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Short and sweet tonight...
I simply want to thank an Almighty God for His mercy and His sufficiency tonight. He uses many things and many ways to display His love for us.
Today, He used 3 of our young ladies at RRC to whisper sweet peace to me. Every single act of kindness or tender word spoken in the name of Jesus, matters in the Kingdom of God, every single one.
Thank you Kim R. for dinner tonight. How wonderful of you to take time to come by.
Thank you Emily R. and Taryn S. for your offers of help and your humility.
When we, as youth leaders of the church, witness acts such as these, they give us great hope for the future of our church AND our nation. YOU three are exemplary young ladies, striving to live for Christ, walking the walk and NOT just talking the talk. I am so very proud of each of you and thank God that over the years, you have "gotten" what this "living for Christ" thing is all about. I have no doubt that God Himself took note today of the three of you and He must have grinned REAL BIG:)
Tonight, I am THANKING GOD FOR OUR GIRLS. What a joy you are and what a pleasure to know, love and serve Christ together with you. I love you all with all my heart.
IN GOD WE TRUST...
The official motto of the United States of America.
IN GOD WE TRUST.......
Our coins say it, our country proclaims it and calls it our motto!
YIKES.....sort of scary to me, given the fact that millions do not spend one moment in a days time putting their trust in God. They have forgotten that there even is a God, let alone put their trust in Him.
Tonight, I proclaim with ALL my heart that I, Barb, TRUST MY GOD.
IN GOD I TRUST...........and I do Lord....I trust You.....on my own, I am nothing...BUT....
IN YOU GOD, I PUT MY TRUST.
What are LITTLE ARROWS???
Angel R. uses this phrase to describe her children and I absolutely LOVE it! What a perfectly tender and loving way of stating her responsiblity of pointing those dear children in the right direction.....TOWARDS JESUS!
Anyway....today, 3 of my LITTLE ARROW grandsons came over. Very early this morning, Mary was able to tell me she wanted to see "the baby." When I asked her if she meant Summer's baby Will, she said yes. And so, I called and asked Summer if she would bring the boys by to see her.
The smile on Mary's face as she saw all three of them was priceless. As Easton sang "Jesus Loves Me" to her, Titus climbed up the bed rail to get close and LITTLE ARROW Will babbled and carried on, much to Mary's delight. Easton's song made her cry but I know they were sweet tears of joy and thanksgiving for a LITTLE ARROW that loves her, prays daily for her and came to sing to her. We reminded her that God puts all those tears into a bottle. Psalm 58:6 What a comforting thought.
I watched as Easton reached up to take Mary's hand and as he did, he looked up at me with the sweetest most tender look on his face. I'll never forget it.
Tonight, I am thankful for my LITTLE ARROWS that my daughter is most definitely pointing in the right direction. Ministry took place today by little hands that are being taught the importance of praying for others, visiting the sick and of being about the Father's business, even at their young ages.
Mary was blessed today and my heart is full.
Spoken WORDS.....
They make a difference.
Don't forget how important they are to people.
They make a difference.
WORDS.........spoken to one another to encourage, to edify, to express our love, to comfort, to praise, to impart wisdom, to share a story,.....
.....someone may need to hear what you have to say. Don't put it off....
You can make a difference with WORDS.
".......do not let the sun go down while you are still angry."
Ephesians 4:26b
I wonder how many of us heed this warning? How many of us have crawled into bed angry with someone and didn't make amends before evening was over? I myself am guilty of not listening to this very important passage of Scripture, even though I know better.
We shall only live out THIS day once, that's it, once. When this days' 24 hours are over, we cannot go back and relive over what we wish we hadn't of done or said.
Some of the most humble and sweet words to an ear as the sun goes down are simply these....
GOODNIGHT AND.....I LOVE YOU.
Are you angry with someone tonight? Has someone wounded your heart, your pride or your reputation? Don't give satan place....give him the boot and do the opposite of what he'd love for you to do. Tell that person before you climb into your bed tonight.....GOODNIGHT AND....I LOVE YOU.
While it is still called today, make amends. You are not promised tomorrow and it could be too late then.
This little squirrel has got to be one of THE most DETERMINED creatures I've ever seen! Whether hunger drove her to figure out a way to get seed out of my "squirrel proof" feeder, or just sheer greed, she accomplishes the task every morning without fail! After trial and error, she has figured out if she doesn't put all of her weight on the feeder, which closes off the little doorways where the seed is, and leans across and reaches in with one hand and scrapes seed out and into her mouth with the other hand, she can eat till she's full! I'd call that DETERMINED!
Determination is a wonderful thing.........it drives us to do things we would not have ordinarily tried to accomplish. It pushes us forward when we think we are not able to go on another step. It eats us up inside until the task at hand is complete. We cannot rest until we know we are done.
My father was one of THE most DETERMINED men on this planet. I learned early to NEVER GIVE UP and I learned it from master teacher of determination.
Thanks Dad for instilling this principle in me. Coupled with my faith in a boundless God who wants to give to each of us freely and without fail, I am equipped for the long haul, regardless of what that "haul" might be.
I am DETERMINED....
To be invinceable....
Till He has finished....
His purpose in me....
And nothing can shake me....
For He'll never forsake me...
I am DETERMINED to live for the King.
Think you need to buy expensive toys for your children? My precious grandsons prove that nothing more than A SIMPLE PILLOWCASE can turn you into a superhero and help you to fly FAAAASSSSSSSST through Yaya's house!
In the midst of any situation, children know how to make you smile! Easton and Titus LOVE getting a pillowcase (blue, of course!!) out of my linen closet, choosing the color of potato chip clip of their choice to hold the corners together at their neck, and then off they go......SUPERHEROES through the house!
Little baby Will even got in on the act, minus the pillowcase!
Tonight, I simply thank God for my granchildren, ALL of them, and the joy they bring to my life. I might feel the weight of the world upon my shoulders, but when any of them walk in the door.....I remember how "good" life really is.
Thanks God, from the bottom of my heart....thanks:)
Oh, that you would bless me indeed
and enlarge my territory,
that your hand would be with me,
and that you would keep me from evil
that I may not cause pain.
1 Chronicles 4:10
The simple and humble prayer of a man named Jabez. We do not know much about this Jabez, but this much we do know....
This man's motive was pure indeed. He was not seeking wealth or profit from God. He was simply seeking that his territory be made bigger that he might be able to be more productive in carrying out the plans and purpose of his God. This was one unselfish man who blessed the heart of God.
"Oh Lord, I hope the motive of this servants heart is as pure as Jabez. God, take me places I've never been to share Your love, stretch me beyond what I ever dreamed possible so that I may reach more souls for your Kingdom. Use me God, so that others may see your face. This is the cry of my heart."
Falling on my knees in worship
Giving all I am to seek Your face
Lord all I am is Yours
My whole life
I place in Your hands
God of mercy
Humbled I bow down
In Your presence at Your throne
I called You answered
And You came to my rescue and I
I wanna be where You are
In my life
Be lifted high
In our world
Be lifted high
In our love
Be lifted high
By Hillsong
Tonight, in my heart, I can hear Joel and Shane playing this song and ministering to my spirit on any given Wednesday night in Higher Calling. Tonight, this song resounds in my ear and bubbles up like a well within me.
I NEED You tonight Lord.............AND.....
I called......
And You answered.....
And You came to my rescue.......
And I wanna be where You are.....
Thank You, thank You, OH thank You Lord Jesus that You heard me and You came!
With my whole heart, I worship You, I praise You, I lift Your name to its' rightful place of honor. Where would I be without You Lord? Where? There is no where I will ever walk that You will not go with lowly me. There are no deserts, no mountains, no valleys, no oceans, no plains, no sidewalk, no dirt road, no city nor country, no place too far nor too close that YOU are not with lowly me.
OH GOD....I called and You answered and You came to my rescue tonight.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
This incredibly liberating book kept me reading, not wanting to put it down. Sheila walks us through the process in which God led her to be able to "let go" of herself, her failures, her fears and her inadequacies only to find freedom in Christ Jesus. Even her dear husband contributes a few lines regarding his liberation in Christ.
Sheila gently weaves her life stories, her struggles and her pains thoughout her life to help the reader to see and understand the freedom of letting go of ourselves just as she did, and be able to be all that God created us to be. As I read, I saw myself in so many of her stories. How many of us women have not felt inadequate at one time or another in our lives? How many of us have not thought we would never measure up like everyone else seems to?
Sheila's book greatly encouraged me and helped me to realize how God so dearly loves us all. It is we who put limits on ourselves, not God. He doesn't measure us with the same standards we measure each other.
I highly recommend this wonderful book.
Man, how many of us heard that statement made to us as children growing up? The normal phrase at my home would go something like this.....
"Barbie....you should know better...SHAME ON YOU!"
Ewwwwwww......how I hated to hear those words spoken to me and unfortunately, they were spoken MANY times to this hard-headed human being when I was young. I remember feeling terribly bad when my mother would say this. I remember I would feel as though I was the lowest of the low creatures on this earth, good for nothing and stupid beyond stupid:(
SHAME..........it is a terrible thing to bear for anyone. Webster's Dictionary defines SHAME like this:
the painful feeling arising from the consciousness of something dishonorable, improper, ridiculous, etc., done by oneself or another: a fact or circumstance bringing disgrace or regret
SHAME keeps us in shackles and will keep us tethered to a wall of disgrace. We all carry it to some degree. All of us have things that we don't want to admit to others be it an action that we have taken, a huge mistake we've made or even pride. Mark T. even got up in church the other night to confess to the congregation that he had been harboring pride for a long time and it had ruined his witness on more than one occasion. It was powerful and THAT was the beginning of putting SHAME to a stop! The moment he spoke the words and called it what it was OUT LOUD, satan was defeated!
SHAME ON YOU???? IF there is, then don't let it stay there any longer. Take the steps to stop it in its' tracks. There is freedom in confession and admission. Don't you want to be free? SHAME has kept you hidden too long. Stand up tall, hang on to Jesus and don't be ashamed any longer.
If this speaks to you, then please know you're being prayed for.
Ever been on one? Honestly, who hasn't? Actually, is there anyone in this world who HASN'T been on a MERRY-GO-ROUND??? We all probably have childhood memories of our moms or dads hoisting us up onto the horse of our choice, unless of course you were scared of the horse so you chose the seat. NOT ME!! I always wanted the weirdest looking animal on the platform!
Think about it? Where did the MERRY-GO-ROUND take you????? (This is NOT a trick question!!!)
Yep....it took you right back to where you had started from! Never on a MERRY-GO-ROUND will you get any further than where you started from. It just goes round and round and round, repeating itself, over and over and over and over again. No purposeful destination.....same place, day after day, month after month.
Tonight during the invitation at the end of our revival service, all I could do was pray. As Brother Bill extended the invitation, in my head, I saw a MERRY-GO-ROUND.
OK.....I know I'm rather strange, but I did.
So many people, all across this globe and NOT just those in our sanctuary tonight, have been on a MERRY-GO-ROUND for years, still riding the same ride, content to stay where they are. They're too afraid to get off their high horse and humble themselves to see where it is GOD wants them to go. It's just so much easier staying on their horse, going round and round and round, instead of stepping down and trying a different destination. Fear keeps us on this MERRY-GO-ROUND of life and tightly straps us in to our horses and keeps us riding and riding and riding going absolutely nowhere.
I wondered how many people wanted to get off the MERRY-GO-ROUND tonight and begin anew, but stayed bound to their horses. The same road to nowhere will be where they will always end up until they choose a new way of travel.
GOD is the answer....He's the road....He's the STRAIGHT path....NOT the MERRY-GO-ROUND stuff....the STRAIGHT PATH....the road that leads to JESUS!
Tired of the same old, same old, same old MERRY-GO-ROUND life? Get off of it and try the STRAIGHT path.....try Jesus!
One night I had a dream...
I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord, and
Across the sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand;
One belonged to me, and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of my life flashed before us,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that many times along the path of my life,
There was only one set of footprints.
I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in my life
This really bothered me, and I questioned the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
You would walk with me all the way;
But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life,
There is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why in times when I
needed you the most, you should leave me.
The Lord replied, "My precious, precious
child. I love you, and I would never,
never leave you during your times of
trial and suffering.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you."
Tonight Lord, will You carry me? I am WEARY Father and I need your strength to carry me through.
I love how each new day holds new UNEXPECTED BLESSINGS! Every morning when I wake, I anticipate what God is going to do within that 24 hour period and He NEVER lets me down!
This morning, I didn't even have my coffee in my hand yet when the phone rang. On the other end was one of God's precious servants, Paul D. As he began to speak and I listened to the reason for his call, my heart was just so deeply touched. I'm so excited about his willingness to serve and to do what God told him to do. THAT is simply what God asks us to be, willing. The possibilities are endless when we lay ourselves down before God and simply submit to what HE wants for us to do.
Tonight, I simply want to thank God for all those who are stepping up and just being found to be "willing" to serve, to bless, to work, to pray, to dig deeper, to listen, to care, to do the unthinkable, to help, to love.
UNEXPECTED BLESSINGS can be found in every new day. Thank you God and thank you Paul for doing what the Lord asked you to do.
Thursday night when a group of us gathered at Mike & Janie's house to pray for our revival this week, we began talking about what it's going to take for "revival" to break out. I've learned to NOT find it strange when not long after discussing a topic with someone, THAT VERY subject is preached on or it's taught in Sunday school class. You just know that GOd is wanting to make a point and teach you something.
That night, Mark S. broke my heart as we talked about what it was going to take for revival to break out amongst us. He said, "We've got to be BROKEN before God before revival is going to happen. We just don't come BROKEN before Him and we've got to." I have not been able to get his statement off my mind.
I want to be BROKEN and all of me spilled out so that I can remolded and filled back up with nothing but Jesus. Until we put ourselves aside and decide once and for all that our lives do not belong to us, but to Him, revival will not come. We must desire more and be willing to stop being so selfish. As Brother Bill said tonight, have we lost our joy??? Have we lost our testimony??? Have we lost are joy for service??? If we want revival to begin with us, then let it be so. Let each of us examine our own lives and get back to the business of praising our God and Savior and let the JOY of our salvation to known to all men!
REVIVE US OH LORD....REVIVE US OH LORD....AND CLEANSE US FROM OUR IMPURITIES....AND MAKE US HOLY......HEAR OUR CRY AND REVIVE US OH LORD!
Start with me God, start with me.
Just finished perusing Lindsey's blog and I just couldn't help but follow up with some thoughts that have been spurned because of her writing. I am copying and pasting her paragraph that sparked my thoughts. Her paragraph follows below:
My senior year is so different from any other year I've been in school. Everybody, for the most part, are friends. There's really not a lot of drama going on, but things do and are turning out interesting. Some of my best friends have become worst enemies, and my worst enemies have become some of my best friends. Chances I didn't take turned out to be wise decisions, and some chances I never took have become regrets. The hard work for grades is paying off. I should be number 7 or 8 in my class which means I'll get to sit on stage! I'm so excited for graduation. I'm just really happy this year, which is different. Usually I hate coming to school but this year has been enjoyable. I guess I'm just in a good place, I'm happy with where I am. I'm even more excited about what's going to happen as the year goes on! I know there will be changes, but I'm looking forward to seeing how things turn out.
After reading her above paragraph all I could think of was how there is a full circle to life. It's funny how we learn what we choose to at the appropriate time, we make what we want to of life as we live it and in the end, all things will be made new and the excitement and joy will be endless! Although Lindsey's world, right now, revolves mainly just around her senior year at BCHS and her job and her family, she already has a pretty clear understanding of what life is literally all about.
We realize as we age, just how petty we are and we figure out that the very people whom we disliked the most, can often be our dearest and most loyal friends. We realize that some of the opportunities we didn't take could have changed our lives for the better as well as some of those times we stepped out there "hoping" things would turn out ok, didn't, and we should have known better. But when we realize and can admit out loud that we've learned from all of this, now that's the beginning of maturity!
BUT, in the end, as Lindsey has realized, that hard work throughout our life....DOES pay off in time. We consistently go through seasons where we all feel like..."What's the point....?" But IF we will hang on and hang in and work hard throughout our life, whether it's school, our jobs, our Christian walks with Christ, being good parents or whatever...HARD WORK DOES PAY OFF! In the end, just as Lindsey has realized, you can actually be excited about the future because you're finally getting hold of "the now!!" To me, that's major exciting for her and for anyone who comes to this place in life, regardless of their age or position.
Lindsey's realizations are deep and life changing. What about me and you? Have we learned the value of welcoming our enemies, working hard without fail and being content where we are AND looking forward to the future with EXCITEMENT?????
AFTER READING LINDSEY'S BLOG I feel pretty confident that she's on the right track and I can't wait to see just what the Lord has for her:)
Yesterday, as Summer, Titus and I sat in the grass and watched Easton at his soccer practice, I observed something that got me to thinking.
Sweet LITTLE Will sat so peacefully, watching everything that was going on around him for about 30 minutes and then, his LITTLE tummy got hungry and he let us know about it! One LITTLE BITTY BITE at a time, Will polished off two jars of baby food.
Here I go again, but visuals throughout the day, ALWAYS have some sort of spirtual meaning to me. Or at least, I always seem to see one!
Some 10-12 years ago, an older Christian man and I were having a conversation about the Lord. The conversation began to revolve around how deep our relationships with Christ can go...which is basically as deep as WE want them to go. I was expressing to him my desire to get "all of God" that I could and for me that meant that I was open to anything HE had for me, whatever that may involve.
I shall never forget his comment to me. He said, "I've got all of God I want. I don't need any more. I'm just fine where I'm at."
MAN OH MAN....literally, when I heard him speak those words, I stood almost in shock that an older Christian man could/would even say that. I think my lower jaw dropped open. I was appalled, truly, I was just appalled.
It seems that some, possibly many Christians, are simply satisfied with only the LITTLE BITTY BITES of Jesus that they have taken. They don't want a second helping, they don't want a bigger helping and they surely don't want more. Their LITTLE BITTY BITES satisfy their hunger aplenty. They don't want to dig deep into the things of God because they're afraid of what they might find there. They're afraid that the deeper things of God might make them confront themselves and then they would have to do something about it. For many, they just cannot face it or choose not to. How sad.
Hmmmmmmmmm.....I don't mean to sound critical because I too remember being afraid to dig deeper within myself. BUT...what I found there, deep within.....was Jesus.....He was waiting there for me....waiting to help me face those things about myself and grow in my faith in Him. LITTLE BITTY BITES aren't enough for me anymore.
"Dear Father....I want ALL of you I can spiritually digest. LITTLE BITTY BITES are a thing of the past....I want ALL, every bit of You that I can have. I don't want to ever quit going deeper in my faith with you. I want it ALL! I love you Jesus."
No, I'm not talking about the kind that is all wrapped up in pretty paper and tied with a gorgeous bow bought at Halmark. This gift wouldn't normally ever be given for ANY celebration.
I'm talking about the GIFT of something that could be, bluntly put...."a thorn in your flesh?" In 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul speaks of a "thorn in his flesh." Now I am no bible scholar and do not claim to understand the whole meaning of this statment that he makes, but the Word says it was put there to keep him from exalting himself! YIKES!!!!
I don't think any of us will ever know this side of heaven exactly what this "thorn" was, but it was put there to keep him from becoming conceited!
Ever notice how it seems as though we constantly are struggling with "issues" in our own personal walks/lives with Christ? Maybe it's one of those thorns that has been put there to keep us humble? I can think of many examples from my own past when I realize now that when a thorn appears, it might very likely be God's way of keeping us humble. God will use many different things to get our attention, whatever He chooses for it to be.
We may feel like we're the biggest servant of all, the best decorator of all, the best singer of all, the best organizer of all, the best mom of all, the best student of all, the best whatever of all.....but just about the time we've convinced ourselves we're the best OR we've suffered for Christ WAY MORE than anyone else, we best be on the look out. A thorn may be on its' way.
How about it? Could YOU APPRECIATE THIS GIFT of a thorn IF it meant it humbled you before Christ and helped you to realize how small we all really are and drew you closer to Him? Christ should increase so that we may decrease. Period...amen. Got a thorn in your flesh? Maybe it's time to take stock.
This week, I had a great need. I simply needed someone to come and stay here with Mary EARLY Sunday morning so Darrel and I could both be at church. Every other Sunday, we have taken turns or Darrel just stayed so I could go. But this Sunday, a new sound system had been installed in our sanctuary and Darrel was really needed in the sound booth for the first service and I was needed for Praise Team.
Early in the week, I had made a call to Hospice to try to get a volunteer to come and stay with Mary but I never got a return phone call. I called again on Friday, still to no avail, which is rather sad to me. Anyway, when I told Darrel I didn't know what we were going to do, he suggested we call Lindsey. Now, the few of you who read this nonsensical blog, know who Lindsey is....she's our 17 year old granddaughter. I told Darrel I just didn't know if she would feel comfortable but I would ask.
Bless her heart, although she had worked the night before, she was up and at our door at 7:10 or so on Sunday morning! Now that's early for anyone!! I am so proud of her willingness to step out of her comfort zone and come to our rescue. We would not have been able to come were it not for her. She lovingly came to help us and serve the Lord in a setting that I'm sure was a bit scarry for her, even though she probably wouldn't admit it. Sitting with someone who has terminal cancer can be intimidating but she was willing to serve. All God wants of us is to be a willing vessel....He'll pour us out as He wills IF we will put our feet in motion and get busy. There are so many needs in our church and in our families. Our responsibility is to just get out there and serve. We have some incredible youth at our church who never cease to amaze me. Their actions and love for Christ are pure. They "put their money where their mouth is" and they are serious about doing something for Christ.
Lindsey, I'M SO PROUD of you. For me, it was a "defining moment" in my life. You know, one of those moments that sears into your heart and mind and you know has changed you and that you will never forget. I'M SO PROUD of our granddaughter and are so thankful God put her in our lives. We are blessed.
We've all got em. Some are self-inflicted, some happened because of an accident and some were inflicted upon us by others. Some of our SCARS are hidden by our clothes while others are in places where all can see. Yep, there's no doubt. We've all got em.
There's also the types of SCARS that cannot be seen by anyone, ever. These are the types of SCARS that stay hidden in our minds from moments in our lives that changed us forever. Just using the word "SCAR" implies a time when something "not pleasant" happened and SCARRED us.
A past SCAR surfaced today. It creeped in to my mind almost without me even realizing it was coming. And then, there it was, up front and personal. The SCAR...the time....the place....all the words that had been spoken....the moment the SCAR had been inflicted were all right there slapping me in the face trying hard to make the old SCAR deeper again.
BUT...this time.....there was no victory for the SCAR. As quick as the SCAR resurfaced in my mind, I spoke to it. I HAD THE VICTORY OVER IT AND IT WAS NOT GOING TO DIG DEEPER INTO MY MIND AGAIN TODAY. NOT TODAY!
I have the power in the name of the almighty God to speak peace to my mind through Jesus Christ. And guess what????
IT WORKS!!!
WOOOOOO HOOOOOOO! I"VE GOT THE POWER....I"VE GOT THE POWER and there wasn't a victory for the SCAR today! Day by day, as I draw closer to my Lord, I'm finally "getting it" more and more. HALLELUJAH!
Today, an angel appeared at my front door. No, she wasn't all white with wings, hovering in thin air. Instead, there she stood, with a beautiful smile on her face, flowers in hand and a bag hanging from her arm.
This angel was Mrs. Jackie. For days I had been longing to call her. I ached to talk to her and ask her not only how she was but I needed reassurance as to what I am walking through with Mary. I felt so selfish though, to call "her" for help when she had so shortly ago lost her beloved Sam. I just couldn't call. Bless Connie B.'s heart....she has been calling me and encouraging me and giving me "heads up" during this time, but my heart had recently been longing to talk to Mrs. Jackie.
And then, there she was, on my doorstep, with 3 of the sweetest and prettiest flower arrangements I've ever seen. Not only did she bring Mary and I flowers, but she knows from my secretary days at RRC, that my favorite is chocolate. Her and Sam used to bring me chocolate bars every now and then when I was working. They always lit up my day when they stopped in and there in her bag, was CHOCOLATE!! Bless her precious heart.
Jackie came through the door, full of smiles and blessings and touched my heart so deeply. She sat and drank coffee with me as we sat on the patio with Mary, laughing, talking and bringing joy to my heart. Such a welcome visit....a breath of fresh air for me. She lit up the room with her presence. What a gift she was to me. So unselfish, so unconcerned about herself, even in her loss. She was concerned about us. What a servant.
FLOWERS FROM HEAVEN arrived at my door today. How fortunate I am to have experienced such sweetness through this precious saint of God. Thank you Jackie, thank you from the depths of my heart.
Romans 12:10 (NIV)
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
I miss my dad. Today, I can't get him off my mind. I just miss him so much. It doesn't seem possible that he's been gone 10 years now and I still miss him just as much as I ever did.
As I dipped some ice cream for Mary today, one of my favorite memories of him came racing back into my mind. When I was somewhere around 8-12, I think, there was a Dairy Queen not far from our home. Dad and I both ADORED what he always called,
"custard" ice cream. We'd head out in our Buick and drive down to the DQ for a NICKEL CONE.
YEP...they actually had NICKEL CONES back then! Often, my dad would splurge and we'd get a NICKEL CONE for our schnauzer also as he loved ice cream! If he was really inclined, we'd get a bag of Dilly Bars at just 10 for a $1.00!!!
I miss you dad...I wish you were here to hold me, to talk to me and to reassure me that I was gonna be o.k. I need your ear. I miss you so much. Thanks for all the wonderful memories you gave me and thanks for the hundreds of NICKEL CONES we enjoyed together.
I love you dad. I miss our NICKEL CONES.
You know, I've never liked whispering. It always makes me feel uncomfortable whether I'm the "whisperer" or the "whisperee." I try not to whisper much for that reason. Obviously, there ARE times when whispering is appropriate but for the most part, I just don't like it.
BUT...there is a whisper that is always welcomed....it's the WHISPER OF HOPE when Jesus leans into my ear and shares His love with me, His encouragement and His hope. He also uses people to whisper love into my ear. Today, I received a phone call from a friend who simply called to check on me......
Her call was a "WHISPER OF HOPE" in my ear. She didn't want anything, she didn't need anything....she just called to check on me and tell me she loved me....
"A WHISPER OF HOPE"........
God, I thank You for your WHISPERS OF HOPE that You AND Your servants impart unto my ears. Today was a tough day Lord, but You whispered sweet peace to me. I love you.
