"Happy, happy, happy!": Philippians 4:4

Good Morning Friends!   Thankful to be HIS, Tuesday!  Well, it’s Tuesday….we got through Monday….what are we going to do with TODAY?   Seems like sometimes we are content to “get through” a day, but I’ve thinking….well, Hailey just sent me a bunch of pictures of Tucker….I think maybe we could learn a few things from my one-year-old great-grandson.  First picture he’s in the bathtub, just sitting in the tub, surrounded by bubbles, but the smile on his face tells it all….from ear to ear his smile is shouting “I AM SOOOO HAPPY!!!”  There’s not a ton of toys in the tub, just water and a few bubbles, but a whole lot of HAPPY!  One picture shows him standing on the bed pointing out the window….no toys, just standing there in an unsnapped onesie, pointing to the beautiful world outside…..HAPPY!  Next, he is petting a chicken….he’s not afraid, but instead amazed and curious about God’s creation….enjoying the chicken, leaves, sunshine, clear air, just being outside with mommy and daddy and the chickens….HAPPY!  Seems to me that Tucker appreciates each moment of his day, simply, no great expectations, just HAPPY, that he is loved….Yes, he is too little to know all about the love of our Heavenly Father, but he does know that he lives in a beautiful world and he totally appreciates each part of his day…His precious smile shines with an “attitude of gratitude.”  Yep, I am sure that each of us can learn from Tucker…..today….tomorrow….let’s not just “get through” the day….let’s be HAPPY, like Tucker….TODAY is the DAY the LORD has made….HE made TODAY and all tomorrows for us…..let’s rejoice in each day….Rejoice that we too are loved….Loved and Forgiven by our Heavenly Father….Woo Hoo!!!!  Take a minute today….look outside, if you can go out bask in the beauty of His creation, clear skies, gentle breeze, cool temps, turning leaves….be still….feel HIM….thank HIM….Praise HIM….then go back inside glowing with an attitude of gratitude!  Father….gosh, help us please to see how blessed we are….to appreciate, rejoice, and praise YOU all day everyday with attitudes overflowing with gratitude!!!!  Thank you Father!!!!!

 

This day is sacred to our Lord.  Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.  Nehemiah 8:10.  How many are your works, O Lord!  In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures.  Psalm 104:24.  These are but the outer fringe of His works; how faint the whisper we hear of Him!  Who then can understand the thunder of His power?  Job 26:14.  You alone are the Lord.  You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them.  You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.  Nehemiah 9:6.  You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.  Isaiah 55:12. Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Philippians 4:4.  Be joyful always.  1 Thessalonians 5:16.  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13. 

Love you all! 

April 17, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderfully wrapped in His loving arms, Wednesday!  Yesterday afternoon Kim and I took Hailey, Clark, and Tucker to the airport in Dallas…..from Dallas to Fairbanks, AK…..the first leg of a new adventure in their lives…..moving back to Fairbanks.  The last couple of months, knowing that they were leaving have been quite difficult for Papa and I.  Of course, we love them so very much, and always want what’s best for them, but I must admit my first reaction was more selfish than loving.  Yes, at first I even questioned our Heavenly Father…asking Him why He would bring them to Lula to live, bless us with Tucker and then BAM!  Take them away……Alaska is a long ways from Lula!  We listened to their reasons and their plans, teased them endlessly about staying and then helped them pack up, and finally yesterday took them to the airport with lots of great big bags!  It took all of us to get everything checked in, my job…..taking care of Tucker!  Finally the moment had come, we had to say goodbye.  I found someone to take our picture, lots of hugs and kisses…..tears…..and the final goodbye.  Kim and I walked silently to the car, tears streaming down our faces wondering how long it would be till we see our precious Hansen family again.  We got in the car and headed out of the airport towards home, silent at first and then Kim broke the silence….”Well, at least they got to have the country experience for a while.  They have really grown and matured.”  I agreed….and then….peace….do I feel peace?  I asked myself…..I think I do…..but I just put my first-born granddaughter, her sweet husband, our grandson, Clark and our first great-grandson on an airplane to Alaska…to live.  How can I feel peace?  I am devastated, broken hearted, sad…..peace…..there can’t be any room for peace in my heart…Oh wait….”OK Father…..I feel you…..I hear you…..Yes, forgive me….I know You supply peace beyond human understanding…yes that’s what I am feeling!  I just have to let You in don’t I?  But Father they will be so far away and I worry about them…..Oh Ok, OK…..yes…..I do know that You are with them…they love you and You will guide and protect them…..Thank you Father…..Thank you Father for the blessing of having Hailey, Clark, and Tucker in Lula with us for almost 3 years.  Gosh we are so blessed!  Father thank you for finding me and filling me with Your peace when I am wallowing in self-pity.  Forgive me.

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 will be with you.  Philippians 4:9.  The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.  Psalm 29:11.  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 hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  John 14:27.  To everything there is a season, and a purpose to everything under heaven.  Ecclesiastes 3:1.

Love you all!

April 16, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully His, Tuesday!  Last night Kim had call a phone call from our grandson Brayden in California.  Brayden was reading Papa Kim the very first report he had ever written.  The subject….pick your hero and write about him/her.  Well, guess who Brayden wrote about!  Yep, his Papa Kim….he read, “My hero is my Papa Kim……because he is a fireman.  He is a fireman, he helps his community,  and he saves lives……that’s why he is my hero!  I am proud of my Papa Kim.”   I didn’t hear the whole report, but that is what I could get from Papa Kim…….He was so proud, beaming like a bright light, smiling from ear to ear, so he could hardly speak.  Gosh, can you just imagine…..a tribute like that from your 7 (8 tomorrow) year old grandson.  His hero, Papa Kim.  After his call I started thinking who I would write about if I was given that assignment…..people in my life came to mind first…my mom, my brother Sam, my husband…..then I thought of some biblical persons….David slaying Goliath, Daniel in the lion’s den, how about all the apostles dying because they would never deny their faith……dying…I thought of Brayden’ s report….how Papa Kim saves lives……..yes Papa Kim and all firemen do have the opportunity at times to save lives and I am so thankful for all the people that risk their lives for others in their jobs…..And then the LIGHT came on….the LIGHT of the WORLD is my hero……Jesus our Savior, our Good Shepherd, our Best Friend….HOLY…without blame….born in a stable…..DIED FOR US!  He didn’t risk HIS life….HE GAVE IT…..WILLINGLY!  For you and for me…….Really, Hero is not nearly BIG enough to call our JESUS!!!!  We are so blessed!  By grace we have been saved……Father, my goodness how we so miss the LIGHT so often, forgive us!  Thank you for YOUR gift to us…YOUR only Son, our Savior…….Father, thank you for precious grandchildren that help us to see the LIGHT and bless our lives in such very special ways.  All Praise, Honor, and Glory to You!!!!!

God so loved the world that He GAVE His ONE and ONLY Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16.   Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of Your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for You name’s sake.  Psalm 79:9  Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord.  You ha e filled my heart with great joy than when their grain and new wine abound.  Psalm 4:6-7.  The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.  Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His suffering in order that we may also share in His glory.  Romans 8:16—17. 

Love you all!