I saw one of those cute little tea towels for sale online. It had Psalm 107: 1 monogrammed on it. Then I noticed the price tag hanging from it. $16.50. Wow, one tea towel almost $20.00. For that price, I wouldn’t want to use it. I’d just let it hang in my kitchen as a wall decoration. Psalm 107: 1 says “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” What does that cost really? Can we afford God’s goodness and love? Do we deserve it? Truth is His goodness and love are free gifts. …
Gifts and Desires and Destiny!
A friend’s post mentioned that her children are reading The Boxcar Children series of books. That really touched my heart because those were some of my favorite books when I was a child. And I was thrilled that there are still children who still love to read books. I looked up the author, Gertrude Chandler Warner, and find out that from the age of five, she dreamed of becoming an author. She wrote stories for her grandfather, and each Christmas she gave him one of these stories as a gift. Oh beloved, what gift are you dreaming of? What heart …
Enjoy Life – It’s The Best Side Effect!
Everything we do has a side effect. Even the most fun things have a few issues. One of my earliest fishing trips was with a cousin and her then boyfriend. I was about 8 and she was probably 16. I was so very shy but I managed to ask to ride with them to the pond. She said okay, but watch out for the hook in the fishing pole. Of course you know, I got that hook hooked in my shorts. And she had to get it loose from the cloth. I was both exhilarated and embarrassed. Still it is …
Keep Dreaming
A lot can change in just a short while. This time last year I had no idea we would have a cute little furry friend living with us. It was one of my dreams, but all I did was dream. I don’t think I could have kept up with Rocky this time last year. But I kept dreaming. This time last year I was pretty sick. I’d had surgery and I was in terrible shape. I’d always dreamed of getting healthier and returning to my youthful weight. It looked hopeless. I kept dreaming. Oh beloved, keep dreaming. But watch …
Don’t Live By Whims and Forecasts
Woke up with a new message one morning: Winter Weather Advisory. Once again the message I receive is unbelievable. Yesterday people were fishing on the lake and our windows were open at home. Today we are asked to prepare for the opposite. Oh beloved, aren’t we glad that God never changes? Not ever. He is the same through the ages. And in this age, He is calling people to come into His presence and live in His Spirit. It doesn’t matter what the message from the news reporter is. God will not leave His own or forsake them. How can …
This Season Will Change
I’m pretty sure that winter was created so that spring would be more appreciated. As a child I don’t really remember winter causing much problem. Although I know it was cold, I don’t remember suffering in any way because of the cold. Standing outside waiting for the school bus or playing in the snow: neither of these things bring memories of hardship. I do remember the year that it was snowing so hard the school bus driver didn’t see me standing on the porch. Did we even have snow days back then? Oh beloved, are you feeling the chill …
Bloom!
The jonquils are blooming here and there in our area. The up and down temperatures are causing a stir in nature. It’s amazing to me that these lovely flowers will bloom even in the snow and not die. Oh beloved, bloom! Bloom where you are planted. Bloom out of season. Bloom when all in the natural wants to stunt your life. It’s not about having things right and perfect that you are able to bloom. It’s because your roots are grounded in Christ. This is not the season to cut off the blooms and discard your beauty. It’s time to …
Filled Up With God
We don’t always see the bird seed thief in action. But the evidence was there this morning in the form of an empty bird feeder. This happens about once a year as a raccoon makes a big haul on free food. There’s no way to run the interloper off if you don’t see him. Oh beloved, your bird feeder may be safe, but there is an interloper who wants to rob everything you have stored for your life. The evidence is clear. The empty feeling is not from the Lord. The sorrow, worry, fear, anger, frustration, disappointment, discouragement …
Age Doesn’t Have To Work Against You
We made another one of those quick trips when our local supplier told hubby they couldn’t get paneling anymore. We went to a big store hardware and picked some up. A worker reluctantly said he’d help hubby load the stuff but he’d have to go get his own trailer. As hubby left to go look for one, a older gentleman man said “hey I’ve got this one but go ahead and take it I can just carry the stuff I need.” Hubby thanked him. We laughed together as they compared age and found that he was a couple …
You’re No Conditional Winner With Christ
Sometimes I sign up to win stuff. LOL Especially if it’s something that gives a prize that is useful. Like a pickup truck or a vacation. There was one I was looking at that had prizes from our state, so I was especially interested. I clicked the link and then the form to fill out. So far so good. Then I saw that you had to “join” to submit your entry. Okay, it was a good cause for sure. But you also had to pay a membership fee to enter. Okay, the fees go for a great cause …
Birthrights
Recently the word Birthright came up in church. It was part of a prophetic message, but the word has stuck with me I think about myself and my parents. My mother’s brothers and sisters all had many of the same features. It was almost uncanny how they favored. My dad had blue eyes like his father and I have blue eyes like him. Now my dad’s father had fiery red hair, but only one out of all the family got that birthright. One redhead in the entire bunch. That’s a little surprising. Oh beloved, you may have a birthright …
God Doesn’t Hire Professionals
We watched a movie last night about a youth pastor. He had become famous and been on the road promoting his book on reaching youth for Christ. But in the chaos of travel and the entertainment of it all, the message he originally proclaimed got lost. One of the most telling quotes of the entire movie was this, “IF God wanted to be glorified, He’d hire professionals.” Oh beloved, God speaks to our hearts this morning. He wants to remind us that His original message is enough. People respond to the real Gospel. Why? Because it lightens their …