A Present of Joy for All

Today I was looking at the presents that I had wrapped and put under the tree.  Some of them look almost presentable, some of them not so.  I do not have the gift of gift wrapping.  Though some of the presents that I wrap look down right messy the gifts inside are pretty nice.  Sometimes it is a guessing game on what to give.  I am hoping that the recipients of the gifts will find joy in them.  The gifts that I have given to various people this year have scents, can be worn or can be eaten.  I am just hoping that when the gifts are opened they will be received with joy.  Sometimes I can tell if a gift brings joy or if it is just another ho hum gift.  

There is a present waiting for all.  Some have already opened it but some won't.  Some are scared, some are angry and some are just stubborn.  Today we are celebrating the birth of a Heavenly King.  Our Lord and Savior came as  a present of joy to all.  It is never a ho hum gift!  If you haven't accepted this gift, today, this day that we celebrate the birth of this present of joy for all, would be a great day.  It doesn't matter if you are messy, tidy or somewhere in between this is the best gift of all!

Don't keep waiting!

Luke 2:10 (NIV)

10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

John 3:16-17New International Version (NIV)

16 For 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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

The Bridge

                                             

The other night I had a dream about a bridge.  I was walking down this dirt road.   The road had plenty of trees hanging across and overgrown grass on the side of the road.  I came to a bridge and it seemed to be the only way to continue down the road.  I hesitated because it didn't seem very stable.  In fact it looked like it could break at anytime.  For some reason I didn't want to turn back and I stepped very carefully onto the bridge.  I got halfway across the bridge and saw a gaping hole that was blocking the way to the other side of the bridge.  I decided that I  would skirt around that hole and continue across the bridge.  I very carefully held on to the side and walked very slowly to get around that hole.  The next thing I knew I was falling and screaming.  I was looking down at murky, alligator infested waters.  I screamed as I plunged towards the water but woke up before I hit the murky, alligator infested waters.

I woke up sweating and wondering why on earth would I even in my sleep cross a bridge or even be on a road that was overgrown with trees and grass.  I realized though that in life I am always going down roads or crossing bridges that I should not.  I step into situations that I should turn around and walk the other way.  I walk across bridges that become worse the more steps I take.  Sometimes it is even to late to turn around and walk the other way because the murky, alligator, infested waters have infested my soul.  I am lucky though!  I have a Bridge that I walk across that will cleanse my soul and remove the murky, alligator infested water. My Bridge is solid and cleanses me daily. His name is Jesus!

Do you know Him?  He is waiting for you to walk across His Bridge!

Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

1 John 2:6

He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

The Journey Continues:An Amazing Day

God gives us a new day every day and everyone of them have the possibility to become amazing.  Sometimes it is just seeing that wonderful sunrise peeking over the horizon, sometimes it is the birth of a baby and sometimes it is being alive for at least one more day.  Richard had an appointment on Monday to remove the fluids that surrounded his lungs.  The ex rays that were taken about two weeks ago showed as much or maybe more fluids than what had been removed last month.  The amazing thing on Monday was that there were no fluids around his lungs to remove!

I am not saying that the fluids will not come back or Richard will not have problems because he will but when God steps in it is an amazing day!  God is amazing no matter what!  God has shown his amazing hand many, many times during Richard's journey with cancer and beyond.

Richard and I finished out our day in the city by receiving an awesome pie from our sister-in-law.  Amazing as always!  Thanks Shelly!!  We than ventured over to see my mom before leaving Oklahoma City.  My mom was in a great mood and showed immediate signs of recognition.  She has had a mini stroke in the area of her brain where her memory is stored and also has dementia

Since this event in her life, one thing that has changed is how she shows her affection towards me.  I don't remember her showing much affection. That has changed.  The new normal is for her to grab, hug and give big slobbery kisses.  She grabbed me when it was time to go and whispered in my ear, "I will love you forever!"  Now that is amazing!

The wonderful thing is that I know that I will see her forever because our forever will be together.  I will be forever with her in eternity.  Now that will be beyond amazing! What about you?  Where will your forever be?

John 3:16-17New King James Version (NKJV)

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Time to Talk?

My last child at home got her license to drive on November the 3rd and though I am happy for her I miss her.  Yes, she still lives in the same house with me but I miss her in the car.  I miss talking with her one on one and having her undivided attention.  If she was driving I didn't even have to compete with her I Phone.  It was hard letting her go that first morning she drove herself  to school.  I made her text me every morning when she got to school the first few weeks.  It seems hard to just sit down and have a conversation with her because of school activities, homework and of course the I Phone.  Of course like any child there is always time to talk when something is wanted or needed.

My missing the talks that we had nearly every morning before the license made me wonder about my conversations with God.  How often does He miss me?  How often am I too busy with my activities, getting ready for the day or messing with my phone that I forget to have conversations with the One who is always there.  It does seem like I never forget to talk with my God when I need or want something.  I always am ready to kneel when I am hurt or sad.  My missing her reminded me that God's keeps His ears ope to hear my prayers.  It shouldn't matter what is going on in my life I should always have the time to talk with God!

Do you have time to talk?

1 Peter 3:12 (NKJV)

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

The Heart of a Wellston Tiger:Instructions

Something happened the other day that made my mind wander back to my band years.  I loved those years and thinking back I realize what a great band director that I had.  I am not saying that he was perfect.  Far from it but he knew music and he also knew God.  I went to church with his family, for many years, and they were all great musicians.

I was a part of the first band ever at Wellston School.  I remember that the band members were instructed with patience and then more patience.  The band must have sounded awful that first year.  I remember the band director smiled and gave much encouragement.  I am not saying that the band students never got in trouble. I did.  I got in trouble for talking too much and I also got in trouble for laughing through my clarinet at our first concert.  I was never humiliated in front of others though.  When it came to learning to play I was instructed with kindness and I am sure much, much patience and than some more patience.

The longer that I was in band the more I loved it.  There was one thing that I did get nervous about and that was playing for a grade.  I would get sweaty palms and a dry mouth but I always got an A.  I sometimes did forget to tap my foot and even though I thought I could keep the time I would be instructed to keep that foot tapping.  Those instructions kept me playing and keeping the beat all through my band years.  It was a privilege to be part of the first Wellston band.

I have another instructor that keeps me in line.   He instructs me with a patience that is far beyond the patience of my band director.  He instructs me to treat others with patience, respect and love.  He instructs me to be humble and to keep going even when I can't keep the notes of my life in tune.  He encourages and gives me strength.  He is the light in my soul.  He has changed the beat of my life!  He is the music that is always perfect!

Would you live to know this instructor? 

John 3:16New King James Version (NKJV)

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Romans 3:24New King James Version (NKJV)

24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

The Journey Continues:ONE of the best updates EVER!!

For the first time today since the diagnosis of cancer Richard and I heard some words and read some words on a report about last weeks pet scan that reported No evidence to suggest local recurrence or distant disease at the current time.  Can I hear a GIANT AMEN!!!

It did show the fluid that was surrounding his lungs and a small gallstone.  Today they went in and extracted about one and a half pints of fluid.  That is the total together from both lungs.  The Dr. that extracted the fluid said it looked good though it is being sent to lab to be tested.

We were almost home when I heard the song that I heard every time that I got in the car when I been told that Richard was probably going to die.  Thanks for all the prayers that have went up and will still go up on our behalf!

You Never Let Go lyrics
by Matt Redman

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won't turn back
I know you are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

(Chorus:)
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We'll live to know You here on the earth

(Chorus)

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

Guess What?

I am going to show you some pictures of some plants and flowers and guess what?  I have actually kept them alive for three weeks!  That is a record except for ivy plants and one plant that had pretty pink blossoms that only blossomed once or twice a year.  Other than that I have failed miserably with the rest of the species of plants on this earth.

Every morning as I have watered them I have felt a joy that the plants are not only still alive but are actually growing and those with flowers are keeping their blossoms.  Two of the plants have lost their flowers but they are coming back.   I have to faithfully water or the plants will dry up.

The flourishing plants are like me and my Christian life.  If I water myself daily by Bible reading and prayers I stay in bloom.  If I fail to do this I start to wither and turn brown.  I need to keep watering daily to be the flower that God wants me to be.  I have to faithfully water or my soul will dry up.

Are you thirsty?

James 4:5New Living Translation (NLT)

5 Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him.

                                                        

Ring, Ring

                                        

Ring, Ring, answer the phone?  Now that there is caller id and voice mail I don't always dash to get the phone.  I think sometimes it just depends on who is on the other end.  How does one decide whether to answer the phone or not?  

I have watched my daughter with her phone and can usually tell by the expression on her face whether she is going to answer the call or not.  If it is certain people her face will light up and her voice is happy as she answers.  Other calls get blah looks and no answers.  She is talking or or sending text so much that sometimes I think the only way to get her attention is to call her.

I wonder if God thinks that about me?  Does He get frustrated by my not answering His call?  Does He wonder what He needs to do to gain my attention?  Can He tell by the look on my face whether I want or am willing to take His call?  Sometimes I have to push away the pull of the world to answer His call. Sometimes I have to push away the pull of friends and family to answer.  Sometimes I have push away the noise to answer His call.  

How many times have I given Him the blah look or no answer?

Ring, Ring, will I answer?  What about you?

Isaiah 50:2New Living Translation (NLT)

2 Why was no one there when I came?
    Why didn’t anyone answer when I called?
Is it because I have no power to rescue?
    No, that is not the reason!
For I can speak to the sea and make it dry up!
    I can turn rivers into deserts covered with dying fish.

Stepping out on Faith

Do you know how hard it is to step out on faith when it involves money?  I can tell you that it is hard!  I kept hearing God tell me to write, write and write some more but I haven't listened very well.  You know there are bills to pay, clothes and food to be bought.  I kept telling Him that I need the money coming in from my job.  He kept telling me that I will take care of you!  I didn't listen very well and than several things happened that lead me to the decision that I would leave my job(though will do phone calls from home).  I guess I am so hard headed that sometimes I have to be hit over the head to step out on Faith.

I do know that God will provide and guide me as I write.  Please pray that I will leave the worry behind and that I will crank those books out every week or two.  I finally have the house fairly organized though I do have a junk room.  I think I will go through it a little at a time until it is gone.  That seems to be what I do with the junk in my soul.  I get rid of it a little bit at a time.  If my soul junk had been gone it might not have been so hard to step out on faith.

Matthew 17:20New Living Translation (NLT)

20 “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.[a]”

 Matthew 6:30New Living Translation (NLT)

30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

Giving the scraps

The other day, I was dicing up some chicken that I had cooked to go in a casserole.  Samson, the dog, was begging at my feet.  Every once in a while I would throw him a scrap and he would pounce on it.  Now I only gave him the parts that had too much fat or looked a little over cooked or just didn't look right.  I saved the best chicken for the casserole.  Samson didn't care though, as he looked at me with adoring eyes, waiting for the next piece of scraps to fall upon him.

I was throwing another scrap down to the dog when I realized how I do this same thing to God.  I throw Him my scraps.  I go about my busy life making it busier and many times I don't do what I should.  God can see right through me as I toss him the scraps and leftovers of my life.  I need to pounce on always giving my best.  

What if God had not given the best?  Where would I be?

Where would you be?

John 1:17New Living Translation (NLT)
Numbers 18:29New Living Translation (NLT)
1 Corinthians 10:33New Living Translation (NLT)

17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.

29 Be sure to give to the Lord the best portions of the gifts given to you.

33 I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.