PRICELESS

PRICELESS

Rental car: really good deal!

Motel rooms: used points!

Fuel: MasterCard!

Friendship: Priceless!

Last weekend my hubby and our daughter drove to Enid, Oklahoma, a 1,760 mile roundtrip. They left Thursday evening and returned Sunday. It was quite a drive just to surprise an extremely important friend. To surprise a friend and her family as they baptized their son. A long awaited addition to their family. An addition that took years, tears and a trip to China.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for this time that Bill and Terri had together: Bill driving and Terri talking. (That is the job of the person in the passenger seat. Terri is much like her mother and, I am sure, perfectly capable of talking the entire time.)

Thank you for Bill offering to take Terri so she could surprise a friend. Thank you for all who stepped up to help with Terri's four boys so she could go. Thank you for Terri's husband who realized how important this journey was to his wife.

Thank you that Lana was surprised. I am told there were tears and hugs when Lana saw Terri and Bill. In that instant, Lana realized what value we place on her friendship.

O God, do tears of joy flow in heaven and arms open wide when we come to you? When we clear our schedule and make you a priority? When we work together to help another achieve a goal? When we just enjoy time together?

O Lord, do you realize how valuable you are when you see the reflection of your love in our eyes, the smile that will not stop, the joy making our hearts beat strongly, our hands lifted and our heads bowed

Amen

TODAYS SCRIPTURE:

Transportation: Provided

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. John 14:3-4

Housing: room waiting

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. John 14:2

Price of trip: paid by Jesus

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. John 3:16

Eternal Life: priceless

See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us -- even eternal life. 1 John 2:25

Do you have everything you need to reach the destination of eternal life?

READY. SET. SEW.

TODAYS SCRIPTURES:

For 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

Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. Isaiah 49:13

READY.  SET.  SEW.

Grandson Nathan told me he would like to learn to sew. So, sew we did.

There was some thought and preparation put into his first project. What material should he use? What should he make? There were questions. Would he really enjoy sewing? Since it was not a computer game, would he stick with the lesson and project?

The material was easy. Inexpensive cotton, with a baseball print would be easy to work with. The decision of what to make was also easy. A pillowcase requires few seams and they are all straight. A good beginning project.

Our lesson began by looking at the material and pillow I had purchased. (Why do these projects seem to require an outlay of cash from grandma?) They passed inspection, so the lesson began.

I won't make you wonder. Yes, he did enjoy the project and yes he did stick with it, although I did hear a few, "How many more practice seams do I have to do before I can start sewing on my pillowcase?"

So, sew on his pillow he did.

He trimmed the threads.

He tried out his new pillow.

Today Nathan learned a lot.

He learned someone had prepared everything he would need to accomplish his goal. He learned the pillowcase did not make itself and that he had to work. As he laid his head down, he found comfort.

Hum. Sorta like our Christian life. God has prepared everything we need. But -- our goal can only be accomplished when we accept and use the items God has prepared for us. And, during the process, God gives us great comfort.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

When you have a project, do you get everything ready before you start? If it is a new project, one you have never tried before, do you practice on "scraps" before you start on the real thing? How do you feel when the project is complete?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

O God, you have given me everything I need to become a true, believing child of God. Your inspired words, written by man, and held in my hands are like a pattern to follow. Using the Bible, I am constantly learning how to make my life's seams straighter and how to saw just the right length of board I need to build my foundation strong. I know you are not practicing on me and you do not consider me a disposable scrap. I know I am very dear to you. I know you want me to learn. To work. To believe. To follow Your Son, Jesus Christ. I know you want me to find the comfort only You can give. Amen

POINT OF VIEW

POINT OF VIEW

Point of view is everything. It decides how we look at the world. At politics. At each other. How we look at life. Yup, point of view is very important.

What do you see in this picture? Do you see the pond? The trees? The geese? Does looking at this picture make you feel peaceful? Do you enjoy seeing the geese? Would you like to wash a worm in hopes of catching a fish?

Or do you see geese making a mess of the bean field?

What do you see in this picture? Do you see the pretty, blue wildflowers? The Queen Ann's Lace? Would you like to pick the flowers to enjoy in your home?

Or do you see weeds growing along the roadside that need mowed?

What do you see in this picture? Do you notice the architecture? The bell? Do you see a decoration on a building?

Or do you see the cross reaching to heaven?

Yup, point of view is very important.

TODAYS SCRIPTURES:

Genesis 1:31: God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. (When God looked at the world He had created, His point of view was positive.)

Proverbs 15:30: A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. (So - a cheerful look is good for the heart.)

Isaiah 40:26: Lift your eyes and look to the heavens; Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. (Wow - Look to the heavens. Each star is named. Look to the heavens and remember that God knows you by name also.)

Jeremiah 6:16: This is what the Lord says: " Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it.' " (The Lord is there at each crossroads in our lives. Look so you know which way to go. Or will you be like those in the Old Testament who would not walk the good way?)

John 1:36: When John saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" (Have you looked for the Lamb of God? Have you found Him?)

Luke 24:5 6: In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!" (If you have not found Jesus, maybe you are looking in the wrong place. If you have found Jesus, then you have the perfect point of view!)

+ + + + + + +

Please finish with a prayer of your own and have a blessed week.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR

Remember when someone knocked at your door unexpectedly? The first thought is, "Who can that be?" And then you check to see if your clothes are all in place. Then you open the door and ---------

What can be on the other side of the door? Looking at life, we open doors from the time we are born.

"Mom, can I go play? All the kids are outside running through the sprinkler. Please." Then a door opens and friendships are formed.

"Why are my loving parents leaving me in this strange building? With all these strange people? And other children I do not know?" Then a door opens and learning begins.

"It was only yesterday when I started first grade and now I am graduating from college. This has been a good dorm room but am I ever ready to get out on my own." Then a door opens and life hits you square in the face.

"Yes, mom, I will be careful. Dad, I know the way. You marked the map and I promise I will pull over if I get tired." Then a door opens and working 8 to 5 becomes a reality.

"Gee did you see those deep blue eyes? I could get lost in those eyes." Then a door opens and a family is formed.

"It is time. We have waited so long for a child." Then a door opens and a family grows.

"But this shouldn't happen. Not for many years." Then a door opens and grief is felt.

Yes, all during our lives, doors open and our lives are never the same. Doors open and friends are found. Education shows us the world. Life becomes real and work becomes a reality. Doors open and we find love and the wonder of birth. And death.

Have you opened the most important door of all? Jesus said, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."

TODAYS SCRIPTURES:

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Luke 11:9-10

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Are you holding back from opening a door? Are you afraid of what might be on the other side? OR Do you hear the knock? Are you ready to open the door? Are you excited about what you will find? Are you ready to eat with Jesus?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

Jesus, I hear you! I hear you! I am coming to open the door. Oh, Jesus, I open the door wide so you can come into my life. Into my heart. I have been seeking you and here you are! Come in. Come in. Oh, Jesus, please come in. Here you are! I am so excited. You are here. With me. Come in! Come in! Amen

DECLARING MY DEPENDENCE

DECLARING MY DEPENDENCE

Nope, that is not a typo.

Each July 4th the United States of America celebrates Independence Day. This celebration is to remind us of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, which declared our independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. With that declaration, we became a country that governs ourselves and has sovereignty over our own land. As an American, I celebrate living independent of the laws or control of another country.

Dependent is when a person relies on or trusts another to take care of them. So, I am declaring my dependence.

I am declaring my dependence on the Kingdom of God.

This is a short list of things I am dependent upon the Kingdom of God for:

• Grace which I do not deserve
• Salvation which I can never earn
• Forgiveness of my sins
• A strong Holy Spirit
• Peace for my soul
• Every breath I take
• Eternal Life

On this July 4th and every day, I DECLARE MY DEPENDENCE ON GOD.

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: PSALM 62:7

My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Are you dependent upon God?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. My soul finds rest in You alone. You are my salvation, my rock, my fortress. When I am dependent upon You, I can never be shaken. I find my rest in You. My hope. I trust You at all times. I pour out my heart to You and know You will give me refuge. Hear my cry, O God. Listen to my Declaration of Dependency. Listen as I declare my dependency on You. Amen