Mon, Jan 19th - 12:31PM

Taking back what we give God!

Yesterday at church a lady came in with her small son Malachi. He is 2 ½. When we had the money march several people gave him change to put in the buckets. After all the kids got through putting in their money and went back to their parents, little Malachi started back up the aisle toward the buckets; his mom grabbed him and asked him where he was going to which he replied “to get my money.”

Sometimes we are that way with God, we give something to Him in prayer and then want to snatch it back.

Ephesians 5:2

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

It is so awesome to know and experience God’s love toward us. What a wonderful friend we have with our “big brother.” The more I get to know some of my brothers and sisters better the more I enjoy their friendship. It is the same with “Jesus” the more I spend time with Him the greater our friendship.

Thanks God for you Son who gave His life that we might live. Thank you for your love. It is so awesome to know you and to experience you love new and fresh each morning.

Fri, Jan 16th - 10:47AM

Hope In The Lord!

Good morning,

 It is a beautiful morning here on the timber farm. The sunrise was bathed in pinks and oranges. It is super to wake up to watching God paint the sky.

 “A small boy stunned his parents when he began to empty his pockets of nickels, dimes and quarters.
Finally his mother said, "Where did you get all that money?
"At Sunday school," the boy replied nonchalantly. "They have bowls of it."

God is so awesome. I just love Him more each day. Although some days it seems like I can’t possibly love Him more than I already do.

Psalms 38:15

For in thee, O Lord, do I hope: thou will hear, O Lord my God.

It is that hope that keeps us going. The sure knowledge of knowing God is there for us at all times. We cannot see or imagine all the things God does for us. Sometimes we look at people who are going through tough times or illnesses and say “man I could never handle that” but when some of it comes our way, the Lord is there to give us strength and hope. “Prayer is the key to heaven, but FAITH unlocks the door.”

  Thank you, Lord that we can read your word and find the faith, and hope to continue on not only walking with you, but enjoying our walk. Praise your Holy name.

 Have a great day!

Joy

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Thu, Jan 15th - 12:55PM

A New Song!

“A woman went to the Post Office to buy stamps for her Christmas Cards. "What denomination?" asked the clerk.
"Oh, good heavens! Have we come to this?" said the woman. "Well, give me 30 Catholic, 10 Baptist ones, 20 Lutheran, and 40 Presbyterian."

Laughter is good for the soul.

 Psalms 40:3

And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God; many shall see it, and fear; and trust in the Lord.

That is how I feel; that God has put a new song in my heart. My relationship with the Lord is so different now than all the years I have known Him. It is like everything is fresh. My love for Him just keeps growing and changing. It is totally awesome. He is! Whatever you might need HE IS!

Doesn’t that make your heart sing? It does mine.

 Thanks Father that you are everything to us. How I praise your name this morning. Life with you is wonderful.

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Wed, Jan 14th - 4:58PM

Several of you have sent me responses to the devotionals letting me know how good you believe God to be; I really appreciate your encouraging words, and your testimonies of how God is taking care of you. We serve a wonderful God.

 "One beautiful Sunday morning, Samuel, a priest, announced to his congregation: "My good people, I have here in my hands, three sermons...a $100 sermon that lasts five minutes, a $50 sermon that lasts fifteen minutes, and a $10 sermon that lasts a full hour.
"Now, we'll take the collection and see which one I'll deliver."

Psalms 71:16

 I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

If I don’t make any other point this year but this God loves you, and you get that down into your very being then I will have accomplished what the Lord has put in my heart for you.

 Thank you, Father for your love for us. Help us to grow and walk in that love.

Tue, Jan 13th - 1:46PM

I'm Safe In God!

 My soul rejoices within me at all the wonderful blessings God gives us every day. He is so awesome!

 "Three boys were in the schoolyard, boasting about their fathers.
The first boy said, "My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, calls it a poem and gets $50 for it."
The second boy said, "That's nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, calls it a song and gets $100 for it."
The third boy said, "I beat you both. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, calls it a sermon and it takes eight people to collect all the money!"

“O Lord You listen to my prayers; You hear my every plea; I’m safe because I know you’re always there for me.”

 It thrills my heart to know God is always there for us. He takes our lives and molds them into something beautiful through the trials, illnesses, or sadness. He is an exceptional father.

Psalms 104:34

My meditation of Him shall be sweet: I WILL be glad in the Lord.

That is my prayer and hearts desire to be glad in the Lord no matter what is going on.

Father I thank you for your word. I so appreciate the fact that I don’t have to struggle on how to find you; or peace, joy, or rest in the every day living I can just go to your word or lift my voice in praise and you are there. Your very presence is so real.

Mon, Jan 12th - 5:01PM

God's Mercies!

God is so good! His mercies are new every morning. I am so thankful that each day God lets us start the day with a clean slate.

 There was a celebration in a Christian school. Some children were lined up in the cafeteria for a lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray: "Take only one. God is watching."
There was another table full of chocolates and cookies and toffees. Little Lucy placed a card on it, "Take all you want. God is watching the apples."

Psalms 106:48

 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord.

It is always nice to receive praise from someone; I believe the heart of our “Father” rejoices when we offer Him praise and thanks for the things He does or doesn’t do for us.

 Thanks God for your mercies that are new every morning. How wonderful to have a living relationship with you.

Sun, Jan 11th - 11:39AM

Necessary Food!

“A boy and his mother were shopping at the local grocery store; the being bored with shopping was standing outside just looking around. This man approached him and said “son I’m the new minister in town can you tell me where the post office is?” To which the boy replied go to the corner, turn right and go two blocks you can’t miss it. The minister thanked him and said come to my church and I can tell you how to find heaven. The boy started laughing. The minister asked him what was so funny, to which the boy replied you are preacher how can you tell me how to find heaven when you can’t find the post office.”

Some people want to figure out how to get to heaven without reading the instruction manual.

Job 23:10-12

 10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

 11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

 12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

When we begin to walk in the way of the Lord and hunger for the food of His word, then we desire it more than food for our bodies. The food for our soul is what causes us to live on. It uplifts us, corrects us when we are headed the wrong way, strengthens us when we are weak, restores us when bad things happen and is the key to having eternal peace with the Lord.

Father thanks that your word is alive; I praise you that in it we find the way to eternal life. It is the source of everything we need both physically, emotionally and most of all spiritually.

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Sat, Jan 10th - 11:05AM

It is a crisp, foggy morning here on the timber farm. Last night I called Sis and told her to go out on her deck and look to the east; the moon was up in all its glory. The sky was filled with pink and orange clouds; I tried to take some pictures, but they didn’t do it justice. It was awesome; like God was sending a special blessing.

“All our difficulties are only platforms for the manifestation of His grace, power, and love.” Hudson Taylor

 “When you are down to nothing

God is up to something!”

God is so gracious and loving to us; He wants us to be prosperous and in health. I think that is super.

  Genesis 39:2-3 & 5

2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

I was reading these scriptures this morning for my devotions and thought of how blessed we are. That set me to pondering are we blessed because of ourselves believing in God; or does part of it come from family who served God years ago and God is still blessing their families because of the prayers they prayed to Him on our behalf. I believe the prayers of dad and mom and even our grandparents are still being answered today. What a heritage to know that God remembers the prayers of those now home with Him and answers them so we can walk in the faith and blessings of their prayers.

Thank you, Father for allowing us to reap the blessings of those who prayed for us many years ago. May we also pray to pass blessings on to our family and friends.

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Fri, Jan 9th - 11:55AM

Needing the SON!

It is a beautiful morning here on the timber farm. The sunrise was absolutely gorgeous. God gave us a special colorful sunrise to help get the day started right. I don’t know about you, but God knows I need some sun at times to offset the gloomies. It is wonderful to have the SON in my life all the time, but I still need the sun.

"Mary watched her dad, a pastor, writing a sermon every day. She could not stop her curiosity and one day, she asked her dad, "How do you know what to say?"
Pastor dad, "God tells me."
"Oh, then why do you keep crossing things out?"

 Sometimes we are like this quote, we don’t like what God is trying to tell us so we just cross it out of our mind and do what we want. I wonder would life be easier if we did what God wanted us to do every day.

 Luke 10:27

And He answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.

This verse pretty much sums up how God wants us to live. If we only followed this one verse, our lives would change drastically. You see if we Love the Lord with our heart, soul, strength, mind, and loved our neighbor the same life couldn’t get any better. In fact my mind can’t even fathom what would happen to this world if people began to really love God and each other.

Father, help us to learn to love you with everything that is within us. Help us to understand what your love is so we can love each other with your love.

Tue, Jan 6th - 10:54AM

God Provisions!

In the devotional for January 3^rd, I talked about helping others and moving out of our comfort zone. I got an email from my niece that I want to share this morning.

I reached out and did something for someone two months ago.  I went and picked up a lady that had a birthday around the time of my mothers, more of an acquaintance than friend.   I was taking my daughter to get her hair colored and cut and invited the woman, Gussy, to get hers done at the same time for her birthday.  When we got to the salon and Gussy saw about how much it would cost she started crying and didn’t want to let me pay for her hair.  I knew that I really did not have the extra money myself, but felt the need to do this.  I was supposed to spend that money on two new tires for the back of my car.  My husband was upset with me, and did not understand my need to make this woman feel special. .  I never told Gussy any of this.  Gussy was so happy with the results that she cried.  She had never treated herself to a hair color before and usually cut her hair herself when her bangs got to long.   I knew that I had done the right thing.  I felt it to my bones. 

Last week, my car was parked because it was too dangerous to drive.  I had to come into work three days last week and my car would swerve terribly from my back passenger side tire because it was bubbled so badly.  Add to that the weather lately.  I was driving very slowly.  

Last week, as you said someone always has it worse… Gussy’s, husband ran head on into a light pole and totaled their car.  A Saturn like mine.  Well, she saw my husband at the store and asked how I was doing.  He let her know it was my birthday.  She went back into the store bought a card and left it in our car for me.  It said… I don’t know if you need them or not, but I have a brand new set of tires and rims on my car that need a new owner.  I would like to give them to you for your birthday.  You just need to have your husband come get them off of my car.  They had bought the tires at the end of November the week I had taken her to get her hair done.  They were definitely better tires than I would have bought.  There were four, I was only going to buy two at a time, and now I have matching tires and nice wheels to boot.  

I was really blessed, I really needed tires.  The Lord always provides. 

I John 3:16-18

16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

 17  But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

When we reach out to others, even if we have to sacrifice to do it, God honors that and blesses us more than we ask for.

Thank you, Father for the opportunity we have to bless others. It may not be with money, but a kind word, a smile, a hug, or just sending someone a card wishing them a good day. It is so great we have the ability to bless you as we bless others. Thanks.

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Mon, Jan 5th - 12:24PM

God Everpresent!

"One summer, during a violent thunderstorm, a mother was tucking her small boy into bed. She was about to turn off the light when he asked with a tremor in his voice, "Mommy, could you sleep with me tonight?" The mother smiled and gave him a reassuring kiss. "I can't dear," she said. "I have to sleep in Daddy's room." Finally, he said, in his shaky little voice: "The big sissy."

God is ever present. He watches over us in the thunderstorms both of our life; both physical and spiritual. He is concerned with everything that goes on in our lives. How awesome it that? I am so glad I don’t have to travel this journey all by myself. I have a “Father”, angels, family, and, friends watching over me and helping me; it doesn’t get any better than that. God is willing and wanting to do the same for you.

Isaiah 54:10

For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my KINDNESS shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my PEACE be removed, saith the Lord that hath MERCY on thee.

I am so thankful that God does not remove His mercy, kindness, or love, even when we slip and do something wrong. He is ever merciful, ready to forgive and keep on loving us.

Thanks God for your love. Help us to walk worthy of that love. Guide us into all truth. Help us to encourage each other I pray. Praise your Name.

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Sun, Jan 4th - 11:20AM

Give God Glory!

God is an awesome God, and we His people are an awesome people. It excites me to listen to others talk about how God loves them and provides for them.

Isaiah 42:12

Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare His praise in the islands.

Take a saint, and put him into any condition and he knows how to rejoice in the Lord. Walter Cradock

 Wednesday night at church each person read their favorite scripture. It was a hard choice for me as I have so many, but I settled for

Psalms 9:1-2

I will, praise thee, O Lord, with my heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works.

I will be glad and rejoice in thee; I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

As I read these scriptures I realized the reason I have been able to stand firm in my faith with the Lord was because of the praise I offer to Him on a continual basis. It is the praise that keeps me going, the same way it was the praise that kept dad and mom going. Their praise generated faith. Each of us can and should rejoice in the God of our salvation.

Thank you, Lord for showing me how important praise is. It is the thankful heart that grows.

Sat, Jan 3rd - 12:12PM

Reaching out to others!

God is so awesome. He is such a wonderful Father. I give Him praise freely.

I was thinking in the night about life and just stuff that has happened in my life the past few years, and I thought no matter how bad my situation was if I looked around me I found someone in a worse situation. No matter how bad things seem. I have my Lord, family and friends to help me get through them; how blessed is that? Not everyone has the Lord, family or friends to help them and that made me feel really sad for them. I went to sleep feeling really thankful and blessed.

 I feel the Lord wants us to reach out and help others this year. It doesn’t matter if it’s through giving groceries, a warm blanket, prayer, a kind word, a tank of gas, whatever the Lord lays on your heart. Begin to get out of your comfort zone and help someone. It doesn’t have to be a homeless person, it could be a family member who is struggling, a friend or someone might just need a smile while standing in line at the grocery store. Just reach out to someone.

Isaiah 25:4a

For thou has been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat.

We can be the same to others that God is to us.

 Thank you, Father for allowing us the privilege of being your servant. Help us to feel compassion for others. Guide us in the way you would have us reach out to others. Thanks.

Fri, Jan 2nd - 1:34PM

Keeping our eyes on Jesus!

The sun is shining here on the timber farm this morning with most of the snow gone. I got an email from my cousin Toni in Minnesota she said this “Greetings from MN & snow that is here to stay until spring.  Two below right now.  Sunny,” Guess I don’t have it so bad after all. Of course if I had stayed a true Minnesotan then that weather wouldn’t bother me.

God is so good. I just can’t praise Him enough. Sis called me to ask me how I fared in the wind storm last night, to which I replied what wind storm? When I went to bed I asked the Lord to have my angels take care of my dog, me, and my house and to let my sleep be sweet. Looks like He did just that. Praise The Lord.

 Psalms 31:3

 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.

When we allow the Lord to lead and guide us then we don’t get all up tight and stressed out. It is when we forget His promises that we take our eyes off Him, and things begin to shift on us. It’s like Peter, as long as he kept His eyes on Jesus he was able to walk on water; but when he took his eyes off Jesus he began to sink, when we take our eyes off Jesus and put them on our circumstances then we become weak and begin to sink.

 Thank you, Father for your love and protection. You are a wonderful “father” always looking out for your children’s welfare. How awesome you are.

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Thu, Jan 1st - 12:34PM

A Banquet or Crumbs!

Blessing to you,

I was thinking about the beginning of the New Year and what I wanted to see happen this year. I didn’t make any resolutions but there are still things I want to have take place over this year.

 The most important is my relationship with the Lord to become stronger. I was mediating on how to accomplish that and thought about the verse in Song of Solomon 2:4  He brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner over me is love.

 In Matthew 15:22-28 Jesus is on His way to Tyre and Sidon when a woman of Canaan came asking Jesus for help as her daughter was vexed with a devil, but Jesus wouldn’t say a word to her. When the disciples wanted Jesus to send her away, Jesus told them He was not sent to help her and her kind, but to save the lost sheep of Israel; the lady again came to Jesus with an attitude of worship and again asking for His help. Jesus finally said He could not take what belonged to the children and cast it to dogs. In other words Jesus was calling this lady a dog. I don’t know if I would have handled things as well as that woman did. Instead of getting angry or going away in a huff she came back to Jesus with these words “true Lord, yet the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from the master’s table.” That got Jesus’ attention! He told her “O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto you as you want. And at that moment her daughter was made whole.”

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of just getting the crumbs, when I can feast at His banqueting table with everything on it I will ever need. I desire His banner of love to cover me at all times.

 I know of no greater joy than to be in constant fellowship with the Lord. I have decided within my heart to have the “full enchilada” this year with the Lord.

 Thank you, Lord for your many provisions over the last year to family, friends, and myself. You are worthy of all our praise, honor, and glory. Help us to begin this Hew Year with our thoughts fixed on you and to offer our praise to you early each morning.

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