Turn Trials and Heartaches into Thankfulness

Turn trials and heartaches into thankfulness

Orchids from a friend’s garden bring joy.

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”  1 Thessalonians 5:18
…
Loved ones can’t come home this holiday season. Too many friends and family have been touched by illness and death. Care facilities aren’t allowing visitors for those who seem to need it most. Jobs are lost, wages cut. Political news is depressing.
…
How in the world can we be thankful?
To be thankful in all things is to acknowledge what is right about God in praise and thanksgiving. Life may seem a mess, but God never changes.
…
As I pray for each of you in your various circumstances, I ask God to fill you with His Presence and Enduring Love.
…
Suffering the loss of a loved one:  Holidays are hard. There is a part missing. I pray we can rejoice in the fact that we had that loved one in our life. Thank God for all the good memories; the life you shared; the promise of Heaven.
…
Having loved ones in a facility you can’t visit: We will find creative ways to communicate. We will be thankful for those who care for our loved ones. I pray for peace and comfort as we trust Him to meet every need.
…
Confined at home due to illness: We will be thankful we have a warm home, food, and the necessities. We will spend time in prayer, Bible reading, watching inspirational programs, enjoying music. We will do our best to replace negative thoughts with positive actions: explore a hobby, call a friend, write a letter, clean a closet. (Oops, how did that get in here?)
…
Lost wages or job: We will learn to be content with what we have because God has said, “… never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5  For many of us, we will learn to make do with what we have. We will dust off the cookbook and relearn to ‘cook from scratch’. We may need to find a needle and thread and do some mending! (Oh, yikes!)
…
As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior, I pray you will find His Peace sufficient for your every need. I pray for you to be surrounded by those who love Him and love you. I pray you will drop me a note so I can pray with you, and rejoice with you.
…
You are a blessing to me in these changing times, I thank God for you.
Hugs,
Thanks for leaving a note below.

Children are Our Greatest Treasure

Children are Our Greatest Treasure

Photos like this one are priceless. Sadly to say, they are also rare.

Little Daryl had been given a tiny Bible for his pocket. Now, every night he asks his daddy to read his Bible to him.

Dad’s big, hard-working hands gently turn pages in that tiny Bible as his precious child cuddles on his shoulder. Can you see the peace, love, and security on that little child’s face?“

“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” Psalm 127:3

Shopping for girls stuff: make-up, fashions, etc. is not my thing. However, I do shop! I spend lots of money on tiny Bibles, tracts, Scripture candies to give as God directs. Blessed beyond measure!

I gave little Daryl and every child I saw little Bibles as they were with their families at funerals and visitations. When this photo showed up on FB, it made me cry! Here’s another story told to me about the little Bibles.

“At Ron’s funeral, you gave Little Emma, age 4, one of your little Bibles. Her mother said Emma  insists that Mommy read her a story from Her Little Bible every night before they go to bed.” (More tears!)

As we visit different churches each week, I look first for the little ones. When I asked a couple of little girls if I had given them Bibles, their mother quickly said I did. Then told me they gave them to their nephews who didn’t have any. Guess who got more Bibles? Did I say I was blessed? Indeed!

Jesus loved the little children. Read Mark 18:1-11.

For more great Bible verses about children click here.

Often in stores and restaurants, I wonder if those little ones even get to go to church and learn about Jesus. Maybe, just maybe, as they get their parents to read to them from “their Bible”, they, too, will learn about Jesus’ love. (Prayers here.)

I’m writing this on Halloween; many families will spend money and time on costumes and candy. They will brave the cold, perhaps be careless on masking and social distancing, and enjoy some family fun. Memories will be made for sure.

The lasting memories are those we make with our children in showing them about Jesus and how much He loves each one of them. Please join me in praying for our children. Pray for their families. Pray for a Jesus-first mentality in all we do.

Keep looking up! Drop me a note.

Nelson Mandala quotes about children

Come Sit with Me on My Back Porch

Come Sit with Me on My Back Porch

Lightening, like small golden fingers, quietly filled the otherwise clear blue sky and drew me outside.

Come, sit with me on my back porch, let’s watch God wake up the world.

Framed by colorful maple trees, a cloud boiled up from the horizon, then another, and another. Soon mounds of fluffy cotton float upward and out of sight.

Beautiful MO Bluebird Sang to Me as Squirrel Played on the Wet Tree

Soft shades of pink, yellow, and purple colored the clouds, I turn to the east to see the sun peeping through. Hues of purple and blue and green, not found in any box of colors or palette of oils. No mixing of pastels could ever capture the depth, the brilliance–the scale or scope of the color half hiding the brilliant sun.

Join me as I sit in awe with two cameras, pad and pen and feel helpless, unable to describe the scene. You must find it for yourself. It’s that moment that stirs your soul to utter speechlessness and insurmountable joy.l

I feel like a child announcing on his birthday, “I got more than I asked for!” Yes, far more than I could ever imagine or dream!

Oh, the wonder of God’s creation! Slowly appearing in the majestic maple frame is a rainbow. In Genesis 9:13 God tells the world: I have placed my rainbow in the clouds as a sign of my promise until the end of time, to you and to all the earth. And I paused to thank God for His promises

All too quickly, the sky is blue the show has passed. Birds fill the air with song, a distant rumble speaks of a God who is in control. The sky is calm. I can’t drink it all in.

I know…I KNOW God called me outside this morning! I do not know how I’ll face the challenges of the day–they still lie before me.

But I KNOW, I know Who holds me in His hand. He who painted the rainbow, tossed a puffy cloud, woke the sun—It is He!

Hundreds of blackbirds swooshed through the back yard on their way to who-knows-where. They pause to rest in the walnut grove. Listen closely, a chorus of birds are praising God for His creation.

May we never forget, God IS in His heaven and all IS right with the Lord.

Let’s meet again, soon. In the meantime, I’ll pray for you; will you pray for me?

Hugs,