The old rugged cross! Jesus died on it, for us!

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully His, Thursday!  Last week one day Papa and I picked up Cooper and Katy from school because Mommy and Daddy had to work late.  We got home and got a snack, preparing to get to homework.  Earlier in the day, close to where Katy sits, I had laid a cool, rustic cross given to me by a friend for Christmas.  I have been looking for the perfect place to hang it, somewhere I would see it often….in the meantime I laid it on the table near where Katy sits.  As Katy sat down she immediately saw the cross.  In an excitement that she could not contain, she shouted, “Nana, it’s the old rugged cross….!”  Smiling and pleased at her response to the cross I said, “Yes, it sure is, you are right!”  Without hesitation she said, loud and clear, “Jesus died on it….for us!”  This time I was the one that could not contain my excitement, to hear that precious 4 year old, confessing her faith…..loud and clear…..no hesitation!  My heart was over flowing with joy and gratitude.  I just had to give her a big hug….As I was holding her close, almost in tears, I felt our FATHER very close to us…..”Kathie, My child, I understand your joy in knowing that Katy knows that Jesus died for her…but My joy is compounded by the fact that she had no hesitation to profess her faith…..Oh, just think how wonderful it would be if all you adults….My big precious kids, would tell about Jesus dying on the old rugged cross like Katy did!”  Father forgive our hesitation in confessing You!  Increase our faith and bless us with brave, witnessing hearts so that we with Katy say loud and clear….”It’s the old rugged cross, Jesus died on it for us!”

 

Then Jesus came to them and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20.  I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful, appointing me to His service.  1 Timothy 1:12.  Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bow.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16.

Love you all!

 

Our forever Valentine

Good Morning!    Last week, a day or two before Valentine’s Day, we got a Valentine in the mail from Cooper and Katy.  Of course, we love that!!!  I picked up the phone and called them to say thank you….after visiting with Mommy for a minute she gave the phone to Katy.  Katy was so happy to talk to me, I thanked her for the card and told her I had a Valentine surprise for her too!  She was all excited, we visited a little longer when I heard Mommy tell her to let Cooper talk too.   “Cooper, want to talk to Nana?”   she hollered at him.  I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard him holler back, “NO.”  Well for heaven’s sake I thought, little stinker.  I told Katy, “you tell Cooper he isn’t going to get his Valentine surprise if he doesn’t talk to me.”  Katy was most happy to deliver that message with the silly delight of a little sister whose  big brother was about to get in trouble!  Immediately, a little voice came on the phone and said, “Hi Nana.”  “Hi Cooper, how’s my boy?”  “Good, nana do you have a Valentine surprise for me?”  “I sure do Cooper, thank you for our Valentine, I love you.”  “ Your welcome, I love you too, Nana, bye.”  The conversation was short and sweet, but as I was relaying the details of how I had to threaten our little stinker to get him to talk to me, I suddenly felt sad…..Gosh, sure glad our Father doesn’t ever threaten us to get us to come to HIM….He waits lovingly, patiently yearning for us to come to HIM, sit with HIM…..unburden our troubled hearts, confess our sins, receive comfort and the most wonderful LOVE surprise, everyday not just once a year!  Father, oh I thank and praise YOU for loving us so abundantly….freely, always without a threat….just the promise of life everlasting with YOU!!  How good YOU are how Blessed are we!  I love you Father, all glory to YOU!

 

You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding love and faithfulness.  Psalm 86:15.  The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trust in Him and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.  Psalm 28:7  The Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice.  Blessed are all who wait for Him!  Isaiah 30:18.  Submit to God and be at peace with Him; in this way prosperity will come to you.  Job 22:21.  The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; d not be discouraged.  Deuteronomy 31:8.  Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.  Luke:12:32. 

Love you all!

He strokes our worries and sadness away

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderfully wrapped in His loving arms Wednesday!  Our little dog Axel is sick….oh we just hate it.  He has a terrible cough…it just sounds horrible and Kim and I just hate that he doesn’t feel good….Well, on Monday he was so worried about his little pal that he took him to the Vet.  She said he didn’t have a fever and couldn’t see anything in his throat, gave him a shot and some pills for his tummy ache and sent them home.  The cough kept getting worse and worse and yesterday morning, sitting on my lap, he kept looking at me….his eyes so droopy and sad…..he just looked miserable, so pathetic….As I sat in the quiet of the early morning, gently rubbing his throat and having my morning talk with our Father…..it occurred to me just how pathetic we must look to our Father sometimes….times we are worried, sad, grieving…..eyes drooping, cheeks tear streaked, shoulders drooped…..pathetic….Axel found comfort sitting with me, being stroked…..feeling my compassion for him….Can you just imagine how much compassion our Father has for us, when He sees us…..drooping and sad……He yearns for us to come to HIM, sit with HIM and be comforted….HE will not fail us….gently, lovingly HE strokes our worries and sadness away….carries them for us…wraps HIS loving arms around us and gives us peace.  Thank you Father.

 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  2 Corinthians 1:3-4.  May your unfailing love be my comfort  according to your promise to your servant.  Psalm 119:76.  The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.  Psalm 29:11. 

Love you all!

A frog in my throat...

 

Good Morning Friends!  Wise and Wonderful is our God, Wednesday!  I love my job, but there is something that makes it most special for me….kids!  All day long I get to see precious kids, from newborn infants to snotty teens….I love them.  I feel so blessed to share my day with God’s most precious commodity.  Well, the other morning a young dad came in with his little boy, I’d say barely 3.  He didn’t have much to say, but he sure was a cutie!  I asked his dad who he needed to see and gave him a call, Danny was out of the office, but told me that he did need to see the young man in person and that he would be back in the office about 4 pm.  While on the phone, I got a bit of a coughing spell (leftovers from the flu) I apologized saying I had a frog in my throat and couldn’t get it out….I said it a couple of times as I tried to stop so that I could explain to the young man when Danny would be back and that he needed to see him.  His son stood and watched, never saying a word and so well behaved.  The young man said he could come back in the afternoon, took his little boy’s hand and left.  I said good bye and got back to work.  Right at 4, the young man returned to the office, this time by himself.  As he approached my desk he had a big grin on his face.  I said hello and went to call Danny, but stopped as he was speaking to me.  He explained that as soon as he and his son got out the door, he began frantically asking his dad about the frog in my throat!  Oh my gosh, we both started laughing as he continued on about how worried his son was wondering how I got a frog in my throat and how would I get it out!  We laughed and laughed imagining that little boy, thinking I had a big green, slimy frog in my throat desperately trying to find its way out!  After the young man left I was still chuckling about his son when I felt that familiar tap on my shoulder….”Hi Father, what’s up?”  “Well, Kathie that little boy really was adorable wasn’t he?  And to think he thought you had a frog in your throat….funny.  But, Kathie….you had said that he was quiet, bet you didn’t think he was even paying any attention to you, did you?  My child, oh My child, you are MY child….your every thought, action, word…..need to be a reflection of Me!  I know it isn’t easy, but it’s so important to be a shining light….the LIGHT of My son shining through you…spreads My love.  Now the “frog in your throat” was not a bad thing, but let’s use it as a reminder to be aware of everything you say and do, so that the beauty of My Love, not the ugly of this world shines through you.  Deal?!”  Oh Father, that’s a tall order, but oh how I what to shine for You…forgive me when I fail, and guide me “walk Your walk” and “talk Your talk”  all the time!

 

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sigh, o Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.  Psalm 19:14.  There should not be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.  Ephesians 5:4.  Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lives.  Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.  Psalm 34:13-14.  May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me your decrees.  Mya my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous.  Psalm 119:171-172.   Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Romans 12:10.  Jesus said, “My command is this :  Love each other as I have loved you.”  John 15:12.

Love you all!