DID YOU READ YOUR EMAIL? DID YOU CHECK FACEBOOK? WHAT ABOUT YOUR TEXT MESSAGES?

DID YOU READ YOUR EMAIL? DID YOU CHECK FACEBOOK? WHAT ABOUT YOUR TEXT MESSAGES?

I am the administrator for our church's Facebook page. That means I post updates on what is going on at church. I remind people about meetings. About times. And I encourage all to attend church on Sunday mornings.

As secretary for our Church Council meetings, I write up the minutes and then email them to the members of the committee.

Personally, I also use Facebook and post to other people's status updates or send a personal note by "message." When people are not home, I leave messages on their answering machine or voice mail. And I would not know what to do without email. I use email to contact our accountant with tax questions. Email my sisters and my cousins. Email friends. Email to send and receive information on my CASA case. Email for business and for pleasure. I would miss email!

Yes, I use the phone. Email. Facebook. One thing I do not do is send text messages.

All of these are great. All are great ways to keep up to date on business situations. To keep in touch with family and friends. To give and receive encouragement. To request prayers. To offer prayers. To send a laugh or even a virtual hug.

BUT all, of these modes of communication, are useless if the person you are trying to make contact with does not check their email. Does not check their Facebook page. Does not listen to the messages on their recorder. Does not check voice mail. Does not check their text messages.

God uses many ways to communicate with us. Nature. Other people. The Holy Spirit. The Bible. The word of Christ.

Do you check for messages from God?

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: ROMANS 10:16-18

But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?" Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: "Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Where do you find messages from God? When you are outside? When you are in church? When you study the Bible? When you are just quiet, listening and ready to receive the message God wants you to hear? Are you ready to accept the good news?

As I wrote these questions, I thought about the show Touched by an Angel. How would you feel if a person said, "I am an angel and I have a message from God."?

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

My dear Lord, I am listening. I am always checking to see if you have left me a message beside a tree. Or beside a brook. I am listening. I listen to others who can help me learn. Others who can direct me. Pray for and with me. Others who can be my brothers and sisters in Christ. I am listening. I am listening to the Holy Spirit. I am listening to the Spirit's voice and allowing that voice to help me make wise choices. I am listening. I am listening to the words of the Bible. I am listening and learning. Thank you for loving me so much that you want to communicate with me. You want me to hear your love song in the gentle breeze. In the loving hearts of others. In the Spirit you have placed in the very core of my being. In the inspired words written for eternity. I am listening. Amen

PS. By the way. God, you are so much better than email, Facebook, voice mail, recorders or texting. You are never off-line. You are never in a glitch area with no reception. You are never floating around in space instead of landing in my inbox. You are not accidently deleted before I hear the message. And you are not small print on a phone that will be outdated by the time I finish this prayer.

I am listening, but I am filled with wonder and amazement when I realize that you are listening to me. Amen and Amen

OH NO! FRIDAY THE 13TH

OH NO! FRIDAY THE 13TH

Beware! Be on your guard! Warning! Today is Friday the 13th! OH NO!

I Googled Friday the 13th and was amazed at what I found. Snopes.com says Friday the 13th is "a day fraught with peril."

One source said 17-21 million people in the USA are affected by a fear of this day. $800-900 million is lost in business revenue because people stay home. They miss work, will not fly and some will not get out of bed. There is a 23 letter word for this phobia.

Do you know all the things you are not supposed to do on Friday? You are not supposed to:

Give birth (child will be doomed to misfortune, 1846), get married (doomed to a cat-and-dog life, 1879), get up for the first time if recovering from an illness (no reason given, 1923), listen to news (adds another wrinkle on your face and adds a year to your age, 1883), move (you won't stay long, 1982) or start a new job (never stay long in that job, 1923).

And do not even consider giving a dinner party for 13 people or having 13 people in a room.

These sound so silly. No woman is going to say, "Stay in there baby. It is Friday." Bill and I were married on a Friday and our marriage is not a cat-and-dog life. Would you wait until Saturday to get up if you were feeling strong enough on Friday? I bet FOX news has as many listeners on Friday as they do on Wednesday. The verdict is still out on Friday news giving you wrinkles and adding a year to your age. And do you really think moving or starting a new job on Friday has anything to do with how long you live in that house or keep a job?

Yes, these sound silly. They sound silly to me, but I am sure they do not sound silly to the person with a fear of Friday. Or the person that fears the number 13. Or the person that fears Friday the 13th.

We each have fears in our lives. Some are irrational fears. Irrational fears which can cause havoc in our day to day existence. The person who will not go into a small room does not consider claustrophobia an irrational fear. The person who can spend hours in a closet just does not understand claustrophobia. One person can study a spider and another is too afraid to even step on it. Yes, we each have fears in our lives.

Questions:

What do we do about these fears?

Do we let them control our lives?

Where do we get help?

How can we overcome our irrational fears?

(Disclaimer: I am not making light of anyone's fears. I do not like small rooms or large crowds, but can cope with both. There is also a difference between irrational fears and real fears. I do not like to walk on ice, because I know if I fall I can break something. Real fears include loss of employment, health issues, family relationships and things from our past that cause fear today.)

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: PSALM 34:4

I sought the Lord, and he answered me, he delivered me from all my fears.

LET US PRAY  (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

Lord I seek deliverance from my fears. I no longer want the fear of ________________ to control my life. I want to acknowledge and overcome my fear.

Lord I seek deliverance from the real fears in my life. I know my life will always be full of problems and trials, but I turn to you so these real fears do not consume my spirit.

Amen

WHICH ROAD DO YOU TAKE?

This has been a very hectic week because we took off for three days to see a friend in Canada.

Traffic at the Michigan/Canada border crossing.

No traffic on this road.

A partridge looking for a pear tree.

As I was looking at these pictures, I thought of Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken."

I will be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Frost asserted, "You have to be careful of that one, it's a tricky poem - very tricky."

He commented, "It does not moralize about choice, it simply says that choice is inevitable, but you never know what your choice will mean until you have lived it."

We had a choice to go to Canada and it took us 50 minutes to get across the border. The people traveling into the USA were backed up clear to the Canadian crossing. They waited much longer. We lived with the result of this choice but it impacted another choice. When we came home, we got up REALLY early and made it across in about ten minutes.

The second picture is always my choice of roads. I love back roads. Roads where you cannot see anyone in front or behind you. Roads where you can stop and take a picture of -- A picture of a partridge wondering what that crazy lady is doing.

My Christian journey is similar to our recent adventure. Sometimes I get stuck. I don't understand. I am at a standstill. And it takes me moving ahead a little at a time until the ole brain kicks in and God checks my passport and says, "Okay, move on down the road."

Sometimes I am on my Christian journey with others. And sometimes I am on the road less traveled. The road less traveled gives me quiet. And peace. And time.

And just like finding a partridge out in the middle of the road, I find God's gifts.

TODAYS SCRIPTURES:

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14

As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God's salvation.' " Luke 3:4-6

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Which roads do you take?

LET US PRAY

This week, talk to God about the roads you have been on. Have a good long, heart to heart with Him. You will both enjoy your time together.

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

I WONDER

I WONDER

I wonder what it would feel like to swim in the depths of the ocean.

I wonder how long it would take to count all the grains of sand.

I wonder how it would feel to fly like an eagle.

I wonder how many rain drops it takes to make a puddle.

I wonder if big horn sheep have a headache after butting heads.

I wonder how much God loves me.

I will never know the answers to these questions. Oops. My bad! I do know the answer to the last one.

PSALM 103:8-18

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.

But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children -- with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Do you know how much God loves you?

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

LET US PRAY

How much do you love me God? This Psalm tells me that you love me so much you are compassionate and gracious with me. Your love for me is so great you do not treat me as I deserve. Instead you remove my transgressions far, far away. When I no longer have a place on earth, I will, over time, be forgotten. But I will never be forgotten by you. How much do you love me God? You love me from everlasting to everlasting. Thank you. Amen

THANK GOODNESS FOR CELL PHONES

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: ISAIAH 49:13

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.

THANK GOODNESS FOR CELL PHONES

Friday, June 11, was some day. I am thrilled to report that Timothy's surgery was a success and he no longer has tonsils or adenoids. I would like to report that he is back to his usual crazy self, but he is having all the normal surgery side effects. Throat very sore. Grumpy. Really bad breath. And did I mention, grumpy? He is even getting tired of watching TV.

Timothy has three older brothers. Let me tell you, those four boys can get into some really nasty fights. "He kicked me." "You hit me first." "Tell him to stay out of my room." "I want to sit by mommy." "Daddy said I could." "That is my light saber." "We watched your movie last time." Get the idea? Sometimes, you would think those boys hated each other.

That is until one of them gets sick. We were headed to Fort Wayne and the phone rang. "May I talk to Timmy?"

Because we had to be at the hospital early, we stayed in Fort Wayne the night before. As we entered our room, the phone rang. "May I talk to Timmy?"

We walked over to Bob Evans and had a bite of supper and upon returning to the room, Timmy asked, "Can I call grandpa?"

And before we made it to bed, the phone rang again, "We want to tell Timmy goodnight." Yup, those boys can get into some battles, but when one hurts they become brothers and they all hurt.

I am not sure how many times the cell phone was used Friday. "Yes, we are headed to the hospital." "Yes, Timothy is in surgery." "Yes, he is out of surgery." "He is awake." "We are headed home."

And again, the phone rang, "May I talk to Timmy?"

The cell phone gave everyone comfort. Timothy talked to his father, his brothers and his grandparents. But the cell phone could not be used everywhere. BUT during this time of concern. During this surgery. During this separation from family, there was one connection that was always available.

That connection? God, of course.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Like all devices of man, the cell phone can get us into trouble or be a blessing. Do you drive and talk? Drive and text? (HOPE NOT!) Talk on the phone instead of enjoying the person/people you are with? When has the cell phone been a blessing? Have you called when your car was broken down? When someone was ill? When you just needed to hear a loved ones voice?

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

LET US PRAY

Hello, God.

I know with you I never get a busy signal or have to worry about leaving a message. You are always ready to hear my prayers.

I look at this wonderful world and appreciate __________.

You have so blessed me. Thank you for __________.

Please help __________.

In the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, Amen and Amen.

GOOD MORNING LORD

Yes, it is Thursday instead of Friday, but tomorrow I will be at the hospital while our grandson has his tonsils taken out.  Would you please say a prayer for Timothy and all those involved in his surgery and recovery.

HAVE A WEEK FULL OF GRACE AND PEACE – Mary

When I woke up this morning, this is what came to my mind.

GOOD MORNING LORD

Good morning Lord, Take my hand and walk with me today,

Protect my thoughts, so they do not stray,

Guard my ears, keep hurtful words away,

Keep my eyes focused, so they do not betray

May my mouth have truth and love, in all I say,

Keep my heart beating strong, all this day,

Let each breath I take, remind me to pray,

Guide my feet, show me the way,

Good morning Lord, Take my hand and walk with me today,

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: PSALM 143:8

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

WELCOME

Today I would like you to watch two YouTube videos.

The first is Rodney Carrington's "If I'm the Only One." Watch it to the end, please. This link should work by either using the Ctrl key or clicking the link or by copy and paste. The link is: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nZMtwm7fcs

The second is Mark Schultz's "Everything to Me." This video can be found at www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPYaRJOWznk Again, use the Ctrl key and click or copy and paste.

Do you know what I am going to write about today?

TODAYS SCRIPTURE:

And she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. …… When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, "I drew him out of the water." Exodus 2:2, 3 and 10

ADOPTION

A while back, all within a three day period, four things happened:

• A Facebook friend told about adopting his wife's children.
• The Sunday bulletin offered this prayer, "Thank you Father, for adopting us into Your family because of Jesus Christ our Savior.
• An email said that adoption is when you are entrusted with a child to raise.
• Our son had me watch the Rodney Carrington video.

I put these in my "is a good idea for a blog" file. This morning, Sunday, May 30, I saw Mark Schultz's video and decided it was time to take them out of the file.

Adoption is very special to our family. Because one woman understood she would not be able to raise her unborn baby, we are blessed with a granddaughter. That granddaughter is now 15 years old but I can remember the very first time I saw her. Instant love!

In that instant, I realized there are three ways to deliver a baby. One is by natural birth. The second is by caesarean section. The third is from the hands of another.

My 1995 Christmas poem included this: "We received a gift this year - an answered prayer. Our son and his wife adopted a baby. What joy this little girl has brought into our lives. Knowing that an unseen hand always held ours, made the uncertainty and waiting easier. As we waited for this addition to our family, we learned to appreciate the unselfish generosity and love that one person can have for another. A mother put the future of her child first. She gave us a granddaughter. God put us first -- He gave us His Son!"

As this is being written, we have friends who are in China. They have traveled a very long way to adopt.

Moses' mother knew she had to find a safe home for her son. Many mothers and fathers make the same decision. Bless you.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Have you adopted a child? Do you know someone who is adopted? Are you adopted? (Read Ephesians 1:4-7) Maybe you have been adopted twice.

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

LET US PRAY

Adoption. This can bring up so many emotions. Lord, I pray for the mothers and fathers, who have entrusted their children to others. Give them peace with this decision. Lord, I pray for the mothers and fathers who opened their arms and their hearts to these very special children. Lord, I pray for the children. I pray they will grow into adulthood, proud to be called adopted. Amen

REMEMBER

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: ISAIAH 2:2 - 5

In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

REMEMBER

Anyone who knows me knows I am not big on history or genealogy. I am big on people who defend this country and the rights of its citizens.

My father was a Private in the Army and served in Infantry Co B 115th Inf Reg. He served in the Rhineland and central Europe and received two Bronze Stars. My father-in-law was a Master Sergeant in the Army and was the Chief Radio Operator over 39 men. Neither died during their military service, but they served proudly.

Both of these men were older when they were called to serve during WW II. My father, who was truck driver, was put into the infantry. We still have not figured that out other than he told a Sergeant he could drive a truck and the Sergeant told him to walk. And walk he did. Dad never talked about the war.

My father-in-law managed a store's hardware department and was an amateur radio operator. The Army put his skills to good use and he taught others. I never met him, but I have often wondered what he would think of the internet. I understand he never talked about his service either.

My brother served in the Army during peace time. Our son-in-law was in the Navy. One nephew was in the Navy and traveled far from Indiana. One nephew is in the National Guard and served in Iraq. My sister, although not military, works at Camp Atterbury and sends soldiers off with a smile and greets them when they return with an even bigger smile.

We have a friend that served in Korea and many who served in Viet Nam. We have a friend who is in the Air Force and friends who are Marines. (Once a Marine, always a Marine.) A Canadian friend served with the US military. There are men in our church who survived the Battle of the Bulge and the landing at Normandy.

I am proud of my family members who have served this country. I am grateful for each and every soldier - old, young and those in-between; male and female; Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard and the National Guard - who has defended the United States of America.

It does not matter if we remember on the traditional Memorial Day of May 30 or the day now set as the last Monday in May. What is important is that we remember and, with respect, offer our gratitude. A line, in a 1915 poem, says, "That blood of heroes never dies." That is true. The blood of heroes lives in our freedoms. Always remember.

LET US PRAY

Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord. Lord I do come to your mountain. I come with prayers of thanksgiving for those who are willing to serve and risk their lives so I may have freedom. I come with gratitude for all who gave their lives to protect the freedoms of the United States of America and the freedoms of other countries and individuals. I do not take for granted my right to pray and worship you. I do not take for granted the freedoms I have today because I know that, without willing soldiers, these freedoms might disappear. I pray for the safety of our soldiers. I pray for the mental and emotional stability of our soldiers. I pray for the families of our soldiers. Also give them the physical, mental and emotional strength they need to stand with their spouse, parent or child who is serving in the military. Lord I do come to your mountain and I will celebrate the day when there are no swords. No spears. No wars. Amen

THINGS THAT MAKE ME SMILE

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: LUKE 15:3-7

Then Jesus told them this parable, "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."

THINGS THAT MAKE ME SMILE

Well, let's see. Rainbows and puppies make me smile. Wiggling my toes in the mud and blowing bubbles make me smile. Family and seeing Bill smile, makes me smile. Also, the sound of children laughing, the feel of a child's hand in mine and cartoons. A finished project. The first winter snow. The last winter snow. A good glass of wine. Friends.

Oh, my. This could be a very long list. Take a deep breath, here we go: Books, the sound of the ocean, buffalo, a new born calf and the sound of our children, even at their ages, calling me mommy. Driving very crooked roads, a good nights sleep, music, cheesecake and helping children. Quiet time but also the noise created when friends and family are all talking at once. An email from my sister, a USA flag blowing in a gentle breeze, white roses and playing games. Also, sitting on the deck, clouds, sunsets and getting a nice hot shower.

Deer running through our yard, fresh lettuce from the garden. Praying in a quiet church, children singing, Sunday School classes, Psalm 139 -- I better stop because these are just a few of the things that make me smile.

I do like to smile. Smiling makes my face feel good, changes the tone of my voice and improves my outlook on life. A smile can change my day from lousy to fantastic.

What makes God smile? I think God is happy and has a very large smile when all of His children are safe in His care.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Have any of these made you smile? Did you start your own list as you read mine?

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

LET US PRAY

I am smiling God. Can you see my smile? I look around and find so many things to smile about. Your world and all you placed in it are amazing. I pray I never loose the ability to smile at simple pleasures like mud in my toes and bubbles floating to heaven. I hope I make you smile. It makes me feel so secure to know that when I am lost YOU will come find me. It makes my Holy Spirit smile to know you want me in your flock. I am smiling God. Can you see my smile? Amen

THE LIGHT IS THERE

A very generous friend has allowed us to stay at his cabin in Colorado. We have been there twice and are looking forward to returning this September. It is very quiet. You can rest. You can relax.

One end of the cabin is windows and, in the mornings, you can watch the world wake up and, at night, watch it go to sleep. One evening, as I walked from the kitchen toward the window, it looked dark outside. But when I got to the window I saw it wasn't totally dark. Above the tree line, the sky was still light blue with a few scattered clouds. Then I saw the white jet stream. So close, it looked as if I could touch it. What a closing to a wonderful day. A reminder that when we think life is dark, full of problems, the light is still there. So close, we just need to reach out and grasp it.

The scriptures are full of reassurance.

And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. Genesis 1:3. God created the heavens and the earth. Then He lit up the sky! He lit up our lives!

You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light. 2 Samuel 22:29. It is never so dark that God's light will not shine through.

The Lord is my light and my salvation Psalm 27:1. Wow, not only our light but our salvation. Two for one!!!

For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. Psalm 56:13. Joy of joy! The light of life!

Where do we find this light? How do we understand it? The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Psalm 119:130. Where and how? We look in God's word.

From my favorite Psalm, we learn even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. Psalm 139:12. So -- no matter how deep the dark is that surrounds us, God sees us. He knows where we are.

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. Isaiah 40:26. God created us and all we have to do is lift our eyes and look to the heavens.

Micah 7:8 encourages us. Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. Yes, we all fall and sometimes we all sit in darkness. When that happens, do not think you are there forever. Do not let your enemy win. When you fall, ask the Lord to be your light.

You are the light of the world. Matthew 5:14. Just as God is our light, God expects us to be a light to others.

There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. Revelation 22:5. We never know what the next minute may bring, let alone tomorrow. But, one thing we know for sure is that the time will come when there will be no more darkness.

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible, the unfolding word of God, gives understanding to each of us so we will call upon the light. "Darkness" is different for each person and can come when least expected. When your life gets dark. Or you feel alone. Or you feel like you are at the end of your rope, remember, reach out and grasp the light.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12

Do you have this light in your life?

PRAYER TIME

Today, use the scriptures to surround yourself with the light of God.

Dear Lord, Bless all who call upon your light so there will be no more darkness. Amen

VOTING

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: GALATIANS 3:26 - 29

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

VOTING

I have not worked the elections for a long time. When I said, "Sure I can help.", I forgot about getting up at 4:00 AM, to be at the polls by 5:00 AM, to begin at 6:00 AM, to end at 6:00 PM and then leave a little after 7:00 PM. My memory had failed to enter a few years of aging into the tired equation.

Bill said, "No your butt is not dragging behind you." Maybe not, but all it took was a shower to make my behind land asleep on the couch.

The polling place I worked was in a retirement home. As I watched people come in, using walkers, canes or wheelchairs, I realized voting is a freedom, a right and a responsibility not to be taken lightly.

I have not missed voting in any election since 1967. Primary. General. I have voted. Voting is a privilege we should not take for granted. Even in the United States, voting has not always been open to all.

• 15th Constitutional Amendment Feb 26, 1869: The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
• 19th Constitutional Amendment Aug 26, 1920: The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
• 26th Constitutional Amendment July 5,1971: The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.

You would have thought that the 15th Amendment would have given women the right to vote. Nope. It took 51 years and the 19th Amendment before women could vote. Although 18 year olds were drafted and could serve in the military, they were not allowed to vote until 1971.

Voting is a privilege we should not take for granted. Voting has not always been open to all. Being a child of God is open to all who "vote" by being baptized.

How have you voted?

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Can you say you are an heir to God's kingdom? Have you been baptized? If so, then offer this prayer of joy:

I am one in Christ Jesus. I have been baptized and am clothed with Christ. I belong to Christ and I am an heir to the promise given Abraham. Amen

OR

Have you not been baptized or not sure if you are ready to make a commitment? Would you like to learn more? Do you have a place where you can learn more? If so, then offer this request for guidance:

Jesus, I understand baptism is the outward sign of the inward change of my spirit. I am trying, but am not quite sure and have not been baptized. Jesus, open my heart, my mind and my soul. Place in my life the direction I need to discover a strong, unshakable faith. Amen.

FINDING BILL

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: JOHN 4:10

Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."

FINDING BILL

The phone rang just as I was getting ready to leave. "What are you doing?" Bill asked. When I told him I was going to get my hair cut, he said, "Could you bring me some water. Mine got knocked over." Considering he is doing fieldwork, I told him sure. "I am working on 500 E, just past 500 N." he said, as he hung up.

Instead of taking a couple bottles of water, I added water to a bag of ice and left the house. I figured he could just fill the water jug he had with him. By the time I drove to the beauty shop, I discovered the bag had a hole in it and the floor of my car was getting very wet.

While getting my hair cut, Bill called and said, "By the time you get here, I might be on 400 N."

Instead of a quick drive, I now had to go to buy water. That done, I left to find Bill.

I tried 400 N and sure enough there was the big Cat tractor. The tractor stopped, but Bill did not get out. "Bill is working over by that house."

That house looked like it was one mile over, so I drove one mile north, one mile east and did not see Bill. Bless cell phones. Hearing what corner I was at, Bill said, "Turn right."

Bill said turn right, but I turned the other right. Still on the phone, I hear Bill say, "Gee I should see you by now. Are you going south?"

Oops. Turn around. That would make another half mile back to the corner and straight ahead. Another half mile and I saw Bill. But I had to drive to the corner and turn right. Finally, I found Bill. I found Bill, on 400 N, about a quarter mile east of where I had stopped at the first time. I drove around the mile square for nothing.

I gave Bill the water and left for home. Bill called when I was about a mile down the road. He just wanted me to know, "The water bottles are too big to fit in my little cooler."

A Samaritan woman went to the well to get water. Something she did every day. A very normal activity. A normal activity until she met a stranger. A Jew who asked a Samaritan for a drink. A Jew who asked a Samaritan for a drink but offered water that would give eternal life.

With a few wrong turns, I found Bill. With a few wrong turns, a Samaritan woman found eternal life.

Do you know where to find Jesus and the living water he offers?

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Are you thirsty?

PRAYER

This week say your own prayer. Thank Jesus for finding you and giving you eternal life. Or, if you have not done so, ask Jesus into your life and ask Him for the living water.

STEPPING STONES

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: ISAIAH 48:17

This is what the Lord says -- your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go."

STEPPING STONES

Bill no longer has any Quikrete. He likes to keep it on hand to repair a chip in the sidewalk or a crack in the driveway. I will admit this is what the product is for, but I have found a way to use it that is a lot more fun.

Last October I went to Florida with our daughter and her family and I brought back some shells. I knew what I was going to do with them and finally got around to making stepping stones for their flower bed.

Internet instructions said to make the mix like "brownie batter." Not wanting to make a batch of brownies, I thought, "I know what brownie batter looks like. I have made many pans of brownies. This will be a piece of brownie." (That is meant to be funny.)

Found out this is a bit trickier than I thought. The mixing was going good but seemed a bit too thick. So I added a tad of water. Now too thin. So I added more Quikrete. Ah, that looked just right so I poured it in the pan. And started making another batch.

That one was no easier to make. I thought I was adding a bit of water and it turned out to be a bit more than I needed. But I planned to make a third stone and did not want to use all my mix. So, it was a thin "brownie batter" that I poured it into the pan.

I decided I better put the shells in the first pan before it set up too much. Oops! Remember that was the thicker mix. I am glad they were tough shells because I had to push them in.

That was not the problem I had with the second stone. Remember it was a bit thin. When I put the first shell in, it sank! When I dug it out, it left a hole. So I patted and smoothed in the hole. Finally all the shells were in place and I added some accent pieces. They were heavy and - yup - would not stand up. So I dug them out.

Do you get the picture? An easy project that was not easy and I now have to replace Bill's Quikrete. The stepping stones do look good though.

The Bible tells us many things about our steps. Bill used to get upset because I would go out in the barnyard barefoot. Proverbs 14:15 says, "A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps." Believe me, I gave much thought to where I would step. I like putting bare toes in mud, but I did not want to put bare toes in - well, let's just say I did not want to put bare toes in other barnyard items. I was prudent with my steps.

It is not always so easy to know where to step. Or what path to follow.

Again the Bible reassures us. Job 34:21 tells us, "His eyes are on the ways of men; he sees their every step". Psalm 37:23 says, "If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand."

So, when you are unsure of your next step. Or questioning what path to follow. Take the Lord's hand and he will direct you in the way you should go.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Have you ever tried an easy project that ended up being not so easy? Do you watch where you step?

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

LET US PRAY

To the Lord my God, -- Who sees my every step. Who knows what is best for me. Who is there when I stumble and will not let me fall. Who upholds me with His hand. Who directs me in the way I should go. -- I reach for Your hand so I may step firmly onto the path you have prepared for me. May each step be for Your Glory and Delight. Amen

ONE MINUTE WARM AND THE NEXT COLD

Bill says I have a very narrow temperature comfort zone. If it is below 70, I am cold. Above 72 and I am too hot. The sad thing is that he is correct. And my comfort zone kept me awake the other night.

One minute I was too warm, so I kicked the covers off. Of course, that made me cold, so I had to find the covers. Shortly, too warm. That is the way my whole night went. The sheet was not enough and the blanket was too much.

As I went from hot to cold and back to hot, I thought about the Church in Laodicea. They had the same problem.

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: REVELATION 3:14 - 17

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm --- neither hot nor cold -- I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

ONE MINUTE WARM AND THE NEXT COLD

Sounds like they were pretty well off. Most likely, no foreclosure notice in the mail. No credit card debt. Their children probably went to private school. And they went to church. How could God be upset with them? And why would he call them "wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."

Are we ever like the church in Laodicea? Lukewarm? Does faith sit there somewhere along with the TV schedule, the grocery list and the latest novel? Is faith something reserved for Sunday morning?

What's the problem here? I believe. I go to church.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Is your faith hot? Cold? Lukewarm?

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

LET US PRAY (Based on Revelation 3:18 – 22)

To the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation, You know my deeds and you are telling me these things because you love me. I need to buy gold from you, not from the world. Gold that has been refined in the fire so I can buy clothes of white and salve to put on my eyes so I can see. I am earnest. I repent. I open the door because I heard you knock. I heard your voice say, "Here I am!" I am opening the door so you will come in and eat with me. I desire to overcome so I can sit with you on the throne just as you overcame and sat down with your Father. My ears are open and I have heard.    Amen

WOMAN BE QUIET

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: 1 TIMOTHY 2:11-15

A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing -- if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

WOMAN BE QUIET

The other day hubby Bill, said, "You are always reading a scripture to me. One you find interesting or new. I have one for you. Are you ready?"

That is when he read 1 Timothy 2:11-15.

Now, if you do not know us very well, you probably wonder what happened next. Are you ready? BILL AND I BOTH LAUGHED!

Yes, I do study in quiet, but one thing I cannot be accused of is being quiet. Submission to God? Yes. Submission to man? No. Another woman and I enjoy co-teaching our Sunday School Class. Yes, there are men in our class. And every so often God just lays something on my heart that I have to share and I deliver the Sunday message. God made two children, Adam and Eve. I believe God loved them equally. And the apple? Eve might have picked it but Adam took that bite.

Propriety? Has anyone ever used my name and propriety in the same sentence? Propriety: suitable, desirable behavior. Okay. Now I understand why Bill sometimes will just shake his head and roll his eyes. I have decided that my idea of good behavior is a bit different than the rest of the world. Don't get me wrong. I know how to behave. I just don't always see the need to behave.

Faith. Love. Holiness. Finally, something I can agree with. I was so excited when I learned the difference between religion and Faith. I will take Faith! Love. O my yes. Love of God. Love of my family. Love of my fellow believers. Love of my country. And love of my enemies. Darn. There I do not always have propriety.

Holiness. This is my goal. I am glad God gave me a strong, stubborn Holy Spirit because sometimes my Holy Spirit has to be a warrior. A comforter. A teacher. My Holy Spirit gives me courage. And by the way. I have a fat Holy Spirit. That is what I decided when I did a Bible Study. I am not overweight! My Holy Spirit just needs a lot of room!!! That is my story and I am sticking to it.

I have been saved through childbearing, but it was not because I gave birth to two children. I have been saved because Mary gave birth to the Son of God.

As we read the Bible. As we learn. We all pick and choose words, sentences or ideas we do not agree with. And we all pick and choose words, sentences and ideas that we build our faith on. There are things we question. There are questions we want to ask God. No man or woman has all the answers. No one has it all right. No one except God.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

What passages do you have trouble understanding? Accepting? What passages do you find strength in? Build your faith on?

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

LET US PRAY

Dear giver of the Word, The Bible is your story and the guide for my life. Give me wisdom to understand the meaning behind the words. Let my eyes see, my ears hear, my mind comprehend and my faith grow. Amen

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. OH NO. IT IS TRUE!

TODAYS SCRIPTURES:

They kept asking, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We don't understand what he is saying." John 16:18

Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. Mark 15:15

He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." Luke 24:44-47

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. OH NO. IT IS TRUE!

When I am having a tough time understanding a passage, of the Bible, or I just cannot grasp a theological concept, I remember the disciples. They just did not get it.

They did not understand. Jesus had just washed their feet. He broke the bread. He took the cup. They had heard all of the parables. They had seen the miracles. They had been with Jesus when he prayed. When he read the scriptures. And they still did not understand. That is when Jesus used words they could understand. Jesus told them, "I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father." (John 16:28)

Wow. The disciples finally understood, but with understanding came reality. "I am leaving." What emotions and feelings and pangs of regret the disciples must have felt as that night and the next day moved before them. Have you ever felt like you were an observer at an event? Not part of it, but as if life was moving and all you could do was stand there? Stand there helpless. I am sure that is how they felt as they watched Jesus being taken prisoner. Being condemned. Being flogged. Being crucified. "I am leaving you." OH NO.

Then came Easter. The tomb was empty. Jesus was not there. Then Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene. And the disciples. And many others. Jesus is alive.

The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Jesus is alive. IT IS TRUE!

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Do you celebrate a risen Lord?

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

LET US PRAY

Jesus is alive. Jesus is alive. I want to shout it from the rooftops. I want to whisper it into the ears of every baby. I may not understand every verse in the Bible. I may not comprehend theological concepts. But I know Jesus is alive. And he is alive for all. Thank you, my Lord Jesus. Thank you. Thank you. Jesus is alive! Amen

PALM SUNDAY

TODAYS SCRIPTURES:

However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"- but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10

No eye. No ear. No mind. What God has prepared. But Jesus knew.

Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!" Matthew 20:17-19

What God has prepared. Son of Man betrayed. Condemned to death. Mocked. Flogged. Crucified. Raised. But Jesus knew.

They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the King of Israel!" ……. At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. John 12:13, 16

What God has prepared. Hosanna. Blessed. King. But Jesus knew.

PALM SUNDAY

Are you getting ready for Easter? Have you purchased new clothes? A chocolate rabbit? Fake grass that you will be finding under the couch next August? A ham for Sunday dinner? How are you preparing? Thinking ahead to Easter made me wonder how Jesus prepared.

Did he have times of absolute joy because he would be seeing his Father? Did he feel anxious over what lay in front of Him? Did he look closely at faces and hold a loved ones hand for an extra second? Did he - - ?

The Bible answers some of these questions. We know Jesus got angry when he entered the temple area and "would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts." We know he washed the feet of his disciples. And we know he was "overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death." We know he wept and prayed.

But how did Jesus prepare his heart?

QUESTION OF THE DAY

How are you preparing for Easter?

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

LET US PRAY

Dear Jesus, Help me prepare for Easter. I want to be your humble servant so I may give gentle care to others following your example of tenderly washing the feet of your disciples. I want to receive the bread and wine you offered at the Last Supper. I want to be awake as you pray in the garden and I want to share in your tears. I want to offer praise and be thankful for the blood that washes me clean. I want to raise my hands and celebrate a risen Lord. … Amen

TWO MINUTES

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: LUKE 23:34

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”

TWO MINUTES

It was a normal morning. Children complained about getting up for school. Men and women went to work and the same idiot cut across three lanes of traffic causing everyone to slam on their breaks. Boys and girls, too young for school, told their parents goodbye as they were dropped off at daycare.

It was a normal morning, as men and women turned their minds from loved ones to business.

It was a normal day, as children put moms and dads in their hearts and turned to study and play.

9:01 AM – It was a normal morning. No one paid attention to the truck parked at the loading dock.

9:01 AM – It was a normal morning, April 19, 1995. A normal morning in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Two minutes passed. 120 seconds.

9:03 AM – It was no longer a normal morning.

We stopped at the Oklahoma National Monument and felt the results of hate and mis-directed anger. 149 adults and 19 children died.

We were too early to tour the museum, but I do not think I could have entered.

The empty chairs had already broken my heart and reminded me that two minutes had changed a nation, a state and a city. Two minutes and family trees were altered.

It was hard to walk to the Children’s Area. Each step closer was a reminder of those smaller chairs. Each step carried us closer to --- closer to hope!

Hope because children from all parts of the country sent drawings of comfort. Drawings which offered a prayer or a dream of peace. Drawings of broken hearts and families. And those pictures were bright and colorful. Each picture was full of hope.

Hope for the end of hate.

How do you explain hate? How do you understand one person being so desperate they kill innocent people? How do you not take hate into your own heart? I have no answers.

When an April 19, 1995 (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), April 20, 1999 (Columbine High School, Littleton, Colorado), September 11, 2001 (New York, Washington DC and Pennsylvania) and other days of hate happens, you weep, you pray, you trust, you hope.

The inscription over the entrance to the Memorial reads, “We come here to remember those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever. May all who leave here know the impact of violence. May this memorial offer comfort, strength, peace, hope and serenity.”

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

LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus, When acts of hate destroy my feeling of well-being, when acts of hate touch my life, when hate is strong, O Jesus, protect my heart and mind so hate cannot hold my Spirit captive. Almighty God, hold victims close and give peace to those left behind. Peace and the assurance that they will again celebrate with their loved ones. Amen

AN HONEST MAN

Hi, Please enjoy this devotional. We are going on vacation so the next post will be March 19. Celebrate each day, Mary

TODAYS SCRIPTURES:

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers -- not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be: not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. 1 Peter 5:2-4

AN HONEST MAN

I cashier auctions and try as I might, I will - and I hate to admit this - make an occasional mistake. Sometimes I file a ticket behind the wrong number. Or the clerk will put the wrong bidder number down. It is hard to hear when the crowd is noisy and 51 and 61 can sound alike. When the sale is over, we go through those lone tickets and try to figure out where they belong.

Occasionally a person will say, "I know I have another ticket. I bought a periwinkle marble for $ 35.00." If a quick search does not turn up the ticket, we take the money, note the amount and try to find a match when we balance out. And there it will be. A single ticket with the wrong number or (Regretfully my error.) filed where it does not belong.

Last Saturday, I waited on an Honest Man. This young man regularly comes to our auctions and usually has his son with him. When I told him the amount he owed, he said, "You must be missing a ticket. I know I had another $ 20 item." I looked and could not find it. Asking if he was sure it was $ 20, I told him I would find the ticket later and tear it up. He paid his bill and turned to leave.

That is when I embarrassed him. I said, "Do you realize the example you just set for your son? Your son saw his father being an honest man. He will not forget that."

The son grinned from ear to ear, as he realized how special his father is. The father turned a bit pink and started to say something. Then he grinned and said, "Thank you."

Train a child in the way he should go

Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care

Because you are willing

You will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away

And right there, in the middle of a very busy auction, stood an honest man who was training his child in the way he should go. He was being a shepherd to the flock that is under his care. And he was doing it willingly and without even realizing it, he was training his child. He will receive his crown of glory.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Have you set an example for someone lately?

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

LET US PRAY

Dear Chief Shepherd, I pray that my Spirit is a willing Spirit. I pray that I am a good shepherd to the flock you have placed around me. I pray that I live my life in such a way that I exemplify Your works to children. I pray that family, friends and strangers will observe me serving and want to serve the same God. I pray that I serve, not to be seen, but to teach by example. And when you, the Chief Shepherd, appears I will humbly receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. Amen

KEEPING CURRENT

TODAYS SCRIPTURES:

O Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress. Isaiah 33:2

Give us today our daily bread. Matthew 6:11

Then Jesus said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16

KEEPING CURRENT

Our church is SLOWLY entering the age of technology. Since I have been the one pushing to get a website and facebook page established, I have spent hours and hours researching. I took an online United Methodist Web Ministry Course and learned why web ministry is important and who is most likely to use the website.

Now website research has started. Enter Christian web design and web hosting into Google and you get 815,000 sites. No, I did not check each one but have narrowed my search down to four. Let me tell you what I found when searching for just the right service.

"Special until January 1, 2010." Sounded good except for the fact that it was February 13, 2010. If they could not keep their own site current, why would we want to trust them to stay on top of ours?

The Google info on one site sounded good until I went to their home page. Not sure what language it was, but I know it was not English. Mark that one off the list. Another was marked off because if your church did not hold the same beliefs as the site host, they would immediately shut your site down. Some were too expensive and would make our church treasurer faint.

Do you know the main reason I put a red line through most of the sites I checked? Their own sites did not work! I would try a link and it would go to a blank page or not come up at all. One site was still showing 2008 information. They were not keeping current and they lost out.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Are you keeping your faith current?

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

LET US PRAY

O Gracious Lord, Every morning I long for your strength and my salvation. Every day I desire that you renew my Holy Spirit. Daily I turn to Your Word to be fed. And day by day, I deny my wants and desires so I can follow You and take up Your cross. Day by day. Daily. Every day. Every morning. Lord I desire to keep my faith working properly. To keep my faith current. Amen

YARN ART

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 3:13

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for wisdom is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.

YARN ART

Our favorite nine-year-old grandson, Nathan, loves to do art stuff. We are never sure exactly what we will do or how it will look, but we sure have fun as we sit at the table creating and talking. Some days it is watercolor. Sometimes markers. One day he told about his art class making a picture with yarn. While he worked with watercolors, I got out the yarn and a needle. Because I did not have a pattern to follow, Nathan did not think I was doing my project correctly. I told him, "I am not sure how this is going to turn out. Guess we will see."

This is how it turned out.

Nathan took one look and said, "What is that?" And, by the tone of his question, I could tell he was not impressed.

As I looked at my creation, I saw my life. The orange yarn, starting in the top left corner is my life. It is not straight. There is one place where it is sideways. My life has been like that. All lives are. We hit snags. We make detours. Sometimes we just have to be in one place. Sideways. Waiting to get back on track.

See the white yarn? White represents the people who have been in my life since the beginning or for most of it. Family. Husband. Children. These people have had the greatest influence on my life. They helped craft my personality.

Notice the red yarn? Red is for the people who were in my life early. My grandmother taught me so much before she died. She was in my life until I was a freshman in high school. Also, childhood friends. People who, because of death or circumstances, are no longer in my life.

Notice the brown yarn? See how it is there at the first and again later? Brown represents people who have been important at different stages of my life. Teachers. Additions to our family. Or people I did not meet until I was 40. Or 50. Or 60.

Look for the black yarn. Sometimes a person can influence my life by just walking through it. A chance encounter with a homeless man in Tucson, Arizona. A stranger who gives me a smile just when I need it. Hearing about the tragedy in one person's life, I do not take for granted the blessings in mine.

The yellow yarn? Yellow is for the people I have never met who have influenced my life. Beth Moore and the Bible Studies she has written have lifted my understanding to a new level. The writer of The Shack. The person who cut out the first jigsaw puzzle. I love to do jigsaw puzzles. The person that discovered Mirapex. Mirapex has changed my life because now - at least most nights - I can sleep instead of being awake with Restless Leg.

Can you see the invisible yarn? The invisible yarn is the love of God. And that love is interwoven in all of our lives.

As I looked at my creation, I saw my life. I saw all the people who offered me wisdom. Who helped me gain understanding.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

What would your yarn picture look like? Could you put names to the white yarn? The red yarn? The brown yarn? The black yarn? The yellow yarn?

LET US PRAY

This week, please say a prayer for the people who have helped you during your life. Those that have been in your life for a long time or a short time. Say a thank you for those that have touched your life without even knowing it.

THE BRAVE CALF

TODAYS SCRIPTURES:

Then I will go back to my place until they admit their guilt. And they will seek my face; in their misery they will earnestly seek me. Hosea 5:15

When he came to his senses, Luke 15: part of 17

So he got up and went to his father. Luke 15:20

THE BRAVE CALF

A few years ago, I watched as a young bull calf slept on a sunny afternoon. He was just lying there, oblivious to the world, enjoying the warm sun. But then he woke up, lifted his head and looked around. That is when it got funny.

You see, while the calf slept, the rest of the cattle went to the woods and when the calf woke up, he realized he was by himself. Never fear. Remember this is a bull calf. That calf looked to the right. He looked to the left. Then he stood up. All the time being calm and brave, as only a bull calf can be.

I can still see that calf stretching his neck, back and legs. Stretching out the stiffness that a long nap leaves behind. Then the calf, all the time keeping his bull attitude, looked behind him. It was then that I noticed a change.

All of a sudden, the head was not held as high. And the tail drooped. And there was just the hint of a bellow. The bellow got louder. I could tell the calf was crying, "Mother! Mother! Where are you?" Now the calf was scared. The calf realized he was totally, completely alone. Where was his mother? Where was his milk? He cried again. This time as loud as he could yell, "Mother!"

From the woods came a reply, "Here I am." That big, brave all bull calf tucked its tail between its legs and ran as fast as those scared legs would carry him. He knew where to go.

How often I have been like that calf. Big and brave. I can do this on my own. I can handle anything that comes my way. I, I, I am alone. I am scared. I cannot do this on my own. Where will I turn? Who can help me? And then I yell, "Father!"

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Are there times when you are like the calf, trying to do everything on your own. Afraid to ask for help? Afraid to admit you need God?

(Luke 15:20 continues: But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. This is how God feels every time we go to Him.)

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

LET US PRAY

Father, I have come to my senses. In my misery and my joy. In my trials and my triumphs. In every moment of every day, I seek your face. I earnestly seek you. I have come to my senses. Where can I turn? I turn to you. Amen