The Lord opens the eyes of the blind

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderfully Wrapped in His loving arms Wednesday!  Kind of a yucky drive in this morning, the fog was so bad in spots could hardly see more than a few feet in front of me.  Driving in dense fog is such a helpless feeling…..disorientating, down right frightening at times…..I was so thankful when I got to work  safely and didn’t see any accidents; as I was turning my daily calendar I had to stop a minute, breath and ponder on the love of our Father as I read today’s bible verse, Psalm 146:8, “The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind:  the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous.”  I thought about the dense fog this morning……feeling helpless, like I was blind…..”the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.”  Our Father is there when we can’t see….when life seems so futile, overwhelming….He is there, He opens our eyes so we can see His love….the Light of His love to guide us through the foggy times.  He raises us up from the pits of fog that life sometimes brings us….the frightening, unknown times, the sad and grief-filled times….dense fog….”the Lord LOVETH the righteous.”   LOVES you and me!!!  The Lord, our Heavenly Father who gave His only Son for us……LOVES us!  Thank you Father for always being there for us, no matter how dense the fog…..keep us ever faithful.

My flesh and my heart may fail but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  Psalm 73:26.  The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him.  Nahum 1:7.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this:  He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.  Psalm 37:5-6.  Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Eo not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.  Joshua 1:9.

Love you all!

What does He see in us?

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully loved by Him, Thursday!  While I was talking with Hailey on the phone yesterday, Tucker woke up from a nap.  She got him up and was sweet talking him (makes me smile) when she laughed and said, “Tucker, look at your hair…..you got your ‘bed head’ from your Nana!”  She was laughing as she described his hair on the back of his head.  You see, in my family I am known for my “bed head”; my hair just gets in a big ol’ mess on the back of my head when I sleep or nap…..it used to bother me but not anymore and especially not now that Hailey sees me in Tucker’s “bed head.”  Now that is a Nana’s ultimate delight…..of course as Tucker grows up I hope that there are some slightly more significant traits he gets from me, but for now……the “bed head” makes me happy!  Hailey sees me in Tucker…….We love for our children and grandchildren to inherit the good parts of us, we love to see ourselves in them….As I thought about this last night I couldn’t help but think about our Heavenly Father…..as His children….What does He see in us?.....Does He see His love in us, in our thoughts and actions…..how we treat others is a definite reflection on how we are loving HIM……Father, help us to shine with Your love so that we reflect You in all that we do.

 

The Lord has declared this day that you are His people, His treasured possession as He promised, and that you are to keep all His commands.  Deuteronomy 26:18.  We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10.  A happy heart makes the face cheerful.  Proverbs 15:13.  We love because God first loved us.  1 John 4:19.  He has given us this command:  whoever loves God must also love his brother.  1 John 4:21.  Jesus said, “A new command I give you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  John 13:34-35.You yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.  1 Thessalonians 4:9.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father I heaven.  Matthew 5:16.

Love you all!

The wolf and the lamb...Isaiah 11:1-9

Good Morning Friends!  Totally His, Tuesday!   A couple years ago I was having a terrible problem with mice in the house….it was bad and I was aggravated.  People kept telling me I needed some outside cats, but much to my chagrin, my hubby hated cats and had always refused getting any!  Well, let’s say he has mellowed a bit in his old age and when a sweet friend offered to give me a few of her barn cats he said ok!  I was so excited, I brought my friend a live trap so she could catch a couple and we met on Sunday in town and I took them home.  I let them out by the old chicken coop where Kim had put food and that was the last I saw of them for a while, even though Kim saw them occasionally during the day.  Oh but I knew they were there because things got much better in the house.  A few months had past when we discovered we had kittens…..same thing didn’t really see them all the time, just occasionally, except one pretty little tiger-striped kitten….silly thing started hanging out in the chicken coop!  At first she was really skittish, running from me, but hoping I was bringing scraps…she would eat with the chickens and sleep on top of their feeder!  Really cracked me, didn’t seem to be a lot of animosity between the very different critters.  It wasn’t until last week during the bitter, bitter cold spell that a passage from Isaiah really hit me…..”and the wolf will live with the lamb….”  I walked in the coop to feed and water the rabbits and give the chickens some scratch….I couldn’t believe what I saw….There on the ground was the kitten totally surround by the hens…when I say “surrounded”  I mean totally covered, protected by their feathers….the sight was breathtaking.  The small cat, crouched on the ground, peeking out from under the hovering hens….the hens were keeping her warm….cats and chickens….natural enemies, like the wolf and the lamb……living together in peace…..more than peace….compassion….can you imagine how warm and toasty it was under all those feathers!  Oh Father, please help us learn a lesson of love and compassion from YOUR critters…..help us to live together in peace and accept everyone as they are….feathers or fur!

 

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.  The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirt of counsel and power, the Spirt of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord—and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.  He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.  He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.  Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.  The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.  The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.  The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest.  They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.  Isaiah 11:1-9.      Let’s work to do this now! 

The old rugged cross! Jesus died on it, for us!

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully His, Thursday!  Last week one day Papa and I picked up Cooper and Katy from school because Mommy and Daddy had to work late.  We got home and got a snack, preparing to get to homework.  Earlier in the day, close to where Katy sits, I had laid a cool, rustic cross given to me by a friend for Christmas.  I have been looking for the perfect place to hang it, somewhere I would see it often….in the meantime I laid it on the table near where Katy sits.  As Katy sat down she immediately saw the cross.  In an excitement that she could not contain, she shouted, “Nana, it’s the old rugged cross….!”  Smiling and pleased at her response to the cross I said, “Yes, it sure is, you are right!”  Without hesitation she said, loud and clear, “Jesus died on it….for us!”  This time I was the one that could not contain my excitement, to hear that precious 4 year old, confessing her faith…..loud and clear…..no hesitation!  My heart was over flowing with joy and gratitude.  I just had to give her a big hug….As I was holding her close, almost in tears, I felt our FATHER very close to us…..”Kathie, My child, I understand your joy in knowing that Katy knows that Jesus died for her…but My joy is compounded by the fact that she had no hesitation to profess her faith…..Oh, just think how wonderful it would be if all you adults….My big precious kids, would tell about Jesus dying on the old rugged cross like Katy did!”  Father forgive our hesitation in confessing You!  Increase our faith and bless us with brave, witnessing hearts so that we with Katy say loud and clear….”It’s the old rugged cross, Jesus died on it for us!”

 

Then Jesus came to them and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20.  I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful, appointing me to His service.  1 Timothy 1:12.  Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bow.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16.

Love you all!

 

Our forever Valentine

Good Morning!    Last week, a day or two before Valentine’s Day, we got a Valentine in the mail from Cooper and Katy.  Of course, we love that!!!  I picked up the phone and called them to say thank you….after visiting with Mommy for a minute she gave the phone to Katy.  Katy was so happy to talk to me, I thanked her for the card and told her I had a Valentine surprise for her too!  She was all excited, we visited a little longer when I heard Mommy tell her to let Cooper talk too.   “Cooper, want to talk to Nana?”   she hollered at him.  I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard him holler back, “NO.”  Well for heaven’s sake I thought, little stinker.  I told Katy, “you tell Cooper he isn’t going to get his Valentine surprise if he doesn’t talk to me.”  Katy was most happy to deliver that message with the silly delight of a little sister whose  big brother was about to get in trouble!  Immediately, a little voice came on the phone and said, “Hi Nana.”  “Hi Cooper, how’s my boy?”  “Good, nana do you have a Valentine surprise for me?”  “I sure do Cooper, thank you for our Valentine, I love you.”  “ Your welcome, I love you too, Nana, bye.”  The conversation was short and sweet, but as I was relaying the details of how I had to threaten our little stinker to get him to talk to me, I suddenly felt sad…..Gosh, sure glad our Father doesn’t ever threaten us to get us to come to HIM….He waits lovingly, patiently yearning for us to come to HIM, sit with HIM…..unburden our troubled hearts, confess our sins, receive comfort and the most wonderful LOVE surprise, everyday not just once a year!  Father, oh I thank and praise YOU for loving us so abundantly….freely, always without a threat….just the promise of life everlasting with YOU!!  How good YOU are how Blessed are we!  I love you Father, all glory to YOU!

 

You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding love and faithfulness.  Psalm 86:15.  The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trust in Him and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.  Psalm 28:7  The Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice.  Blessed are all who wait for Him!  Isaiah 30:18.  Submit to God and be at peace with Him; in this way prosperity will come to you.  Job 22:21.  The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; d not be discouraged.  Deuteronomy 31:8.  Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.  Luke:12:32. 

Love you all!

He strokes our worries and sadness away

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderfully wrapped in His loving arms Wednesday!  Our little dog Axel is sick….oh we just hate it.  He has a terrible cough…it just sounds horrible and Kim and I just hate that he doesn’t feel good….Well, on Monday he was so worried about his little pal that he took him to the Vet.  She said he didn’t have a fever and couldn’t see anything in his throat, gave him a shot and some pills for his tummy ache and sent them home.  The cough kept getting worse and worse and yesterday morning, sitting on my lap, he kept looking at me….his eyes so droopy and sad…..he just looked miserable, so pathetic….As I sat in the quiet of the early morning, gently rubbing his throat and having my morning talk with our Father…..it occurred to me just how pathetic we must look to our Father sometimes….times we are worried, sad, grieving…..eyes drooping, cheeks tear streaked, shoulders drooped…..pathetic….Axel found comfort sitting with me, being stroked…..feeling my compassion for him….Can you just imagine how much compassion our Father has for us, when He sees us…..drooping and sad……He yearns for us to come to HIM, sit with HIM and be comforted….HE will not fail us….gently, lovingly HE strokes our worries and sadness away….carries them for us…wraps HIS loving arms around us and gives us peace.  Thank you Father.

 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  2 Corinthians 1:3-4.  May your unfailing love be my comfort  according to your promise to your servant.  Psalm 119:76.  The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.  Psalm 29:11. 

Love you all!

A frog in my throat...

 

Good Morning Friends!  Wise and Wonderful is our God, Wednesday!  I love my job, but there is something that makes it most special for me….kids!  All day long I get to see precious kids, from newborn infants to snotty teens….I love them.  I feel so blessed to share my day with God’s most precious commodity.  Well, the other morning a young dad came in with his little boy, I’d say barely 3.  He didn’t have much to say, but he sure was a cutie!  I asked his dad who he needed to see and gave him a call, Danny was out of the office, but told me that he did need to see the young man in person and that he would be back in the office about 4 pm.  While on the phone, I got a bit of a coughing spell (leftovers from the flu) I apologized saying I had a frog in my throat and couldn’t get it out….I said it a couple of times as I tried to stop so that I could explain to the young man when Danny would be back and that he needed to see him.  His son stood and watched, never saying a word and so well behaved.  The young man said he could come back in the afternoon, took his little boy’s hand and left.  I said good bye and got back to work.  Right at 4, the young man returned to the office, this time by himself.  As he approached my desk he had a big grin on his face.  I said hello and went to call Danny, but stopped as he was speaking to me.  He explained that as soon as he and his son got out the door, he began frantically asking his dad about the frog in my throat!  Oh my gosh, we both started laughing as he continued on about how worried his son was wondering how I got a frog in my throat and how would I get it out!  We laughed and laughed imagining that little boy, thinking I had a big green, slimy frog in my throat desperately trying to find its way out!  After the young man left I was still chuckling about his son when I felt that familiar tap on my shoulder….”Hi Father, what’s up?”  “Well, Kathie that little boy really was adorable wasn’t he?  And to think he thought you had a frog in your throat….funny.  But, Kathie….you had said that he was quiet, bet you didn’t think he was even paying any attention to you, did you?  My child, oh My child, you are MY child….your every thought, action, word…..need to be a reflection of Me!  I know it isn’t easy, but it’s so important to be a shining light….the LIGHT of My son shining through you…spreads My love.  Now the “frog in your throat” was not a bad thing, but let’s use it as a reminder to be aware of everything you say and do, so that the beauty of My Love, not the ugly of this world shines through you.  Deal?!”  Oh Father, that’s a tall order, but oh how I what to shine for You…forgive me when I fail, and guide me “walk Your walk” and “talk Your talk”  all the time!

 

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sigh, o Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.  Psalm 19:14.  There should not be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.  Ephesians 5:4.  Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lives.  Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.  Psalm 34:13-14.  May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me your decrees.  Mya my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous.  Psalm 119:171-172.   Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Romans 12:10.  Jesus said, “My command is this :  Love each other as I have loved you.”  John 15:12.

Love you all!