Freight Trains

My God, my Rock, in Him will I take refuge; my Shield and the Horn of my salvation; my Stronghold and my Refuge, My Savior...You save me from violence.

2 Samuel 22:3

The train stopped me from crossing the road. I was glad that I was behind other cars because, to be honest, I don't think I was paying that much attention and I had never seen a train actually go by that road before. Yes, I had driven over the tracks many times, but not often enough to know when to expect a train. I don't even know if freight trains have schedules especially on that track.

I watched the train go by and tried to count the cars. Maybe I counted them because I had done so in my childhood, but I think I was just passing time like ticking off seconds to get going again. My mind had been a million miles away trying to deal with the little problems that seemed too big for me to handle. With each car that passed I reminded myself that the train would end soon... one car at a time. I smiled and breathed "this too shall pass" as I dropped the tissue from my eyes and thanked God for slowing me down, protecting me and giving me His word, His promises and His love.

Cleaning up

Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well

. Matthew 6:33

I'm a list maker. Only list makers can understand why we do it... and it isn't the same for all of us or all the different lists we make. It hurts my head when I think about how many different types of lists there are and the methods to get them done.

In the simplest form there are two types of list makers, those who work their list and get it done and those who make lists and don't get them done.

Under the heading of those that get the list done there has to be different types who work the list in different ways with the end result of success. Under the head of those that don't get the list done are some that I think are still successful, but just not quite perfect or completely done. I fall into that category. I'm not completely done and neither is my list... almost any list I make.

Yesterday I decided that maybe what I needed was a better plan. I decided that I would concentrate on just one room and get it cleaned top to bottom. Well, guess what, it didn't get done. It seems I fall into the other category of list makers that get sidetracked. Reorganizing the bookcase and cleaning tons of dust from books I didn't even remember I had, I found myself enjoying the afternoon with old friends inside the books. After that it was on to the photo albums and they are still scattered on the couch where I left them when my eyes were just too tired to look more and it was off to bed for me. This morning my mind is still on the books and photo albums.

This morning’s scripture pulls me back and reminds me to put my visit with God at the top of all my lists thanking Him for all things.

Thanks-Giving

Paul wrote, "I thank my god every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you." Philippians 1:3-4

Yesterday, after church, we all sat down for Thanksgiving dinner delayed. Anna Claire couldn't stay awake to eat, so she slept while we sat around the table. Some how sitting around the table brings even the most busy families together.

As I sat in my chair I smiled in my heart thinking to myself what a wonderful family I have. Even this morning I'm thinking about how Carley Ann brings smiles to everyone with her sweet, funny ways and Anna Claire with her expressive hands saying many times what her mouth can't get out quick enough. I see so much pride in the eyes of Terri and Brent and love the fact they know these are precious times.

Letters

2 Corinthians 3:3

You show that you are a letter of Christ, prepared by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God... on tablets of human hearts.

Send an email, press a key... instant communication.
Smile and you send .... instant communication.
With each action you send ....instant communication.

Isn't it amazing that now almost everyone recognizes that we can have instant communication with each other using email! I watched a bit of Jetsons yesterday and told Terri that we use to think we would be living life like Jetsons by now. Well, in so many ways we do. Who would have thought communication via something called the internet would connect people from almost everywhere on earth.

Still, the biggest means of communication we have is being living examples. We hold letters from God that He has written in our hearts when we communicate His love to others no matter if it is typed or just visible on our heart screens.

Moses or Jesus

1 John 1:5

God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.

Fun tonight making Christmas cookies, stars, trees, and gingerbread men. We went to Walmart and bought a new TV, then we watched a bit of inspirational cartoons on the TV seeing as we now can get the high number channels. Anna got confused over the difference between baby Moses and baby Jesus and I caught Carley Ann trying to tell her the difference. At two I'm thinking she is doing good just to know there is a baby Moses and a baby Jesus. BTW, the difference, according to Carley Ann, is that baby Jesus didn't get to get in the water until he was older.

God's gates

Enter into God's gates with thanksgiving

Psalms 100:4

Food is right up there in the top three essentials for life - food, shelter and clothing, so it only stands to reason that celebrating the harvest would have roots all the way back to ancient cultures. The Hebrews, Egyptians, Romans, Greeks and other cultures added their own twist to being thankful for the harvest each year and I’m sure those cultures still celebrate the harvest in one way or another even today.

The American Thanksgiving celebration, or Harvest celebration began unofficially in 1621 near the end of the Plymouth colony’s first year of existence. The history books tell us that the settlers gave thanks for a plentiful first harvest celebrating with the natives after arranging a peace treaty. Everyone feasted on geese, ducks, deer, corn, oysters, fish and berries bringing out the very best to share with each other.

After years of unofficial harvest celebrations, in 1863, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed that Thanksgiving should be a national observance. The American people were dealing with a lot of difficulty and deprivation, so this was one way to lift their spirits and also make people realize that even in difficult times they have lots to be thankful for. This is true today. We have so much to be thankful for in this country especially when you look at the news and see the things that are going on in other countries.

Today I'm thankful for God's gates and the protection I feel from them. Gates are meant to keep things in but also keep things out. Either way, the gates are important just as food, shelter, and clothing. His gates to me are love and I hope they are too you. I just finished reading a blog from someone who has decided to leave the Christian faith behind. I can't imagine making this decision. Never the less, I know God's Gates will always be there and I'll keep this person in my heart and prayers.

Sing with me:



Thanksgiving poem written by Lydia Maria Child

Over the river, and through the wood,
To Grandfather's house we go;
The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh
through the white and drifted snow.

Over the river, and through the wood -
Oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes and bites the nose
As over the ground we go.

Over the river, and through the wood,
To have a first-rate play.
Hear the bells ring, "Ting-a-ling-ding",
Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!

Over the river, and through the wood
Trot fast, my dapple-gray!
Spring over the ground like a hunting-hound,
For this is Thanksgiving Day.

Over the river, and through the wood -
And straight through the barnyard gate,
We seem to go extremely slow,
It is so hard to wait!

Over the river, and through the wood -
Now Grandmother's cap I spy!
Hurrah for the fun! Is the pudding done?
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!

Before Thanksgiving

1 Peter 4:10

Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.

I've had sick grandchildren for the last several days and when this happens and I get to keep them all day my entire life gets turned upside down. Plans made get changed and things that might have seemed important become less so. All efforts are directed to making that little one feel better.

This morning the house is quiet again with the exception of Cocoapuff who keeps reminding me that she too needs my attention. My mind is on Thanksgiving and all that means. I'll cook a turkey today and enjoy the smells and think about how thankful I am for my family, thankful for the freedom to worship my God, actually, thankful for everything in my life.

The light of the world

John 8:12

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.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ool3VUX1yc0

A cold fall night

John 13:13 (King James Version)

Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

John 13:13 (New King James Version)

You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.

Many years ago, ha... just yesterday in my mind... I read this passage and others like it and thought having a "Master" wasn't such a good thing. I didn't understand what a master was. I thought having a master would be someone who would make you do things you really didn't want to do, enforce obedience or only have his/her wishes fulfilled with no regard to a lowly servants needs much less desires. I thought of a master as being mean, beating someone into submission. I was so wrong. The New King James version and others gives a better translation as Teacher so when I think of having a master in the light of having a teacher I can begin to understand better. To have a master and to be mastered isn't the same.

God doesn't make me or you do what He wants. Life would be so much easier if He would. Then we wouldn't make so many mistakes and their wouldn't be so much suffering in the world. But, God in his wisdom, didn't create us with that in mind. He made us so He could have a personal relationship with us built on love. That is a lot to think about on a cold fall night. It IS still fall isn't it?

Not knowing

Romans 8:26

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

Sometimes you just don't know what or how to pray, but thank God, the Spirit himself does and can.

An acrostic poem

Psalm 34
Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left.

1 I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

3 Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.

5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.

6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.

8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

9 Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.

10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,

13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking lies.

14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their cry;

16 the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.

18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19 A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;

20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.

21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

22 The LORD redeems his servants;
no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.

I think it's rather cool that this psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

Praise

13 The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang:
"He is good;
his love endures forever."
Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud, 14 and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God.

II Chronicles 5:13-14

Learning authority

Romans 13: 1-7

1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.

4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.

6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing.

7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

As I sit this morning with my coffee and turn to my Bible I am thankful for His word that can speak to me on so many levels. I smiled this morning thinking how thankful I am for my family, home, country and for my place on this earth. This weekend just couldn't get any better than having my granddaughters spend the weekend. Watching them grow and explore all things new is amazing.

Carley Ann found my old rubics cube. We had a fine time playing and she giggled each time we made another side of the puzzle fall in place. I looked for it this morning but it's disappeared probably under the couch or tucked away in the toy bin.

Terri and I took the girls to the Christmas village market to see all the trees decorated with different ornaments. Santa was there but Carley Ann and Anna Claire wouldn't get near him. Carley Ann said his beard was too long and she liked the Santa only when his beard was short. She did shake the elf's hand and smiled at the gingerbread man. Anna Claire wouldn't look and kept her head buried in her mothers shoulder. I did see her take a quick peak just once. These are such happy days.

Calling all sinners

10While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"

12On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Matthew 9: 10-13