A Humble Faith and a Birthday Prayer

December 19
A Birthday Prayer

As I settled down to my quiet time this morning, I realized the date would have been my Pop-Pop's birthday. I started thinking about him and his influence. How I never knew what to get him for Christmas, so when I was old enough to bake I started making him cookies and candies. I still have his favorites marked in my very first cookbook on the kitchen shelf. 
I had not given too much thought lately to the idea of heritage - and as I started to think about my grandfather my heart filled with memories and thanks and I jotted down this prayer. God is so good to us every day; He was at work in our lives even before we were born. We have a rich heritage of faith. 

Thank you, Lord, for my grandfather -- his love for You and us, his fun and discipline. His morality, ethics and faith. He valued a pure, simple, and disciplined life -- good food, sufficient rest, a hard day's work, shoes that fit properly, the dependability of a man's word, love for family. Get to bed on time, eat your vegetables and bread crust, but don't forget to play. 
Good, strong, biblical values, our heritage. 
In this day of agendas and obligations, may I not lose sight of what is truly important. May I not sacrifice these precious values on the altar of busy-ness, urgency or distraction. 

Thank you, Lord, for George Michael Schoen. 
Happy Birthday in Heaven, Pop-Pop. And thank you for the influence you have had on my life. 

I'm going to bake some cookies!

God Sees, Knows, Loves, Gives

Why is change so hard? It is, after all a part of life. After walking this path called life for years you would think it would be easy. A bump in the road, or a brief shower on an otherwise sunny day. This morning I find myself facing change with a renewed sense of resistance. My truest, most honest response is "NO-oooooo! Don't want things to be different. I liked them the way they were. Can we just go back, God?"

Then I awake to my husband holding my hand, praying with me before he leaves for work...I sit down with my morning coffee and notice a pink glow outside--a glorious sunrise! Across the room I see the first bloom on the Christmas cactus. I open an email to find a song of hope and strength...God IS so good. And it is only 8 am! I'm thinking I can step over this bump and walk through the shower with a God who loves this much.

It is time to be #movingforward.

New Online Bible Study - A Confident Heart, by Renee Swope

I am so looking forward to this! This will be my third online Bible study with P31. The format works with my schedule (flexible, not overwhelming, hassle-free) and all you need is a paperback book that is available at Amazon or at the Proverbs 31 website. It starts October 13th. Join me?

http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/2013/09/18/a-confident-heart/

Simple Recipe for Peace

Spending just a few minutes each morning sitting quietly before the Lord, palms up, head bowed...finding peace. So simple. 

Saying Yes #A Heart at Rest

I am Just finishing up an online Women's Bible Study through Proverbs 31 Ministries -- such a blessing!-- remembering to stop each day, look up, palms up. Focusing on God and His agenda, not my hurry-scurry to-do list. The goal is not productivity, not efficiency, not even Quality vs Quantity (gasp). The goal is obedience. YES!

#yes to God #palms up #radical obedience

Ready to Say YES to God

I

Looking forward to this online Bible Study sponsored by Proverbs 31 Ministries...with women from all around the world. I purchased my Kindle version of the book at Amazon for just 5.99 -- with that and my Bible and a notebook I'm ready to roll.... It's not too late to sign up. Join me?

Feeling excited and blessed!

Apples, Smoothies, and Dirty Floors

While sipping my apple/banana/ berry/almond milk and spring greens smoothie...taking a break from my (overdue) very late spring cleaning I was thinking about....dirt. Two things I can say about that which all would agree--1. It is dirty,  and 2. It is never-ending. What I have never appreciated about dirt is that it is not teachable -- no matter how many times I vacuum it, dust it, wash it, scrub and scatter it, it ALWAYS comes back. How rude. 
Then my thoughts wandered to the first fruit (probably not an apple) plucked from the forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden...In all the sermons I have heard in my life, I recall many on the Genesis account of Adam and Eve and their disobedience; what we call the "Fall of Man".  As a result of their sin, they were kicked out of the Garden. I remember hearing a pretty long list of consequences that we have had to endure ever since, realities that have shaped the world as we and our mothers and fathers have known it for all generations: sickness, thorns and thistles, pain in childbirth, sweat of the brow, and, ultimately, death. Very serious stuff. 
Well, I do not want to cast any blame here, because (who knows?) I may have made the same very, very bad choice. But as I sit here, in the midst of my torn apart house, mop in hand, I got to thinking---Hey, you know, dirt has got to be on that list of consequences....I'm pretty sure that Eve was not chasing dust bunnies or scrubbing floors in The Garden! And we know for sure she was not doing laundry ;)
So while I contemplate the origins of housecleaning, I do have a sure hope that some day it will end. One day there will be no more need for Mr. Clean, Dirt Devil, Maytag, , scrubbing bubbles -- or even house cleaners, nurses, firemen, soldiers, lawyers or sanitation workers! Looking forward to Heaven, much better than looking back to the Garden of Eden. 
Meanwhile, my floors are calling me.


Revelation 21:4 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

Want to know for sure you are going to Heaven?  Your journey begins with knowing Jesus...

http://www.proverbs31.org/do-you-know-jesus/

Our New Addition

Warning - Beware of the Darts -- This Is NOT a Game

I've been thinking lately about darts -- I was never very good at playing darts, but one thing I know -- in order to play you need at least one dart and a target. A game of darts is not much fun without a target. Or if you never hit the target. But it's really not fun if you ARE the target!

In the Bible there is a passage that talks about the armor of God --  we are told to wear the breastplate of faith, by which we will be able to withstand the fiery darts of the wicked one. 

Darts of the wicked one? Really? 

Well, yes. If you believe the Bible as I do, this has to make you stop and think....so, I have been thinking - what are those darts, and, really, what damage can a little dart do? 

I have been making a list of those Dangerous Darts, and the list is growing. As I think about these "little darts" I have come to see that they are painful, damaging to my faith, and destructive to the Church of Christ.  

Disappointment, Discouragement, Distraction, Division, Despair, Depression, Debauchery, Defeat, Disparagement, Disillusionment, Doubts, Deceit....and the list keeps on going 
                         Down 

                                    from 

                                               there...

                                               THIS CAN BE DEPRESSING!

                  

                                                                                             and would be...if it were not for...

                      GRACE, which brings us HOPE and the best defense EVER.....

***GOD'S ARMOR***

Ephesians 6:10-13 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, 
to stand firm. 

So before stepping out into your life-battle each day...spend some regrouping time with the Commander and, for goodness sake, 

don't forget your armor! 

To be continued....

From My Chair...(when I should have been asleep hours ago)

Waiting for the Big One...

          (Before gathering the milk, bread, batteries, and water jugs...)

Thinking how a nightly game of Solitaire or a couple of turns with WWF can be a great workout for the

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