No sin is too big for Him to roll away!

Good Morning Friends!!!  Totally loved and forgiven by HIM, Tuesday!  Last Sunday in Sunday school we continued our Easter lessons by making an edible empty tomb!  I got the idea from Pintrest, and thought it would be a fun activity to do while I read the Resurrection account from the Gospels of Luke and Mark. The kids listened as I read and then I had them put together their empty tombs.  I gave them each a Graham cracker as the base, we then frosted the crackers with green frosting to represent grass, for the tomb, we used half a donut, setting it on the cracker so you could see right through it….hence the empty tomb.  Last, but not least was the stone; for that we used a donut hole and placed it beside the tomb.  I must say, they were pretty cute and allowed for a wonderful discussion about the events of that first Easter morning!  The tombs were so cute that I had a teacher take a picture so we could share them…..later when I had a chance to look at the picture, I couldn’t help but notice that our stones….donut holes….actually stood taller than our tombs….half donut.  I chuckled a bit thinking oh well, they are still cute, but the thought kept rolling around in mind….The stone was bigger than the tomb, but was still rolled away…..Wow!  Rolled away for us…..all of us…..rolled away so our SAVIOR could emerge….with life eternal for us….all of us!  No sin is too big for HIM to roll away….No sin too big to bring to HIM…..And HE doesn’t just roll a little ways….NO!  HE rolls it down the cliff, into the water……gone forever…."I even, I am HE who blots out your transgressions, for My own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”  Isaiah 43:25.  Our Savior welcomes us to come to HIM give HIM our sins and accept HIS full forgiveness….no cost, no fees, no hidden surprises….forgiveness…Free…"It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from ourselves, it is the gift of God.”  Ephesians 2:8.  OH Father….we come humbly to You, knowing we do not deserve Your forgiveness and mercy, but Thank You Father for loving us so much that You roll all our stones away!

 

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord.  “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.:  Isaiah 1:18.  As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.  Psalm 103:12.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:2.

Love  you all!

Using the gifts God gave us

Good Morning Friends!!  Forever His, Friday!  I found a cool, fun, yet learning project for my Sunday school kids for Lent.  They are making posters depicting the events of Holy Week.  To get us going we read the events starting with Palm Sunday through Christ’s resurrection from the Gospels; then we went over each major event and talked about how they could make posters for them.  I let them pick the event they wanted and told them to be as creative as they wanted to be.  Thanks to lots of generous crafters and friends that donate cool stuff, we had more than enough things to cut and glue and paint and color…..from popsicle sticks to colorful feathers, live palm leaves, and  real pokey thorns for His crown!  They were so excited as they started gathering things, the teachers and I kept very busy finding their requests and making some little suggestions, but I was very adamant that I wanted the posters to be the kids….however they turned out….the kids were doing their best!  Sometimes it is very hard for us to let the kids do their own thing, seems like we often think we know how to do things better than the actual doer!  So, as hard as it was for us adults I insisted all the way that the kids could do it their way….with the skills that they have.  Each child has different creative abilities, so the posters are all very different, some quite intricate others simple….but each one perfect because each child did their very best with the skills that our Father gave them….I even let them pick the place in the church they wanted to hang their posters….they decided on the big hallway between the fellowship hall and our classrooms….perfect…Now the plain white walls are adorned with  HOLY WEEK…..the children are proud of their accomplishments….I am proud of them….As we hung our last poster I thought, sure hope the congregation likes them…..doesn’t judge them….but appreciates that the children did their best to God’s glory.  As I have pondered our posters this week, I know that God wants each of us to always do our very best…..using the skills that we have from HIM.  We are all different, so we don’t do things the same way, that’s ok… "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve other, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.  If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”  1 Peter 4:10-11.  “Each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, anther has that.” 1 Corinthians 7:7.  Point is, use it….God gives to us, and desires that we use our gifts to His glory and….”Encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” 1 Thessalonians.  So,….”Serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.  If you seek Him, He will be found by you.”  1 Chronicles 28:9.  Father help us to, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be glory both now and forever!”

  2 Peter 3:18.

Have a great weekend!  Love you all!

Too many treasures on earth

Good Morning Friends!  Today, Tuesday, this day our Lord made for us!  Let’s get happy and rejoice in all HE does for us!  This morning my bible reading took me to Matthew 6:19-21….Jesus is teaching and tells the people, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”   Oh boy, this really hit me, as it pains me to admit, I am a bit of a hoarder….well of sorts, I don’t buy things, but I am so sentimental I just feel the need to keep everything….everything that was ever given to me or to someone I love and left to me, or used by someone I love….heck I have flowers in my mom’s old metal enema can…..yes I am serious!  And then there are the things that I might be able to use someday for a craft, at home with grandkids or at Sunday School with my other kids….did you know you can make really cool chains out of empty adding-machine paper rolls, and angels out of soda cans and you should see what you can do with paper towel rolls!  It’s amazing!  Last Sunday the kids were playing charades, one boy was trying to get them to guess he was one of the old testament kings.  He said, “Ms. Kathie I need to see you in your room.”  The room you see is where we store all of our “things.”  I went in with him and he told me he needed that old Burger King crown….My heart sank; I had kept that crown for years to use at Christmas, etc. until just a couple of weeks ago.  You see, my teachers and I were cleaning up, they not being the collectors that I am are always trying to get me to let go of some “things”  things that I always insist we might be able to use at some point and time.  Well, you have probably guessed, I was convinced to let the Burger King crown go….now Jacob needed it and it was gone!  I was devastated…he needed it and I had gotten rid of it….Dang it!!!  Thank heavens Jacob wasn’t as devastated as me; actually he just got creative with his hands and in just a short time they had guessed who he was….OK, so after reading Matthew this morning, I am thinking differently about what happened on Sunday.  The crown was old, battered, and replaceable…and Jacob just reached into his mind and figured out what to do, used his imagination which is always a good thing for kids, so I guess good stuff came from the purge…..Maybe I am storing up too many treasures on earth…..maybe it’s time for me to let go of some “things” and spend more time storing up treasures in heaven.  How many times do our things distract us from time with our Father, prayer, helping others (treasures in heaven)…..keep sakes are good, no one will ever convince me otherwise….it’s the place they hold that’s the problem…Father, forgive me when my treasures take away from my life with YOU!  You are my all in all!  Help me to let go not only of my things, but of my worries and fears….help me to let go and LET YOU!

 

Therefore I tell  you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?.....But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own…..(give it to HIM).  Matthew 6:31-34.  I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.  Philippians 4:13. 

Love you all!

Well, you aren't dead!

Good Morning Friends!  Take time to be thankful, Tuesday!!  Well, my goodness seems like it’s been forever….missed you all!  Last Sunday I wanted to have a lesson on being thankful in conjunction with Thanksgiving for the kids.  I found a neat idea on the internet and adapted it to our group.  Basically I had a basket of apples with a number taped on each one.  I had each child tell me a song they wanted to sing and I had bible verses on being thankful.  So, I read a bible verse, someone picked an apple and we sang the song that corresponded to the number on the apple!  The singing came directly from the first verse, Psalm 147:7, “Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp (I said piano too, we have the most awesome pianist at church).”  And so we began, bible verse, apple, sing….what a good time we were having making music to our God!  Pretty soon, I read 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  This verse lead me to ask the kids, quite dramatically, “Well, I’ve been really sick….so does this verse mean I have to be thankful for being sick???!!!!!”  I was really trying to make a point, about not being whiners, when one Jr. Hi boy said in his getting deep Jr. Hi voice, head down….”Well…..you aren’t dead!”  Wow!  Did that ever hit home….I have been doing quite a bit of whining about being sick…..in fact I’m sure there are friends and co-workers that are sick of hearing me whine……the point is I am alive!  Alive, with medicine, lots of chicken soup, cough drops and a caring husband…..I am going to be just fine!  That young man’s comment may have been a bit on the extreme side, but I think it really made a good clear point for us…..we do have so very much for which to be thankful, grateful….praise worthy!  Yet, it seems we are so quick to see the negative…..get sick once in a while and we think the world has come to an end….How about all the days we are healthy, feel great….are we thankful on those days.  Do we think to thank our doctor, pharmacist, friends, caring husband on those days….My husband starts my car every morning and pulls it right up to the back door for me…..Hmmm, have I thanked him lately….Ever called your doctor when you felt really good and thanked her for always being there when you need her?  Ever thanked God for her and prayed for wisdom for her in so many difficult situations?  Thursday is “Thanksgiving Day”  why wait…..let’s start thanking and praising right now!  Our God takes good care of us….provides us with what we need….oh yea sometimes we think it’s not quick enough, but…..never forget, Our Father always knows what’s best!  Trust and believe!!!  Father, oh my goodness there’s not enough hours in the day to thank you for all you do for us!!!  Accept our humble gratitude and praise!  Help us to always keep attitudes of gratitude.  And thank you for my doctor!!!

 

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.  His love endures forever.  Give thanks to the God of gods.  His love endures forever.  Give thanks to the Lord of lords:  His love endures forever.  Psalm 136:1-3.

Love you all!

A little piece of home

Good Morning Friends!  Mighty Awesome is our God, Monday!  Yesterday began as a typical Sunday morning at church; I was finishing up my Sunday school superintendent duties, you know offering, attendance, leaving Pastor a copy of attendance on his desk…the usual; as I came out of his office I noticed we had visitors looking at our bulletin board.  I stopped, said good morning and introduced myself….the wife turned to me, took my outstretched hand and said “Tina”  then her husband shook my hand, “Keith, and this is our daughter Jessica.”  I started to ask them where they were from when Keith got the oddest look on his face, he raised his hand kind of pointing at me and slowly said, “this is a stretch, but are you from Terra Bella?”  Oh my gosh my heart leaped as I said “yes.”  He said, “you were my Sunday school teacher.”  We were both in a state of shock!  Indeed, Keith’s parents were friends of mine at my home church in Terra Bella, California….many years ago…..my mom’s family were founders of the church and Keith’s family long, long time members so our families had known each other and worshiped together for decades…..I get goose bumps right now just thinking about such a wonderful coincidence…..I was so excited as I drug them around introducing to my current church family….Keith was excited too!  I had to go finish up with the kids, Jessica was quite willing to go and meet them, so off we went.  As soon as Sunday school was over I found Keith and Tina, introduced them to more people and asked if I could sit with them.  I was so excited I wasn’t sure I could sit still and of course I had to introduce them formerly during announcements…Gosh, what a wonderful coincidence I thought all through the service, my mind raced with memories from all those years ago, smiling, remembering what a cute little boy Keith had been (nice looking man now, I must add).  After the service, as we were getting ready to say our goodbyes, Keith expressed how happy he was that we had meet again after so many years.  In a serious voice he said, “I feel like I got a little piece of home.”  Hugging him I had to agree, it was all I could do to hold back the tears as Tina expressed that even though she had not ever been to California, she felt a “piece of home too.”  As Tina and I hugged I was filled with a  special peace….a peace and joy beyond human understanding…..oh this reunion was no “coincidence”  no way…..This was our Mighty Awesome God at work with a gift of love for Keith, Tina, and me, that we didn’t even know we needed, but HE did…And the piece of home we felt was unity and love of a Christian family….shared faith in our ONE TRUE GOD and SAVIOR…..a piece of home on earth, a foretaste of the HOME we will share in heaven with our FATHER….oh my goodness….goose bumps for sure!  Father thank you for such precious, special blessings that we sure do not deserve….thank you FATHER for the awesome bond we share with YOUR children….You pour your love over us in ways that we cannot even fathom….Thank you Father, all honor, glory and praise to YOU!

 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  Isaiah 55:8-9.  Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies.  Psalm 36:5.  From everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children’s children.  Psalm 103:17.   So we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love.  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in Him.  1 John 4:16.  How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!  1 John 3:1. 

Love you all!

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Good Morning Friends!  Forever His, Friday!   We had a wonderful morning of Easter celebration at church, my favorite day of the year!  The kids are so excited, dressed in there Easter finest, carrying their Easter baskets chomping at the bit to hunt for eggs…..Some might say I am mean, but I never let Easter at Sunday School be just about the egg hunt.  So, before we hunt we spend time with our Heavenly Father, reading His word, singing, expanding their knowledge and understanding of what Jesus’ death and resurrection mean to us as His children.  Now, I’m not real mean, I do try with the help of my Sunday school teachers to make it as fun as possible; this year I found a cool idea on line and adapted it to our kiddos….after breakfast we went into our comfy youth room and I read from Mark chapter 15, starting with the night Jesus was taken to Pontius Pilate.  In order to hold their interest, I was quite dramatic in my reading (they would tell you I am goofy)  just as we had laid Jesus in the tomb there was a knock on our door.  In a very grumpy, why would you disrupt us tone, I opened the door to find a teacher standing there with a great big smile…”the Easter egg hunt is ready for the kids, come on.”  Well, I acted real put out, but the kids were excited so I went along with it, saying we would finish after hunting.  Miss Kristine lead us to the fellowship hall (it was raining outside) and told the kids to go find eggs.  They hunted and hunted and no one found one egg.  Soon I joined in, trying to help them find some, I got more and more disappointed with the kids….they were sad, frustrated, disappointed, and a bit angry too!  No eggs to be found……Kristine was chuckling as we headed back to finish reading the Easter story, but the kids were not happy!  When we got back to class I asked them how did that feel to go looking for something you thought would be there, something you were so excited about and had been waiting for?  They expressed their disappointment in no uncertain terms…..I finished reading, then asked them, “How do you think the women felt when they went to the tomb to see Jesus and He was not there?”  The older kids got it right away…..the women were sad and disappointed….much sadder than we were hunting for eggs….there Jesus was missing!  But the story does not end there, does it!  Our Jesus was not missing….HE was ALIVE!!!!!  Oh how they rejoiced when they found HIM….alive.  OH how we REJOICE!!!!  Our SAVIOR IS ALIVE!!!!!  Oh yes HE died, HE was buried, but HE AROSE…..Our sins forgiven, our disappointment comforted.  We will have disappointments in life….we will hunt to no avail at times….but our HOPE is in JESUS….HE will never disappoint us….never leave or forsake us….CHRIST IS RISEN!  HE IS RISEN INDEED!  ALLELUIA!  Thank you Father!

 

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.  Come and see the place where He lay.  Then go quickly and tell His disciples:  ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of into Galilee.  There you will see Him.” Now I have told you.”  Matthew 28:5-7.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:2.  The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.  He cares for those who trust in Him  Nahum 1:7.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  Psalm 73:26.

Love you all!

 

Baskets of Love: Proverbs 18:16

Good Morning Friends!  Wise and Wonderful is our God, Wednesday!  Remember a couple weeks ago I told you about a Sunday school project that had little boys making bows to decorate baskets?  I was so proud of them.  Well last Saturday was our big day.  We met at church bright and early to bake muffins and cookies….yep the boys too!  After a short devotion we got to work filling the beautiful baskets with love….yes a harvest of love!  The kids had made note pads, wooly lambs, we had hot chocolate, tea, fruit, a pretty mug and lots of love.  After adding all the finishing touches we loaded into our cars and headed out to deliver the baskets to some older men and women of our congregation!  Our special friends did not know we were coming, but each one was so delighted to see the kids and tickled to get their special basket fixed for them by the kiddos!  Their faces glowed with joy….their words overflowed with gratitude.  After a couple of stops, I couldn’t help but notice how excited the kids were….not only the kids, but the adults that were with us!  Their faces….yep glowing….joy oozed from each of them as they told each person, “JESUS LOVES YOU!”  They would skip and jump their ways back to the cars to load up for the next visit…..they were giving……but in the process they, we, each of us “received.”  Oh we didn’t get pretty baskets full of fun stuff, what we got was worth much, much more than that.  We received the joy of “doing unto the least of one of these.”…the joy of “feeding His lambs” …..the joy of doing what pleases our Heavenly Father, following His will…the perfect joy…..give to others you will be rewarded with God’s love.  As Timothy said in his first book, chapter 1 verse 12….”I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful, appointing me to His service.”  Take a minute to give today, you won’t be disappointed….you might even be excited at the joyous feelings that ooze from you.  We sang a song Sunday that says it all….”You can’t keep Jesus love in a box…….cause His love-ll’ come bubblin’ (or oozing) through.”  Thank you for Your love, fill our hearts to overflowing so as we are joyful we share that joy….giving it away makes us happy because You are happy!

 

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in al things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9 7-8.  Be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.  1 Samuel 12:24.  Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  1 Corinthians 13:4.  We love because He first loved us.  1 John 4:19.  I have spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full John 15:11.  A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the Great.  Proverbs 18:16.

Love you all!  Thank you for the joy you bring into my life!

July 16, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Mighty is our God, Monday!  Yesterday, Papa had some chores to get done while the girls and I went to Sunday school and church, but he hitched a ride into town with Cooper and Katy (oh mommy drove) for lunch with good friends.  On our way home, Papa was quite serious as he told me he had a big mess for me at the house….he explained that he had gotten the 4 wheeler stuck in a great big, mud- hole while trying to fix a leak.  He was quite animated as he explained the whole ordeal….main thing… mud was flying everywhere…..and stinky, cow- poop laced mud to boot!  Poor guy, just knew I was going to be mad at him as he described the heap of nasty, muddy- clothes waiting for me on the porch!  My goodness…..let’s say…he was not exaggerating!  His clothes, lying in a heap on the porch, were totally covered in thick mud….the once wet mud was already beginning to cake….and his poor boots….not sure they will ever be the same!  Well, needless to say I wasn’t in the mood to mess with them right then, later would be soon enough.  Later….when it began to rain we all went out on the screen porch to enjoy the much needed blessing!  Hmm….think I will put this muddy mess outside and let it get a good soaking before I try to wash them!  The rain helped, but it’s going to take a lot more than that to wash away the dirt……I will spray them good with my homemade spray and wash add an extra scoop of OxiClean, do some good old- fashioned scrubbing, but my bet is I will have to wash them more than once to get them clean again!  Driving into work this morning, thinking about the task that lay ahead of me….the thought hit me….I sure am glad that it’s not to get “clean” from our sins as it’s going to be to get those muddy clothes clean again!   Oh goodness, how often we get stuck in the mud of envy, greed, gossip, self-pity, selfishness, caring more about ourselves than others…..the mud of sin is caked on us……we wonder how can we ever be “clean” again……Our Heavenly Father is right there waiting to forgive us…..the blood of HIS SON…..washes us clean……over and over again…..Thank you Father, for making it so easy for us to come to You with our “mud” and be cleaned!  Keep our faith strong and help us to turn to You when we are tempted.  All glory to You, Mighty Father!

 

“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.”  Psalm 86:15.  As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. (now that’s clean!)  Psalm 103:12.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9.  “Come now, let us reason together,”  says the Lord.  “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”  Isaiah 1:18.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  Ephesians 4:32. 

Love you all!

June 24, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Mighty awesome is our God, Monday!!!!  In all the years that I have been Sunday School Superintendent, I have never had a Sunday quite like yesterday.   Sunday a week ago, I found out that not only would all of my teachers be absent yesterday, but my faithful sub as well….. Oh my, that meant one thing….I was going to have to be teacher too!  As the morning went on, I discovered that most of the kids would be gone too….all of them except Emma and Ellie…..sisters…4 and almost 3….plus I would have Katy with me….Now, don’t get me wrong….I love the kids…..all of them, but like I said….it had been a long time since I had actually taught…..the thought of it…me and 3 wee ones….alone for an hour….yikes.  Silly, but I have to admit I was really concerned….actually kind of dreading the thought…. as hard as I tried, I could not find anyone that could sub….a while later, sitting in church, the light went on…..DUH…I told myself…God is calling you to teach HIS wee ones….that was all I needed….I would answer HIS call and make sure to take HIM with me!  All week, I made my plans….finally the time had come.  With a prayer in my heart, bubbles and snacks packed, Katy and I headed for Sunday School!  Emma and Ellie were already there and greeted Katy with enthusiasm fit for a princess!  The next hour was precious…..the girls were so good and so excited to be at Sunday school!  We drug out all of our instruments playing and singing joyful praises to our Heavenly Father, then headed outside to blow “Jesus loves me” bubbles….laughing and running, catching bubbles and shouting Jesus loves me….my heart was both joyful and sad at the same time…..look what I would have missed if our Heavenly Father had not nudged me do something I didn’t want to do…..Oh I wonder what other wonderful experiences I have missed because I wasn’t listening….or pretended not to hear…… worst of all, simply ignored….Father, thank you for knowing just what You need me to do and nudging me along….Forgive me when I am stubborn and ignore You.  Father, thank you so much for the blessing of small children that love you with every ounce of their being and fill our hearts with joy.

 

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  And whoever welcome a little child like this in my name welcomes me.”  Matthew 18:3-5.   Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  Matthew 19:14.  From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise…Psalm 8:2.  We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.  Hebrews2 :1.  Jesus said, Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from Him comes to me.”  John 6:45.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Romans 12:10.

June 21, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Forever His, Friday!  I have been looking forward to this weekend for a while!  Katy J is staying with us all weekend while the rest of her family makes a fast and furious trip to a family wedding!  Katy has been so jealous of Cooper’s alone time with us since Cooper stays with Papa, so she has really looked forward to this weekend too!  She arrived bright and early at 5:55 a. m.  Mommy told her she would be going to Grammi’s today, like usual while Nana and Papa worked, but she didn’t quit get that!  The fact that it is Friday, a work day, just doesn’t make any sense to her….she was going to Nana and Papa’s to stay with them all by herself….I promised I would pick her up right after work and would have a surprise….one down!  On Saturdays we often take her and Cooper to breakfast, so this morning she thought we would be going to the Kountry Store for breakfast……again the difference between Friday and Saturday just didn’t make sense to her.  While she was watching me put on my make-up, I told her she was going to Sunday School with me….not even thinking that she had no concept of “Sunday.”  Nope she was ready to go to Sunday school right now!  I tried to explain to her about the days…”today is Friday, we go to work, tomorrow is Saturday, we go to breakfast, and then it’s Sunday and we will go to Sunday school.”  She just looked at me in total confusion……she wanted to go now....and just couldn’t understand it wasn’t time…..My mind filled with God’s words from Ecclesiastics ….”There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:  a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”  How can I expect Katy to understand that it’s not time to go to the Kountry Store for breakfast, when I constantly whine to our Heavenly Father about what I want and when!!!  I too get confused when HE says, “My child, not just yet….it’s not time.”  Our time is not His time……It’s time for us to be still, to listen, to hear HIS timing for us…He loves us with a Perfect Love and His timing is Perfect for our lives…..Father help us to wait for Your will in our lives with joyful hearts.  Help us to reassure others that the sad times will pass and joyful times will return…..be still and know that His timing is Perfect for us.  Thank you, Father for special time with Katy…a time to laugh, a time to love, a time to keep……

 

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.  Those who know your name will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.  Psalm 9:9.  Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of jy.  Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”  Psalm 126:2.  Teach me to do your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.  Psalm 143:10.  Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.  Colossians 3:17. 

Love you all!