Out of the mouths of babes

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully blessed by Him, Thursday.  A couple days ago I told you about Katy’s accident on Friday, remember and I had not been home long enough to get my clothes changed?  Well, the funny part is that when I left work that day I was going to Walmart to buy groceries.  My feet were already hurting from my heels, so I decided to put on my tennis shoes I wear when I work out.  Everybody got a chuckle out of Kathie going to Walmart in her dress clothes and pink tennis shoes.  I really didn’t care what they thought….lol….I wanted to be comfortable.  When I walked in the door at home, Kim laughed out loud (he is such a fashion expert you know) and made sure I knew he thought I looked like a nerd…..again I didn’t care and told him so!  Well, when Kathyrn called us to go with her to the ER it never for one second crossed my mind to change my shoes….Nope, all I could think of was getting Katy to the hospital.  After we settled in at the ER, Cooper was his usual antsy self, couldn’t sit still.  He was hopping around in front of me when he stopped and very seriously said, “Nana, I like your shoes, they’re cool.”  I looked at Kim and said, “HA, HA!!!  Cooper likes my shoes!”  As I told him thank you I put my arms around him and gave him a great big hug and mushy kiss, poor kid!  Things were a bit hectic the rest of the evening, but as I went to bed, in the darkness I smiled, I knew that our Father could see my smile from my heart, and hear my silent thank you prayer….Thank you for children Father and the lessons we can learn from their kind innocence.  Bless and protect them with YOUR LOVE.

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.”  Matthew 18:3-4.  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.  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!

The perfect "first responder"

Good Morning Friends!  Totally in HIS care, Tuesday!  Friday evening, I hadn’t been home long, had the groceries unloaded and frig things put away, but that was it…still in my dress clothes; the phone rang, it was Kathyrn, she was frantic…..”Can you go to the hospital with me?  Katy is hurt!!!”  “YES, we’ll be right there!” I responded, she told she was already on her way to get us.  I hollered at Papa, told him to come on Katy is hurt.  He wanted to know what happened, “don’t know” I said, “but she is hurt.”  We headed down our driveway just as she pulled in.  Katy was in the back holding a towel on her arm, crying desperately.  Papa jumped in the back by her and immediately started soothing her.  He looked at her wound and knew that she would have to have stitches.  I got in the front with Kathyrn and we flew to the hospital.  Cooper was so worried about his sister, I did my best to keep him occupied while Papa gave his attention to Katy, comforting her with his gentle words and explaining to her just what would happen when she got to see the doctor.  I was so glad we had our own “first responder” with us.  He took total control.  Dad arrived at the hospital (he was at work) about the same time we did; Papa hung back for him, I went into the ER with Kathyrn and helped her get Katy checked in….then the wait…..Cooper was a nervous wreck and itching to get himself into trouble, so Papa and I decided we could take Dad’s truck and Cooper and go home.  We hadn’t been home too long, when I heard from Kathyrn, they were in the examining room.  Pretty soon a picture came of Katy’s “boo boo” with a glowing report on the patient.  Soon they were headed home.  We were so thankful that Katy was going to be ok with a few stiches inside and out!  After Mom and Dad came and got Cooper, Papa and I rehashed the whole evening…..I was so proud of his expert “first responder” care-giving.  All his training has sure paid off!  I said a great big thank you prayer to our Father, and then chuckled to myself….My goodness we have the PERFECT FIRST RESPONDER…. On call….24/7!!!  HE didn’t need any training, no pager or cell phone….NOPE HE is our all- knowing, all powerful, healer, comforter, protector, ON CALL ready and waiting for us to come to HIM.  Oh you know I was praying all the way to the hospital and Cooper and I prayed for sister too……HE was there, with Katy, with us…..going to HIM comforted me…..knowing that HE is always there….gave me strength….peace.  Thank you Father for being our PERFECT FIRST RESPONDER for any need that we have.  Keep us mindful of YOUR presence in our lives….every minute of every day!  And thank you for taking care of precious Katy.  All glory to YOU!

Co not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.  And the  peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7.  Cast all your anxiety on God because He cares for you.  1 Peter 5:7.  The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.  Psalm 145:18.  “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear,” says the Lord.  Isaiah 65:24.

Love you all!

Are you a Mary or Martha? Luke 10:40-41

Good Morning Friends!  Totally taken with His LOVE, Tuesday!  Tomorrow Kim and I are flying to California both to attend Craig’s memorial service and also to see our son Shawn, who is still in the hospital.  Gosh when one lives on a ranch there is so much to do to get ready to go away.  I am thankful for all the neighbors and friends that are pitching in to take care of our cows, sheep, lambs, donkeys, chickens, bunnies (well Cooper and Katy are taking care of the chickens and bunnies…) and dogs.  Kim has been working tirelessly outside to get things all set up, while I have been taking care of packing and inside arrangements.  Last night I got serious about packing….wanting to just take carry on-s I had to carefully pick just the things we really need…..let’s see, I need jeans and capris, several shirts and shoes, oh gosh a light jacket, can’t forget our “Nana and Papa” shirts because we will get to see grandkids (that’s a plus), hmmm got to get all our pills, make-up…got to make sure I get what I need, but that nothing is over 2 oz. Oh gosh, gonna need some jewelry…which earrings…can’t take them all, and we need some snacks…oh gosh what would be easy to carry on, not too bulky, don’t want anything to melt…Oh I need to pack a good shirt for Kim, and something for him to read…oh he will need his glasses and we need our phone chargers…..the needs seem endless…And I sure don’t want to forget anything we NEED!!  This morning while taking care of a few more “NEEDS”  running around a bit crazy…my thoughts were drawn to an incident in God’s word…Jesus had gone to visit Mary and Martha….while Martha was busy in the kitchen taking care of everything they “NEEDED” for Jesus’ visit, Mary sat at Jesus feet and listened to HIM…..Mary sat with Jesus, while Martha stressed over  the things they “NEED”……To say the least, Martha was a bit ticked at her sister, she went to where Mary was sitting with Jesus and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?  Tell her to help me!”  Don’t you just know how Martha felt, she just knew Jesus would take her side, so indeed she was surprised when Jesus relied, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one this is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10:40-41.  Whoa……!!!!  Martha was obsessed with earthly “things” while Mary “sat with Jesus”  Mary got it!!!!  That’s all we “need”  Jesus, our Savior alive in our hearts, filling our minds with HIS love, forgiving us, sending the Holy Spirit to nurture our faith….Jesus, our God and Savior…..the ONE and ONLY “thing” we need!  Father forgive us when we get obsessed with earthly “things” bring us back to what matters, the only thing that matters, faith in YOU!  Father, thank you for sticking with us when this earthly stuff gets hectic, leading and guiding us all the way!  All honor, glory and praise to YOU!

 

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6.  We live by faith, not by sight (or things).  2 Corinthians 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.  Seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and all this ‘things’ will be given to you as well.  Matthew 6:33.  Though you have not seen Christ, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.  1 Peter 1:8-9.

The Creator and Performer of great and glorious things

Good Morning Friends!  Full of His Greatness, Friday!  “You are, O God, The Creator and Performer of great and glorious things.”  A friend shared this quote with me today…..On first read, might seem like one simple sentence, but if you will “be still” for just a moment and read it again…..Wow!  Of course we all know that God is the “Creator” of our world, just open Genesis 1 for a magnificent recap of the 6 days in which He created-made out of nothing- our world.  It’s the “Performer” part that got me to thinking…..We think about Jesus “performing” miracles, you know healing the blind, turning water into wine, casting out demons, but how about today…..right now…..do we believe that our God still performs miracles or in our weakness do we  tend to forget….forget that HE is the Maker and DOER of all….What “things” do you need “Performed” for you?  Great and Glorious things????  Feeling trapped?  Worried?  Stressed? Anxious?  I think about my son, sick in the hospital in California….I hate to think how much time and energy I have wasted worrying about him rather than Praising our God, our Father, for the great and glorious things He is planning to Perform for Shawn….for you, your family….friends…for me…..Great and Glorious beyond our human imagination….we see His magnificent world in front of us….the works of His hands and still can’t understand how He did it….just imagine….be still and let your mind be full of HIM and be blessed by the great and glorious things our Performer has in store for us!  Thank you Father, forgive our worry and our simple minds! “ To YOU, O God, The Creator and Performer of great and glorious things” be all Honor, Glory, and Praise, now and forever. 

 

Therefore, we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:16-18.  Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.  Know that the Lord is God.  It is He who made us, and we are His/  we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.  Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.  For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.  Psalm 100.

Love you all!

July 22, 2013

Good Morning Friends!!!!!!  Mighty is our God, Monday!  This morning on the news, on every channel, the birth of the royal baby was the main focus!  Yes, the whole world is a buzz awaiting the birth of Prince William and Princess Kate’s first child….prince or princess….that is the question!  Everyone loves a new baby…..so innocent and precious….this royal baby really has everyone excited…..As I listened to the news commentators this morning I couldn’t help but feel a bit of excitement myself….how nice it is to have hear something positive on the news….something really happy, non- violent, during such difficult, unsettled times in our world….Yes, this new baby is just what we need right now…..I had to chuckle as my mind turned from the baby in the news to the baby in my heart….OUR BABY, LORD OF LORDS, PRINCE OF PEACE, AND KING OF KINGS!  Princess’s Kate’s baby is being born in a huge hospital, with all the modern medical things needed; our PRINCE was born in stable, no doctors or nurses, just cows and sheep…..His bed….a manger….not a fancy cradle, but hold on…..Angels sang at HIS birth……the heavens were full of rejoicing, shepherds fell to their knees in awe and praise and Wise men traveled from a far to bring HIM precious gifts!  HIS birth had been anticipated for much longer than the 9 months that William and Kate have waited….For the baby in the manger….Our SAVIOR!  His birth was the beginning of life everlasting for a world that will simply believe in HIM…..HIS death and resurrection for us……children of HIS Royal Family! Father, thank you so much for giving us YOUR SON…..to wash us clean with HIS blood…..Help us  share Your love and the joy of Your forgiveness through Your Son, our Savior.  And Father, thank you for precious babies that bring us so much joy; bless Kate and William with a healthy baby, to You be the Glory!

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a SAVIOR has been born to you, He is the Christ the LORD.  This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His faor rests.”  Luke 2:10-14.  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.  God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believe I Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16.