Thanksgiving

Thankful. Day before Thanksgiving. Sounds funny. Every day should be thanksgiving. But today of all days, before "Thanksgiving" the kids are up at the crack of dawn to play. Then I open the utility bill we received yesterday, and found it is delinquent. No! it isn't delinquent because I just paid the bill on Nov 4. But they didn't receive the check until the 21st so I get charged $15 on this bill because they didn't open their mail when they got it. I guess the bottom line is, don't pay by check. Cash-less society. Yes, I think so.

"Be thankful in ALL things." ALL things Barb...even bills that shouldn't have been.

Today is a day in the kitchen, baking holiday goodies. Rachel and I should have fun. And the kids. They can put sprinkles on the sugar cookies. Promise is at school, and Daddy will join her for a Thanksgiving celebration.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. Remember it isn't just about food, it is all about Thankfulness. But don't stop being thankful.  Thankful every day in ALL things.

God bless you

For I Know

I have been praying for a special personal need for a while now. So now I see it as urgent.

Then this morning I was going through my email, and here was the Blue Bible verse for the day:
"And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, 
LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee." (Psalms 9:10)

It almost passed me by, but felt the urge to return to this verse and read it again. They that KNOW the Name of the Lord will trust in Him. He will not forsake us. What a comfort and reminder when in the midst of stress, that our Lord will not forsake us.

It reminded me that God has heard my prayer, and He will answer. My part is to trust Him and know that He will supply all our needs.

It is a privilege to know the Name of the Lord. Let's not misuse it.

I must be about my Father's business. We must work fervently in His kingdom. Every day there is something that reminds me that our time is drawing to a close. Our redemption draws near.

God bless you

Working Together

Zion and Nate are playing on the patio. Digging in the dirt. Oh so fun. Nate has decided to sweep the floor, looking at me he says, "Do you have a dust pan?" So we give him one, but Zion wants to take it now instead of helping Nate. So the argument starts in. Then Nate decides to sweep exactly where Zion is playing. Zion screams.

Does this ring a familiar note with anyone? This is the picture of adults. We are working in the church. Someone wants to do it a different way, and it may be better than we are doing it, but it is "our" work and we don't want anyone invading our territory. Yes, this even happens on the mission field. So sad. God's work isn't territorial. It is a combined effort of God's children working together for His kingdom.

If only we could get our eyes on the Lord, it is all His anyway, and work together. Learn to love each other and work together, the work would get done better.

God bless you

The Word of God

Hebrews 4:12 "For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

Today is the day of worship. We go to the house of the Lord, expecting to hear the Word of God. But do we really value it? Does the word fall on fertile soil, or is it soon choked out with the busyness of life?

I asked myself how much I really value God's Word. I really wish I would have memorized scriptures more when I was younger. Now memorization is more difficult. But even if it is more difficult, I can control the time I spend in reading God's Word.

Where we spend our hours will give us a clue of God's importance to you and me? Does TV and sports consume most of our free time? I'm just asking...

God bless you

Being Childish

Having two 3 year olds and a 5 year old in the house all the time is quite interesting. There are 3 personalities, 3 different ways of playing with the same toy and not to mention they all 3 want the same toy at the same time. Oh, they can be perfectly content for a while with a toy but seeing another having fun with a different toy, the decision is made that they should have that toy at that time. Does this ring a bell with anyone else but me?

I Corinthians 13:11 "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things."

Great verse, great truth.  But do we really put away our childish ways? Before this verse it is teaching us love and what love is. A child being selfish or demanding for a toy that another child has, usually wants to take it immediately. For you see, they really haven't learned the logistics of sharing and loving. That is a growing experience.

But now we are adults. Sad to say, we still act as children. We want what another has. We can be satisfied with our car until we see the neighbor's brand new one in the driveway. A pastor can  be ok with a small church until his best friend has a mega church. (Does this really happen? I'm afraid so!) We can be happy with a normal size TV until we see a big screen one. We want it now. Really childish. We may not grab it out of another's hand, but often we are guilty of overspending because we don't want someone else having what we can't have.

Our children learn from the adults around them. Let's be the example of giving instead of taking. Let's be an example of giving even if we do not receive in return. We do receive...God is never short in His blessing. His gifts are the best!

Let's leave our childish ways today, and grow up...I'm just saying....
God bless you

He is My Strength

Patrick left for Haiti early this morning. He had a good flight, and arrived safely around 9:00 am.

The last 2 days were busy preparing for his trip. Not much rest after our Kansas trip. Today I find myself quite tired. Then I remembered "the Lord is my strength." Oh how I need that strength. I like the fact that He doesn't just give me strength but He is my strength. Habakkuk 3:17 reminds me that He makes my feet like hinds feet, walking on high hills. I don't "feel" I am at this point yet. But I do believe that for me it means that I don't need to "drag" my feet in discouragement. There is hope. Isn't it true that when we have no hope then we do drag our feet? But in every situation God is our strength. Go in the Name of the Lord.

In the midst of my tiredness, Patrick just "skyped" from Haiti. This is the first Skype experience from a cell phone. So fun.

I pray you had a good day...
God bless you

Scaling the Wall

For You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD shall enlighten my darkness.  For by You I can run against a troop; by my God I can leap over a wall.  As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. (2 Samuel 22:29-31 NKJV)

It is so good to be reminded that God is my light. He enlightens the darkness. He fights for me, even He can scale the high walls. So when I am in situations that I feel enclosed in walls without an escape, God can go beyond the wall. His way is perfect. Being His child, there are times when He allows me to be in walled in experiences. He can break those walls. He can fight and win every situation.

Leaping over a wall is not on my agenda at this point. So I am very thankful that God can do it for me. My thankfulness is when I can put on my prosthesis each morning, and walk without pain. That is leaping over a wall for me!!

More than anything, His way is perfect for me! He knows what is ahead, and He knows what was behind. He knows the "why's" of every situation. His word has and continually is proven. He is truth.

I've been teaching the grandchildren, "I am the way, the truth, the life." Every time one of them asks, "What does that mean?"  Each time I tell them again, "Jesus is the way to Heaven. Jesus is the Truth, He cannot lie. And He gives us life that never ends." What a blessing that I can have these special moments with them.

So today, if you find yourself in a dark experience, He is your lamp.
If you are between a rock and hard place, He can leap over the wall.
If you wonder today, if His promises can be trusted, yes they can. His Word has been proven.
If you are in danger, He is your shield.

God bless you