A clean slate

Good Morning Friends!  Mighty and Marvelous is our God, Monday!!!  Each Sunday during Lent in Sunday school, we all (kids and teachers) took a big nail, held it in our hands and in silence thought about our sins, maybe a particular sin that needed forgiving, asked for forgiveness and then we each, still in silence stuck our nails into a brown Styrofoam cross.  We then prayed together for God to help us do the best we can and thanked Him for sending His Son to die for us, forgiving our sins.  Like I said we did this each week so the cross was quite full of nails.  After church on Good Friday, I took all the nails out of the cross, took it home and painted the other side white; my plan was to have a lesson based on because of Easter, our sins are forgiven and we are washed clean…white.   Easter Sunday was very busy at Sunday school, so we didn’t have a chance to talk about the changes in our cross, but yesterday I was excited for the kids to see the white, nail-less cross.  I gathered them all around our table and before I could even get started one young boy, 11, said, “ hey the nails are all gone and our cross is white.”  Ah, I thought, this is going to be great, but then he went on to say, “hey the other side is still brown.”  I tried to skip over that fact and get on with the Easter message with the white side of our cross, but he would have no part of it.  He was determined to keep on about the brown side of the cross and get to the bottom of the whole deal!  Well, I was actually getting a little perturbed at him (oh yes it’s true, I had to ask for forgiveness) as he had really taken the wind out of what I thought was a great lesson.  Well, I finally got him to give it up and went on with class, but I just couldn’t get it off my mind……kids!  As I was sitting in church listening to Pastor….I finally got it……with the help of this young man, I figured it out…..Jesus didn’t die for just some of our sins, HE didn’t wash just half of them away…..HIS death and resurrection gives us a clean slate, wipes all our sins away….front and back…..inside and out….HIS blood makes us clean….Father, bring us to You in true repentance to confess and seek Your forgiveness.  Give us hearts that forgive others as You forgive us.  And Father thank  you for the pure wisdom of children and the lessons we can learn from them. 

“Come now, let us reason together,”  say 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 transgression from us.  Psalm 103:12.  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.  Ephesians 1:7-8.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  Ephesians 4:32.

Love you all!

It's not "all about me"

Today at 8:55 AM

Good Morning Friends!  Take time to be grateful, Thursday!  Yesterday was a Cooper day for Papa, so about 6:50 am Kathyrn flew into the drive way to drop him off, then proceed to Grami’s, dropping off Katy, before heading into work.  All summer long, when they arrive, Kim and I both go out to say hi to Katy only to find her with a sad, pouty face….she is always sad/mad because she wants to stay with Papa too…..poor sweetie just cannot understand why she can’t stay and “work “ with Papa like Cooper does.  Cooper always jumps out of the van and runs to the house with his backpack happy and raring to go to “work.”  Yesterday, however, was a totally different scenario…the exact opposite to be exact.  Cooper had the mad/pouty face and barely attempted to get out hanging onto Mommy, his blankie clutched tightly.  Katy, on the other hand, was happy as a lark!!!!  You see, Grami was taking Katy and her other granddaughters to the movies and Cooper was mad because he wanted to go!!!!  We tried to explain to him that Katy is always sad because he gets to stay with Papa and she doesn’t, so now it was her turn to do something fun that Cooper didn’t get to do…..OH boy, how do you think that went over?  Cooper did not get it….he could care less about Katy’s feelings….nope it was all about him…..and he was mad because he didn’t get to go to the movies!   All about Cooper…..we all had a little chuckle at him as he stomped into the house, but as Kathyrn and Katy pulled out I felt the familiar tap on my shoulder.  “Good Morning Father,  thank  you for this beautiful day!”  What’s up?”  “Well, Kathie….I was watching you all with Cooper and I know you think, shame on him for being jealous of Katy and being all about Cooper, but Kathie…..maybe you need to stop and examine your thoughts and actions at times.  Just saying…..times when you ignore the feelings of a friend or family because you are all wrapped up in yourself….”all about you.”  How about times when you whine because someone got a new dress or went somewhere and you can’t afford a new dress…..how about that closet full of dresses, skirts, pants, tops, sweaters….just saying my child…..Cooper has pointed out actions that you, as an adult, need to avoid yourself.  So, let Me help you produce an attitude of gratitude;  I didn’t promise you could have everything your little heart desires, but I do promise to give you everything you need, to be with you in good times and bad, to give you rest and peace…..and I ask you love your neighbor (or sister) as yourself.  Kathie, please, “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks. (1 Thess.5:16-18).”  Oh Father…..thank you for the tap….I am so very blessed in every way, thank you….forgive me when it’s “all about me.”

 

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.  Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 5:19:20. I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  Philippians 4:11-12.  God made her desserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord.  Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and sound of singing.  Isaiah 51:3.  No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.  1 John 4:12. Amen!  Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever.  Amen!  Revelation 7:12.

Love you all!

Batter up!

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully His Tuesday!  Ran across a bible verse this morning that hit a spot with me….with a special T ball team…..from Isaiah 60:1, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and glory of the Lord rises upon you.”   Last night, after several cancellations, we had another T ball game!  I was excited as I climbed into the bleachers with Katy, mom and dad….the other team was already on the field practicing!  Didn’t take but a few moments to see that this team…was pretty darn good!  For starters they looked like giants compared to our little guys and they could throw and catch, I mean really throw and catch….wow….dad and I chuckled at the thought of what we were up against!  Our kids took their places in the field, excited, thrilled and just proud to be there!  Well, bam….one hit, then another, and another, 1, 2 ,3 points and going crazy…our kids were so happy to have balls to chase, places to throw them if it wasn’t the right place….they were giving it their all!!!  This went on for three innings!  We, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles were screaming and hollering, disgusted with how out matched we were….but the kids…..the kids….they were shining….Giving it their best, they played the game with gusto, enthusiasm, determination…..Our little team shined, no crying, stomping, pouting, no giving up!  They shined while us adults….we were rather pathetic at times….who cares that the final score was 18-1…..God doesn’t care one bit!  As I read Is. 60:1 I couldn’t help but think that His light had risen on them, they shined with HIS love…..Oh my, if only we could rise and shine in our faith like those kids did playing ball….”Arise, Shine….you and me, let’s get up to bat for HIM….HIS Glory is rising upon us…..HE loves us….verse 2 continues, “See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, BUT the LORD rises upon you and HIS glory appears over you.”  Don’t worry how big the other team is…..Remember we have the PERFECT COACH!!!  Our Father rises out of the darkness and shines HIS everlasting glory on us….HIS PERFECT all powerful LOVE….Unending FORGIVENESS, MERCY, GRACE….Father, thank you for shining YOUR Glory on us…..help us to rise and shine for YOU!  Rise, shine….give God the glory!

 

Though I have fallen, I will rise.  Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.  Micah 7:8.  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.  My soul is downcast within me.  Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:  Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:20-23.  Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright I heart.  Psalm 97:11.

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!

 

Yuck! Our pool is green! August 30, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Forever His, Friday!  Didn’t we have an awesome break in our typical summer heat this year!  Oh yes it’s warm right now, but gosh our temps were so nice and the rain….Wow!  Fantastic!  The only negative I could find in the pleasant break was it was too cool to swim….the water in the pool got really cool!  Well, after last weekend Kathyrn and I decided that it was time for a dip with the kids, so Monday after work they came over for a much anticipated swim!  The kids came into the house looking for me, so excited in their swim suits!  I had mine on too, but was brewing tea, so sent them on out.  In just a few minutes I headed out too.  I could hear the kids squealing with delight, but it’s what Kathyrn hollered to me as I got close that threw me for a loop!  She said, “IT’S GREEN!!!”   I couldn’t believe my ears…..Green….there’s no way!  True we had not been swimming in a couple of weeks….but Kim had run the filter…..Oh my gosh, I couldn’t believe my eyes!!!  GREEN, really GREEN and full of debris from all the rain and wind…leaves, bugs…tons of dead june bugs floating….gross!  Kathyrn cleaned the plugged filter and began skimming, I begrudgingly got in and played with the kids stirring the water so it would filter better.  We filled the chlorine containers and just shook our heads……when Papa got there, he couldn’t believe it either, stating it wasn’t green on Saturday…..Well, after the kids left home I couldn’t help thinking about our green pool…..how quickly it had turned from a clear, clean pool to a yucky, murky GREEN one!  Talking about it with a friend here at work, he said the same thing had happened to his pool….he said, “All the conditions were just right.”  Conditions….just right……to turn clean to GREEN…..that’s when it hit me!  Oh my, how often is my life like the green pool….How often do I let “conditions” in my life, turn me GREEN….murky…..stressed, anxious, worried, ill-tempered, short, grumpy, jealous, hateful…My heart and mind are not “clear”……not clearly focused on the pure love of our Heavenly Father…..Rather I let “conditions” turn me murky……like the green swimming pool I am undesirable to those around me…..and I know that my Father is disappointed…..Thankfully, conditions can change.  Our Father, unclogs the filter of my heart and mind, refills me with HIS love and skims off my sinful actions through the blood of His only Son, our Savior……Clean again I pray that my actions will sparkle with HIS love…….me, HIS child, loved and forgiven…..Thank you Father, for the loving clean-ups!  All Glory, honor and Praise to YOU!

 

My flesh and my heart may fail, but my God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  Psalm 73:26.  I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me.  Jeremiah 33:8.  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 your name’s sake.  Psalm 79:9.  The Lord bless you, and keep you:  The Lord make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you:  The Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace.  Numbers 6:24-26. 

Love you all!  Have a great holiday weekend!  Be safe

January 28, 2013

Good Morning Friends!!!!  Mighty and Marvelous is our God, Monday!  Just to refresh your memory, Cooper and Katy spend their days with Hailey and Tucker, and of course Clark when he’s not at work or school!  Well, Hailey is such a creative daycare mom and always has such cool things for them to do, she never ceases to amaze me.  Her latest invention, over the weekend, I would say is the coolest (got to give Clark some credit too, he was a big help)!  Ok so I know you are on pins and needles to find out what they did……Cooper and Katy (3 and 2) love to help Hailey with the laundry….well me and mommy too…they just love to put things in the washer and dryer….laundry is their thing.  So, Hailey and Clark made them a washing machine out of a big cardboard box (see attachment).  The kids get to Hailey’s about 6:50 am and the first thing Hailey did was take them to play room to show them their washing machine; needless to say, they were delighted!!!! Kathyrn went on to work and Hailey started breakfast while Cooper and Katy were playing.  According to Hailey, they had not been in the play room very long when Cooper came out, stripped bare!!!!  “Cooper, why are you naked?!  Where are your clothes”  To which Cooper immediately and quite matter of factly, replied, “in the washing machine, I am washing them.”  Can you imagine Hailey’s reaction!  When she told me I just cracked up….kids!  She said, “Nana, who would have ever thought that he would do that.  You just don’t know what a kid is going to do.”  When we finished our conversation I couldn’t help but think about Cooper standing in the kitchen naked while his clothes washed, gosh what a good smile maker!  Then a thought occurred to me…..Hailey’s reaction…..”who would have ever thought he would do that.”  We never know how our words or actions are going to be interrupted by others….it never crossed Hailey’s mind that he would strip and wash his clothes…..to him it was just the logical thing to do!  I had to think about my actions at times, things I say to people without really thinking things through……gosh, think of the feelings that are hurt, ill feelings sprout, misunderstandings….gosh, we can really never be too careful with our words and actions…..we need to think before we act, put ourselves in the other person’s place and try to let our actions reflect God’s love!  Father, thank you for grandkids that can teach us simple, but important lessons.  Help us to speak and act according to Your will.

A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.  Proverbs 25:11.  Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.  Matthew 12:34.  Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.  Colossians 4:6.  He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.  Proverbs 13:3.  A gossip betrays a confidence.  Proverbs 11:13.  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.  Psalm 19:14.

Love you all!