Acts of kindness waiting for us to deliver...

Good Morning Friends!!!   The dreaded grass fire season hit with a vengeance last week in Lula!  Started on Thursday with a big one, then Friday they got paged about 3:30 another one raging and the wind was so bad.   I had been home a while, had my chores done, was in my jamies and in the middle of trying a new recipe when Kim called.  He wanted me to go to Tupelo and get food for all the firemen….it had been a tough afternoon and going into the night….Well, normally I would have jumped at the chance to help them, but like I said…it was Friday night, I was in my jamies, and in the middle of a new recipe, so my reaction to him was less than it should have been….I reluctantly  said ok, hung up the phone and called in the order.  I made myself presentable and headed to Tupelo….my night vision is terrible so had to go pretty slow…good thing I encountered 3 horses and their riders right along the highway, crazy people!  When I got to Tupelo they were just finishing my big order, they helped me carry it to the car and I headed out to find the fire sight.  Kim had given me good instructions and told me to not get into the heavy smoke.  When I arrived on scene…wow what a sight, trucks and lights flashing for as far as I could see….and it was smoky (I wondered how they could stand it).  I was a little nervous, parking and getting out, but as soon as I did several firemen came to help me.  Oh my gosh!  They were so grateful!!!  They thanked me over and over and gave me big hugs and they were so happy!  Here they were, risking their lives, grueling labor and late after a day at their jobs….happy, smiling, hugging, and so very appreciative of me.  Wow….As I got back into the car to go home, I was so thankful they couldn’t read my minds…I was so ashamed of myself….how could I have ever been so selfish…I continued my drive asking our Father to forgive me….Look what I would have missed out on if I hadn’t had the chance to do that!  Father, help us to see the acts of kindness waiting for us to deliver, forgive us when we are selfish with our time because we miss out on the blessings You have for us.  Help us to remember it is so good to give….to give YOU GLORY with our actions.

 

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.  1 John 3:18.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people….Galatians 6:10.  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.  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.

His most extraordinary, everyday blessings!

Good Morning Friends!  Totally, thankfully HIS, Tuesday!!!   This morning driving to work, I was thinking….”hope things are just a bit less hectic today….”  I was distracted when I saw cows in a pasture with grass at least a foot tall, poking their heads through the fence trying to get something on the other side….my gosh they had lush, green grass, in August right in front of them.  Couldn’t help but think dumb, greedy cows…they are so ungrateful for what they have!  I just couldn’t believe my eyes, but soon turned my thoughts back to a less hectic day….OH MY GOSH, BAM!!!!  DUMB and GREEDY….UNGRATEFUL!!  Those adjectives could easily apply to me…..for heaven’s sake….I am driving to work….First of all in these troubled times I have a great job!  Next, I am driving to it in my little black car….Yes, I live in the country and gas is high, but….did you hear me???  I live in the country, surrounded by lush, green pastures, tall trees, ponds and lots of critters….I live there….oh dear.  My job, is inside of a beautiful office, full of awesome friends and co-workers…My goodness, the friends I have made while at my job are such a huge blessing in my life…not to mention all the benefits…..After work, I go home to a loving, hard-working husband and our little dog Axle and almost always I hear from at least one of my out of state grandkids or maybe a visit from Cooper and Katy.  Last night I invited Katy for a Nana bath; Cooper was at firemen’s with Papa, so it would just be us girls.  They love their “Nana bath”  and it gives me so much joy….they are so grateful to have a bath at my house (of course I do have some really cool stuff for the tub)….a simple bath….Oh and it ended up firemen’s was short so Cooper got to have a “Nana bath” too and then we all sat on the porch and visited until the mosquitos ran us in.  While Harper was here one day Cooper asked her if she had ever had a Nana bath….how special is that?  He didn’t want her to miss out on the fun….shame on me for being ungrateful for even one second, when I have so much, my heart is so full…overflowing with HIS most extraordinary, everyday blessings!   Harper told Cooper, “Oh yes Cooper, I was having Nana baths long before you were even born!  Oh my, I have been blessed to be a Nana for a long time….Shame on me Father when I seem to be greedy and ungrateful for even a minute….I am so blessed by YOU and to be YOUR child…..Let my heart continually sing Your praises!

 

Everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.  1 Timothy 4:4.  Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever.  Psalm 118:1.  Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (every one, big or little).  12 Corinthians 9:15.  Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 5:19-20.  Amen! 

Love you all!

April 4, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully His, Thursday!  Well, how about this rain!  So funny, out in our neck of the woods there’s always so much hype about the weather….you know the men…..they all have their input on how much rain, how cold, how dry….you know.  Well, Monday was their firemen’s meeting and when Kim got home he had lots of rain stories to tell!  One said,  gonna get 4.5 inches, another no not that much gonna get about 3.5 inches…..another 2-4…everybody boasting that their predictions would be the one!  My husband, sporting his doom and gloom attitude, said “it’s gonna miss us! Not gonna get anything.”  So, we did get something didn’t we!  You know what we got?.......Bottom line?   We got the amount of rain that our Heavenly Father wanted us to have!   No meteorologist or fireman could predict the exact amount of rain that our Heavenly Father would send to us….or how it would come……we must simply trust and believe that it will rain and thank Him…..oh yes, even in times of drought we must THANK HIM FOR THE RAIN…..the rain that’s coming!   Oh my…..that’s the message for our lives……we must trust HIM…..sometimes it seems like one yucky thing after another comes our way…..we begin to wonder…..doubt that our Heavenly Father really cares about us….that’s when we must reach deep into our hearts, holding tightly to our faith and trust…..and thank HIM…..Oh yes my friends, He tells us to give thanks in all circumstances…..that means…..even the yucky ones.  God is always working for us….Always loving us…..in HIS way….in HIS time….and as hard as it is….we must work diligently to not question HIM.  We must, “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; and in EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. At times, we might not see God’s love with our eyes, but close your eyes and see His love in your heart…..Oh yes HIS love is always with us…..His arms are always open….waiting for us to come and be refreshed…..reassured that the blessings will come.  Father, gosh sometimes life makes us wonder….forgive us when our trust in You, Your love, for us weak…..bring us to YOU for comfort.  Thank you Father.

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.  Psalm 9:9.  My soul fins rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.  Psalm 62:1-2.  Jesus said, “ have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33.  I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.  Isaiah 41:13.  Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am you God.  I will strengthen you and help you;  I will uphold you with  my righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:10.

Love you all!