Preparing for your biggest TEST!

The life of Abraham teaches you that:

(1) You can walk with God, yet not know the details of

your destiny.

(2) When God makes you a promise, the timeline is up to

Him.

(3) Sometimes you'll get it wrong before you get it right.

(4) You can have faith in one area, yet experience fear

in another.

Abraham didn't know where the Lord would lead him. At

the urging of Sarah, Abraham fathered Ishmael and their

impatience cost them dearly. Even though Abraham loved

and trusted God, he still lied to the king about Sarah being his

wife and yet when it came to sacrificing his son Isaac on the

altar, Abraham showed himself willing and obedient to the Lord.

The tests you've been through begin to make sense when you

face y0ur biggest test. When you pass it, like Abraham, you can

call God "Jehovah Jireh" which means "The-Lord-Will-Provide"

and at that point God will say, "Now you've arrived at a place

where I can use you!"

Elizabeth Edwards passing and excerpt from her book, Resilience...

Today, Elizabeth Edwards passed away after a long struggle with breast cancer. She suffered in many ways other than this and she was not given grace of privacy as her husband was a very public figure running for Vice President at one time. Below, when you click on this site, you will find yourself able to read Chapter 1 in her book, Resilience. I do not know if it is the whole chapter but here she shares about her father's life, suffering a stroke and surviving when doctors gave no hope....surviving and living another 18 years. I found Elizabeth to be a fine writer in sharing her emotion and giving it a voice to encourage others. I hope that you are blessed as I was......debbie

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/30647942/ns/today-books/

Relaxing for the Holidays....

Here's hoping that you all find your way.......

........to a good book for the Holidays!



HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Ever have one of those days????

People are staring at you.....you feel like they can see right through you and all you can do is smile. You have no control and all you can do is smile and hope you look ok! Well, if I eventually get outside myself and remember God sees me; in, out, through, my going out and my coming in and still loves me!!! Whew! What a relief!!!

A Blessed Life....

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

"Leave the rest to God."

Prayer of Release...

Prayer of Release

I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until the day of His return.2 Timothy 1:12 NLT

Heavenly Father, I release to you the burdens that I have been carrying, burdens that You never intended for me to carry. I cast all my cares upon You-all my worries, all my fears.

Father, calm my restless spirit, quiet my anxious heart, still my troubling thoughts with the assurance that You are in control. I let go of my grip upon the things I have been hanging onto, with opened hands I come to You.

I thank You for Your promise to sustain me, preserve me, and guard all that I have entrusted to Your keeping. Protect my heart and mind with Your peace, the peace that passes all understanding.

Father, may Your will be done in my life, in Your time, and in Your way.

By Roy Lessin

Unfinished Canvas.....fulfilling your dreams...

Unfinished Canvas

~ Scott Walker

It suddenly occurred to me that I am not going to live long enough to see all my dreams come true in this life. Oddly enough, it doesn’t bother me. I’ve already had more than my share of life’s sweets, and I take pleasure in seeing others accomplish what I cannot.

I always wanted to have a fix-it shop. My brother Tom in Kalamazoo, Michigan, fixes power tools for surgeons. I enjoy hearing about his work. “I would love to make a commercial,” I say to myself, every time I see a humorous one on TV. My brother Mark in Tampa, Florida, makes commercials for a living. I love to work with wood, but have no time for it. My brother Bob in Lowell, Indiana, designs and builds fine furniture, and has a waiting list of orders. My sister Linda Joy is the single, free spirit that appeals to my restless bones and gypsy heart. And my most persistent dream is to live on a small farm, like the one on which my sister Gloria lives near South Bend, Indiana. Perhaps my daughters will write the great American novel that I won’t, and maybe my grandchildren will travel to Australia, where I would like to go.

Increasingly, I find more joy in helping others reach their dreams than I do in having my own dreams come true. When one of my students says, “I would like to become a teacher,” something comes alive in me, because I train teachers for a living. My dream is to fulfill his dream. I have a friend who told me once that “some people are good at saying prayers. Others are good at answering prayers.” It’s the same with dreams, I think. All of us will leave this earth with an unfinished canvas, but no matter. If I can contribute a few strokes of the brush to the masterpiece, then my life has been worthwhile.

Lord, You scattered the joys of life among us. Together we can make our way to heaven, where all our dreams will come to pass.

Life is like a fancy bracelet!!!

Good afternoon!!! Getting ready for the craft show on Saturday. As I was taking pictures and getting them on my craft blog, I got to thinking....oh, boy! Last year, at our Ladies' Retreat, we were each blessed with a bracelet...a memory wire bracelet. This one I made and will be selling along with many others at the show. I remembered what was shared about these bracelets as a sort of devotional thought last year and would like to share this with you. As you look at this bracelet, see the different sizes and shapes of the beads. And compare this to life with its moments, large and small, smooth and not so smooth, highs and lows, little and big events in our lives. If we didn't have those moments that help us grow....well, life would really be boring. I know someone who wants life to be easy, predictable, no surprises....do we really want that? In the realm of making a bracelet....if I used all smooth beads, same size beads, same color, same everything....well, that would be boring. So, here you have an interesting bracelet and I would parallel this to an interesting life, wouldn't you!!! Remember, God never takes us where He can't keep us and He has always, always made the way after traveling it first.......debbie

My help comes from the Lord....

I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

Psalm 121:1

"It comes from Him".....believe it!!!!

God won't ask....

Things God won't ask on THAT day:

1. God won't ask what kind of car you drove. He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.

2. God won't ask the square footage of your house. He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

3. God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet. He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.

4. God won't ask what your highest salary was. He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.

5. God won't ask what your job title was. He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.

6. God won't ask how many friends you had. He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.

7. God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived. He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.

8. God won't ask about the color of your skin. He'll ask about the content of your character.

Prayer of Relinquishment....from Guidepost

This is an article about prayer from Guidepost. It is a lot to take in. I, myself am going to print it out so I can read it over and over. Here is the site to find it. I know that as I try to embrace it, to grasp it, I will be blessed and I pray that you will, too.....debbie

http://www.ourprayer.org/prayer-of-relinquishment

Always beautiful to God as He looks at the heart....

God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks at the heart. — 1 Samuel 16:7 MSG

It is so easy to believe that God is silent on the subject of beauty. Maybe it is because the church is silent, or maybe it’s because we have to be so still to hear what God is saying. Either way, so many women simply think God is not saying anything about how they feel about themselves. Here is the simple truth: God loves you passionately and intensely, and that love has nothing to do with the way you look. It isn’t affected one ounce by the size of your blue jeans or the way your nose slopes up or how much dental work you’ve had done. It isn’t lessened by wearing the wrong dress to a party or having no skill in applying makeup or by hating exercise. God simply loves you as you are.

But before we just gloss over that and go right on to the next thing, let me ask a hard question. Have you let that truth into your soul? I mean, really let it in? God is the one who has never criticized you or belittled you or made fun of your appearance in any way. He is the one who formed you, and said afterward, “This is good.”
— Nicole Johnson
Excerpted from A Grand New Day © 2008 by Thomas Nelson. Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

"I love Him", that's all there is to it!!!

Sharing my Angel "Song" ornaments with you that I am doing for the craft show. Please go to my other blog to see more creations. I am so excited for the craft show coming up in October. Took this picture and arranged it deliberately, because it says it all for me...."I love Him" and I want to do all things; creating, singing, sharing, working....all for Him!!!

Blessings this beautiful day in the Lord!!!

~debbie

The "Trees" are changing, and so do we....

Just as the trees are starting to turn and shed their leaves, I think something starts happening to us, too. We don't necessarily change colors and start shedding (thank goodness), but I think we start preparing inwardly and outwardly for the changing of the seasons. Oh, yes, of course, the putting away of the summer clothes, bringing out the flannel (my favorite material) and preparing the yards and the flower beds for a time of sleeping....inwardly, what do we do? Well, I sigh many times during these days.....things are dying all around me, it is a time that just has to be.....life has to die in order to be renewed and live again. God calls us to do this also, but He just doesn't call us to do this at the changing of the seasons....No, He wants us to daily die to self so that we can live for Him.

Another sigh.....it is an ok thing.....

Longing for the peaks as I stand here in the valley...

Still using the internet at the library.....next week should have it back again at home. Have enjoyed though seeing the pictures on this computer and the thoughts they bring.


Helped and attended a funeral this morning for a dear friend in our church. Al was 80 years young and though, as Darlene (Al's wife) and I were talking about how it was not his heart that took him from us after all these years of having trouble there....it was a fall and hitting his head and over a period of days just not feeling right. Al went peacefully from this earth and into a much better place, the home that was meant to be his all along. I myself am longing for "higher ground" and do not like the view much from the "valley" time. I will miss Al, especially tomorrow as we all had such fun in Sunday School discussing our lesson....oh, the thoughts and opinions we shared! I will miss the humbleness of Al, a man who was so honest about how he once lived and how the Lord saved him and how he so wanted others to have what he found. Didn't know that it was at Promise Keepers that he had found his way back to the Lord and attended a few more times and tried to get other men to come along. Everyone is so busy. Oh, to see all men experience Promise Keepers as we women experience our gatherings! Spiritual men of God can change the tide of this whole world!


Anyway....as I am down in my valley today and pondering the higher heights, I know the Lord wants me to make good use of where I am. It is hard but it is what He calls us to do. Live for the Lord where you are! I have the privilege of singing for a couple trying to raise money to take a mission trip to Haiti tomorrow.....my prayer is always that God speaks through me as well as the others performing and that people are willing to look ahead and up to that higher ground of where we are meant to be someday....."Al, you have one up on us, for the moment....." ~debbie

Going into the night, ending each day.....

I don't know about any of you, but I have a hard time when it comes to sleeping. Most of it is just turning the brain off. I take an over the counter "melatonin" to help slow things down. I got an e-mail about how one ends their day is as important as how one begins a new day! Thought we could all benefit from this. Computer is still down at home so am relying on the computer pictures available at the library. This is pretty, isn't it? Sometimes going to sleep is like "walking a long pier" for me!!! Blessings to you, deb

The way that you end your day is just as important as how you begin it. Here are some tips to help you have a better night and a better tomorrow.

1. Let go of your responsibilities at day’s end. Set your burdens aside and relax. Take time for happy moments with loved ones and friends. Be relaxed and jovial. Don’t carry the day’s work into the night. Let it rest while you rest.

2. Spend some time every evening with your Bible. Do it regularly. When this becomes a consistent, regular habit, it begins to take hold of your daily life, and it changes things. It will change you. Read a chapter or two a night until you have completed the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Then read Paul’s Epistles. Add to this a Psalm or some great Old Testament chapter such as Isaiah 55. As you do this, some wonderful insights will come to you, and you will feel so helped that you will have a new mastery of your problems.

3. Tell a few people that you love them. Telephone someone or write it in a letter. This will take you further out of yourself, and that, of course, will get you closer to other people.

4. Before you go to sleep, run over your life, thank God for everyone and everything. Count your blessings, name them “Lord, bless this conversation.”

5. Empty your mind of the day as if you were emptying your pockets. Remove all the the irritations, frustrations, disappointments, hurts and regrets then go to sleep with a cleansed and uncluttered mind.

6. Finally, commit your soul into the kindly care and keeping of the Lord, and then go to sleep in peace. He watches over you. Affirm “God watches over me, over my house, over all my loved ones. In His peace I have peace.”

Becoming a Butterfly is Work!!! Labor for His Glory!!!

My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. — Ecclesiastes 2:10 niv

I saw Anderson Cooper (of CNN) give an interview recently, and in it he responded to a question regarding the best advice his mother (Gloria Vanderbilt) ever gave him. He responded that she advised him to follow his bliss and the money would come. He had a dream to be a reporter and he now anchors each weeknight with his own news show. I don’t know what your “bliss” might be, but I urge you to find a calling in life and attach it to your work.

Whether you have a job and wish you didn’t, or don’t have one and wish you did, or if you wish you had different people to work with or report to, the dailyness of your workplace can become a mental drag if you don’t choose to see it as a place of purpose and mission. The Bible gives us clear principles regarding whatever labor we undertake. Read Colossians 3:23, Luke 9:62, Romans 13:1, Matthew 7:12.

These scriptural principles allow us to see that we are working for more than a paycheck, that we are committed to endurance and excellence in any undertaking, and that our Real Boss doesn’t inhabit the corner office, but has it all in his hands.
— Anita Renfroe
Excerpted from A Grand New Day © 2008 by Thomas Nelson. Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Used with permission. All rights reserved

Changes....

You can't miss the changes....it's part of life. You can't ignore it....it's gonna happen anyway! There are just things in this life that have to fall and die in order to birth anew something absolutely "out of this world"!!! Oh, what we have to look forward to in our Christian walk with Jesus! He asks us to be willing to die in order to really live!!! I am excited about that and I hope you are too! It takes a lot of trust and a lot of faith....and yet, that faith only has to be as small as a mustard seed.....you all know how small a mustard seed is!! Thank you, Father, for taking us as we are and seeing what we can be!!!

Blessings this day, a new day......debbie

The story behind "The Dash"

...resonating in the back of my mind were the words from a letter which had been previously routed around the office. It had been written by the wife of an employee who was aware that she was dying. I was so moved by that letter that I saved a copy of it and continue to live by her words:

Regrets? I have a few. Too much worrying. I worried about finding the right husband and having children, being on time, being late and so on. It didn't matter. It all works out and it would have worked out without the worries and the tears.

If I would have only known then what I know now. But, I did and so do you. We're all going to die. Stop worrying and start loving and living.

Her words stuck with me. Her letter made me stop and think. This is it. This is all we get.

~linda ellis

***********

In Christ, we know there is more to come....far better than anything we have experienced on earth and can even IMAGINE....

and so....

NEWS!!! I was able to attend a Women of Faith in Omaha....the theme this year was "IMAGINE". I take extensive notes wherever I go if I am listening to a sermon or anything that I know will enrich me for the better. I compiled the notes into a document....it took me over 9 hours to put it all together. If anyone wants a copy sent to them, please e-mail me at: debbie_demmers@hotmail.com.

Blessings this day.....debbie

Life goes on......

We move forward....it is what God calls us to do and walk in faith......debbie

JOY....just a reminder for us all....

Most people mistakenly believe that joy comes from fulfilling their every desire. But in reality, joy is a byproduct of obedience. God meets His people when they are obedient to Him, and His very presence fills them with His joy.

~Patty David

Bible College Reunion!!!

Well, it is almost midnight and it has been a long and wonderful day!!! Opened the antique store from 9:30 to 4:30, closed early to make it to my Bible college reunion....yes, DBC, Dakota Bible College. Attended there in 1981, '82 and '84. It was a wonderful time in my life where I enjoyed great fellowship, great learning of the Word and could still memorize and do well on tests!!! Now, I am lucky, very lucky to remember why I went into the next room for something!!!









A good friend of mine, Gary and myself.....oooh, a close-up!!! :) ...I found out something interesting. When Focus on the Family moved to Colorado Springs, Gary and his electrical company did the electrical work for the campus!!! Shows you how long we have been out of touch!!! For sure, though, we will keep in touch now!!! Gary is married to another good friend of mine, Bonnie. I look forward to rebuilding our friendship!!!

Like the banner says, "The Buildings are gone, but the memories live on." I am so very thankful for seeing friends from long ago and remembering the promise of our GREAT reunion in heaven!!! Oh, to what we have to look forward to!!!

I was in a music group called "Feed Company" taken from the Scripture of when Jesus is talking to Peter and telling him to "Feed My Sheep." Those were the days of traveling, meeting wonderful people in churches and also in their homes, great food and fellowship!!!

This gal has had a quite a day!!! You all have a great Sunday praising and being thankful for all He has done for you!!!

debbie :)

Zig Ziglar and his heart....

What I love about Zig Ziglar is his heart. His ability to help people realize their potential is unsurpassed, and his belief that,

"You can have everything you want, if you will just help enough other people get what they want,"

has been the foundation of all he's accomplished.

**********

Zig Ziglar has been around a long time. I was introduced to him, I believe in Bible College as required reading, in the early '80's. Yes, a long time ago. Oh, if we could all live like what he says above.....to live a life helping others achieve or get what they want and in return receive so many blessings. For the second year, our church gives a one hundred dollar bill to anyone in the congregation that is willing to find a use for it to bless others. The church only asks that it be someone in the community and to be willing to share about it as a testimony at some point. I have been trying to connect with the Activities Director at one of our nursing homes....I figure that she would know of a way to bless residents at the nursing home, especially those that do not get any visitors. Last year, I gave the money to our local Crisis Center and it was used to purchase food for a family with small children. Some people in the congregation pledged to do something with their own money. It is all about helping people and sharing the love of Christ. A great way to start the day, I'd say!

Be Blessed, debbie

We are all different....

Yes, we are all different, but together, we can make something beautiful! My friend, Wanda put this in her case at the antique store. Some call this "steampunk" jewelry....and yet, it is just a great example of what I just said. And in Christ, our differences in backgrounds, experiences, etc. can bring us together and develop into a more enriching fellowship. View the linked chain as Christ and He brings it all together for us and He can carry it all. It may be a corny word picture, but I do great when it comes to visuals!!! Have a blessed day!!! debbie

"In the weighing of things, Christ brings the balance"!

The other day at work, a lady that I am helping sell some things on ebay for, came in and presented me with a couple of flats of stuff! I love stuff, sifting through stuff, finding treasures and being amazed! To know me, is to know that I am easily amazed, easily entertained....can be a really cheap date, according to my husband! Walking can be a date, don't you know!!! Anyway, I was going through the items, untangling jewelry and found a delicate Black Hills Gold bracelet and a necklace with her name on it and little momentos. Well, my heart beat a little faster as I am always looking at how I can turn things over and sell in the store....I had a moment of "she wouldn't know, she gave it all to me, I can do with it what I want" and then, the scale of right and wrong popped into my mind. It didn't take long (thank goodness) for me to put those items aside to give back to her and I did just that earlier today and she was so appreciative of this. I feel good and it was the right thing to do. That scale can get pretty heavy when we are leaning more the wrong way and I've got so much on my mind anyway, I do not need the "heaviness" of guilt! So, try and keep your scale weighted light! In Christ, debbie

"Will You Remember?" Do you know where your paradise is?

I don't know if you will be able to read the stamp if you click on this picture to enlarge it. It says, "our paradise" on it. As I was getting on the computer, a top story was the shooting that took place in Albuquerque, New Mexico. My three oldest happen to be in Albuquerque right now. My daughter is visiting and will be returning on Wednesday. My two sons are living there, one attending university, the other working. The shooting is another domestic violence situation and very sad. It is news like this that once again reminds me that I need to "remember" where my paradise is. It isn't here....for me or for any of you. This isn't our home and was never meant to be. This is just an intro into something far far better....beyond imagining. Oh, we get a glimpse in different passages throughout the Bible and then quite a description in the book of Revelations. A much better place to look forward to, by far. So, remember where your paradise lies and do not store up earthly treasures here, but heavenly ones!!!

Love in Christ, always.....debbie

Jesus' words......

Jesus' words....are great "food for thought" and you don't have to worry one bit about the calories and they have everlasting value!!!!

Blessings this day....

debbie

The best 4-letter word!!!

"Prayer" and Learning to ride a bicycle!

I have been doing some reading on "PRAYER" as of late....had a copy of Pray magazine....anyone receive this? I must have picked this up on the free table at the library and am thinking about subscribing as I get a lot out of reading about prayer. Would like to share with you part of an article that I believe may bless you as much as it has blessed me and something that I will hold on to in my life.....

"I tell a story about trying to teach my son how to ride a bicycle. I ran along the sidewalk holding him and shouting encouragement as he rode. But I noticed that he wouldn't really try to balance as long as he could feel my hands on his back or see me by his side. He would just lean into me and ride up and down the street at a 45-degree angle.

I gradually realized that he never would learn to ride a bike unless I withdrew. I had to put my hand on the back of his seat. I had to be quiet so he couldn't hear me. And I had to drop back so he couldn't see me. He got angry with me. He didn't like what I was doing. He felt that I was exposing him to unfair risks. He actually did fall off his bike and hurt himself a couple of times. But that's how he eventually learned to ride, and now he loves cycling.

God spoke to me through that. He said, 'Sometimes there are things I want to teach you that I want to be sure that you learn. But in order to do that, I actually have to withdraw so you can't see Me and feel Me the way you once did. But trust Me, I'm still there. In My silence, I'm not absent.' Jesus Himself promised never to leave or forsake us (Mt. 28:20), so even though He may feel absent, He is as close as ever."
~Pete Greig (God on Mute)

I so appreciated this reminder and word picture....I do well with a good word picture. So remember, even if you can't feel Him or see Him, God always has your back seat!!!! Love you in Christ.....debbie

Can go to their website.... www.navpress.com/pray/

"God Provides".....in His time...in His way...through us.

My God Shall Provide by Os Hillman, Friday, June 25, 2010

"And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:19

Have you ever gone through a time of complete dependence on God for your material needs? Perhaps you lost a job and could not generate income on your own. Perhaps you got sick and could not work. There are circumstances in our lives that can put us in this place.

When God brought the people of Israel out of Egypt through the desolate desert, they had no ability to provide for themselves. God met their needs supernaturally each day by providing manna from Heaven. Each day they would awake to one day's portion of what they needed. This was a season in their lives to learn dependence and the faithfulness of God as provider. By and by, they entered the Promised Land. When they did, God's "supernatural provision" was no longer required. "The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan" (Josh. 5:12). In both cases God was the provider of the need.

For most of us, we derive our necessities of life through our work. Like the birds of the fields we are commanded to go out and gather what God has already provided. It is a process of participation in what God has already provided. Sometimes it appears it is all up to us; sometimes it appears it is all up to God. In either case we must realize that the Lord is our provider; the job is only an instrument of His provision. He requires our involvement in either case.

"You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.' But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your forefathers, as it is today" (Deuteronomy 8:17-18).

Acknowledge the Lord as the provider of every need you have today. He is a faithful provider.

Help me to do this, Lord...on You I depend and to You I am thankful for my abilities.....

~debbie

"What" IS important.....reminding myself....

This is a reminder for me....if it is a good reminder for you, too....well, then this is a good thing!!!! Have a good week starting today!!! It is a decision....I am having to work hard at reminding myself about this very thing. Sure appreciate you all lifting me up in your prayers....debbie

"Blue Eggs and a gentle reminder..."

I know this is an old Easter postcard.....but it is the blue in the eggs that brings me to share this with you. I have been finding little birds eggs on my walks. One day, there was an egg like these with such a warm peaceful blue.... I was so excited that I walked over to the antique store to show my manager. She is an artist and does appreciate color. For me, I am reminded how God looks after the "least" of even these, the details in life, the little things....knowing there are no "coincidences". I call them "God moments." Some call them "divine appointments". There was a time that I bought into the coincidences idea....I don't know when and where it came from, the idea that God may be too busy and a lot of things that happen are just coincidences. Time went on and at some point, it dawned on me that I was forgetting how personal God desired to be in my life and in those lives around me. The hardest time I have with this is when I go to a big city and see soooo many people and wonder how God can be personal in each life. Oh, to try and wrap my head around that! But it isn't for me to try and understand it, but only to accept His Truth. And so, the blue egg, "He indeed cares for the least of these" and He will be there for me and He will be there for you in all that you are going through and I hope that gives you a warm and peaceful feeling....

Thank you, Father......deb

...and, everyday, I want to be thankful that "He is Risen!"

Philippians 4:8-9

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things. Whatever you have learned...put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

Always learning.....deb

It's All in the Perspective....and it's NEVER TOO LATE!

It's all in the perspective:

Dad's journal.....

"Wasted the whole day fishing with my son.....didn't catch a thing.

Son's journal.....

"Spent the day fishing with my dad. It was the best day of my life!"

Remember:

To the world, you may be one person....yet, to one person, you may be the world!

"Fix these words of Mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up" (Deuteronomy 11:18-19).

Parents have an incredible privilege and responsibility to be the first, and perhaps the strongest, image of God in their children's minds and hearts. If you are a parent, take a moment today to thank God for the blessing of raising children. If parenting failures and shortcomings overwhelm you, cast them at the feet of your Heavenly Father. Ask Him to help you build strong roads of communication with your children, no matter their age.

It's never too late.......Thank you, Lord......deb

Naaman....Part 4 and finally, my family....

I know some are not into long
devotions.... Now a days, one can read devotionals in a minute or
less....they have books and everything! Instant society....everything
quick! Well, I know for me when I fudge on my time with God, it
shows!!! I am not as patient, I worry more, I am not as productive and
the
list goes on... Most of all, I lose sight of what is
important.
Satan would love nothing more than to take me down and
have
me question my
confidence and victory in
Christ!

~

Above are pictures of my family....this was taken in May of 2009, Jacob's graduation, the last time my kids were all together. Joe's daughter Jenae (who is not pictured) just graduated in California and is going into the Navy to be a Nuclear Physicist! Here is Joe, Jacob, Josh (the other tall guy), Melody and Isaac, the one who has a few years left with us....thank goodness! It is for these people first and foremost that I need to stay on track....to stay humble before the Lord and thus we are ending with Naaman in Part 4...

~

Before leaving the story of Naaman let's observe two more things: (1) Everybody needs help. Not just the down-n-outers, but the up-n-outers. Being a five-star general doesn't mean a thing when someone's dying of leprosy. "But they wouldn't listen to someone like me," you say. Maybe not today, but when things get bad enough you'd be surprised how they listen. Just serve with excellence and be ready with an answer when the time comes. (2) God's hand is on you to minister where He's placed you. It was the encouragement of someone who got close enough to see Naaman's real problem, then introduced him to God, that brought about his healing. When God puts you close to someone and makes you privy to certain information, He does it so that you can give them "a word in season" (Is. 50:4). God used a cleaning lady who worked in his own house to reach Naaman. What if she'd rebelled against making beds and washing dishes? Or decided to go out and gossip about the problem instead? Today you have a role to play in God's plan. The servant who challenged Naaman to humble himself and dip seven times in the Jordan River is not named in Scripture--but he was indispensable to the process. So are you. Few athletes have more fans than basketball star Michael Jordan. Yet when a reporter asked him why he liked his dad to attend his games, he replied, "When he's there, I know I have at least one fan!" Everybody needs encouragement.

You can speak a word that changes someone's life!

~Ron Traub

~

Be an encourager!!!

Learning from Naaman...Part 3 and Car Accident!

Strange title for a devotion....yeah, I know. Shocker for others....yeah, I know. I have had a strange and shocking past few days. Three of my family were involved in a car accident.....hit and run with a semi, usually not a pretty picture. My three are ok....just suffering from seatbelt trauma. The Toyota didn't fare as well. What is amazing about this is the windshield didn't shatter. You see, the windshield has this cross-type crack in it going all the way, up, down, across. Joe was going to have it fixed in California as the car was to be his daughter's graduation present. A great car, California approved and all that....well, not so much anymore. We always pray for safety before anyone leaves on a trip. God watched over my Joe, Melody and Isaac. He became the "shield" and protected them from what could have been very bad and that is the power of prayer and faith and thus......we have Naaman.

When God gives you an answer, don't argue and don't rationalize. Just do what He tells you--and you'll come up clean. Naaman's pride almost cost him his life. When he left Elisha's house he was angry because Elisha hadn't come out to speak with him personally. Instead he sent "a messenger" out to tell him to go dip seven times in the muddy Jordan river. "Aren't there cleaner rivers?" Naaman asked, feeling insulted. At this point Naaman's servant said, "If the prophet had told you to do something great you'd have done it. Wouldn't it be worth obeying him in order to live?" Today God is asking you the same question. Wouldn't it be worth humbling yourself to come up clean? To confess your sin, share your story and ask for help? Wouldn't it be worth risking the disapproval of those who don't matter because they're not part of God's plan for your life anyway? Don't let your reputation get in the way of your solution. Don't let the Devil entice you to other rivers which have no power to save. All you need is the kind of faith that involves looking foolish for awhile: the kind that keeps you dependent on God when it looks like everybody else is doing better than you. Go ahead, dip in the river of God's grace. And keep dipping! Though you've been insulted, though your feelings are hurt, though the process doesn't seem to make sense, though you've reached the end of your rope and you want to quit, keep dipping. Act on the Word God has given you! Miracles are for the obedient, not the wishful. ~Ron Traub

I'm thanking God for my miracle this day and I am going to

"keep dipping!"

Learning from Naaman...Part 2

Yes, Lord, help me to accept the need to grow and mature....whatever needs to happen to get me to that place where I can be used by You....

Continuing on here about Naaman....

Naaman had a problem, a unique one. In recalling his story Jesus said, "Many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman" (Lk. 4:27 NKJV). It's easier to believe God for something you've seen Him do before. But Naaman not only had leprosy, nobody he knew had ever been healed of it. Are you being tested today because of a unique situation in your life, your marriage or your career? Are you afraid to talk about it because you don't know anybody who's ever beaten your particular problem? If so, stop focusing on the problem and start focusing on God! He doesn't need anything to begin with in order to solve your problem. Remember in Genesis He hung the earth on nothing, and it's still turning every day! The Bible says that Naaman was a "great...man," but God was about to make him a greater one. Whenever He does that He permits us to get into predicaments without human solutions. When He wants us to have great influence He often permits us to face great challenges. It's how He moves us from being impressive to being truly exceptional. But when He does, be careful. One of the first questions people will ask is, "How did you do it?" They'll start admiring your status and your armor, when all the time it was your affliction that drove you to your knees and allowed God to make you the person you've become. Before you can be exceptional you must work to develop a faith that believes God for the impossible, and trusts what He says regardless of the odds. ~Ron Traub

Learning from Naaman...Part 1

This is a story about Naaman from 2 Kings 5. The devotion is part of a series of a total of 4 that has blessed me and I will continue to digest and meditate on what God needs to show me from this......so be prepared to be blessed, to be fed and hopefully to be changed!

*************************

In examining the story of Naaman the leper, we begin by looking at his condition. "Naaman, commander of the army of...Syria, was a great...man...but a leper." In spite of his past victories and present honors, he had a hidden problem that wouldn't stay hidden long. Left un-dealt with, it would eventually destroy him. Can you relate? Today the odds may be in your favor. You've graduated from the best university, you've a good family, you've built a church or a business, or climbed to the top in your career. Yet before you can qualify for greater blessing God will force you to deal with a condition that's hidden beneath your armor. Outstanding people in every occupation, particularly spiritual ones, go through it. It's what sets them apart. It's what ushers them across the bridge from mediocre to exceptional. Without obstacles we'll always be ordinary! We're not talking about petty little problems. We're talking about issues so overwhelming you can't sleep; gut-wrenching things that cause your heart to skip a beat and make you fear "this is the one that's going to take me out!" It's the thing you pray about in secret. It's what you don't want people to see. So like Naaman, you wear your "brass," then go home and agonize about your condition. Understand this: God teaches some of His greatest lessons in the valleys of life. That's where you learn to lie prostrate before Him, weeping and broken. It's where you pray: "God, don't let this thing destroy me. Deal with it through the power of Your spirit." And here's the good news: that kind of prayer brings deliverance. ~Ron Traub

~

I needed this reminder, how about you?

~

Our stubborness can be as hard as iron, but if we let Him, look what the Lord can do.....and so the picture for today...

God works through flawed Men and Women...

I appreciated this reminder....I mess up so much and wonder many times how God could possibly make use of me!!! Hope this encourages you this day....debbie

God Works Through Flawed Men and Women

There are many things those who share the Gospel do well to remember. Certainly it is good for us to recall that the message we share is the Good News of God’s love and forgiveness. But, as we carry the Gospel to others it is also good if we remember it is mediated through we who are so flawed and fallen. Have you ever noticed how everyone in the Bible could have introduced himself, or herself, in some kind of recovery group? Imagine it:

“Hi. My name is Abraham. I am a coward and a liar. I would tell a lie to put my wife’s life at risk in order to save my own skin.”

“Hi. We are Isaac and Rebecca and we’re dysfunctional parents.”

“Hi. My name is Jacob and I’m a cheater and a scoundrel.”

“Hi. My name is Aaron. I’m a religious leader; but I cave in to peer pressure.”

“Hi. My name is Miriam. I’m jealous of my little brother Moses and I’m a racist; I’m upset about his inter-racial marriage.”

“Hi. My name is Moses and I’m a hot-head and a murderer.”

“Hi. My name is Naomi and I am bitter.”

“Hi. My name is Samson and I struggle with lust.”

“Hi. My name is David. I am an adulterer and a murderer.”

“Hi. My name is Elijah and I struggle with depression.”

“Hi. My name is Thomas. I struggle with doubts.”

“Hi. My name is Mary Magdalene and I’m a prostitute.”

“Hi. My name is Peter and I let down my best friend when he needed me most.”

“Hi. My name is Timothy. I struggle with paralyzing fears and insecurities.”

“Hi. My name is Paul. I am a Christian killer and I am very difficult to work with.”

As I read about these “heroes of the faith” I see that each one was flawed and yet each did significant Kingdom work. I do not believe that they were rewarded for the flaws; nor do I believe their flaws were unrelated to the good that occurred in their lives. The flaws became grace places; places of humility, which I believe is a synonym for honesty. They came to acknowledge in progressively deeper ways their need of God’s love and mercy. For, to each, in his or her specific need, God came because He loved them; as He loves us. He loves us! He loves us with a love that is not conditioned by our performance…Jerry Root, Wheaton College

Suffering....

Reading for my Sunday School lesson for next Sunday and already and thinking about those that did have the tornadoes come their way....

"Suffering is a part of life. By the time we become adults, we all have suffered great pain. We all have had to deal with the questions, 'Why did this happen?' or 'How could this happen to me?' Answers to these questions are often complex and unsatisfying. We struggle to find ways to make sense of our lives. This struggle can lead us to blame other people, or even God, for bringing suffering into our lives. We can become bitter and turn away from our faith. Or we try to create our own faith by taking what we like best from different religions. Either way, struggling to find answers to the why and how of our suffering can lead us away from the presence of God, which is our only comfort."

"The good news is that love runs deeper than our pain. James knew this. That is why he says, 'Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray (Jms. 5:13).' Prayer is our direct link to the person of God, not simply the idea of a god who might answer our prayers, but the person of God who empathizes with our pain and walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death. When we pray, God does not simply give us advice or rescue us from a difficult situation. He grants us His very presence so that we can sense His reality, even in the darkest of times. Prayer is the path God walks to get to us. He will never force himself on us. We must open the path. If we do, He will come to us every time, without fail. James tells us to pray when we suffer because the answer to suffering is not an explanation as to why suffering happens, but comfort in our time of suffering. If we are cold, we don't need a weatherman to explain weather patterns; we need a blanket. If we are hungry, we don't need a biologist to explain hunger pains; we need food. When we suffer, we don't need to know why; we need to know God's presence."

~written by Jim Moretz

"Are you weary, weary of the soul?"....then remember....

We have storms brewing, tornado sightings and people 15 miles from here had a rough storm situation early this morning by one of our lakes. A gal came into the antique store and shared about it shortly after I opened. She was weary as she shared about the damage from the storm and how others fared worse and some were lucky they were alive. In town, it was minimal compared to out there in the open. I sat down with her while she shared her frustration about the damage done and being thankful, yes, that no one was hurt. Then the conversation turned to her mother who is wasting away from a complicated disease and tears came to her eyes. Her father is having a difficult time with this and we talk of how fragile life is with our physical beings as well as with the physical storms regarding the weather. I listened and brought her some kleenex. I listened some more and then others came in and she started to look around and do some shopping....."therapy" for the woman's soul at times. She left feeling grateful for someone listening and even getting her some kleenex. I told her I would keep her and her family in my prayers. Looking at a daily devotion that I get, well, it seems appropriate to share with anyone who will read or listen......for we all get weary......

I wake weary...
I reach reluctantly for my Bible wishing I could reach for covers to pull over my head instead.

It turns out I'm not the only one who has ever felt this way.

I read of Gideon and how he is hiding (sounds a bit like pulling the covers) grain from the enemies of the Israelites.

Right there in the middle of that unlikely moment God sends a message to Gideon.

It's about fighting, victory, how everything will be different from now on.

It's these six words I love most:
"Go in the strength you have..." (Judges 6:14)

That phrase follows me out of bed and into the car. I think of it as miles whiz by on the way to work. What strength do I have?

Slowly I realize I don't have much at all (especially today). But I do have His strength.

And what kind of strength is that?

The kind that is made perfect in weakness. (2 Cor 12:9)

That's great news for the broken, messy, and worn out (and aren't we all?).

And even if we were as strong as we'd like to be, it would still pale in comparison...

God's weakness is far stronger than the greatest of human strength. (1 Cor 1:25)

So here's truth worth getting out of bed for, the kind that's like coffee for our hearts. God served it up to Gideon first and He still offers it to us every morning (especially on the ones when we feel weary)--

Go in the strength you have...
and I will be the strength you need.

~Holly Gerth