Rambling Friday: God's Help

 What Do You Do?

When you've already gone through the worst

illness you've ever experienced?

When you're doing so good physically...

(after all, that's what the doctors say, 

what your therapists say)...

and then you find out you have 

another problem. 

When you feel as if the kind doctors

act delighted that they have ANOTHER

patient to dissect

(mentally, physically, or however)

What does a person do?

Why...turn to God's word.

Here's what I read

just when I needed it:

"...for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee,

saith the Lord." 

What a promise!

What precious words from God!

How wonderful that we can claim God's promises!

I will praise Him!

Sunday Morning Sunshine: I Promise!

 

"I Can Do All Things Through Christ 

Who Strengthens Me" 

(Philippians 4:13)

I am determined!

Sunday Sunshine: Strength

The devil whispered in my ear,

"You're not strong enough

to withstand the storm."

I whispered back,

"No, but God is."

LOVE!

Rambling Friday: The Living Rock

The Living Rock

Marble, sandstone, slate, granite, limestone, shell, and some more valuable ones are quartz and diamonds. Take your pick and most of us would choose the valuable ones.

I love rocks–always have. I guess they’ve represented strength and beauty to me. I know I must have driven my family batty because while traveling, I would constantly comment about mountains and rocks. I seriously doubt they thought I was an expert on the subject, but my obsession with the subject kept me talking.

I collect samples from different states we visit, line my gardens with diambeautiful stones and rocks and search for unique shapes and colors. Rocks have an enduring quality about them. Most of them are heavy and strong, giving the impression of unbudging power. Large ones, or several stacked together can be used as a shield from danger. They can be used for decorative purposes such as borders or used as focal points in gardens or yards. Cut rocks can be used as creative flooring, to build fireplaces, cover houses and so much more. 

Recently, one of our Papua, New Guinea friends visiting here in the states spoke a few words in a church service. His name is Brother Amos–a wonderful, godly man who serves his people in his home country as a true example of Christianity. While he spoke, he said the phrase, The Living Rock, and the words resonated in my heart and mind.  

Of course, I know Jesus is alive and God is real, but for whatever reason, I’ve never pictured him as a living rock, and I’ve sang the song, Rock of Ages, many, many times! 

He’s not dead or immune to our troubles when we lose a job. He’s not deaf to our cries when our hearts break over the death of a friend or loved one. When we make stupid mistakes that we wish a million times we’d never done. He’s our living rock that is steadfast and strong, powerful and trustworthy.

Our grandson, Jonathan, recently climbed on top of a beach rock and held his hands in the air as if he was a victor over the waves that he delighted in running from. He’s too young yet to realize the fullness of a real God, who unlike our earth’s rocks, cares and feels and loves. It’s up to my husband and myself to teach him those things and allow God’s love to woo him to himself.

Unlike the huge and fascinating Pilot Mountain rock, or the Rocky Mountains, Smoky Mountains or any other mountains in our United States, God is bigger and so much more wonderful and enduring. 

Psalm 94: 22 says, My God is the rock of my refuge. 

Do you claim God as your rock?

Rambling Friday: Stormy Weather

I was a youngster when I saw the ball of fire tumbling down the hallway of our home. To say it was scary would be the truth!

Rainy days I enjoy for the most part. Storms, not so much. I've read too many articles of how dangerous lightning can be, how powerful tornadoes and hurricanes are...to stand by a window and enjoy the view of lightning striking nearby trees and streaking across the dark sky.  Of hurricanes destroying cities and tornadoes whirling destruction in its path.

When I was thinking of the rain we've had for the past week, the thought came to my mind of the storms of life. Sometimes those are so powerful we feel we're bent over--like trees in an earthly storm--from the pressure, that we're sinking beneath the pounding waves, or being tossed or pounded about with every wind that blows our direction.

But what can we learn from that thought? What comfort can we take even in the midst of the storms of life?

Growth:
In Ephesians 4:13 and 14, we learn that when we reach the state of unity of faith and grow in the knowledge of God to become mature, we'll no longer be children who are tossed to and fro by cunning and crafty people with deceitful schemes.





Strength:
From Colossians 2:7a: When we've become mature Christians, we allow our roots to grow deep
within God's love and plan for our lives. We'll find our faith strong in the truth...

Thankfulness:  
Colossians 2:7b:  When we grow in Christ, and allow our faith to be strong and firm in the Word of God, we'll find our hearts overflowing with thankfulness. In the midst of the storms of life, when the enemy of our soul pounds us, when the darkness seems overpowering, we can not help but catch that faint flicker of light that causes our souls to rejoice. He has not forsaken us. He has not forgotten us. He is here. With us. Never to leave us.






Hold fast to our anchor of life. We may never overcome the storms of the physical earth, but the fear of the storms of our spiritual life can be conquered!

Sunday Sunshine: Strength

I will strengthen them in the Lord,

and they shall walk up and down in his name.

--Zechariah 10:12

Thoughts on an Easter Prayer

Sharing with you today a beautiful meditation,

and in parentheses, my words:

At this holy season

(that I might have peace and that 

I might be ready to hear your whispered words to me)

Teach us to be patient

(oh, how I need this!)

and help us to be kind

(thankfully, I do have a caring heart and a kind spirit).

Give us the reassurance

that you are always near

to guide us and protect u

in this violent world of fear,

(what confidence we can have in our God!).

Help us all to realize

There is untold strength and power

When we seek the Lord and find Him

In our meditation hour. --Helen S. Rice

(What a privilege we have to realizing God's power and strength!

What a blessing to be able to seek and find him!

Amen and amen).

Many blessings!

Monday Morning Gratitudes

I'm SELF thankful today! Smile.

So thankful for how God is helping my shoulder to mend! More flexible and stronger!
So grateful to Adena Hospital for all the qualified and wonderful people who work there. I have NOT one complaint.
So glad that I had a companion who was (fairly. Smile) patient with my moods and worry during this process. He worked hard to help me.
So glad for the prospects ahead, now that I'm healing nicely!

Thank you, God!

Blessings

Sunday Morning Peace: Grace

My Grace is sufficient for thee:

for my strength is made perfect in weakness

2 Corinthians 12:9

It is by God's grace we can endure

and persevere through any test.

For when our weakest moments come

God's strength is at its best.

--Merna B. Shank

Blessings!

Sunday Morning Peace: Strength

They that wait upon the Lord

shall renew their strength . . .

they shall run and not be weary;

and they shall walk,

and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Sunday Morning Peace: Strength

Be Strong in the Lord!

She looked back and marveled how far she had come.

She didn't wonder how she made it. 

She already knew the answer.

Only with God's help had she powered through.

For without his strength she could do nothing.

--from Godfruits

Blessings!

My New Year's Wish

All that is beautiful, all that is best--
Joy of activity, calmness of rest,

Health for life's pilgrimage,
Strength for its strife,

Sunshine to brighten the pathway of life.
Courage to trust, tho' the skies be o'ercast.

Hope for the future born out of the past,
Love that is tender and friends who are true;

This is my New Year's wish for you!

Blessings!

Taking It By Faith . . .


I received a note the other day from a friend. It was an encouraging note. Wonderful, really. In it she said how much she loved and appreciated me and my husband. And "that, of course, we already know that."

Well, I must say knowing and being reassured now and then are two different things.
Of course, I know some people like me.
Of course, I know some appreciate me.
Of course, I know, I'm a writer.
Of course, I know someday I'll be traditionally pubbed.

But like many writers I know, I need to be reassured now and then. I need your comments, your emails, your calls and letters and notes and word-of-mouth reassurances that you're there for me.

Without you where in the world would I be?

Without you, my readers and friends and family, what would be the purpose of my writing? I'm a needy person. I need you! Who would read my future books? Who would critique my works in progress?

Without you (my works), my faith will be in vain. Smile.

Faith: believing something will come to pass without seeing it. Ach! How hard to put into practice. How frail I am.

But I do have determination. That counts for a lot, don't you think? and maybe that determination has a bit of faith in it, else why would I be so determined?

Make sense?

Keep that encouragement coming. I love you all!

Here are some good thoughts on fulfilling those dreams:

• There comes a time when you must stand alone. (ouch!)
• You must feel confident enough within yourself to follow your own dreams. (I do, Lord, I do. Honest)
• You must be willing to make sacrifices (o-kay)
  
• You must be capable of changing and rearranging your priorities so that your final goal can be achieved. (Been there, done that!)
  
• Be strong enough to at least try to make your life better. (No whining, Caroline!)
  
• Be confident enough that you won't settle for a compromise just to get by. (You never think this will happen to you, but I've been reading about it on one of my writing loops.)
  
• Appreciate yourself by allowing yourself the opportunities to grow, develop, and find your true sense of purpose in this life. (May take years, but gotta do it!)
  
• Don't stand in someone else's shadow when it's your sunlight that should lead the way. (Stand forth, all ye bashful beings!)
  

And there you have your hints and quotes for today.
Blessings!