morning”. I didn’t even have my old camp pot handy so I could just boil me a cup.

Are you beginning to understand that coffee is a big part of my morning? I thought you would. So I am sitting here staring at an empty cup while the water heats on the stove with a packet of grounds steeping and hoping that when the process is complete it will be something worth drinking.

Is my morning ruined – never! My morning of quiet, reading the Bible and talking to the Lord is sweet. Coffee or no coffee my day is set by spending time with the Lord. I can praise Him for so many things in my life – His unconditional love, my husband, children and grandchildren. My freedom to share these thoughts each morning. Dear family and friends. Health and peaceful surroundings. Protection and safety. Praying for those who have needs of healing, relationships that need binding, financial stresses and strength.

Yes, thankful for all these things this morning. Thankful that my God isn’t made of stone but is a living God who hears my prayers, answers from His word and then speaks to my heart each and every day.

“Show me your faithful love this morning.
I trust in you.
Show me what I should do.
I put my life in your hands!
9 Lord, I come to you for protection.
Save me from my enemies.
10 Show me what you want me to do.
You are my God.
Let your good Spirit lead me over level ground.
11 Lord, let me live
so that people will praise your name.
Show me how good you are
and save me from my trouble.
12 Show me your love
and defeat my enemies.
Destroy those who are trying to kill me
because I am your servant.” Psalm 143:8-12 ERV

…and one final thing. Thankful for a new coffeemaker.

Blessings to you all today!

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Giving Thanks is More than a Tradition

When the kids were younger and going in every direction – work, sports, activities of all kinds we grabbed dinner on the go. I remember thinking that I should just pray over the groceries when I carried them in the house. That way I would have said the blessing, given thanks or said grace before it was all eaten. I know that’s silly but giving thanks at meal time wasn’t a traditional thing to do for me it was (and still is) a heartfelt expression of appreciation.

You see I remember the days when there wasn’t enough to eat, I remember taking my little calculator to the store to add up the groceries as I put them in my cart so that I wouldn’t get to the register and have to put things back. I remember the times when the refrigerator was empty except for the condiments in the door and I was faced with what to do for dinner, only to have friends who “just happened to be dropping by” come in with a trunk full of groceries. Yes, giving thanks isn’t a tradition but a sincere voicing of my thankfulness for the Lord’s blessings in our lives.

Look at a time when Jesus gave thanks. Let me set the scene – 5000 men, not to mention their wives and children, are on a hillside listening to Jesus teach. All Jesus has for food is 5 barley loaves and 2 small fishes, a lunch meant to meet the needs of a boy. His disciples are concerned that Jesus preaching is going overtime and the people are getting hungry. They tell Him he needs to wrap it up and dismiss the crowd so they can get to town for dinner before the restaurants close.

But Jesus asks the disciples a question instead – “Jesus looked up and saw a crowd of people coming toward him. He said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough bread for all these people to eat?” 6 He asked Philip this question to test him. Jesus already knew what he planned to do.

7 Philip answered, “We would all have to work a month to buy enough bread for each person here to have only a little piece!” John 6:5-7 ERV

Then Peter spoke up and said we have a boy here who brought some fish and bread but that’s all we have!

Now mind you, these are the same guys who were with Jesus at the wedding when they ran out of wine and they saw Jesus turn barrels of water into wine, really good wine. They had forgotten that and were focused on the situation at hand. Too many people, not enough food! What to do?

“And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.” John 6:10-12

So you have Jesus giving thanks. He is giving thanks for what he knows God is about to do. He is giving thanks for God’s word being true. He is giving thanks for God being faithful and revealing his love to the disciples and this group.

Jesus had been teaching them about prayer, teaching them… to ask and it shall be given unto to you; take no thought for what you will get or drink or what you will put on because you’re heavenly Father knows that you have need of these things; whatsoever things you desire when you pray believe you receive them and you shall have them. This is God’s word and it is true so – GIVE THANKS! Jesus gave thanks before the miracle occurred and not after He saw it – He had faith in what God was going to do.

What is your “feeding the 5000” moment? Are you begging God and telling Him how bad things are or a you giving thanks in advance for what you know He has promised to do.

Today is a good day to give thanks!

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Follow His Lead

Sitting here this morning while it’s still dark out and feeling the cool of the fall air, down to 55 this morning, enjoying the warmth of a good cup of coffee and seeking the Father for the day’s direction, I am very thankful. Thankful that my Father is still in control; He hasn’t fallen off His throne and His omniscience is superior to the knowledge of the world’s wisest men. His omnipresence penetrates to the farthest reaches of the universe. Yet, in all He has before Him this day I can hear Him speaking to me through His words – the words Jesus spoke about the Father.

“My Father has given me everything, and he is the only one who knows the Son. The only one who truly knows the Father is the Son. But the Son wants to tell others about the Father, so that they can know him too.
28 If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. 29 Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest.” Matthew 11:27-29 CEV

Jesus has taken the time to tell us about the Father and not only that, Jesus made a way for us to be adopted by the Father so that we can call Him “Abba Father” (Papa or Daddy) and we can experience firsthand His love and compassion.

I don’t have to have all the answers and I don’t have to learn by “hard knocks”. I can trust the Father and learn from Him.

“With all your heart you must trust the LORD and not your own judgment. 6 Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.” Proverbs 3:5-6 CEV

So enjoy your day and let the Father lead you and there you will find rest!

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Life Lessons from a Cleaning Bucket

Do you enjoy cleaning?

Strange question but I do. Always have. When I was a kid I would like to see my room cleaned – bed made, clothes hung up and things in place. (Now I did have the one junk drawer but we won’t talk about that.) Then once I was married and had a home of my own I never really minded all that comes with cleaning – mopping, dusting, vacuuming, laundry, windows, bath rooms. I like it all but mostly I like the end result. I even clean the baseboards, dust the ceiling fans and pictures a couple times a year. I know, I know.

There’s a house that sits kitty corner from ours and it is used as a vacation rental. About a year and a half ago I was asked if I wanted to clean it occasionally. Of course, I like to clean. But for the last year I have been cleaning it twice a month and to be honest it is getting a bit old. I’m not getting as much pleasure out of it as I did when I started.

In fact, I told my friend, Pam, a couple weeks ago that I didn’t think I would do it anymore after the first of the year. But…yesterday!!! Yes, yesterday I had an epiphany. Truly, now don’t laugh. I had started to clean, it was so quiet and then I realized I should try to see if I could get Pandora on my phone. See, you thought I got some great revelation from God, didn’t you?

Sure enough. I downloaded the app and voila – music! I was thrilled. For over a year I had been cleaning in silence. Normally I like the quiet but not when I’m cleaning. Crank up the tunes! I have a station I like to listen too, Guy Penrod music, and it’s upbeat, happy, Gospel music. There I was just cleaning away with a big smile on my face and a song on my lips.

Then a song came on that I have sung for years – means the world to me but when I related it to my cleaning it took the meaning deeper. This song was published in 1910 by Julia Johnson, Grace Greater than Our Sin.

“Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Refrain:
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!

God’s grace is the cleaning agent that cleanses my life from the effects of sin! WOW!! Just like I was removing the dust and dirt, cleaning the floors and washing the mirrors, God’s grace sweeps through my life bringing a pardon for the wrong that deserves a sentence of death and cleansing me from the guilt!

Walking out the front door yesterday, looking back as I always do, making sure everything was done and in place, I had a new joy and a thankful heart because God’s grace has cleansed my life and made it new.

“We are careful not to judge people by what they seem to be, though we once judged Christ in that way. 17 Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. 18 God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others.” II Corinthians 5:16-18 CEV

I’m thankful that I’ve been cleansed!

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“The Present”

Are you thinking about “today”?

Living in the present can be a real struggle; the past is always calling us back – back to better times or trying to hold us in bondage to our failures. And then there’s the future and its promises and hopes but it too is filled with what if’s. What if I get a better job, what if we get a bigger house, what if the kids go to this college, what if, what if, what if…

Living in the present. I know you’ve heard it said before but it bears repeating. The”present” is a gift from God so we need to unwrap it and cherish it.

“My friends, watch out! Don’t let evil thoughts or doubts make any of you turn from the living God. 13 You must encourage one another each day. And you must keep on while there is still a time that can be called “today.” If you don’t, then sin may fool some of you and make you stubborn. 14 We were sure about Christ when we first became his people. So let’s hold tightly to our faith until the end. 15 The Scriptures say,

“If you hear his voice today, don’t be stubborn like those who rebelled.” Hebrews 3:12-15 CEV

We have so many opportunities in Today. We can help those around us; we can give a smile, a kind word, a hug, a prayer. If we are caught up in the past or in looking too far down the road we will miss the same things that are waiting for us today. Jesus promises to never leave us. Since He’s with us today, it’s going to be a great day.

“Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:7 CEV

Enjoy today – God’s grace and strength are yours!!

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Thankful for Shepherds

I don’t know how many cowboy movies I have viewed in my lifetime but there have been many, some of them I have watched over and over. And in nearly every one, if they refer to a Bible verse they generally use Psalm 23, the Lord is my Shepherd. Time and again the Scripture refers to the Lord as our Shepherd. Jesus even gave example that he was the good shepherd who gives his life for his sheep.

This morning’s verse on giving thanks refers to that relationship as well.

“Then we, your people, will always thank you.
We are like sheep with you as our shepherd,
and all generations will hear us praise you..” Psalm 79:13 CEV

A good shepherd provides food, rest, protection. He is constantly with his sheep and protects them from intruders and cares for them if they do get hurt. Our shepherd does the same – His death provides for our salvation or as one Bible translation calls it – soundness.

Those of you reading this that have a horse background know better than others what it means to be sound. That’s what Jesus has done for us – He has made us sound, whole, strong.

So do what this verse says – show your praise to all generations. Talk of the Lord’s goodness to those of your own generation and to those older and younger. Our younger generations need to know the reality of God’s goodness.

Sing it loud and long today. Let the children know the goodness of the Shepherd.

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Three Little Words

As many of you know, we just had our 2 year old grandson stay with us last week. Just the three of us. It was great! We had so much fun just enjoying life with him. He’s talking quite well but there were a few things that we couldn’t understand. However, that didn’t stop us in our adventures.

Periodically, throughout the day, Dave or I would pick Sam up and give him hugs, kisses and tickle time, better known as “baby getter” time. He would love and squeal and we would always say I love you, Sam and then put him down and off he’d go.

He has learned to say I love you and when we asked, “can you tell Pappy I love you” or “can you tell Besta I love you”, he would and it would make us smile. But more than that were the times when we would tell him I love you and without coaxing he would say I love you. Melted our hearts right down into our socks!

And I can specifically remember a special time when I heard each of our children say “Mamma, I love you”.

Oh, they’ve said many, many times but I remember particularly endearing times as if they happened just yesterday and it makes me smile and brings a tear to my eyes. It still brings me to tears my eyes when they call just to say they love me because I miss them when I don’t get to see them that often.

You know, I’m sure God feels the same. He misses us when we’re not there to talk with Him – His love for us is so great!

“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3 KJV

It is God’s love, that everlasting love, that draws us to Him. People weren’t drawn to Jesus because He was tyrannical or dictatorial. It was His love – it was the compassion He showed to people in everyday ways. It was His expressions of kindness and giving that made people want to be around Him. He was acting like his Father.

The Apostle John wrote that because God loved the world He sent His Son so that anyone who believed on Him wouldn’t perish but receive life eternal. The Father loved us and gave and Jesus loved us and died.

“God our Father loves us. He is kind and has given us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope. We pray that our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father 17 will encourage you and help you always to do and say the right thing.” II Thessalonians 2:16-17 CEV

I know God still remembers the first time I told Him “I love you” and since His memory is so much greater than mine, He remembers every time after too. I also know that if my heart swells with emotion when I hear my kids say I love you, His heart response is greater than mine.

Be thankful today for His love. Take time to tell Him today how much you love Him. It’ll make His day.

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