Category: Month

Posted on

Thankful That God Plans Ahead

As I was reading in Isaiah this morning I was reminded of a time many, many years ago when Dave and I and Kim and Koy attended a Cowboy Campmeeting in Prescott, AZ. It was a wonderful gathering of ranch type folks at a campgrounds in the Prescott area. We had arena games for the kids, great food like only ranch wives know how to cook, music and poetry and good old fashioned Bible teaching. Well, Sunday morning we all gathered up under some sycamore trees and different ones began to give praise to the Lord for what He had done in their lives – some pretty dramatic, some more common but I’ll never forget one old preacher who put everything in perspective for me that morning.

He was a preacher, maybe 80 years old, Bill Owen Sr. His son, Bill Owen Jr, was a well-known cowboy artist. Pastor Bill started out, “I would just like to thank the Lord for good planning. You see about 75-80 years ago He saw fit to have this stand of sycamore trees planted from a little seed. He watched over them and watered them down through the years because He knew that we would all be out here on this Sunday morning in August and that we would be giving Him praise. He also knew it was going to be a warm day so He made sure we had these trees for shade. Yep, God is a good God.”

That type of simplicity impacted my life. I decided right then and there that I was going to look at things from an eternal perspective – one where God had always been involved in what was going on around and where He would always be working things out to provide for my smallest need, even my need for shade.

This is what Isaiah wrote about in chapter 25 of his book:

“You, Lord, are my God! I will praise you for doing the wonderful things you had planned and promised since ancient times.
2 You have destroyed the fortress of our enemies, leaving their city in ruins. Nothing in that foreign city will ever be rebuilt.
3 Now strong and cruel nations will fear and honor you.

4 You have been a place of safety for the poor and needy in times of trouble. Brutal enemies pounded us like a heavy rain or the heat of the sun at noon,
but you were our shelter.” Isaiah 25:1-4 CEV

Take a look around today. What do you see that makes you realize God’s been planning this for your benefit? The Lord’s been thinking about you since eternity past and He has made plans just for you.

“I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. 12 Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:11-12 ERV

Posted on

Family Resemblance

As you know, Saturday we celebrated a day of thanks with my Mom and some of her wonderful friends. These folks have been there to help her when we couldn’t and some of them have known her most of my life.

My brother, sister and I were so glad we were able to thank them personally for all the do for Mom.

One thing I kept hearing as we would talk is how much of a family resemblance they could see in us and our kids. (Of course I was showing off pictures)

But the resemblance I wanted them to see most was the one between us and our heavenly Father.

As I focus on my relationship with the Lord, I desire to see His characteristics more evident in my life each day. I want people to be able to look at me and say, “You look like your Father.” God’s word validates that

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” II Corinthians 5:17

and “God knew them before he made the world. And he decided that they would be like his Son. Then Jesus would be the firstborn of many brothers and sisters.” Romans 8:29

So many today are buying these DNA kits so they can trace their heritage. If you had a DNA test what would it show?

God has given us His DNA (Divine Nature Attributes) and place them within us; love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, meekness and faith.

“God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, 23 gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.” Galatians 5:22-23 CEV

I hope when you look at me you can see a family resemblance!

Posted on

Get Rid of the Clutter

Yesterday we spent the day celebrating; an early Thanksgiving. We spent the day with Mom, family and friends. I’m so thankful for my mother.

I so appreciate the qualities of tidiness and organization that were a natural part of her life and that she passed those qualities on to me. I have one friend who comes to visit and she always tells me, “I love coming to your house, it’s free of clutter. Always picked up and neat. It makes me feel comfortable and welcome like you were expecting me.”

The Apostle Paul said this in I Corinthians 14:40 “ Let all things be done decently and in order.” Now he was referring to the way church services should be conducted, however, he used the word “All” and every place I have researched the word all means all.

Now I’m not trying to convict or condemn any who have clutter or disorganization in your homes. It’s a personal choice. But I do know that when it comes to cluttered minds, thoughts or actions that can be a detriment to us hearing God.

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

It’s hard to “be still” with a 1000 things on your mind. It’s important that we have our thoughts line up with God’s so that we can make wise and godly decisions.

God’s purpose in creating the earth was to make order out of chaos. In the beginning the earth was without form and void but God spoke the worlds into existence with His words and brought order and beauty.

We need to let His Word bring order and beauty to our lives as well. Take time today to walk away from the clutter and the busyness and “be still”. The Father is waiting for you!

Posted on

The Land of the Free

Instead of a scripture today, I want to share with you the 5th Stanza of the Star Spangled Banner.

Those early soldiers, veterans of long ago, knew they were fighting for God and country. How far we have declined since then. Many don’t want to recognize that God had His hand in birthing our nation.

Our armed forces still recognize God in their oaths, hymns and traditions. Let this be your prayer today.

“Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!”

Posted on

What’s Better Than Mashed Potatoes

Tomorrow we will be sitting down to an early Thanksgiving dinner. My brother and sister-in-law, my sister and niece, Dave and I along with our oldest daughter and son-in-law will be gathered at our Mother’s home for a day of celebration. I think the last time we were all together for Thanksgiving was when we were teenagers. Life has taken us to different corners of the country but this year, this year, we are celebrating together!

We have asked Mom’s neighbors and friends to join us. These are folks who have been there for her when we couldn’t be. It is such a joy to let them know how thankful we are for their love and friendship that they express so freely to Mom. True Neighbors. True Friends!

Yes, very grateful for friends and family. Isn’t that where our thoughts go when we come to the holiday season? Who and what are we most thankful for? What do we value most/what is the best gift we have ever received? What makes the holidays the most memorable?

The answer is always the same – friends and family and sharing love and laughter!

But the time around the table is never long enough. Some arrive late and others have to leave early…time is too short when you are in the presence of loved ones.

Makes me very grateful for eternity! We’ll be able to sit down to visit and there will be no need to rush! And there will be time to see everyone and share our lives and our love.

Now that’s heaven. And in the center of it all will be the Father and the Son!!

“Our Lord Jesus told us that when he comes, we won’t go up to meet him ahead of his followers who have already died.

16 With a loud command and with the shout of the chief angel and a blast of God’s trumpet, the Lord will return from heaven. Then those who had faith in Christ before they died will be raised to life. 17 Next, all of us who are still alive will be taken up into the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the sky. From that time on we will all be with the Lord forever.” I Thessalonians 4:15-17 CEV

Oh what a day that will be!

Posted on

Sleep is a Blessing to be Thankful For

My morning started later than usual – I slept in. That hasn’t happened in a long time so I am thanking for the Father for the extra rest.

“In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, Lord,
make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8 NIV

There are several examples of sleep in the Bible; it’s interesting to note that in the most difficult times, God gave His people rest.

Adam was the first and when he slept God crafted woman from his rib. Another example is Jacob; he slept and in his dream he saw a ladder leading to heaven with angels ascending and descending – he wasn’t in a comfortable bed but out on the hard ground with a rock for a pillow.

Then Daniel slept in a den of lions. He was at peace because he knew God was with him. How about Joseph, he was sleeping when the angel came to him and told him Mary was going to have a baby.

Jesus slept in the back of a boat while a storm was raging and the boat was filling with water. Peter was asleep in prison after being beaten, the angel had to nudge him to wake him up. There are other examples but these are the ones that came to mind first.

In the midst of stress filled days and trying times if we are trusting the Lord He will give us pleasant sleep. Enjoy this day the Lord has blessed you with but better yet – enjoy the rest He has prepared for you tonight.

Posted on

Old Faithful – A Glorious Reminder

Faithfulness! The sign of a true friend is faithfulness. Through the years, Dave and I have been blessed with many acquaintances and even dear situational friendships. You know, those friends that are in your life for a particular seasonal or location. But then there are the friends that rise above time and space. They are the ones who you may not talk to for months or even years but when you see them, your heart is stirred with love and memories and the relationship picks up and grows even deeper.

Yes, we have been truly blessed with friends that fall into that category! Our lives are richer, warmer and fuller because of their love!

I was mediating on that word “faithfulness” this morning. Faith+full+ness.

Faith= the established belief in someone or something not seen. The knowing that they will always be the same. Never failing, always there.

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

Full= not empty, not lacking, abundance, more than enough.

“A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.” John 10:10 CEV

Ness= a suffix added to a word to indicate quality

Faith= believing in the unseen; Full= abundance; Ness= quality

Faithfulness: believing in the abundance of someone always being the same in overflowing abundance, to the greatest extent or quality.

You know folks have been going to Yellowstone National Park for years to see the geyser Old Faithful. In fact, Old Faithful is so faithful that the Park Rangers can predict with great accuracy when it will blow. Summer, winter, spring or fall the geyser erupts, crowd or no crowd, rain or shine Old Faithful is the same. Can a geyser be more faithful than the Lord – not hardly!

God’s faithfulness endures forever! He will always be the same – He keeps His promises and His love never fails! Rest in Him today.

“Our Lord, I will sing of your love forever. Everyone yet to be born will hear me praise your faithfulness.

2 I will tell them, “God’s love can always be trusted, and his faithfulness lasts as long as the heavens.”

3 You said, “David, my servant, is my chosen one, and this is the agreement I made with him: 4 David, one of your descendants will always be king.”

5 Our Lord, let the heavens now praise your miracles, and let all of your angels praise your faithfulness.

6 None who live in the heavens can compare with you.” Psalm 89:1-6 CEV

Trust in the faithfulness of your loving heavenly Father!

Posted on

A Penny Can Change Your Life

I heard a story of a wealthy man who was observed stopping to pick up a coin in a hotel parking lot. When this man and his companions arrived at their destination the man was asked why he, a man of wealth and influence, would stop to pick up a coin that little or no bearing on his financial situation.

The man explained, “There was a time in my life when every penny mattered. Sometimes it meant the difference in being able to afford a meal or not. But now my focus isn’t on the coin but on the message. You see, each coin is a reminder to me that I am not alone. Each coin preaches a sermon, in God we trust!

As my wealth and influence have increased I never want to become confident in my own wisdom, my own ability to conduct transactions or to find my security in my holdings. It was my faith and trust in God that brought me to this place and it will be that and that alone that will keep me here.

So whenever I see a coin I stop and pick it up. As I slide it into my pocket I remind myself to put my trust in God for that day because as I’ve learned, He is the only one who is truly worthy of my trust”.

Situations and circumstances in our homes, our communities and around the world give us pause. Some can even cause us to fear if we don’t keep our hearts focused.

Now more than ever is time to let God’s word have final say. “In everything give thanks”, not “for” everything give thanks but in everything. Not thankful for the circumstance or the situation but thankful because God is STILL in control. Read these words that the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Thessalonica.

“We ask you, brothers and sisters, to warn those who will not work. Encourage those who are afraid. Help those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. 15 Be sure that no one pays back wrong for wrong. But always try to do what is good for each other and for all people.

16 Always be full of joy. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Whatever happens, always be thankful. This is how God wants you to live in Christ Jesus.

19 Don’t stop the work of the Holy Spirit. 20 Don’t treat prophecy like something that is not important. 21 But test everything. Keep what is good, 22 and stay away from everything that is evil.

23 We pray that God himself, the God of peace, will make you pure—belonging only to him. We pray that your whole self—spirit, soul, and body—will be kept safe and be blameless when our Lord Jesus Christ comes. 24 The one who chose you will do that for you. You can trust him.” I Thessalonians 5:14-24

I love that last line “You can trust Him”.

That story of the coin has stuck with me for the last 7 years. I remember when I heard it for the first time, May 2008. Since that time, nearly every time, when I see a coin in a parking lot or on a street, I stop to pick it up and as I slide it into my pocket I let my fingers run across the face of the coin and I repeat these words “Father, I put my trust in your today. You are faithful. I can trust You.”

So if you’re with me and you see me stop and reach down for a penny or a nickel or possibly a quarter you will know why. I need my attention off my circumstances and on the One who controls my heart – I can trust Him!

Posted on

It’s in the Script

Last night I couldn’t sleep so I turned TV to the Hallmark Channel. At first I caught the last 30 minutes of a movie I hadn’t seen before, then I went to another Hallmark Channel and caught the last half of a movie I hadn’t seen. I love Hallmark movies – they are predictable and they make me feel good. The perfect thing to watch as you are trying to fall to sleep.

Let’s evaluate most every Hallmark movie. You have a female lead character who is generally faced with some dilemma. She is most generally a commoner; seamstress, waitress, office worker, teacher, widow, etc. Then you have the male lead; quite often he is wealthy and has social acclaim; king, prince, business mogul, doctor, military hero. And finally there is the villain; parent, business adviser, other woman, jealous boyfriend, who is trying to keep the male and female lead characters apart.

The story proceeds with the plot undermining the relationship between the two characters but in the end true love prevails!

Simplistic, predictable but heartwarming and sweet!

We have a saying around our house when someone asks “why in the world did they do that” and the answer is “it’s in the script”. However, daily life isn’t scripted – the situation we face are learned dialogue. Yet the underlining premise is the same.

We have the commoner and the king. Someone is always trying to undermine the relationship between the two but if you fall the storyline long enough you will find that love never fails and good triumphs over evil.

Yes, that’s the way it is in our relationship with the Lord. We are the commoners and Jesus is the King of Kings. The stresses, evil and dependence on self in this world try to keep us separated from the King. People around us and the voices in our own heads tell us that we aren’t good enough or just the opposite, that we don’t need God, that religion is just a crutch.

God isn’t a crutch, far from it. He is the source of love and the abundance of life. When we enter into relationship with Him he takes us from our common life and elevates us to a place of honor and esteem. He invites us all to come to Him and find rest; to an abundant life.

“If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 CEV

“20 Listen! I am standing and knocking at your door. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will eat together.” Revelation 3:20 CEV

“A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.” John 10:10 CEV

Time and time again I focus on God’s amazing love but only because it’s the heart of our story. Christ freely laid down His life for us, He loves us that much.

“Now I tell you to love each other, as I have loved you. 13 The greatest way to show love for friends is to die for them.” John 15:12-13 CEV

“We know what love is because Jesus gave his life for us. That’s why we must give our lives for each other.” I John 3:16 CEV

You see our relationship with the Lord is a lot like a Hallmark movie only better! And when you read the Bible you find out what this amazing new life is all about.

It truly is “in the script”!

Posted on

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Not sure what your day or my day hold but the thing I know is that we are to be in prayer. We are to be thankful for all that the Lord has done, willing to share His goodness and ready to give the answer of Christ to anyone who asks.

“Never give up praying. And when you pray, keep alert and be thankful. 3 Be sure to pray that God will make a way for us to spread his message and explain the mystery about Christ, even though I am in jail for doing this. 4 Please pray that I will make the message as clear as possible.

5 When you are with unbelievers, always make good use of the time. 6 Be pleasant and hold their interest when you speak the message. Choose your words carefully and be ready to give answers to anyone who asks questions.” Colossians 4:2-6 CEV

We don’t need to beat people over the head with our Bibles or try to force Jesus on them. But when we live a life of gratitude for all His wonderful blessings we will be asked why we are always so happy or what makes us always want to smile or be in a good mood even when things go wrong. Even when Paul was in prison he was looking for ways to provide for others; to encourage them, to give them instruction and to infuse them with inner strength.

God has given us a wonderful invitation to visit with Him whenever and wherever we can. Prayer isn’t taking on an exact posture of hands folded, eyes closed, head bowed and knees bent; it IS however an attitude of the heart. Sometimes it’s saying thank you and others it’s saying help.

There are days that I sit on the sofa with coffee in hand and talk to the Lord as I would with any other friend. There are times when I close my eyes to block out everything around me just so I can focus on His presence and center myself in His love. Then there are those times when I’m walking through the grocery store and talking to Him about things that concern me or affect those I love. But whatever the circumstance, wherever the place I know that He is there is listen and to answer.

“The Lord is near to everyone who sincerely calls to him for help.” Psalm 145:18

So today, I will say with Paul – NEVER give up praying and be thankful! It will change your world.

Privacy Policy Proudly powered by WordPress