Coupons from Arby's.
Fresh home-made bread from neighbor lady.
Winter sunset, sky all aflame.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
How Great Is Our God!
I don't think there is such a thing as over-emphasizing God's love. I know some people would disagree with me. That's fine. I still argue that we need to hear more of God's love, not less.
What is it that draws you to God? Fear that He's angry at you and will suffer His wrath if you disobey? We can obey God out of fear but I don't believe that is what He wants.
To me, it's the overwhelming love of God that brings me to repentance. His love doesn't make me think I can do anything I want and He will excuse it because He loves me. No. His love shows me where I've gone astray and gives me the courage to come back to Him and in my unworthiness ask for forgiveness. Again. And because of that forgiveness I am set free and can go on, instead of wallowing in fear, doubt, self-pity and such things.
Today the song "How Great Is Our God" kept ringing in my head. If only we could see Him as He truly is!! I get glimpses now and then and it makes me want to see more...
Monday, January 16, 2012
God's Plan
Just because we can't see or understand God's plan doesn't negate the existence of the plan. It merely means that we must continue to faithfully walk with Him to discover its fulfillment.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Another Saturday
It started at 3:30 a.m. when I heard my small charge calling for her daddy. I was staying with a 4-year-old, Emma, and her new, Great Pyrenees puppy, Kep, for the night while her Mom was away and her Dad was working. She got out of bed and went looking for her daddy. I pulled myself out and went after her. Emma wasn't interested in my offer to let her crawl in with me. (Her mom had given me permission to do "whatever it takes" to get her back to sleep.) Instead she said she wanted to be left alone and on that note crawled back into her bed. My heart went out to her but as there didn't seem to be anything more to do, I went back to my bed as well.
A few minutes later I heard a small voice calling, "Miss Pauline, can you read me a story." Although I couldn't be her Dad or Mom, this was one thing I could do. I got up once more and Emma happily ran to get me a book to read. She listened attentively and when the story was done, I turned out the light and we both went back to our own beds. No more was heard until she bounced out of bed at 6:45 a.m., came in my room and loudly declared it was time to get up and then switched on the light. No more sleeping that night!
Emma ran to check on Kep, who was cooling his toes outside since 4 a.m. when I had let him out. He was only too happy to come back in and romp and play with his beloved mistress. We got dressed and very soon her Dad arrived and I was free to go.
I headed for Wal-Mart. I must say shopping at Wal-Mart at 7:30 on a Saturday morning is the way to go! You can find a parking spot close to the door, there are clerks available to help you find things and no long check-out lines. I whizzed through there in short order and then was on my way to meeet my sister at IHOP for breakfast. What fun to have a leisurely breakfast, catching up on the happenings of the week.
The rest of my day was spent catching up at home, relaxing, and later going over to Dad & Mom's place.
Gotta love Saturdays!
A few minutes later I heard a small voice calling, "Miss Pauline, can you read me a story." Although I couldn't be her Dad or Mom, this was one thing I could do. I got up once more and Emma happily ran to get me a book to read. She listened attentively and when the story was done, I turned out the light and we both went back to our own beds. No more was heard until she bounced out of bed at 6:45 a.m., came in my room and loudly declared it was time to get up and then switched on the light. No more sleeping that night!
Emma ran to check on Kep, who was cooling his toes outside since 4 a.m. when I had let him out. He was only too happy to come back in and romp and play with his beloved mistress. We got dressed and very soon her Dad arrived and I was free to go.
I headed for Wal-Mart. I must say shopping at Wal-Mart at 7:30 on a Saturday morning is the way to go! You can find a parking spot close to the door, there are clerks available to help you find things and no long check-out lines. I whizzed through there in short order and then was on my way to meeet my sister at IHOP for breakfast. What fun to have a leisurely breakfast, catching up on the happenings of the week.
The rest of my day was spent catching up at home, relaxing, and later going over to Dad & Mom's place.
Gotta love Saturdays!
Monday, January 2, 2012
A New Year!
Happy 2012! A new year!
My theme verse for this year is: "...Though she may forget, I will not forget you. See I have engraved you on the palms of my hands..." Isa. 49:15b-16a (NIV)
This was a very special day 42 years ago when God began writing the story of my life. He is still writing that story and the more I see of it, the more I marvel at His awesome plan for my life.
I know I've said this before but I just have to say it again. "God is good and I am always loved!" - Ann Voskamp
The best to you and yours in 2012!
My theme verse for this year is: "...Though she may forget, I will not forget you. See I have engraved you on the palms of my hands..." Isa. 49:15b-16a (NIV)
This was a very special day 42 years ago when God began writing the story of my life. He is still writing that story and the more I see of it, the more I marvel at His awesome plan for my life.
I know I've said this before but I just have to say it again. "God is good and I am always loved!" - Ann Voskamp
The best to you and yours in 2012!
The Last Day of the Year
It was the last day of the year and I was feeling frazzled. So much to do and not enough time. I had worked late the night before, doing inventory, and badly wanted to sleep in on Saturday.
There was a funeral that morning... an elderly man...long-time neighbor, friend and former employer. I didn't really feel like going and yet...I wanted to go. By 9:30 I was on my way to pick up Mom. We arrived at the church in good time but still the only options were to sit in the balcony or fellowship hall. I chose the balcony, thinking we would have a good view from there. We did...of the ceiling fans. We were 3 rows back and even when asked to stand, the 2 rows of black-suited men in front of us were quite effective in blocking off the view. This DID NOT improve my mood. What's the point of going to a funeral if you can't even see what's going on, I grumbled to myself. This is ridiculous!
But I could hear. And I think I may have put my ears to better use for not having been able to see. The music was beautiful, although I couldn't "see" who was singing. The sermon was inspiring and encouraging, carefully planned out by Eli before his death. Hearing about his life inspired me to persevere in living for God.
As I sat there wishing to "see" I thought of how this is much like life. Very often we can't "see". We don't understand what God is doing. That's where faith comes in. Faith to believe that God is working even when I don't "see" it. And if I open my ears I can hear God in so many ways.
I'm glad I went to that funeral. It helped put things in perspective again. And even though I didn't have time to clean my house or do other things on my list, I still had time for the most important things...spending a couple hours with an aunt & cousin and families who took time to come visit was a pleasure and the New Year's Eve party at a friends was a great way to end the year with sharing and prayer at midnight.
It's been a good year. I feel truly blessed beyond measure by a God whose love never fails.
P.S. Just in case you wonder, I reached my goal of "1000 Gifts" list by the end of the year.
There was a funeral that morning... an elderly man...long-time neighbor, friend and former employer. I didn't really feel like going and yet...I wanted to go. By 9:30 I was on my way to pick up Mom. We arrived at the church in good time but still the only options were to sit in the balcony or fellowship hall. I chose the balcony, thinking we would have a good view from there. We did...of the ceiling fans. We were 3 rows back and even when asked to stand, the 2 rows of black-suited men in front of us were quite effective in blocking off the view. This DID NOT improve my mood. What's the point of going to a funeral if you can't even see what's going on, I grumbled to myself. This is ridiculous!
But I could hear. And I think I may have put my ears to better use for not having been able to see. The music was beautiful, although I couldn't "see" who was singing. The sermon was inspiring and encouraging, carefully planned out by Eli before his death. Hearing about his life inspired me to persevere in living for God.
As I sat there wishing to "see" I thought of how this is much like life. Very often we can't "see". We don't understand what God is doing. That's where faith comes in. Faith to believe that God is working even when I don't "see" it. And if I open my ears I can hear God in so many ways.
I'm glad I went to that funeral. It helped put things in perspective again. And even though I didn't have time to clean my house or do other things on my list, I still had time for the most important things...spending a couple hours with an aunt & cousin and families who took time to come visit was a pleasure and the New Year's Eve party at a friends was a great way to end the year with sharing and prayer at midnight.
It's been a good year. I feel truly blessed beyond measure by a God whose love never fails.
P.S. Just in case you wonder, I reached my goal of "1000 Gifts" list by the end of the year.
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