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!

May 8, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderfully blessed by Him, Wednesday!  Yesterday Kim and I had to make some changes on our cell account and they needed him….couldn’t do it myself (let me tell you taking Kim to the cell store is more of an adventure than needed sometimes), so Kim met me in town a little after 5.  Even though he had worked cows all day and was totally pooped, he was in tip top…let’s have fun at the cell phone store mode!  After an hour and a half we were finally out the door.  To sweeten our time at the cell store we decided to go to Polo’s and have dinner!  We got right in, service was good, food oh so yummy…..while we were there Cooper and Katy’s mommy called…they were at our house…..oops (you know Nana and Papa are supposed to always be home).  Mommy had gotten a facial with all new make-up and wanted us to see.  We were both disappointed, so Papa said call her and tell her to not wash her face and we will come over when we get home.  We finished dinner and headed home….me in my car and Papa in his truck; I always hate it when we have two cars in town.  Well, I got home before him and never even saw him behind me….I unloaded the car and was changing clothes when he finally got home…..Aww….he proudly held two bags of M&M’s…One for Cooper and one for Katy.  What a sweet Papa!  I smiled, shook my head and said, “Oh Katy loves M&M’s!”  It was so nice out we decided to take the four wheeler…..upon arrival we found them in the bathtub having a splashing good time!  Papa couldn’t wait to show off the M&M’s so the bath ended rather quickly.  Cooper grabbed his, said thank you and headed down the hall.  Katy, oh my, that sweet, innocent faced, 2 year old dripping wet….Papa handed her them to her; her eyes lit up like 4^th of July fireworks.  She thanked Papa immediately and then looked at me and full of joy said, “bring M&M’s for me…..to eat?!”  She could hardly contain herself as she waited for me to say, “yes honey, for you to eat (if mommy says of course)”   Love just oozed from her….totally, completely grateful for a little bag of M&M’s…..As we rode home, I got to thinking…..here we go with that “childlike” faith again……thrilled, thankful, grateful for such a little thing……How often in our rush for the biggest and the best and in the midst of our whining, do we miss God’s “little” things…..hummingbirds feeding, birds singing, wildflowers blooming, someone to talk to in the cell store, a friend to share a ride with, an unexpected bag of M&M’s….Maybe we should reach into ourselves….go back…..find that childlike joy……And remember…..when we do, He loves to hear from us…..He doesn’t want us to hold back our praise just for the big stuff….Nope!  Our Heavenly Father wants to know about every “little” thing that brings us joy…..And oh my goodness….there are oh so many!  Thank  you Father for all the little things you send our way to bring us joy….open our eyes, ears, hearts, and minds to see and experience them….to Thank You, to Share, to give You Glory!  Thank you Father, for bubble baths, M&M’s and innocent grandchildren! 

THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE; LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!  PSALM 118:24. O Lord, how manifold are thy works!  In wisdom hast though made them all:  the earth is full of thy riches.  Psalm 104:24.  Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.  Psalm 34:8.  A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news give health to the bones.  Proverbs 15:30.  Light is sweet, and it please the eyes to see the sun.  Ecclesiastes 11:7.  That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil-this is the gift of God.  Ecclesiastes 3:13.  Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp.  Psalm 147:7.  Give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds.  Psalm 107:21. 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!