Middle of This Storm

When I went through the "cancer adventure" and all it involves I struggled with the "whys?" I just didn't understand. Others and even some in my own family had had cancer adventures that stopped at surgery and I just could not understand why I had to go through all the aspects of it. But a couple of years down the road I realized that it had been a very helpful thing that I had gone through it so that when my mother in law was diagnosed with cancer I could be more compassionate.

I, again, find myself in uncharted waters and not particularly enjoying this adventure but I am putting my trust in God; that He will use this situation as well. I know now that I have new insight into this situation and will have more compassion for those in a similar boat.

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." 

Romans 8:28 

But in the meantime, in the middle of this storm, I choose to wait on the LORD.

14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! Psalm 27:14 

And I love how my new Bible put this verse: 

Rely on the LORD! 

Be strong and confident! 

Rely on the LORD! 

Psalm 27:14 NET Bible 

I will be sharing more about my new Bible soon :O) 

I Love You...with a twist

Today I wanted to share an exert from this book that I am reading. In the chapter titled- "You Can Defeat Depression." What I am going to share today was like some healing balm was used on my heart and I wanted to share it with you all just in case you too needed some of this healing balm.

 

God loves you. 
  " 'I have loved your with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness' " (Jeremiah 31:3). When someone says, "I love you," isn't that a sweet feeling? How much more wonderful when those words come directly from the heart of your Creator who tells you,
 "I've always loved you."

Wow- do you see what I mean? "I have ALWAYS LOVED YOU!" It's like we hear Jesus loves you so often and so we just don't understand the depth of His love for us. Or that He has loved us always.

A cool thing happened after this healing balm found my heart. Several hours later, as I was driving, I saw a road runner just sitting on the side of the road - just out from the brush. And as I watched him- start to go run back into the brush - I remembered how when I see roadrunners it is a special "I love you" from God. But this time- it's like as soon as I thought - I love you - I thought - I remember.. "I have ALWAYS loved you!" I hope that each time I see a roadrunner I will be reminded of not only God's love for me - but that He has always loved me.

Oh and don't forget - if He has always loved you - it also means He will ALWAYS love you --- forever!

*photo was a photo shared with "Friends of Big Bend National Park" I just thought it was too cool not to share with you all. I have never had the pleasure of seeing a roadrunner up close, maybe one day. :O)

Encouragement

My "Streams in the Desert" devotional was so good this morning- I had to share it with you all.

 

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And after the earthquake a fire; and after the fire a sound of gentle stillness"

 (1 Kings 19:12, RV margin.)

A soul, who made rapid progress in her understanding of the Lord, was once asked the secret of her easy advancement. She replied tersely, "Mind the checks."

And the reason that many of us do not know and better understand Him is, we do not give heed to His gentle checks, His delicate restraints and constraints. His is a still, small voice. A still voice can hardly be heard. It must be felt. A steady, gentle pressure upon the heart and mind like the touch of a morning zephyr to your face. A small voice, quietly, almost timidly spoken in your heart, but if heeded growing noiselessly clearer to your inner ear.

His voice is for the ear of love, and love is intent upon hearing even faintest whispers. There comes a time also when love ceases to speak if not responded to, or believed in. He is love, and if you would know Him and His voice, give constant ear to His gentle touches. In conversation, when about to utter some word, give heed to that gentle voice, mind the check and refrain from speech.

When about to pursue some course that seems all clear and right and there comes quietly to your spirit a suggestion that has in it the force almost of a conviction, give heed, even if changed plans seem highest folly from standpoint of human wisdom.

Learn also to wait on God for the unfolding of His will. Let God form your plans about everything in your mind and heart and then let Him execute them. Do not possess any wisdom of your own. For many times His execution will seem so contradictory to the plan He gave. He will seem to work against Himself. Simply listen, obey and trust God even when it seems highest folly so to do. He will in the end make "all things work together," but so many times in the first appearance of the outworking of His plans,

Strange Place to Find Vineyards

This was a devotional that I had earlier this week that I thought I would share with you all. I hope everyone is doing well. I am doing pretty good. We are still trying to get the mower going- have hit a few snags in the way. Might end up having to take it to the John Deere place to get it fixed. My brother in law might be stopping by with his mower sometime this week to mow. I thought that was so very sweet of him. I am still very busy taking care of my granddaughter. I am going to have to get to bed earlier tonight - cause I am very tired. Have a great day :O)


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I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness…

And I will give her her vineyards from thence

 Hosea 2:14-15

 

A strange place to find vineyards--in the wilderness! And can it be that the riches which a soul needs can be obtained in the wilderness, which stands for a lonely place, out of which you can seldom find your way? It would seem so, and not only that, but the "Valley of Achor," which means bitterness, is called a door of hope. And she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth!
Yes, God knows our need of the wilderness experience. He knows where and how to bring out that which is enduring. The soul has been idolatrous, rebellious; has forgotten God, and with a perfect self-will has said, "I will follow after my lovers." But she did not overtake them. And, when she was hopeless and forsaken, God said, "I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her."
What a loving God is ours!
--Crumbs

We never know where God hides His pools. We see a rock, and we cannot guess it is the home of the spring. We see a flinty place, and we cannot tell it is the hiding place of a fountain. God leads me into the hard places, and then I find I have gone into the dwelling place of eternal springs.
--Selected

Dare to trust Him...

This is my devotional for today. I really liked the paragraph that is underlined. And the poem at the end is great too.
From "Streams in the Desert"
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"Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward"

Exodus 14:15

Imagine, O child of God, if you can, that triumphal march! The excited children restrained from ejaculations of wonder by the perpetual hush of their parents; the most uncontrollable excitement of the women as they found themselves suddenly saved from a fate worse than death; while the men followed or accompanied them ashamed or confounded that they had ever mistrusted God or murmured against Moses; and as you see those mighty walls of water piled by the outstretched hand of the Eternal, in response to the faith of a single man, learn what God will do for His own.
Dread not any result of implicit obedience to His command; fear not the angry waters which, in their proud insolence, forbid your progress. Above the voices of many waters, the mighty breakers of the sea, "the Lord sitteth King for ever."

A storm is only as the outskirts of His robe, the symptom of His advent, the environment of His presence.

Dare to trust Him; dare to follow Him! And discover that the very forces which barred your progress and threatened your life, at His bidding become the materials of which an avenue is made to liberty.
--F. B. Meyer

Have you come to the Red Sea place in your life,

Where, in spite of all you can do,

There is no way out, there is no way back,

There is no other way but through?

Then wait on the Lord with a trust serene

Till the night of your fear is gone;

He will send the wind,

He will heap the floods,

When He says to your soul, "Go on."

And His hand will lead you through—clear through--

Ere the watery walls roll down,

No foe can reach you, no wave can touch,

No mightiest sea can drown;

The tossing billows may rear their crests,

Their foam at your feet may break,

But over their bed you shall walk dry shod

In the path that your Lord will make.

In the morning watch, 'beneath the lifted cloud,

You shall see but the Lord alone,

When He leads you on from the place of the sea

To a land that you have not known;

And your fears shall pass as your foes have passed,

You shall be no more afraid;

You shall sing His praise in a better place,

A place that His hand has made.

--Annie Johnson Flint

He Knoweth the way that I take...

Good Morning! I hope you all are doing well. I am doing pretty good. Still have some stomach problems and such but I am SO thankful that God has been with me every step of the way and has given me strength to get through all of this. So I am focusing on God and His blessings!
Today I was so encouraged by reading my "Ministries of Healing" book.

"Morning, noon, and night, let gratitude as a sweet perfume ascend to heaven." MH 253
The whole chapter was so encouraging and when I was done - I felt so much more joy. I will be sharing a poem tomorrow that was shared in this chapter. And then some song lyrics on Thursday.

I am so thankful that God brings me just the right things to read to help encourage my soul.

IF you would like to read the chapter that I read today - click here.

Below - was my "Streams in the Desert" devotional. It was well worth the read and encouraging so I thought I would share it as well. I hope it blesses you as well. :O)

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He knoweth the way that I take (Job 23:10).

 

Believer! What a glorious assurance! This way of thine--this, it may be, a crooked, mysterious, tangled way--this way of trial and tears. "He knoweth it." The furnace seven times heated--He lighted it. There is an Almighty Guide knowing and directing our footsteps, whether it be to the bitter Marah pool, or to the joy and refreshment of Elim.

 

That way, dark to the Egyptians, has its pillar of cloud and fire for His own Israel. The furnace is hot; but not only can we trust the hand that kindles it, but we have the assurance that the fires are lighted not to consume, but to refine; and that when the refining process is completed (no sooner--no later) He brings His people forth as gold. 

When they think Him least near, He is often nearest. "When my spirit was overwhelmed, then thou knewest my path." Do we know of ONE brighter than the brightest radiance of the visible sun, visiting our chamber with the first waking beam of the morning; an eye of infinite tenderness and compassion following us throughout the day, knowing the way that we take?

 

The world, in its cold vocabulary in the hour of adversity, speaks of "Providence"--"the will of Providence"--"the strokes of Providence." PROVIDENCE! what is that? Why dethrone a living, directing God from the sovereignty of His own earth? Why substitute an inanimate, death-like abstraction, in place of an acting, controlling, personal Jehovah?

 

How it would take the sting from many a goading trial, to see what Job saw (in his hour of aggravated woe, when every earthly hope lay prostrate at his feet)--no hand but the Divine. He saw that hand behind the gleaming swords of the Sabeans--he saw it behind the lightning flash--he saw it giving wings to the careening tempest--he saw it in the awful silence of his rifled home.

 

"The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord!" Thus seeing God in everything, his faith reached its climax when this once powerful prince of the desert, seated on his bed of ashes, could say, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him."
--Macduff

When You Come to Your Canyon

My devotional from "Streams in the Desert" devotional book~


For our profit (Heb. 12:10).

In one of Ralph Connor's books he tells a story of Gwen. Gwen was a wild, wilful lassie and one who had always been accustomed to having her own way. Then one day she met with a terrible accident which crippled her for life. She became very rebellious and in the murmuring state she was visited by the Sky Pilot, as the missionary among the mountaineers was termed. He told her the parable of the canyon.

"At first there were no canyons, but only the broad, open prairie. One day the Master of the Prairie, walking over his great lawns, where were only grasses, asked the Prairie, 'Where are your flowers?' and the Prairie said, 'Master I have no seeds.'
"Then he spoke to the birds, and they carried seeds of every kind of flower and strewed them far and wide, and soon the prairie bloomed with crocuses and roses and buffalo beans and the yellow crowfoot and the wild sunflowers and the red lilies all summer long. Then the Master came and was well pleased; but he missed the flowers he loved best of all, and he said to the Prairie: 'Where are the clematis and the columbine, the sweet violets and wind-flowers, and all the ferns and flowering shrubs?'

"And again he spoke to the birds, and again they carried all the seeds and scattered them far and wide. But, again, when the Master came he could not find the flowers he loved best of all, and he said: "'Where are those my sweetest flowers?' and the Prairie cried sorrowfully: "'Oh, Master, I cannot keep the flowers, for the winds sweep fiercely, and the sun beats upon my breast, and they wither up and fly away.'
"Then the Master spoke to the Lightning, and with one swift blow the Lightning cleft the Prairie to the heart. And the Prairie rocked and groaned in agony, and for many a day moaned bitterly over the black, jagged, gaping wound. But the river poured its waters through the cleft, and carried down deep black mould.

"And once more the birds carried seeds and strewed them in the canyon. And after a long time the rough rocks were decked out with soft mosses and trailing vines, and all the nooks were hung with clematis and columbine, and great elms lifted their huge tops high up into the sunlight, and down about their feet clustered the low cedars and balsams, and everywhere the violets and wind-flower and maiden-hair grew and bloomed, till the canyon became the Master's favorite place for rest and peace and joy."

Then the Sky Pilot read to her: "The fruit--I'll read 'flowers'--of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness--and some of these grow only in the canyon." "Which are the canyon flowers?" asked Gwen softly, and the Pilot answered: "Gentleness, meekness, longsuffering; but though the others, love, joy, peace, bloom in the open, yet never with so rich a bloom and so sweet a perfume as in the canyon."

For a long time Gwen lay quite still, and then said wistfully, while her lips trembled: "There are no flowers in my canyon, but only ragged rocks." "Some day they will bloom, Gwen dear; the Master will find them, and we, too, shall see them."

Beloved, when you come to your canyon, remember!

Large Balance...Just Waiting For You and Me part 1

"There is always a large balance in the bank of heaven

 waiting for our exercise of faith in drawing it.

 Draw heavily upon His resources."

 From my "Streams in the Desert" devotional for today.

 

It's really amazing, if you think about it, all that God will provide for us if we are willing to allow our selves to be emptied to make room for all that He will give us.

 

We hold so tightly to our own ideas and want to control every aspect of our lives. And in doing so we miss out on so many blessings. So many wonderful things that our Father in heaven is willing and wanting to give us but we are so full of ourselves to receive these blessings.

 

I used to hold on so tightly to things in my life, afraid that if I turned my life and my will over to God that He would take these things from me. What I have found to be true is that when I open my hands to God and turn my life and my will over to Him- the things that I lose end up being the things that would hinder a deeper relationship with Him.

 

There are some things over the past year that I have lost that may not have hindered my relationship with Him, but for those things God has given me grace. Just one more of His wonderful gifts that He abundantly gives to His children.

 

     That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think , according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages,

world without end. Amen.

 Ephesians 3:16-21

Every Difficulty...

Today my devotional in my "Streams in the Desert" book -really struck a cord with me.
Makes you wonder what that lion is in your life? For mine - right now - cancer.

**And by the way - I am on the upswing- I am feeling better. Tummy has calmed down. Still dealing with tingling and numbness in my feet, calves and hands - but bearable. I am just happy to have the other problems getting better. Hope ya'll have a great day! :O)

And there came a lion  

1 Samuel 17:34

It is a source of inspiration and strength to come in touch with the youthful David, trusting God. Through faith in God he conquered a lion and a bear, and afterwards overthrew the mighty Goliath. When that lion came to despoil that flock, it came as a wondrous opportunity to David. If he had failed or faltered he would have missed God's opportunity for him and probably would never have come to be God's chosen king of Israel.

"And there came a lion." One would not think that a lion was a special blessing from God; one would think that only an occasion of alarm. The lion was God's opportunity in disguise. Every difficulty that presents itself to us, if we receive it in the right way, is God's opportunity. Every temptation that comes is God's opportunity.

When the "lion" comes, recognize it as God's opportunity no matter how rough the exterior. The very tabernacle of God was covered with badgers' skins and goats' hair; one would not think there would be any glory there. The Shekinah of God was manifest under that kind of covering. May God open our eyes to see Him, whether in temptations, trials, dangers, or misfortunes.
--C. H. P.

Encouragement

So sorry - I forgot to mention this was from my "Streams in the Desert" devotional book today:

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him

Psalms 37:7

Have you prayed and prayed and waited and waited, and still there is no manifestation? Are you tired of seeing nothing move? Are you just at the point of giving it all up? Perhaps you have not waited in the right way? This would take you out of the right place the place where He can meet you.
"With patience wait" (Rom. 8:25). Patience takes away worry. He said He would come, and His promise is equal to His presence. Patience takes away your weeping. Why feel sad and despondent? He knows your need better than you do, and His purpose in waiting is to bring more glory out of it all. Patience takes away self-works. The work He desires is that you "believe" (John 6:29), and when you believe, you may then know that all is well. Patience takes away all want. Your desire for the thing you wish is perhaps stronger than your desire for the will of God to be fulfilled in its arrival.
Patience takes away all weakening. Instead of having the delaying time, a time of letting go, know that God is getting a larger supply ready and must get you ready too. Patience takes away all wobbling. "Make me stand upon my standing" (Daniel 8:18, margin). God's foundations are steady; and when His patience is within, we are steady while we wait. Patience gives worship. A praiseful patience sometimes "long-suffering with joyfulness" (Col. 1:11) is the best part of it all. "Let (all these phases of) patience have her perfect work" (James 1:4), while you wait, and you will find great enrichment.
--C. H. P.

Hold steady when the fires burn,
When inner lessons come to learn,
And from this path there seems no turn
"Let patience have her perfect work."
--L.S.P.

"a very present help in trouble."

Devotional from "Streams in the Desert" :

 

 

Why standeth thou afar off, O Lord? Psalms 10:1

God is "a very present help in trouble." But He permits trouble to pursue us, as though He were indifferent to its overwhelming pressure, that we may be brought to the end of ourselves, and led to discover the treasure of darkness, the unmeasurable gains of tribulation.

We may be sure that He who permits the suffering is with us in it. It may be that we shall see Him only when the trial is passing; but we must dare to believe that He never leaves the crucible. Our eyes are holden; and we cannot behold Him whom our soul loveth. It is dark--the bandages blind us so that we cannot see the form of our High Priest; but He is there, deeply touched. Let us not rely on feeling, but on faith in His unswerving fidelity; and though we see Him not, let us talk to Him. Directly we begin to speak to Jesus, as being literally present, though His presence is veiled, there comes an answering voice which shows that He is in the shadow, keeping watch upon His own. Your Father is as near when you journey through the dark tunnel as when under the open heaven!
--Daily Devotional Commentary

What though the path be all unknown?
What though the way be drear?
Its shades I traverse not alone
When steps of Thine are near.

Seeing God in Everything

 

From my devotional "Streams in the Desert"

This was from yesterday, but I thought it was so encouraging I had to share!
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	"It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good". 1 Samuel 3:18 See God in everything, and God will calm and color all that thou dost see!" It may be that the circumstances of our sorrows will not be removed, their condition will remain unchanged; but if Christ, as Lord and Master of our life, is brought into our grief and gloom, "HE will compass us about with songs of deliverance." To see HIM, and to be sure that His wisdom cannot err, His power cannot fail, His love can never change; to know that even His direst dealings with us are for our deepest spiritual gain, is to be able to say, in the midst of bereavement, sorrow, pain, and loss, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath, taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." Nothing else but seeing God in everything will make us loving and patient with those who annoy and trouble us. They will be to us then only instruments for accomplishing His tender and wise purposes toward us, and we shall even find ourselves at last inwardly thanking them for the blessings they bring us. Nothing else will completely put an end to all murmuring or rebelling thoughts.--H. W. Smith. "Give me a new idea," I said, While musing on a sleepless bed; "A new idea that'll bring to earth A balm for souls of priceless worth; That'll give men thoughts of things above, And teach them how to serve and love, That'll banish every selfish thought, And rid men of the sins they've fought." The new thought came, just how, I'll tell: 'Twas when on bended knee I fell, And sought from HIM who knows full well The way our sorrow to expel. SEE GOD IN ALL THINGS, great and small, And give HIM praise whate'er befall, In life or death, in pain or woe, See God, and overcome thy foe. I saw HIM in the morning light, HE made the day shine clear and bright; I saw HIM in the noontide hour, And gained from HIM refreshing shower. At eventide, when worn and sad, HE gave me help, and made me glad. At midnight, when on tossing bed My weary soul to sleep HE led. I saw HIM when great losses came, And found HE loved me just the same. When heavy loads I had to bear, I found HE lightened every care. By sickness, sorrow, sore distress, HE calmed my mind and gave me rest. HE'S filled my heart with gladsome praise Since I gave HIM the upward gaze. 'Twas new to me, yet old to some, This thought that to me has become A revelation of the way We all should live throughout the day; For as each day unfolds its light, We'll walk by faith and not by sight. Life will, indeed, a blessing bring, If we SEE GOD IN EVERYTHING." --A. E. Finn

Salt in my Kitchen....series

Salt in my Kitchen

 

by

Jeanette Lockerbie

 

 

When God is Slow

Bible Reading: Psalms 103:8-13

 

    The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. 9 He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him.   

 

A young mother answered a hesitant knock on the kitchen door. There stood her five year old daughter Janey, mud- splattered, eyes downcast.

 

Taking in the situation in one glance the mother said, "honey! Whatever happened to you? C'mon, let me clean you up." And she swept the child into her arms.

 

The kind, warm tones of her mother's voice started a flood of tears. Between sniffs, Janey gulped out, "Mommie, you're not mad at me." Then , as though the sun had been turned on, the little girl continued, " I prayed and asked Jesus not to let you be mad at me for getting my nice dress all muddy. I asked Him to let me tell you first that I didn't play in the mud. Really, Mommie." The big, tear-filled eyes pleaded for understanding. "It was that nasty car that splashed me all over." Janey's words tumbled over each other. "And Mommie, Jesus answered my prayer. Your not mad at me."

 

What might have happened if Janey's mother had been quick to rebuke, harsh in punishment? A child's faith (that her mother had fostered!) might have been shattered. A sensitive child might have lost confidence in her mother's sense of justice. Instead, a new bond was formed. In the childish mind Mommie and Jesus were akin in love and understanding. Sometimes it pays to be slow. 

Sometimes the Answer is "Wait"

Have you noticed how many times it says "to wait upon the Lord" in the Bible? Well there is a good reason for that.

Well as you all know that my son is looking for a job. This has been a long hard road for him and us. His divorce is final - except the problem is that the ex has not signed the papers yet so there is a chance that they might have to go back to court - to find out why she hasn't. That is all a mess- never heard of a judge finalizing a divorce and then someone not signing. But that is not where I was going with this post.

My son is still looking for a job. I had thought that after the divorce was finalized and he could focus more fully on looking for a job that he would find one, but still no job. I have been praying about this for a long time now- 5 months. Well truth be told I have been praying earlier than that - because when he worked for my MIL he needed a better job. Anyway so for a long time I have been praying. It gets discouraging to pray about something for a long time and not see an answer. I have other long term prayers - one I've been praying about for over a year now. But this job one is one that I can talk about. Anyway it just seems like I pray and I have faith that God can and will answer the prayer when the time is right, but nothing seems to happen. I get a bit discouraged but I am still choosing to trust. God's timing is perfect. Sometime we don't understand God's timing - but we can trust that if we surrender our lives to Him and allow Him to do His work in us that His will - will eventually happen. Sometimes His answer is "wait" and we have to learn to trust His "wait." He loves us and wants what is best for us and sometimes the waiting will result in what is best for us. So till the answer comes - continue to pray and continue to stand. Stand on God's Word!

    And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.   

1 John 4:16

The promise for those who wait upon the Lord:

 

     But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.   
Isaiah 40:31

When I wrote this post - I had quite a few other posts that I had written and wanted to get posted so this one stayed as a draft. And as I was just looking over what I have as drafts - I realized I needed to update this and get it posted -hoping it will encourage someone else.

My son finally found a job. Only draw back at this point is for the first few weeks he does not get full time hours. And truth is with all of his bills and with how much he is being paid - starting out- he needs full time hours in order to pay his bills. But we are Praising the Lord!!! That he got a job. It is enjoying what he is doing and is learning as he goes. We continue to pray that God will continue to provide what is needed so that all his bills can get paid each month.

So God's answer to our prayers may be wait - but He does hear us.
Continue to Stand on God's Word!

The Art of Sympathy

Today I went to one of my favorite thrift shops. I love this thrift shop because I usually find great books there. Today I found a small little booklet. "Comfort for You" by Helen K. Oswald. The copyright says 1943, 1971 - and that it was revised in 1964. 

 

 

I thought it was cool when I found it still being sold and looks like it has been updated. Here is where I found it. And I also borrow the photo of the book from their web page.

As I was glancing through the little booklet - I found something that just really stood out to me today. It is a poem called -"The Art of Sympathy" - it is a very good explanation of why we go through hard times, for when we do - we are better able to sympathize with others. Well I wanted to share this poem with you all.

The Art of Sympathy

 

Though knowest not what words to say

To brighten someone's darkened day?

Though hast not learned to sympathize,

To dry the tears from someone's eyes?

The art of cheer thou fain wouldst seek

But lackest knowledge how to speak?

Then shrink not from life's deepest woe,

And sympathy shall in these grow!

Rebel not when thine eyes must weep,

When others 'round thee peaceful sleep;

'Tis only thus the power is born

To comfort other hearts that mourn!

~ Pearl Waggoner Howard

 

And another poem that nicely goes with the other one.

 

Perfection

We must suffer the darkest night

Before we can see the stars,

And oft sorrow and grief must come

In the battle that leaves its scars.

For we would not care for the sun

Nor the shining of the day,

If never faced the darkness

Without one guiding ray.

We cannot appreciate heaven,

When no blot earth's beauty mars:

We often forget our Saviour

Until trouble our pathway bars.

And then, when wayworn and weary

We kneel at the cross alone,

We find the perfection we're missing,

The sweetest peace we have known.

~ Inez Brasier

 

These poems give us a lot to think about. And I don't know about you but it is encouraging to my soul to read about how the dark days of my life - can and will be used to help others. Praising God for His guidance in my life today and everyday.

This is the second post today - so if you have not read - "What an Act of Kindness" be sure and check it out.

True Worth...True Beauty

I may have already done a post about this and if I have, I am sorry to bore you but this is something that I have been struggling with/working through lately. It's about self esteem.

I grew up in a family where we(my sister and I) were not told that we were pretty for fear t hat we would get big heads. However, we had uncles who thought it was ok to say rude comments about our weight, and trust me my sister and I were not fat. We come from a family where our bone structure is large. A friend of mine says it's our German heritage - apparently Germans are built sturdy - at least according to her.

All of this along with my need to be perfect - a people pleaser really caused me a lot of grief my entire life. I could not even be happy with who I was and what I looked like- because I was not perfect. But what is sad is that I was fine. I have always been larger than the other kids in my class - for two basic reasons - bone structure and because I started school late so I was a bit older than my classmates. I look back at the few photos I have from those years and am so mad at myself for not just accepting myself. Why was I so hard on myself? Did it do me any good? No, not at all.

So lately I have been struggling with these feelings of not being good enough again. Partly because I have had to take steroids this year and ended up gaining about 20- 25 pounds in the last year. Not real happy about that but there is nothing I can do about it now. And beating myself up with negative thoughts will not change the situation.

I have made an effort to eat more healthfully. Adding more fruits and veggies to my diet. And trying to get more exercise.

One way that I worked towards getting more exercise this week end was for me and my husband to go to the Dallas Arboretum. We spent 3 - 4 hours there just walking around looking at all of the beautiful scenery. My husband enjoyed taking photos throughout. I will try to post a few of these photos tomorrow. Anyway while we were there - I know that I was feeling fatter than usual lately and that I would not be too pleased with photos of myself. I tend to be very hard on myself - you know - I am suppose to be perfect and I am SO far from perfect. Well I finally decided that I would allow my husband to take a few photos and just see what i thought of them later.

Well I was pretty happy to find a couple of them pretty ok. I am not real happy with most of them but I was not surprised at all.

I was proud of myself when I decided not only did I like a photo but I decided to be brave and post the photo to Facebook. You know for me that was hard because like I said I have such high standards of what I should be. But let's face it - I am in my forties now and I need to embrace who I am. I am not perfect. I will never be perfect as long as I live on this imperfect earth. Only when Jesus comes and gives me a new body will I have a perfect body. So I am working towards accepting me for who I am. The me that is heavier than I would like to be. The me who I am extremely too hard on. I am trying to remember that God created me and loves me and what is what gives me value. Not what I look like, not how much I weigh or don't weigh. No  -these things are temporal and when all is said and done - they will be worthless. The beauty that comes from within is the beauty that is what God is looking for. The beauty that comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ in which we become more and more a reflection of our Father. That is the beauty that will last. That is the beauty that will stand to the end.

 

 

So in order for me to work toward being a healthier and more complete me - I decided to also post this photo for you all to see as well. This is me. Me in all my imperfections - the me who wants to become more and more like my heavenly Father. And pray that as I turn my life over to Him - that He will transform into His image. May I not allow myself to be distracted by my physical imperfections-to keep those in their proper perspectives. May I allow Jesus Christ to reign on the Throne in my life.
I hope that you all will realize that God created you and that to Him YOU are beautiful. You may not live up to the high standards of what is perfect in this world, but remember this world is NOT our home. And the values of this world are not the values of our Heavenly Father. You are very special to Him.
Thanks for dropping by and I hope that you will have an awesome day! :O)

He Provides....

 

 

Sabbath afternoon I walked out to the mail box. As I was looking through the mail - I noticed a personally addressed letter to me. As I opened it up - I began to cry. A blue piece of card stock had been cut and folded in half - as I opened it I noticed some cash. 

 

" This is an anonymous gift. I've been blessed by people in the past when I had need, and I want to pass it on to you."

~ Was written in pen.

 

What a blessing! I cried as I walked up to the house. As I entered the garage door-into the kitchen my husband walked into the kitchen to ask if there was anything good - and as soon as he saw me crying he got concerned. He was thinking something bad had happened.

 We have had a lot of bad news and bad things going on -

so you begin to brace yourself for what is coming next.

I quickly said no - it's good - and I handed the envelope to him.

Later when my son came by - I let him see it - it touched him also.

God is in control.
God is helping provide what is needed.
We are still waiting for some doors to be

opened...

We wait....

And God provides....

And we continue to thank Him and praise Him for all His blessings.

And we continue to believe.

The money in the envelope will cover my sons car payment due next Friday. Edited to add - he pays his car payment every two weeks so this money covered one of the car payments for this month
Praising God! :O)

 

Safely Committed to Him

"The time of testing that marks and mightily enriches a soul's spiritual career is no ordinary one, but a period when all hell seems let loose, a period when we realize our souls are brought into a net, when we know that God is permitting us to be in the devil's hand. But it is a period which always ends in certain triumph for those who have committed the keeping of their souls to Him, a period of marvelous "nevertheless afterward" of abundant usefulness, the sixty-fold that surely follows."
--Aphra White

After reading the previous quote - I was reminded of these verses in 2 Timothy:

   "For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed,

for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

13 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me,

 in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed to you,

 keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us."

2 Timothy 1:12-14  

 

 

 

DRAWING NIGH to GOD ...series.."Introduction"

This week I found a little book from 1956 - the name is:

 "DRAWING NIGH to GOD"

 by Minnie E. Dauphinee

I have decided that every Friday I am going to post one of the little devotionals in this book. I have looked on the Internet and have not found the book - where I could just link up to it or even get help by copying and pasting but that is alright. I just feel that this book has a lot of treasures well worth sharing. 

Today we will begin with the:

Introduction

Is there in your heart a hunger and thirst to draw nigh unto God_ a desire unexpressed even to those who are nearest and dearest to you? If so, be glad. Rejoice in our Saviour's assurance that the desire is mutual. God desires to draw nigh unto you (James 4:8). Though He rules over the affairs of the universe, He thinks of you by name and takes personal interest in everything that concerns you. "He is silently planning for thee in love."

As a loving son listens respectfully while his godly father tells of his ambitions for him, so you should give your Father in heaven your reverent attention, that He may reveal to you His plans for your life. As you study His Word with humility of heart you will hear His unmistakable voice saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it." 

The essays in this little volume are the results of meditation upon some of God's promises, commands, and exhortations. The author hopes that the thoughts may help the reader, especially the youth, to find God's plan, and to draw ever nearer to Him from day to day.

The Red Sea Rules #1

The first year that I had this blog- I found this cool book and did a series of the 10 God given strategies for difficult times. I have decided that I will be posting one each week. I think it will be a good reminder to me at least since it has been a while since I have read the books - I might just learn a thing or two. And I hope that it is encouraging to you as well.





Realize that God means for you to be where you are."

"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2. Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea." Exodus 14:1-2

There may be times in our lives as we are going through these rough times that we feel as if God has forgotten us, or that He does not realize what is going on in our lives, but this is not the case.

"The sea was before them, Pharaoh's hosts behind them, and the mountains around them. And all this be it observed, permitted and ordered by God." C.H. Mackintosh

We all face hard times throughout our lives. We can even find many people in the Bible who found themselves in really tough situations. To name a few: Joseph, David, Moses, Hagar, Hezekiah, the disciples and even Jesus, Himself.

1 Peter 4:12 tells us not to "think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you....."

As Christians we will have our faith tested. How is this done? By allowing trials and temptations into our lives. We may not think we can handle the situation that we find ourselves in, but the Good news is that we have a heavenly Father who will provide what we need, when we need it.

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand." Psalms 37:23-24

Now I realize that not all the trials that we find ourselves in are orchestrated by God. Sometimes we get ourselves into trouble all on our own.

But there is good news here as well! When we confess our sins- God "is faithful and just to forgive us our sins." 1 John 1:9

"Sincere repentance routes us back into God's will." (page 14)

And we remember what Romans 8:28 tells us.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

So no matter the reason behind why we find ourselves in a tough situation we know that God knows exactly where we are. He loves us and He will get us through.