Suitcases and journeys...

 When I was a little girl, I never knew when my dad would come home and tell us all, "I have been reassigned to a new duty station," and what that would mean for our family.  I would like to say that my siblings and I took it all in stride as sometimes, our time in one place may be just a year, maybe two and the longest ever was four.  Honestly, I didn't know what it was like for a family to be born and raised in one place and stay there until graduation from high school.  Being raised in the military meant that most of our vacations were used to visit and catch up on the doings of extended family.  It was a good life.  

Interestingly enough, it hasn't slowed down.  I took the time one day to count the times I have moved, whether from one city or state or country to those times from one place to another in the same town.  I stopped when I got to the number 40!  My husband and I have recently moved again to help take care of my elderly dad who has served his country well.  Mom has since gone to heaven and it has been a difficult adjustment for him - they were married almost 60 years.  In this process, there have been adjustments for everyone.  Once again, we packed suitcases and boxes and relinquished all the "not knowing" of how this was going to work to our Heavenly Father above.  The journey has been hard and so much still is unsettled.  It is why I hold onto this verse in Joshua..."Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord God will be with you wherever you go."  

Are you dealing with some uncertainty right now?  Are you tired of even having to deal with an unknown, again?  

In my personal Bible study time in the mornings, I am in Genesis 42...Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused by his master's wife and imprisoned.  After interpreting some dreams of the Pharaoh of Egypt, Joseph is placed in an elevated position and finds himself face to face with those brothers who had done him such a great injustice twenty years ago.  How does he handle it?  Joseph remembers the dreams from long ago and believes he must test his brothers to see if they have changed.  Talk about difficult journeys...  

I'm just going to tell you, Dear Ones, with the help of our Lord God in heaven who created everything, He is going to help you get through whatever is going on right now.  You can trust Him in this.  I am.  

In case you are wondering….

 

Wondering...or wandering?

 I just love the old black & white card pictures, don't you?

What, do you think, this little gal is wondering about?

"What am I going to be when I grow up?"

"How will this world look when I am as old as my mom?"

"Who am I going to marry?"

Or...

"Please hurry up!  This dress is uncomfortable and my shoes are tied too tight!"

We will never know.

But...God knows.

And, here right now...

God knows what is in your heart and on your mind today.  

Yep!  Even though, you are one in billions of people, God knows you.  

He knows your name.

He knows what you are feeling.

He knows if you have been struggling.

He knows.

And yet, Dear One...He is just waiting for you to talk to Him about it.

Just try it...it will help.  

Psalm 23

TRUE LOVE is given every single day...

My late husband Mark and I would not place any pressure on one another for the Valentine holiday.  From the beginning of our marriage, Mark said, "Deb, if I am not loving you the other 364 days of the year, I certainly can't make up for it on Valentine's Day."  I so appreciated this as one of my love languages is "gifts" of service...not necessarily to myself but also to others.  As far as stuff goes, I just don't need more stuff to dust!!!  Anyway, I lost Mark to cancer back in 2006 and am so grateful for the habits of showing love we developed over those years prior.  Now, I am blessed to be remarried to a most amazing, loving and godly man whom I treasure and we have discussed this upcoming first Valentine's Day for us.  Again, no pressure...let us just be loving on each other and others every day!!!  No dusting involved!!!   I love you, Benjamin Todd Adkins!!! 

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LET US DO MORE THAN SIMPLY COPE....

Acting out. Avoidance. Denial. Rationalization. Repression.

   All of these are examples of coping mechanisms people use to handle the pressures and difficulties they experience, but none of them cures the root issue. If you have money problems, for instance, avoiding the mailbox that may contain bills will not solve your financial issues.

   Some researchers see a direct correlation between increased pressure and coping mechanisms that result in alcoholism, drug addiction, divorce, abuse, and other social problems. Is there something that can free us from these worries and tensions, so we can better handle them in a healthy way?

   Jesus confronted head-on the issue of handling everyday problems. He said that people should give God—who already knows their needs—the central place in their lives, and these concerns will then be cared for. “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33).

   This advice runs counter to our inclinations. Many of us get frenzied over our problems—both real and imagined. We don’t feel we have time for God because our energy becomes depleted by simply coping—just getting by in this crazy world. But when we make God our number one priority, he gives us the resources and strength to successfully face the demands of each day.

    You assign God first place by believing that although your sin has separated you from him (Romans 3:23), Jesus Christ, the Son of God, sacrificed his life to pay the debt for your sin (John 3:16).

    Admit to God your need for him and trust in Jesus as the one who rescues you from sin. Give God control of your life and live as the Bible, God’s Word, instructs you.

    When you do that, you have obeyed the command to seek his Kingdom above all else, and God will provide the rest. He becomes your Lord, and his strength will empower you to meet whatever problems you will face.

     The gospel isn’t a coping mechanism. It is the truth that will set you free.

[Jim Kraus]

God says, "NO"...sometimes a lot!

     We "must" and I do say, "must" remember that for there to be a harvest in the fields of which many benefit with food and other products, the seed "must" first die (John 12:24).  If this doesn't happen, there is no abundance, there is no continuing of true life.

"Those who love their life in this world will lose it.  Those who care nothing for their life  in this world will keep it for eternity" (John 12:25).

     This is about surrender in this life here and not living a negligent life but a purposeful one that begins with dying to self so when God does say "No" to something you want, your mind and heart are yielded in trusting God knows best and He has a plan.  Yes, God always has a plan (Jeremiah 29:11).

     Dear Ones, we can trust God in the "No's" of this life when we accept...

     "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the Lord.
          And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
     For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
          so My ways are higher than your ways
               and My thoughts higher than your thoughts." 
                       Isaiah 55:8-9

Yielding to this TRUTH is often hard, I know, but it is better!!!

A  BLESSING  FROM  ABOVE...

"May the Lord bless you and protect you.
   May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace."
                                                             Numbers 6:24-26

And how do we do this, Dear Ones?  How do we stay satisfied at all, much less starting the day being "satisfied with His steadfast love"?  We have to pursue it through God's Word!  I was talking to someone special recently about being pursued.  It is a wonderful feeling to be cared about so much that someone would deliberately pursue another.  We all long to be loved in this way, I believe. 

One of my favorite stories is the one of The Prodigal Son.  Luke 15 tells this story.  When the son had spent his inheritance and learned the many lessons he needed to learn, he realized the best place to be was back where his father was.  When he arrived at his father's estate and was still far off, what did this young man see?  Did he see a father waiting with arms crossed and with "I told you so" ready to be said?   Did he see a father turn his back in disgust?  Did he see his father hang a sign on the door with the words, NOT WELCOME HERE?  No...his father ran to him, hugged him, gave him a robe and a ring and held a banquet in his honor.  "For my son was lost and now he is found"!

God does the same for you and I...yes, He does!  So we can be satisfied every day by His steadfast love. 

Just sayin'...

Hills and Valleys....yep, still having them since my last post!!! :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4rRCjrAyCs

Big sigh...really, why is that a surprise?!  In my weak moments, I still bristle at the tough stuff...those "dang" hills in life I am still climbing.  Is the view at the top really worth it?  Will I feel invigorated and satisfied that I made it to the top?  And then, because I can't live at the top forever (not here on earth anyway), I need to head down to the valley.  Either way, I still can look up.  I still need to acknowledge the One who holds it all:  my life, your life, my children's lives, my family, my friends, my goings and my comings here.  The "permanent" hilltop experiences were not meant to be here...I can learn a lot from the VALLEY TIMES!  Am I excited about this?  Not always.  I am so thankful that we have a place to go to to be reminded in the highs and lows, that we can rejoice in the midst.  The Psalms are a gift to all of us!  I pray that you, as your climbing up or on the downhill slide...will go to the Psalms in the Bible.  You will indeed find your strength there.  Blessings this day...deb

GOD IS ROOTING FOR YOU!!!

http://youtu.be/-xPVX9WaMVs

Movie Trailer to Me Again.....

Faith....

Just a reminder for today...

Recipes are helpful....

Whether in baking, cooking, "jamming".....a recipe of some sort is helpful.  I can't imagine trying to bake a cake, cook a food I can't pronounce or make many things that require exact measurements, certain temps in the oven or on a candy thermometer.  Nope!  Foods expensive, can't afford to mess up and since being in the kitchen is truly a LABOR OF LOVE for me, I wouldn't attempt anything without an understandable guide.  This is what the Bible is to me.  A RECIPE for life....in short, HOW to do it RIGHT!!!  :)

Christians are called to be active...

Injustice

by Charles R. Swindoll

Amos 5:14-15, 24 

The old prophet Habakkuk wrote relevant words of truth when he put this down in the first chapter of his prophecy: "Yes, destruction and violence are before me; strife exists and contention arises. Therefore the law is ignored and justice is never upheld. For the wicked surround the righteous; therefore justice comes out perverted" (Hab. 1:3-4).

The writer of those words died centuries ago, but oh, how his words live on! If you are even slightly aware of everything happening in the world around us, you know how up-to-date his words really are.

The criminal is now the hero, sadly misunderstood and mistreated. The victim is the selfish sadist who decides to press charges because he is bigoted, rash, or confused. The courtroom now resembles a stage peopled by actors vying for starring roles, rather than a dignified chamber of law and order. Judges and juries can be bought, bribed, swayed, or wooed, given sufficient time in the legal pressure cooker. Jury members, who used to be anonymous and sequestered in the name of fairness and objectivity, now appear on talk shows.

Remember that beloved childhood tale of Little Red Riding Hood? Well, if that scenario took place today, here's what would probably happen.

After the heroic woodcutter rescued Little Red Riding Hood by killing the wolf, who had already eaten her grandmother and then tried to kill Little Red, there would be an inquest. At this time, certain "facts" would emerge. First of all, the wolf, prior to his execution, had not been advised of his rights. Then, his legal team would enter the picture, maintaining that the hungry and needy wolf was merely "doing his thing" and thus did not deserve death.

On this basis the judge would decide that there was no valid legal basis for charges against the wolf and, therefore, the woodcutter was guilty of unaggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He would then be arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced to ninety-nine years.

A year from the date of the incident at Grandmother's, her cottage would be dedicated as a shrine for the wolf who had bled and died there. Wreaths would be placed there in memory of the brave, martyred wolf. There would not be a dry eye in the whole forest. 

If this were not so tragic and true a picture, it would be amusing. But frankly, I'm not laughing. Injustice isn't at all funny.

Sometimes justice truly is blind. Shouldn't we be helping to remove the blindfolds?

Walls or Boundaries???

"Me?" Tony was surprised. "Why would I want to keep them standing?"

"You built these walls to keep you safe, or at least for the imagination of safe. They substitute for trust.  You are beginning to understand that trusting is an arduous journey."

"So, I needed these walls?"

"When you believe that you alone are the only one who can be trusted, then yes, you need these walls. Self protective measures, intended to keep evil out, often wall it in.  What initially kept you safe can eventually destroy you."

"But don't I need walls? Aren't they good things?"

He felt the hug from behind. "You need boundaries," said the voice of Jesus,  "but not walls. Walls divide while boundaries honor."  Tony let himself relax into this tender embrace, his tears unexpectedly appearing and spilling softly onto the ground.

"Even in our material creation," continue Jesus, "boundaries mark those beautiful of places, between the ocean and the shore, between the mountains and the planes, where the canyon meets the river.  We will teach you how to thrill with us in the boundaries while you learn to trust us with your security and safety. One day you will no longer need walls."

Even as he spoke, Tony could sense more internal walls crumbling. Not disappearing, but tangibly impacted by an inner knowledge that he was utterly excepted, with all his flaws and losses, all his conditioning and pride. Was this love? Was this what it was like to be loved?

Cross Roads by William Paul Young

What path are you taking today?

Whatever you are intent on this day, is it to bring glory to you or to God?  Is it done in the Light or done in the darkness?  I wish I could say that I ask these questions of myself every day....

A story, an unfortunate story of life.....

One day a woman was driving with her children northbound to the nearest town to get some shopping done.  It was a beautiful spring day and it was around two in the afternoon.  Well, it just so happens that a man was driving southbound on the same highway and unfortunately he had had too much to drink.  As one would assume, there was a terrible accident.

The ambulance was called after the deputy arrived on the scene.  The woman and her children all needed to be taken to the nearest hospital.  The intoxicated man just had a few bruises on him and was questioned and released.

A few days later, the young deputy came to the hospital and sought out the woman to ask her a few questions.  As she lay there with one leg in a cast after surgery to put pins in which might leave her with a permanent limp, the pain of his questions were far worse than anything she was experiencing with that leg.  "Ma'am, why were you driving that day?  Shouldn't you have exercised more care in observing what was going on around you?  Do you not know that these types of things can happen and you should have exercised more caution?  How do you think this would have turned out if you would have had a better reaction time?" and on the questions went.  No matter the shock the woman was still in from the accident itself, the questions put her in a deeper shock as she had no idea how to answer them.  Was she indeed at fault here?  Could she have done something different to have avoided this accident?  And look at how her children have been affected?  The bruises will disappear, but the scars of trauma will remain for the rest of their lives?  Is this also her fault?

To extend matters further, the man who had been driving drunk came and also questioned her.  "Why were you out on the road that day?  Why couldn't you have been driving at another time?  Don't you know that I need the whole highway when I am driving after I have been drinking?  I don't drink all the time, but when I do after a stressful day, I don't need careless drivers on the road."

The deputy came in a few days later as the woman was trying to learn how to walk again with a cast and with the pins in her leg.  "Do you want to press charges?", he asked.  "You know this guy has been through a lot in life and I am sure he never intended to harm you in this way.  He knows he has a problem and, in fact, he has had other accidents involving others both while in his car and with other cars.  I have had to talk to them, too, and explain that this guy really means well.  He just has a problem but he doesn't really plan to hurt anyone.  He tells me that he even reads the police report each week so that he can look at himself and pat himself on the back that at least he isn't doing worse things.  Can you give him a break?"

If the woman were told that she was living an episode of the Twilight Zone, she would have believed it.  What a craziness!  Here she was having a wonderful day with her children and, yes, things hadn't been easy lately, but now she was faced with a permanent limp, possibly having to leave her job, seek out counseling for her and her children for the trauma of the accident after their physical wounds heal and she was to let this man go free to most likely injure others that come into the path of his life? 

"No!  This is wrong and he should face the consequences of what has happened so that no one else will get hurt, we can heal and this man will be forced to get help whether he sees that he needs help or not!"

As Nathan came before King David and told him a story and King David was enraged by it, the prophet says, "You are that man"!

SIGNS....

Signs....everywhere!!!  Enjoy these wooden signs and the messages conveyed....

PRAYER.....it DOES work!!!

How come it is usually the last thing we do instead of being the first thing done???

Been learning a lot about prayer....  I know I will never ever know enough.  APPROACHING GOD by Steve Brown is a must read for everyone.  He dispels many misconceptions and does it in a gentle, humble and yet, unforgettable way!!!  

It is time to talk to the One who loves you more than anyone else....

Artistic Treasures on Earth, Greater Treasures in Heaven!!!

I posted many many more boxes

of treasures on my craft blog but wanted

to post something here reflecting on the word

"treasures".  

Often at this time of year, we spend

time in deeper reflection of what God

did through His Son than any other time of

the year....even Christmas as this

time is more contemplative as the great

celebration first involves great pain three

days before.

The great treasure of God's love for us

expressed through His Son and what

He was willing to do.....

.....well, I want to hold onto that tighter

than anything this world may call a "treasure",

don't you?

Blessings this Easter season!

Christ is Risen, Risen Indeed!!!!

The "Yellow Shirt" story....a good read!!!!

The yellow shirt had long sleeves, four extra-large pockets trimmed in 

black thread and snaps up the front. It was faded from years of wear, 

but still in decent shape. I found it in 1963 when I was home from 

college on Christmas break, rummaging through bags of clothes Mom 

intended to give away. 

'You're not taking that old thing, are you?' Mom said when she saw 

me packing the yellow shirt. 'I wore that when I was pregnant with 

your brother in 1954!' 

'It's just the thing to wear over my clothes during art class, Mom. 

Thanks!' I slipped it into my suitcase before she could object. 

The yellow shirt be came a part of my college wardrobe. I loved it. 

After graduation, I wore the shirt the day I moved into my new 

apartment and on Saturday mornings when I cleaned. 

The next year, I married. When I became pregnant, I wore the yellow 

shirt during big-belly days. I missed Mom and the rest of my family, 

since we were in Colorado and they were in Illinois .. But, that shirt 

helped. I smiled, remembering that Mother had worn it when she was 

pregnant, 25 years earlier. 

That Christmas, mindful of the warm feelings the shirt had given 

me, I patched one elbow, wrapped it in holiday paper and sent it to Mom. 

When Mom wrote to thank me for her 'real' gifts, she said the 

yellow shirt was lovely. She never mentioned it again.. 

The next year, my husband, daughter and I stopped at Mom and Dad's 

to pick up some furniture. Days later, when we uncrated the kitchen 

table, I noticed something yellow taped to its bottom. The shirt! 

And so the pattern was set. 

On our next visit home, I secretly placed the shirt under Mom and Dad's 

mattress I don't know how long it took for her to find it, but almost 

two years passed before I discovered it under the base of our 

living-room floor lamp. The yellow shirt was just what I needed 

now while refinishing furniture. The walnut stains added character. 

In 1975 my husband and I divorced. With my three children, I prepared 

to move back to Illinois ... As I packed, a deep depression overtook 

me. I wondered if I could make it on my own. I wondered if I would 

ind a job. I paged through the Bible, looking for comfort. In 

Ephesians, I read, 'So use every piece of God's armour to resist the 

enemy whenever he attacks, and when it is all over, you will be standing

up.' 

I tried to picture myself wearing God's armour, but all I saw was the 

stained yellow shirt.. Slowly, it dawned on me.. Wasn't my mother's 

love a piece of God's armour? My courage was renewed. 

Unpacking in our new home, I knew I had to get the shirt back to 

Mother. The next time I visited her, I tucked it in her bottom dresser

drawer 

Meanwhile, I found a good job at a radio station. A year later I 

discovered the yellow shirt hidden in a rag bag in my cleaning closet. 

Something new had been added. Embroidered in bright green across 

the breast pocket were the words 'I BELONG TO PAT.' 

Not to be outdone, I got out my own embroidery materials and added 

an apostrophe and seven more letters. 

Now the shirt proudly proclaimed, 'I BELONG TO PAT'S MOTHER.' But 

I didn't stop there. I zig-zagged all the frayed seams, then had a 

friend mail the shirt in a fancy box to Mom from Arlington , VA. 

We enclosed an official looking letter from 'The Institute for the 

Destitute,' announcing that she was the recipient of an award for 

good deeds.. 

I would have given anything to see Mom's face when she opened the box. 

But, of course, she never mentioned it.. 

Two years later, in 1978, I remarried. The day of our wedding, 

Harold and I put our car in a friend's garage to avoid practical jokers. 

After the wedding, while my husband drove us to our honeymoon suite, I 

eached for a pillow in the car to rest my head. It felt lumpy. I 

unzipped the case and found, wrapped in wedding paper, the yellow 

shirt. Inside a pocket was a note: 'Read John 14:27-29. I love 

you both, Mother.' 

That night I paged through the Bible in a hotel room and found the 

verses: 'I am leaving you with a gift: peace of mind and heart. And the 

peace I give isn't fragile like the peace the world gives.. So don't 

be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but 

I will come back to you again. If you really love me, you will be very 

happy for me, for now I can go to the Father, who is greater than I 

am.. I have told you these things before they happen so that when 

they do, you will believe in me.' 

The shirt was Mother's final gift. She had known for three months that 

she had terminal Lou Gehrig's disease. Mother died the following yearat age

57. 

I was tempted to send the yellow shirt with her to her grave. But 

I'm glad I didn't, because it is a vivid reminder of the love-filled game 

she and I played for 16 years. Besides, my older daughter is in 

college now, majoring in art. And every art student needs a baggy 

yellow shirt with big pockets.