Scrubbing

But godliness with contentment is great gain, For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out,

1 Timothy 6:6,7


I washed my hands at the kitchen sink after being outside cleaning the glass top table on the back porch. The dust of the fall season covered the glass like glue making it hard to get off so it took several tries before I made much headway. I threw the paper towels in the trash and looked down at my hands. What a mess!

The warm water felt good and I worked hard to scrub the dirt off my skin and under my nails. It was then I realized some spots weren’t coming off. Age spots, I finally have some. I wonder why I didn't see them before? I smiled when I thought, "Well, now maybe I can connect the dots."

Heart overflow

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

Luke 6:45

My cell phone went dead while I was talking with my mother. The phone had given me a beep signal to let me know I needed to recharge the battery so that gave me time to tell mother that if she needed me to call 911 and have the police come and get me. I'm one of the ones that has gone exclusively to cell phone and it's times like this I really want my old land line back. Fortunately I had already told mother what I needed her to know.

Talking with mother this morning and getting disconnected made me think how important our conversations really are. We say so much even when we don't say anything important. The big reason for our conversation this morning was just to be family and let mother know I love her.

New tongues - God's Grace

Mark 16:17

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

God's Grace

Today I praise God for His grace. This morning sitting in the early church service I was faced with the full meaning of God’s grace. The message was about many of what we think of as being our Bible Hero’s. You know them as father Abraham, king David, Noah, … and on. Well, each of these had big time reasons to fall under the grace of God for deliverance from sin and it’s consequences… which is eternal death. I do too…big time. Thank you God for your grace and for the understanding I received this morning. New tongues, new understanding.

Tacky

Do everything without complaining or arguing.

Philippians 2:14

I caught a glimpse of a T.V. show where a lady was complaining about Christmas and how she wished the holidays were over. We all get in situations where we feel overwhelmed with the commercial aspect of all the holidays, not just Christmas. I understood what she truly meant.

As I continued to decorate the house for company I felt another burst of holdiay spirit and a smile came on my face thinking how really tacky everything I had done looked. It reminded of my friend Anne who said there were two things in life that should be tacky, engagement rings and Christmas trees.

Packages

A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.

Proverbs 18:2

Yipes, today’s proverb hit me right on the head like a V8 commercial. Yacky, yack, yack what on earth have I been thinking and insisting that others think like I do? Somewhere there is a balance that needs to be found. Listen more, talk less; understand.

The count down is on to Christmas day. Excitement is in the air and I feel it in little bursts. Yesterday I pulled out the Christmas decorations. I don’t have a thing decorated or purchased and was reminded by someone on the T.V. that this year’s holiday shopping season is shorter because Christmas day falls on Thursday, three weeks from today! Is it me or is time faster?

Wise saying:

A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small package.

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?