The flames of life's temptations

Good Morning Friends!  Must remain in HIM, Monday!!!  Kim had really been wanting to burn one of our pastures, but had to wait until weather conditions were just right, most importantly the wind.  Gosh we have had so much wind lately and it is just too risky to start fires if it’s windy.  Looked like maybe Friday evening would be good….he called the firemen to get some to come and help him and then waited….finally about 5:30 he had enough men committed to come help and the wind was calm, humidity good, so he made the big decision to light it up!  A little after 6, Kathyrn and the kids came over….Cooper is all about the firemen stuff you know, so he was all suited up in his wildland gear and Katy too in brother’s hand-me-down fire suit.  Cooper couldn’t contain himself….”Nana we have to go up to the cabin and see the fire, Nana please, please…..”  Mom and I both tried to convince him that he could see better if we stayed at the house, but he wasn’t having it at all!!!  “We Have TO GO!”  We walked outside and showed him where they had started to burn, that just made him want to go more!  So, we loaded into the van and headed up the hill.  We went as far as we thought was safe and we wouldn’t get stuck, then headed up the hill on foot towards the cabin.  When we got there small fires were burning all around the cabin; they were out making a fire line.  Cooper was thrilled….fire!  In a few minutes the guys all showed up and were ready to head out again; Papa was on the 4-wheeler and invited Cooper to go with him, oh yea, Cooper was gone in a flash, of course poor Katy was crying, “I want to go….”  Papa promised he would be back for her, so Kathyrn and I settled in on fire watch at the cabin….the flames were getting bigger and Kathyrn and I were getting cold and really wanted to go to the house, but Katy would have no part of that….pretty soon she was crying and I convinced her to come to the house and have a “Nana bath” and cheese pizza.  So off we went, gosh it was so dark by then we had a time getting to the car and the fires were really popping up all over the pasture.  Kathyrn and I talked about the fact that it is really so pretty to watch it burn, the colors in the flames so brilliant, we drove past some that were so big, gosh they were amazingly beautiful.  From the house the pasture seemed to be dancing with flames, it was truly a magnificent site….beautiful yet at the same time so dangerous.  The next morning the first thing Kim and I did was drive the whole hill checking for hot spots.  Wow, the whole hill was black…Kim was pleased because he had gotten a good burn.  I was in awe with all the black….the beautiful flames from last night had turned the pasture black……black and bleak….As we drove slowly through the pasture, I couldn’t help but think of the black like the black of our sin…..the flames of life’s temptations….the flames so very beautiful in fact caused the black….so very beautiful, but so very dangerous.  Oh Father, how often the things of this world that seem to be harmless, actually tempt me away from you…..away from the life you want me live….greed for things that we think we must have, but only led us to more greed and selfishness….Father, temptations are all around us…appearing harmless and attractive….Father give us strength to resist temptations that will led us away from you….we need your help to shine for you.

 

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.  1 Corinthians. 10:13.  Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.  Matthew 26:41.  Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.  And lead us not into temptation.  Luke 11:4.

Love you all!

Watch out for the poison stuff!

Good Morning Friends! My goodness our God is a Mighty Awesome God, Monday!  As if the magnificent green of our current landscapes is not beautiful enough, our Heavenly Father, Magnificent Creator that He is, has now dotted our landscape with wildflowers….All colors, all shapes, all sizes of beautiful wildflowers.  I love wildflower season and have been excited for them to start popping up, so yesterday on my way to church I was delighted to see that just overnight, the green fields and roadsides were dotted with pinks, yellows, purple and white wildflowers…some were in clusters, some standing alone….all equally beautiful!  Our God is an awesome God!  And I just had to tell HIM thank you as I drove….oh the beauty of HIS creation for us!  Later yesterday afternoon Kim and I had to go check cows on a lease a few miles from home.  We took the long, scenic way home and I was tickled because it meant I got to see more of God’s handiwork!  We had the windows down and were just putting down a dirt road the woods were just thick with every shade of green you could imagine and in spots the trees from both sides of the road had joined to make a cover for us.  Again, I said a thank you prayer…then in the midst of the beauty I saw it….all over the trees and down onto the ground….the dreaded poison oak…”Oh Yuck, I hate that stuff, it’s all over!”  I told Kim,  “ I bet that junk is all over at the cabin!”  For a brief moment I was really disgruntled….wondering why in the world we have to have that horrible stuff intermingled with all the beauty….and the scary part is it is pretty to look at too!”  Just then, I felt the familiar pat on my shoulder….”Ahh Father, so You agree with me about this poison stuff!”  “Oh Kathie, My child…..I agree that poison stuff is not fun, especially when it looks pretty, but let’s go a little deeper….don’t you have temptations every day that look pretty….harmless….when in actuality they are potentially dangerous to your life…..maybe something as simple as a piece of cake when you are trying to lose weight….looks good, so why not?  Right?  Or how about that cute dress you saw at Stage the other day….you would look so pretty in it….but remember you have a doctor’s bill to pay…..seemingly harmless little temptations that can lead to big problems.”  Thanks Father, for the reminder that everything pretty might not be good for us.  Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and minds to discern what’s really good for us…..and help us to always remember, every good and perfect gift comes from YOU!  Thank you for wildflowers Father and the lesson in poison stuff!

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.  Matthew 26:41Because Jesus Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.  Hebrews 2:18.  All have seined and fall short of the glory of God.  Romans 3:23  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. 

Love you all!

The beauty in a dead tree

Good Morning Friends!  Wise and Wonderful is our God, Wednesday!  Yesterday I told you about our wonderful Thanksgiving at the cabin, today I want to share a little story from that afternoon.  Last Christmas Eve Papa and I took Cooper and Katy to the cabin for the day to have an old-fashioned Christmas!  We cut down a cedar tree, took it in and decorated it with homemade ornaments, we decorated cookies, had hot chocolate and cooked lunch on the camp stove and even took our naps there!  A wonderful time was had by all for sure.  Well, as things go….Kim and I don’t always get things done in a timely fashion….I think I got the tree undecorated and outside about…..April…..Kim always intended to cut it up and burn it, but just never got to it.  The once pretty little cedar tree with a homemade base still on it was still lying outside the cabin…..Thursday while Mom, Dad, Nana and Papa were sitting by the fire Cooper and Katy were doing some serious exploring!  Guess what they found???!!!  Yep, last year’s once beautiful, now dead, brittle Christmas tree….Cooper was thrilled!!!  He hollered at us, “look what I found, look it’s our Christmas tree from the cabin!” He was so excited, it was precious….Papa and I asked them, “remember last year we spent the day in the cabin and made cookies and decorated the tree?”  Oh yes they both remembered and were so excited sharing things they remembered.  Cooper was holding onto the tree, trying to get it up.  Mom and dad told him to get away from it because it was on prickley….but as they spoke, right in front of our eyes…..Cooper made his move to the cabin door……he was on a mission…..the once beautiful Christmas tree, now to say the least unattractive was going back into the cabin for this year’s Christmas celebration!  Cooper only saw a Christmas tree……he saw only the beauty of a day with Nana, Papa, and Sissy….a day he treasured, more than we could have ever imagined, in his heart.  Of course we had to stop him from putting it in the cabin (with a promise of doing it again), but I couldn’t stop thinking about Cooper and that tree……Cooper saw beauty in that dead tree.  Oh Cooper, sweet boy, what a wonderful lesson you have given your Nana….We are so quick to see the unattractive, past actions, or life styles of people in our lives…..remembering hurts, mistrusts, poor choices while missing the beauty inside, the beauty and forgiveness that God offers everyone….Makes me sad to think of the opportunities I have missed to share happy, loving times with people that might have “unattractive” trees in their pasts…..judging what I think I see or know…missing out on what God sees, missing out on the blessing of sharing with another of HIS children.  Father, forgive us when we misjudge one of Your children, give us eyes and hearts that see as You do.

 

You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.  1 Corinthians 6:11.  If you forgive men when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.  Matthew 6:14-15.  God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.  Acts 10:28.  Do to others as you would have them do to you.  Luke 6:31.  How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!  Psalm 133:1  Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Hebrews 10:24.  Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  1 John 4:7. 

Love you all!

 

Relax in the Light of the World

Good Morning Friends!  Totally taken by HIS love, Tuesday!  Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving; we sure did, we spent the day at our little cabin in the woods and cooked everything but the stuffing and pie outside!  Kathyrn brought the oven stuff, but Kim and I did the rest!  No running water and no electricity, but an awesome campfire all day long!  Praise worthy for sure….now the big day is over and Sunday was the first day in Advent….gosh now we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birthday!  Crazy isn’t it, how time just seems to fly!  Good grief, I know that your lists are as long as mine and the whole month gets overwhelming at times….We had our Hanging of the Greens service at church Sunday, everyone taking part in the special service by hanging wreaths, lighting the Advent wreath, decorating the tree, placing each piece of the nativity, the banners displaying the names of Jesus, Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, Blessed Redeemer, Light of Light, Lamb of God, Living Word, hang perfectly straight along the walls…..kids reading, adults singing, everyone hanging special ornaments on the tree…..Wonderful, but…..yes hectic…..for the person planning it all gosh!  Thanks Nancy!  And for all of us hoping we are in the right place at the right time…..Well, festivities done, the service continued as usual, about three-quarters through Pastor’s sermon the sun, that had been shining so brightly all morning, went behind the clouds….Our church has big skylights and a huge stained-glass in the front of the church so the natural light is very obvious.  So when the church that had been bright was suddenly dim, I couldn’t help but notice….I took my eyes off of Pastor and looked around…..the lights….oh the lights, the tree, nativity, altar and wreath candles……the lights…..when the sun was shining in so brightly you could hardly notice all the lights, twinkling, sparkling…..shining in the darkness……shining…..Peace….Yes, Peace suddenly engulfed me…..I felt my body relaxing….I let go of the hectic morning and thought only of the LIGHT….The LIGHT of the world….given for me and you….God’s only SON….The Peace I saw in the twinkling lights…this PEACE that engulfed me, I know is what God wants each of us to have and to hold throughout this hectic season….This PEACE is all that matters….the LIGHT shining through the darkness to guide us…..loving us….Father, thank you for giving us the Perfect GIFT, the Light of the World, Your Son Jesus.  Push away the hectic from our lives and fill us with Your Perfect Peace as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Your Son, our Savior. 

 

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your heats be troubled and do not be afraid.”  John 14:27.  The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.  Psalm 29:11.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called peace.  Colossians 3:15.  The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:7.  The God of PEACE be with you.  Philippians 4:9.

Love you all! 

 

Are you ready?

Good Morning Friends!  Totally trusting in HIS loving care, Tuesday!!!  Over the weekend, Kim and I (and we had a great helper) finished getting all of our wood in for winter.  Got it all stacked nice and neat and even took a load up to our little cabin, got propane delivered on Friday, and Kim has everything ready to begin winter feeding of the cows.  Saturday afternoon we were feeling pretty proud of ourselves….we are all ready for winter…..last couple of years we were hauling wood all winter long and propane…waiting until there was an odor to call them……yep might even say we were a little smug as we went in patting ourselves on the back….all READY for winter!  Back in the house, I got to the laundry and then hit the shower…..standing there under the warm water, thinking about our accomplishments….my mind took a turn…..a really big one you know like a 180…..oh wow!!!!!!  Oh yea, Kim and I are ready for winter, and that is important here on this earth, but are we ready for what really matters….Are our hearts and minds centered on HIM, is our faith strong in the one true God……Are we READY!  Father we know you are preparing a place for us, keep us ever faithful….READY…..to spend eternity with You.

Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God, trust also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:1-4.  Jesus said, “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.  It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.  I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.  It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he come in the second or third watch of the night.  But understand this:  If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.  You also must be READY, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.”  Luke 12:35-40.  Jesus said, “I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”  John 16:22.

Love you all!

June 10, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Magnificent Monday, loved by Him!  What fun we had on Saturday, Cooper arrived at 7 am backpack and blankie in tow….ready for a sleep over with Nana and Papa!  We had big plans to spend the night at our little cabin.  Oh goodness was he ever excited!  After we finished chores and had a little nap, Cooper and I got things ready to take to the cabin for a dinner of ribs, corn, and watermelon!  All of Cooper’s favorites.  Papa went over to Cooper’s house to find his fishing pole and found some worms that daddy had left for him!  Ice chest packed with everything we would need for an overnight, fishing pole and worms loaded, we headed to the cabin.  What a great evening we had, fishing, rock climbing and cooking out!  Gosh can that boy eat!  Once we finished eating I packed the leftovers back into the ice chest;  Papa heated a pot of water on the fire and Cooper had him a great bath in an old mineral tub on the cabin deck…..clean as a whistle, we read a couple of stories and headed to bed.  The next morning we were up early, loaded the truck with all of stuff and headed home to get ready for church.  Papa brought the ice chest into the kitchen so I good put things away….when I opened it, yuck!  I had forgotten to bring zip locks for the leftover ribs, consequently, they were floating in the melted ice water…..yucky mess!  I didn’t have a lot of time before church so I just got out the stuff that needed to be refrigerated and would take care of the rest after church.  Home from church and starting lunch, I notice that the ice chest is leaking….the yucky bbq- sauce water is on the kitchen floor oh great!  I grabbed a towel, threw it down on the floor and went back to lunch.  Cooper, noticing the towel on the floor, said Nana, “What’s this, what are you doing?”  I explained to him that the ice chest was leaking, making sure to show him the plug that the water was coming from.  I told him Nana has to get it emptied out.  I went back to lunch…..Cooper, thinking that he knew just what to do in this situation, had pulled the plug and was happily watching all the yucky water drain onto the kitchen floor!  Good Grief!!!!  I wanted to scream, but I knew he thought he was doing the right thing…..He “thought” he was doing the right thing……However, he should have asked, right…..”Nana, is it ok if I pull the plug and let the water out?”  To which I would have replied, “Yes Cooper, but we must take it outside first, then you can pull the plug.”  “Let’s go Nana, let’s take it outside right now, I want to pull the plug.”  “No, Cooper…..you have to wait.  Nana has to finish lunch first.”  HMMM, as I was cleaning up the mess and dragging the ice chest outside…..the thought struck me….How often do I do things, thinking I know best and inevitably make a big mess….for me and even those I love….If only I had gone to our Heavenly Father first……talked to Him about the situation…..and then trusting and believing that His will is always best for me….wait…..for His guidance……Father, forgive us when we take things into our own hands and make messes…..strengthen our faith so that we always, come to You first for Your perfect love and guidance.

 

I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.   He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear and put their thrust in the Lord.  Blessed is the man who makes the Lord His trust, who does not look to proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.  Psalm 40:1-4.  This is what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is His name:  “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”  Jeremiah 33:2-3.  Guide me your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.  Remember, O Lord, Your great mercy and love for they are from of old.  Psalm 25:5-6. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  James 1:5.

Love you all!

December 3, 2012

Good Morning Friends!  Mighty is our God, Monday!  We have a little make-shift apartment on our property….started out as little individual rooms that Kim and I lived in when we first moved here.  They look like stores in an old west town; quite a few years ago when our son was coming out to live we pulled them down the hill side by side and built a porch all the way across.  Kim, put a little kitchen in the living room, the office became a bathroom/laundry room, and the bedroom got a closet (we had used our travel trailer for bathroom, kitchen, and closet).  Hence a make-shift one bedroom apartment!  After Shawn returned to California we had several different renters, the last ones moved out two years ago.  Kim and I got right on fixing it up…..well for a week or so, but then….well you know….stuff happens.  As winter approached, Kim turned the water off and swore he drained the lines…..Two years ago……Well, we have the apartment rented, so we had to get in there and finish up.  First thing Kim did was turn on the water……oh boy….guess what……leaks….yep…just a couple he thought not bad.  He fixed them, turned the water back on and dang it…..discovered two more spots leaking…..oh not bad he thought….but sure did think he had drained the lines.  Well yesterday after church he had to go to Home Depot and get more fittings, we had lunch and he headed back to Lula to get to work the leaks while I went to Walmart for some groceries.  I was standing in line when he called me….”Kathie, this place is full of leaks….everywhere!”  I could tell he was really upset, “behind the shower and toilet, in the walls…Kathie….it’s a mess!”  Poor guy, he was really upset and kept saying, “I know I drained the lines.”  I have no doubt that with a little hard work and perseverance that Kim will get all the leaks fixed, but the whole situation got me to thinking.  What happens to us when we just sit….unattended……we spring leaks….our faith weakens when our prayer life has leaks, when we are too busy to spend time chatting with our Heavenly Father and reading His word…..our hope gets weak….just like the water lines….we begin to see life dimly…..glass half empty…..we look at things with a negative attitude…Kim will fix the leaks in the apartment (up to nine), but our leaks can only be fixed by our Heavenly Father…..Kim goes to Home Depot for his supplies….we go directly to our Heavenly Father….when we go humbly before Him He fills our leaks with His perfect love.  He plugs the holes of sadness and anxiety with His peace…..He strengthens our hearts and minds with hope…Hope for better tomorrows….hope for life everlasting with HIM.  Father, forgive us when we let our spiritual life just sit……causing us to have leaks…..Father, bring us to You, fill us with Your Peace, encompass us in Your love.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.  Hebrews 10:23.  Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.  Psalm 62:5-6.  “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord.  For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.”  Jeremiah 17:7-8.  I will listen to what God the Lord will say; He promises peace to His people, His saints.  Psalm 85:8.  Pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.  2 Timothy 2:22.  Mercy, Peace and Love be yours in abundance.  Jude 2. 

Love you all

November 19, 2012

Good Morning Friends! Marvelous in His love, Monday!  Remember Friday I mentioned I was looking forward to going to our little cabin Friday evening?  Well, when I got home a neighbor was there visiting and we got so wrapped up in fun conversation that it got a little late to go, so I suggested to Kim that we go on Saturday after we get our chores done.  We could go earlier, more time to sit around the campfire and less stress for me getting everything ready to go, so worked out perfectly!  We were up early Saturday morning, took Cooper and Katy to breakfast, then came home and got to work.  About 4 I had everything together so we loaded the truck and headed up the hill!  Gosh I was really excited about sitting around the campfire.  First thing we did was go inside to check things out….oh shoot….wasps!  We had forgotten that last winter wasps invaded the cabin and we should have gone up and set off a bomb….well Kim thought we could go ahead and do it and just stay outside longer.  I headed out to set up outside and he set off bomb!  Gosh, the weather was perfect for a campfire, just cool enough, not to cold.  We both wore our jackets and snuggled close to the fire….I was in hog heaven!  Kim cooked on the open fire….delicious!!!!  It was getting pretty cool, so Kim went in to check on the wasp situation.  There were dead ones all over the floor, so we decided to move inside.  I started sweeping up while he started a fire in the woodstove….soon we were comfy inside, reading by the battery light and chatting away…We noticed a few wasps flittering way up high…hmmm….we kept reading, not really concerned….we figured they would settle down once the lights went out.  Soon we climbed into bed and settled into that good sleep, cozy in our cabin.  All of a sudden I felt an excruciating pain in the back of my arm….I jumped up and screamed out, “I JUST GOT STUNG!!”  No sooner had I got that out…..BAM, again….I got stung again…the other arm….by now Kim had the light on and we could see more wasps in the bed….”Let’s go home.”  I good not have agreed more…we quickly dressed, loaded all our stuff, and headed home!  My arms were both throbbing from the painful stings.  Once we were home, I told Kim I sure was glad they got me instead of him because he is allergic…oh my gosh could have been so bad for him…Hmm, a thought came to me……those stings that were painful for me, just for a minute, but didn’t really hurt me, could have been terrible for my husband…..hmmm how often does our does our Heavenly Father give us little stings….little reminders that might seem painful for just a second, but actually keep us from situations that are much worse.  You know when we have piled our cart with all kinds of things we really want….the sting….but you have bills to pay…..You overheard some unkind things about a co-worker and headed off to tell someone all about it….then the sting…..Think how many problems malicious gossip causes…..Hmmmm…..Father, make us aware of Your “stings” so that our lives always reflect You.  You know…the good old Golden Rule…do unto others as you would have them do unto you!!!! 

Be kind and compassionate to one another.  Ephesians 4:32.  As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Colossians 3:12.Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.  Matthew 5:42.  In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.  Matthew 7:12. 

Love you all!