My crocuses are poking out their little heads!

Wednesday, January 31, 2017

Along the walkway to our front porch, I have a delightful sight waiting for me these days. My crocuses are coming up! One day in the near future I’ll come home to find delicate purple flowers smiling at me and I can hardly wait! By this time next month my daffodils will also be coming up which means that spring isn’t too far away. 

So what do you know about crocuses?

• There are over 80 species of crocuses. 
• Saffron, a spice used in rice or risotto recipes, is derived from one particular species of crocus. 
• It takes about 70,000 crocus flowers to produce one pound of saffron. 
• Iran is the leading producer of saffron which can cost $325 per teaspoonful. 
• Be careful, though, because another similar species is actually poisonous. 
• Crocus flowers tend to bloom in late winter and early spring. 
• People in the financial world use the term “crocus” to refer to a company which is springs up early after an economic downturn. 

No matter how you look at them, crocuses are pretty little things. And I’m so excited to see mine starting to peek out from the ground!

LORD, thank you for the reminder that you have the whole world in your hands — including the arrival of late winter flowers. Thank you for their intricate beauty. May we pay close attention to them this year. And may we help Your hope blossom in those around us who need Your encouragement right now. Better times are just around the corner. 

thehumblegardener.com

The Giant Redwoods

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Have you ever seen a redwood tree in person? It’s hard to imagine how massive they are. They can grow to be over 300 feet — taller than the length of a football field. 

roadscholar.com

Can you imagine what the root system might look like in a redwood forest? I’ve always thought that you can expect to see a mirror image of a tree’s trunk and branches above ground reflected underground. But not so for the redwoods. Their roots are really very shallow — like six or seven feet deep! So how is it possible for these giants to withstand wind and other elements with such shallow roots?

redwoodfamilytherapy.com

Redwood roots may grow out 100 feet from the trunk, interlacing with the roots of its neighbors and establishing an immovable foundation. So there you go. 

What about us as Christians? How deep are our roots? Some would suggest that by being strongly involved with other believers — doing Bible studies together and sharing life with each other — that our roots get intricately intertwined and we help hold each other up. By studying together, doing missions and ministries together, praying for each other and encouraging each other, we become a part of each others’ root system. 

LORD, thank you for the spiritual giants in our lives whose roots we have been able to interlink with. Help us to be a giant to a younger seedling in the faith. Help us to support and encourage each other and to become strongly rooted in You. 

Jesus takes us home

Monday, January 29, 2018

Jesus takes us home at just the right time. 

Not too soon. 

Not too late. 

His timing is perfect. 

I said goodbye to a friend today. We weren’t much more than acquaintances really. But I have mixed emotions about his death. 

When we first met it didn’t take long for me to realize that we didn’t have very much in common. But I made the choice to befriend him anyway. And through our many conversations I was able to determine beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was not a Christian — and had no interest in things of the Lord. Still I extended love and acceptance to him and tried to point him to God. 

I had no idea he was sick. So when a mutual friend called to tell me of his death last week, I was stunned. I had a terrible pit in my stomach because I feared for his eternal soul. 

At the funeral home today I was able to speak with the pastor who will be doing the funeral tomorrow. He told me about how his parents had been praying for him and talking to him about the Lord these past few weeks. He also shared that one day about a week before his death, my friend made peace with God. The pastor was very encouraging — that he was actually in heaven now. 

This made me happy and sad. Sad that he was unable to enjoy life on earth by developing a personal relationship with the Lord. Happy that he now has eternity with Him. 

LORD, thank you for the forgiveness you give at the moment we confess our sins. Thank you that we don’t have to do anything to earn our way into your kingdom. Thank you that my friend is with you now. Give peace to his family. 

1/28/18 Weekly Memory Verse

January 28, 2018

Focus this week on 
GOD

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son 

that whosoever believes in him 

will not perish 

but have everlasting life. 

For God sent not his son into the world 

to condemn the world, 

but that the world through him 

might be saved.

John 3:16-27 NIV

As a parent I can’t imagine loving ANYTHING so much that I would sacrifice the life of my child for it. Yet God did just that for us. 

He didn’t send Jesus to hunt down corrupt and ungodly people and hurl them into the pit of hell. 

No, He wanted to provide a way for our safe passage to heaven for all of eternity. 

LORD, you alone are worthy of our worship and praise. Thank you for loving us so much that you allowed Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Give us the ability to show the world around us that condemnation is not Your desire. It is  our redemption that you long for — so that we can be with You in paradise. Thank You, LORD. 

maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com

Excerpt from Maggie's Journal - 2012

Saturday, January 27, 2018

written by Maggie

Home

August 2012

My Alpha came home last week with her arms full of boxes. Empty boxes. I found that to be somewhat amusing. My mouser thought it was pretty fun — he climbed inside of one and went to sleep. 

I noticed things starting to disappear around here. Then I realized what was going on. My Alpha was taking things out of drawers and closets and putting them in these crazy boxes. She’s been carrying around a big black marker in her back pocket -- she takes it out every once in awhile and scribbles something on a box. Now she is stacking them here and there — totally in the way. I just don’t get it. Seems like all that stuff was better off where it came from instead of in a box in the middle of the floor. 

Are we giving this stuff away?
Are we putting it all in storage somewhere?
Are we moving?

I did that once in my previous home. It was mass chaos. My smoothskins loaded up everything that wasn't nailed down in our perfectly good house and took it to another one. It took me forever to get used to the new surroundings and smells and critters, etc. I didn't much care for it. But I didn't really have much to say about it. They just loaded me up with all their stuff and we all ended up at the new place.

Hopefully there’s some other perfectly good explanation for what's happening because I like it here. I like the yard and the shade and the groundhogs and the squirrels. Most of all I like sitting on the front steps with my Alpha’s arm around me watching the world go by. This is home. 

Make a Choice

Friday, January 26, 2018

If you decide that it’s a bad thing to worship GOD, then choose a god you’d rather serve—and do it today. Choose one of the gods your ancestors worshiped from the country beyond The River, or one of the gods of the Amorites, on whose land you’re now living. As for me and my family, we’ll worship GOD.
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭24:15‬ ‭MSG‬‬

“If you decide that it’s a bad thing to worship GOD, then choose a god you’d rather serve—and do it today.”

Get on with it. Decide. The LORD — 100% — or not. And, by the way, you’d better figure out how you’re going to explain to Him why you think worshiping Him is a bad idea. Just saying. 

“Choose one of the gods your ancestors worshiped from the country beyond The River, or one of the gods of the Amorites, on whose land you’re now living.”

People in our country have gotten lured into the culturally acceptable obsession with finances or beauty or knowledge or babies or sex or drugs. . . . These things, if given too much of our time and attention, become our gods. This, of course, means that we have chosen. 

“As for me and my family, we’ll worship GOD.”

Serving God is my choice. I don’t ever want to be outside of His will. He alone is worthy of my adoration and praise! 

LORD, I choose you! You are awesome, wonderful, incredible. You are my sustainer, keeper, best friend. 

Love is a Choice

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Pure Prairie League sang about Amie: “Fallin’ in and out of love with you....”  They make love sound like a light switch. I don’t know about that, but I would like to suggest that to love is a choice. 

When my children were infants, I couldn’t help but to love them. They were so sweet and innocent and lovable. 

When they were teenagers . . . . My love for them was more like a choice than an emotion. 

When a mother stands in a courtroom facing her child’s killer and forgives him for his crime — that kind of love is a choice, not an emotion. 

When you have a coworker that rubs everybody the wrong way — you have a choice to make. Either join with the crowd and   refuse to befriend him or reach out to him and show him God’s love. 

It’s up to us to show the world who God is. And the best way to do that is by choosing to love them. It takes effort. It takes energy. It takes time. The Holy Spirit empowers us to do it but it’s our choice. 

Lord, we know You love us all and that it is Your desire for all to be with you in eternity. Help us to be your ambassadors of love to the whole world, that they might experience Your Love first hand and give their lives to you. 

GPS takes the choice out of travel

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

How much do you depend on a navigation app to get you from point “A” to point “B?”  Waze? Google Maps? OnStar? Garmin? (Does anybody keep a road atlas in their car anymore?) I know people who key in destinations which are only a few blocks away. It’s like we can’t get to our own mailboxes without Siri calling out turn-by-turn directions. 

A few years ago, we headed for Washington, DC. For some unknown reason, our navigation system took us over the river and through the mountainous backwoods of West Virginia — and we blindly went where it sent us.  As we got more and more removed from the Interstate, it got more and more spooky. The windy road got more and more narrow. Conversation inside the car ceased as we got further and further away from

civilization. Eventually we made it through to more frequented highways (and the banjo music stopped) and then to our final destination. 

We never did figure out why our navigation system took us this way. But we didn’t think twice about just going wherever it sent us — strange as it might have been. 

Life can be like this, can’t it? We head down a path that is fairly familiar but we stray off of it rather mindlessly as we listen to directions from outside sources. We should ask questions along the way to be sure we are on track. 

And who can provide the direction that we need?

Who will walk along with us as we go?

We must put our trust in Him and make good choices. 

Thank you, Lord, that you give us such good directions for our journeys. Thank you for accompanying us as you have promised. Help us to rely on you more. 

Choice

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Long ago in a not so distant land, a young woman made a very difficult decision. It turned her world upside down. But once she made it, she knew she could never go back. It was the right thing to do — she knew that deep down inside. But that didn’t stop the lakeful of tears she shed on that day and on many others afterward. 

Time passed. 

Wounds healed. 

She learned to live and love again. 

And she even forgave herself. 

After all, she had done the right thing. 

Now, years later, it brings her an overwhelming sense of peace to turn to social media for yet another glimpse of the life she so unselfishly gave away that day. She has been privileged to watch her baby girl — now theirs — grow into a beautiful, bright young woman who loves, laughs and really lives. 

She lives. Because of her choice. And the world is a much better place as a result. 

Life vs Death

Monday, January 22, 2018

United States Citizens have certain rights under our Constitution:

• Freedom of Religion
• Freedom of Speech
• Freedom of the Press
• Right to Bear arms
• Protection from Unreasonable search and seizure
• Right to be considered innocent until proven guilty
• Shall not be deprived of life, liberty, or property

...unless you happen to be unborn. Then apparently you might or might not have any value or any rights depending on the situation. 

If you happen to be growing inside of a woman who is murdered, your life is considered valuable. Since you have been robbed of your life, the perpetrator will face two counts of murder in the judicial system. 

If, however, you happen to be growing inside of a woman who decides that you would be too much of an interruption or an inconvenience in her life, she can get rid of you — throw you away like last week’s molded leftovers.  

So what if you happen to be growing inside of a woman who looks forward to your arrival. She might download an app on her smartphone that shows her how big you are from week to week — and what your development looks like. 

So which way is it? A baby is valuable or not. A baby has the right to breathe or not. 

Lord, for those women in our country who have unwanted pregnancies, give them the courage to allow another family to adopt their child. Give them the courage to stand up for the right of their unborn child to take its first breath. 

libertystickers.com

1/21/18 Weekly Memory Verse

‬‬January 21, 2018

Focus this week on 
GOD

In the beginning
God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:1 NIV

Sun, moon, stars, and the entire cosmos are His design. 

Earth and it’s perfect ability to support life is an example of the science of His creation. 

Life itself — plant or animal — is a reflection of His imagination. 

Humans — the icing on the cake — are the ones created in His image. And He desires to have a personal relationship with each one of us. 

He, alone, is worthy of our worship and praise. For He is good. 

maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com

Trusting God

Saturday, January 20, 2018
by Phyllis Causey
Former Administrative Assistant to 

Dr. Wallace Nave
Member of Living Hope Baptist Church

Bowling Green, KY

Growing up in church, I remember singing,

Not a doubt nor a fear,
not a sigh nor a tear,
can abide while we
trust and obey.

Trust and obey,
for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus,
but to trust and obey.

John H Sammis, 1887

God has shown me many times I can trust Him in all situations. I would like to share a story which helped me understand, trusting God in a greater way.

A few years ago I had been attending a summer Bible Study on trusting God. My desire was to learn as much as I could about trusting Him with my life and my family. However, when the ultimate test came, I was unsure whether I would be able to respond and remain calm without anxiety.  

It was a beautiful July 4 when my son, Todd, who was in his early 20’s, decided to go for a ride on his motorcycle. Because of a “more than usual” feeling of uneasiness, I began to pray as he rode off down the driveway.  I said, “I don’t know where he is going or what he will be doing, but I choose to trust You with my precious son.  I went about doing my chores and resting in God to protect Todd.  

The day passed quickly, as usual, and I sat down to read from my study book on trusting God.  Once again the uneasiness rose up within me, and as I got ready for bed, the thought went through my mind, “What if you get a phone call in the middle of the night?”  I was a bit surprised when I heard my voice say, “Lord, I am going to trust You.” I went to bed and fell asleep rather quickly.  I was awakened just as quickly when the phone rang and, as I glanced at the clock, it was 2:30 a.m.  I answered the phone to hear a friend of Todd’s say, “Todd has been in an accident on I-65, but he is going to be fine.”  As I dressed and drove to the Medical Center, I was unbelievably at peace. I am not by nature a tranquil person, so when I walked into Todd’s room, he was amazed by my calmness.  I said, “Todd, the Holy Spirit prompted me to pray for your protection last night."

It was miraculous to me when I saw the “road rash” and scrapes but not one broken bone — not even a concussion! My God is indeed there for us when we trust Him.

One of my favorite Scriptures often comes to mind:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart:
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek His will in all you do,
and He will show you which path to take.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

We may not understand what God is doing or why He allows some difficult circumstances to occur, but it honors Him when we choose to trust Him.  Thankfully, my faith and trust levels continue to grow as I continue to share this and other marvelous answers to prayer!  Todd is now happily married to Heather, a wonderful young lady, and they have blessed us with two beautiful grandchildren, Alyssa and Landon.

Can God Be Trusted?

Friday, January 19, 2018

TRUST - confidence in someone’s character, ability, reliability, commitment, strength, or truth (definition mine)

Everybody else seems bent on letting us down so how do we know that God can be trusted?

I can think of two sources for answers to this question. The first is the Bible. It is full of examples of God doing what He promised. Here are but a few examples. 

(1)  He has kept this promise for thousands of years. So far, so good. 

I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth. Genesis 9:11 NIV

(2) God promised Abraham He would give him countless descendants. Still at the age of 99, Abraham and Sarah were childless. 

Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
Genesis‬ ‭18:13-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.
Genesis‬ ‭21:1-2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Abraham’s son, Isaac, became the father of Israel. Promised kept. 

(3) God promised to free the Israelites from Egypt — which He did. And He promised to lead and protect them. 

By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.
Exodus‬ ‭13:21-22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

At one point, He even put the pillar of cloud between the Israelites and their adversaries for protection. See Exodus 14:19-20

(4) In taking the Israelites to the promised land, God had to fulfill many of His promises. 

Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭21:45‬ ‭NIV‬

(5) God promised us heaven. All indications are that He will keep His word. 

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
‭John‬ ‭14:2-3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The other evidence I have that God is trustworthy comes from my own personal experience. 

1. He promised He would never leave me and He has not. 
2. He listens to me and knows my heart. 
3. He has proven His utmost character to me. 
4. He is dependable on all fronts.  
5. He has never lied to me or let me down. 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Father, You alone are trustworthy. You have proven yourself time and time again. And You have promised that if we acknowledge You as Lord of our lives, You will give us Your direction. Thank You!

straightpathministries.org

When Trust Is Lost

Thursday, January 18, 2018

TRUST - confidence in someone’s character, ability, reliability, commitment, strength, or truth (definition mine)

When I was a new driver I remember a rock hitting my windshield from a passing truck. The sudden noise scared me to death but it didn’t seem to do any damage to the glass — until a cold snap a couple of weeks later. I came outside one bitterly cold morning to find a series of spiderweb-like cracks all across my windshield. 

Life can be like that. One untruth might not crack our trust. But compounded with other bitter circumstances it can cause a huge mess.

Who has shattered your trust? How deep is the disappointment? Will you ever be able to trust again?

Let me encourage you to consider one very important angle regarding trust. God is holy. He will always live up to the promises He has made. He will never foresake you. He cannot lie to you. He is totally dependable. You can place your trust in Him above all others and He will not disappoint. 

Father, sometimes the pain from broken trust can be debilitating. Heal our wounds, Lord, and make us whole again. Give us the courage to trust you. For you are worthy of our trust. 

istockphoto.com

We Trust Each Other

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

TRUST - confidence in someone’s character, ability, reliability, commitment, strength, or truth (definition mine)

When I was a girl, my parents told me that they would trust me as long as I proved to them that I could be trusted. If I broke that trust then it would take awhile to build it up again. I worked very hard to be trustworthy in their eyes because I respected them too much to let them down.

That kind of trustworthiness has spilled over into my marriage, my parenting, my friendships, and my working relationships.

In my estimation, the foundation of trust -- that solid structure upon which the building blocks of a relationship are laid -- is honesty.

• Let your "yes" be "yes" and your "no" be "no." (character, dependability)
• Mean what you say and say what you mean. (reliability, predictability)
• If you say you're going to do something, then do it. (reliability, commitment)
• Do what is right when no one is looking. (integrity)
• Make wise choices regarding right and wrong. (character)

For Bill and me, it is only natural for certain things to be involved in the building of trust (and, really, these can apply to all kinds of relationships).

• We love each other very much -- seems like that love gets deeper all the time. 
• We respect each other for who we are as individuals and we give each other the latitude needed to exercise our God-given talents.
• We communicate regarding the simple and the complicated. We take each other's feelings into account and we "play fair."
• We spend time together and we recognize the need for there to be time apart. 
• We extend common courtesies to each other -- another reflection of our love.
• We exercise self-control in our conversations and in our relationships with others.

Trust is important in any relationship. It is essential. Do you trust? Can you be trusted?

Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.
Proverbs 16:20

Father, you have proven yourself to us throughout the years. We need but to model ourselves after you in order to develop trustworthiness in our lives. Help us to do it well.

What is Trust?

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

TRUST - confidence in someone’s character, ability, reliability, commitment, strength, or truth (definition mine)

While the above definition refers to people, it applies to things, too. 

• When I hit my remote in the morning at 5:20 from the warmth of my home, I trust that my snow-covered car in my driveway will start and begin to thaw. 
• When I cross the Kentucky River, whether on I-75 or on the “old road,” I trust that the bridges will support the weight of my vehicle and carry me safely to the other side. 
• I trust that the sun will come up — even if it is hidden behind thick clouds. 
• I trust that I will get a paycheck every two weeks — as long as I live up to my end of the employment bargain. 
• I trust that I’ll have ample nourishment today and a warm place to sleep. 
• When I get home, whether gone for 10 minutes or 10 hours, I trust that my dogs will be so excited to see me that they will hardly be able to contain themselves (as is sometimes evident by little trails of pee on the floor). 
• I trust that my room will be illuminated when I flip on a light switch. 

Of course the list could be endless because we have so many things in our lives that we depend on. We don’t even think about them. They are reliable. They are strong. They have never let us down before. 

In many ways these things are much more trustworthy than people will ever be. That’s a shame, isn’t it. But it’s true. 

Fortunately for us, there is One who is totally reliable, dependable, and truthful. He wants us to be like Him. 

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.
Psalm‬ ‭145:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Thank you, Father, for being the perfect roll model for us. Help us to pay closer attention so that we can emulate You more closely. 

shell.com

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

1929-1968

Monday, January 15, 2018

I would venture to say that most of my readers are familiar with the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.  According to the King Center website (thekingcenter.org), Dr. King sought to bring about non-violent social change by addressing poverty, racism, and militarism. He was a fascinating man, to be sure.

But did you know?

• He was born in January 15, 1929 as Michael King, Jr.
  When he was 5 years old, his father changed his own name and that of his son to Martin Luther King after the European reformation leader.
• Dr. King was only 15 when he entered Morehouse College and graduated with a Sociology degree.
  He earned a divinity degree from Crozer Theological Seminary.
  He obtained his Ph.D. from Boston University.
• Dr. King was once jailed in Montgomery, Alabama for driving 30 miles per hour in a 25 MPH zone.
  He was imprisoned 28 other times, primarily for acts of civil disobedience.
• In 1958, a woman stabbed him in the chest with a 7-inch letter opener, just missing his aorta.
• In 1974, a man stood up in the Ebenzer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Ga and fatally shot Alberta Williams King, Dr. King's mother, as she played the organ.
• President Ronald Reagan signed the bill that created the national holiday to honor Dr. King.
• It is estimated that over 900 cities in the United States have streets named after Dr. King. Chicago was the first.

And did you know there were several prominent people assassinated in the United States in the 1960s?

• 1963 - President John F. Kennedy
• 1965 - Malcom X
• 1968 - Robert F. Kennedy
• 1968 - Martin Luther King, Jr

So today as we enjoy this federal holiday, let us remember not only Dr. King, but others who have gone before us to pave the way for love and acceptance for all.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22:36-39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Lord, help us to remember that you were the first to embrace non-violent change. It is because of your acceptance of all people that we should do the same. May we never forget that in your eyes we are all created equal.  

princeton.edu

1/14/18 Weekly Memory Verse

January 14, 2018

Focus this week on 
GOD

Do you not now?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

Isaiah 40:28 NIV

He is everlasting. 

He is the Creator. 

He is strong. 

He is omniscient. 

He, alone, is worthy of our worship.

We must tell the world. 

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Excerpt from Maggie’s Journal 2012

Saturday, January 13, 2018

written by Maggie 

May 2013 2012

When I first started writing, I had just arrived at my forever home. I was so scared and confused. I didn’t know what was going on, really. Little by little I began to realize that my  smoothskins were going to take really good care of me and that my new buddy, Toby, would be my friend for life. I slowly began to blossom in my new surroundings and grew to be a trusted and loyal member of the family.

Which brings me to today. After taking a bit of a break, I’m ready to start writing again. Life is so good. 

One of my boys has moved out of our house. He comes by sometimes and brings his little family with him. They intimidate me a bit but I think it’s just because the little ones are so — little. I’m sure I’ll get used to them. 

My other boy is in and out a lot. I hear words like “college” and “grades” and “Deans’s list” but I have no idea what that all means. I just know that every once in awhile he picks me up and cradles me in his forearms and I REALLY don’t like it. I get stiff as a board to try to make it harder for him to hold me like that but it never seems to matter. He’s gentle enough and I’m pretty sure he thinks it’s funny. I just don’t like it. It reminds me of something in my past but I can’t quite put my paw on it. 

Then there’s the girl. She’s growing up. I remember when I used to climb in the beanbag chair with her and her friends. I don’t think we would all fit now. 

My Hairless is constant as the day is long. He laughs a lot and plays with the girl. He pats me on the top of my head and I really like having him around. 

My Alpha is busy as always. But she still seems to find time to give me love and attention. Nobody holds my face and rubs my back like she does. I look back on that first day when she came to rescue me. Letting her have me was the best decision I ever made! 

I look forward to chronicling again about my family. Perhaps when I’m gone and a new pup comes along, they will pick up where I leave off. 

Looks like I’ll be working on a nursing degree.

Friday, January 12, 2018

Many of you know that our daughter, Lizzie, is starting nursing school this semester. She had orientation on Tuesday and her first classes yesterday. She’ll have six semesters of classes and clinicals. Pretty exciting. 

Lizzie and a classmate were working on calculations yesterday and they got stuck. So whom did she call? Her mother. They were so close to figuring it out. They just needed a little push. I wonder how many calls I’ll get like that over the next six semesters. No matter. I’ll be here for her. 

Isn’t God like that? We try to figure something out and might even be really close. But when we admit our inability to handle things ourselves and turn to Him for help, He is ready and willing to help us. And always will be. 

Lord, thank you for Lizzie — for her commitment to school. Help her to do well. More than that, help us all to remember You are there for us no matter what we are doing. You love us and want success for us. May You be glorified through us. 

thirdheavendiscourse.com

Check Your Power Source

Thursday, January 11, 2018

“I am the vine; you are the branches. 

If you remain in me and I in you, 

you will bear much fruit; 

apart from me you can do nothing.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

You may have seen my FaceBook post yesterday. I went into my bathroom to get ready for work and when I reached for my hair straightener, this is what I found. 

I was shocked! (Not as shocked as my puppy would have been if the thing had been plugged in!) 

When I got to church tonight, one of the women laughed and said, “I know why you’ve got your hair in a ponytail!” Clearly she had read my post. 

That puppy. 

I started thinking about that electrical cord. If it can’t get power to the straightener then it’s pretty useless. 

Here are a couple of Scriptures that deal with this very thing. 

• John 15:5 says that if I’m detached from Jesus, the power source, I’m useless. 
• I Corinthians 12:12-31 describes the body of Christ, the Church, as being composed of many body parts. A hand separated from the body is pretty useless. 

It is up to us to remain plugged in to Christ through the reading of Scripture, fellowshipping with other believers, and praying. He wants us to be powerful and fruitful. But it is largely up to us to take the first steps of faith and trust before His Holy Spirit can actually work in us or through us. 

Where is your power source? Are you protecting it from sneaky little critters that might otherwise demolish it?

Lord, unlike the cord to my straightener that is totally dependent on external sources to keep it safe from little teeth, I have the responsibility for protecting my connection to You. Help me to do that. I want to be a useful tool for Your kingdom. 

Seek Wisdom

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Be wise in the way you 

act toward outsiders; 

make the most of every opportunity. 

Let your conversation be 

always full of grace, 

seasoned with salt, 

so that you may know 

how to answer everyone.

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭4:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Yesterday we talked about living our lives for Christ and not for ourselves. In that same vein, instead of thinking about ourselves, this Scripture says that we should think about those whom we encounter everyday. Our actions and words should be be careful and savory. And if we are living for Christ, then our actions and words should be with Him in mind. 

Have you ever been an outsider? 

How does it feel to be treated like you don’t belong?

How awkward is it when you don’t know the inside stories?

How difficult is it to fit in?

How easy is it to say you’ll never put yourself in that place again?

Think about these questions the next time you’re with your friends and somebody new shows up. Put yourself in their shoes and make them feel welcome. 

Always ask God how to face every situation so that you can honor those around you and bring glory to the Lord. 

Father, thank you for giving us Scripture that is practical for everyday living. May we do well in following Your guidelines. 

ellengrafmartin.com

Live for Him

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

For Christ’s love compels us, 

because we are convinced 

that one died for all, 

and therefore all died. 

And he died for all, 

that those who live 

should no longer live for themselves 

but for him who died for them 

and was raised again.

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:14-15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Does this verse make your head spin? Lots of “died” fors and “live” fors floating around! So what does it all mean? 

1. “one died for all:” Christ died physically and experienced spiritual separation from God (hell) so that nobody else would have to “die” (be separated from God). 
2. “therefore all died:” We died to ourselves when we accepted His gift of life. 

So why did He die? So that we would live for Him. (that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them)

Now I don’t know about you but that sounds to me like He placed the ball back in our court with that statement. 

It is up to us to live for Him. To recognize that it’s because of Him that we even have life in the first place — physical or spiritual. If we owe our lives to Him, then we should live for Him. 

Father, I’m not so sure we do a very good job of living for you every day. We want to do things our way. We don’t want to seek Your will for fear of your shipping us off to some 3rd world country to be a missionary or something. Or that you’ll want us doing something that won’t make us happy. Help us to understand that we will never be happy unless we are in Your will. And that it is out of gratitude that we should live wholeheartedly for You every moment of every day. 

livingroomtheology.com

Magnolia Blossoms: Past and Future

Monday, January 8, 2017

Did you know?

• I have been blogging every day (except maybe 5) since August of 2016?
• I have 40 official "followers" on my blog site. 
• I publish a Scripture memory verse every Sunday. 
• My mother had a blog. 
• I started my blog as sort of an outlet to help me adjust to life without my mother. 
• Because of mother's previous writings for her churches, I have enough Easter and Christmas devotional material to last for about 4 years. 
• Magnolia Blossoms is the name of my children's book I wrote a few years ago. It relates the story of a dog displaced to Kentucky from the Mississippi gulf coast by hurricane Katrina. 

What are my plans for my blog in 2018?

• Continue to publish a weekly Scripture memory verse. 
• Continue to write about things that inspire me. 
• Incorporate writings from guests. So far  6 of my friends have written something for me to post. I’d like to publish something every Saturday from a guest blogger. If you’re interested in submitting something for me to use, let me know. 

I’m also toying with the idea of posting some of the journal entries written by my dog, Maggie. Interestingly Cassie found Maggie’s journal not long after she arrived at our house and she has taken up where Maggie left off. So it might be a little interesting to publish some insight about our family from a canine perspective. I’m not sure Benny knows how to write yet because he’s still a pup. But I’m sure he’ll figure it out one day. 

Thank you for reading my blog. If you like it, share it. If you have a comment about it, let us all hear it. If you have any suggestions, I’d like to know. 

We’ll see how much longer I can keep this up. Will I one day just run out of words? (I’m sure Bill probably thinks that is highly doubtful!)

Father, I consider it a blessing to have been able to share my thoughts with the world — many of them have been Yours. I look forward to the ideas You will give me in 2018 and I pray that You will be blessed by my efforts. 

1/7/18 Weekly Memory Verse

January 7, 2018

Focus this week on 
GOD

For to us a child is born, 

to us a son is given, 

and the government will be on his shoulders. 

And he will be called 

Wonderful Counselor, 

Mighty God, 

Everlasting Father, 

Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 NIV

Father, You, alone, are worthy of our worship and praise. Help us to focus on You this week. 

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God’s Will

Thy (not my) Will Be Done

by Vicki Miller

Rehobeth United Methodist Church

Greensboro, N.C.

Sometimes we have to step back and realign our lives with God's will, giving complete control to the one who created us with His perfect plan.   It’s easier said than done because He also gives us free will and the ability to make our own choices. We're not always good at making the right choices and often have a hard time finding that balance in this life that He so graciously gives us. So, how do we get in tune with Gods will?  

First, we have to find time to connect with our Creator and realize that it's His will and not our own that we're striving for.  There’s a spiritual reassurance when you step back in a quiet moment and talk to God. I love the stillness of the night or meditating and reading His Word early in the morning. I especially enjoy a random stop during the day, taking  the time to observe His creation.  It’s there that I realize that along with the magnitude of the heavens and earth -- the amazing sunrises and sunsets, the beautiful flowers and even the creepy bugs -- that He created ME!   He created me in His own image and He created me with a purpose!  The same purpose he gave so many of us; to simply serve others and glorify Him in all that we do.

Second, understanding God's will depends on our reading His Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us on a daily basis.The scriptures tell us that the Holy Spirit aligns us with God's will for our lives — if we open our hearts to Him (John 14:26). The Bible instructs us throughout our journey — if we read it (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  And God will always direct our path — if we just trust Him (Proverbs 3:5-6). 

Prayer:  God, we thank you for your Word and we pray that our hearts are always open to your will.  Bless and guide us in all that we say and do that we might serve and glorify you! Amen.

talesfromthesideofthetub.com

What will the New Year hold?

Friday, January 5, 2018

All things work together for good

for those who love the Lord

and are called according to His purpose. 

Romans 8:28

It’s good to reflect on where we’ve been and on the various things we’ve been through. In fact I highly encourage it. Make a column for the good things — the blessings — that last year held. And make a column for the bad things — the tough things — the difficult things we don’t quite understand. 

Then take some time to reflect on each of the entries. Thank God for each of them. Yes, thank Him even for the hard stuff. 

And think about the above Scripture. What are the first two words? “ALL things.” Not SOME things. Not a FEW things. But ALL things. 

And what do “all things” do? They work together for good. They don’t stand alone. They are intertwined with other things for the purpose of bringing about good. 

Who’s good? Although this passage doesn’t specifically spell out the answer to this question, I propose it is for (1) God’s good first and therefore for (2) the good of people.

But it does specify WHICH people benefit from “all things.” 

(1) those who love the Lord

(2) those who are called according to His purpose

I’d venture to say that the majority of my readers are believers. You’d need to do a little soul searching here to determine how well you fit into these two groups. But if you truly love the Lord and are striving to do His will then “all things” applies to you. 

So as you contemplate all the positive and negative things that happened last year, consider how God has used or will use them to bring glory to His name. It may be too soon and you might not be able to see it quite yet. But that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Anticipate it. And embrace the fact that, in the end, the bad things actually become blessings. 

And as this new year unfolds, know that there will be more difficulties and more blessings to come. Just remember that ALL of them will work for good — God’s good— provided we stay in His will. 

Father, thank you for all the ways you blessed us last year. We look forward to what you have in store for us in 2018! 

traveltriangle.com

What's Hiding in Your Closet?

Thursday, January 4, 2018

OK. I'm ready to disclose one of my New Year's resolutions: to clean out my closet.
Why did I pick this particular thing to put on my list? Because I thought I could get it done on January 1st and then be able to put a big check mark in my "done" box.

So, I was able to clean OUT my closet on the 1st -- you know -- take everything OUT of it. You just can't imagine all the stuff that I had crammed into that 5 foot by 6 foot space. But then my bedroom and parts of two other rooms were cluttered with clothes and shoes and exercise stuff and sheets and boxes of photos. 

It took me two more days to go through everything to decide what could stay and what had to leave the premises. Now I need one more day to finish putting everything away. Whew! But I can officially check off that box because I have successfully cleaned the closet OUT.

Guess what I found in this process? A long lost Christmas present I had purchased months ago and had forgotten about. Which made me think about another room that might need attention -- my heart. Perhaps I need to clean it out, too.

Revelation 3:20 states that Jesus wants to come into our hearts and eat with us. I love the painting which is often associated with this Scripture where He is outside knocking on a big, old door. I can easily picture Him taking up residence inside. Except that there are areas in my life where I close off closets or spare rooms and don't allow anyone, not even the Lord, to go in or to see the junk inside. There is no-telling-what stashed away in those dark places -- things I don't want to uncover or revisit.

But the reality is that the Lord wants to clean out those closets in our hearts. He wants to throw away some junk that has been there for years that we haven't used or needed in a very long time. And He wants to help us rediscover some hidden treasures we may have forgotten about -- like that Christmas present. But we have to give Him access and get out of the way so that He can go to work.

Father, where are the hidden places in my heart that I have kept from you? Show me so that I can unlock the doors and give you access. Give me the courage to let you clean me out. I want to be rid of the unnecessary, no-good junk. Fill me -- every nook and cranny -- with your Spirit.

He Makes All Things New

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

He told them this parable: 

“No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. 

Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. 

And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. 

Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. 

No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.”

Luke‬ ‭5:36-38‬ ‭NIV‬‬

With the turn of the new year, we tend to look toward turning over a new leaf or starting anew. As you know, the failure rate on New Years resolutions is pretty high. Why? Because we aim too high and it takes too much energy to reach our goals. We are human. 

But what if we were to truly grasp the concept that “God is God and we are not?”

It is God who can make us new. Not us. 

It is God who can mend our broken hearts. Not us. 

It is God who can transform us into useful vessels. Not us. 

So no matter what our goals are for this year, we should approach them with the proper focus. First we should turn away from the sin in our lives. Then we should give God full access to every part of our lives so that He can make us new. Only then can we gain any traction toward our resolutions and bring glory to God. 

Lord, You have promised to make us new. But sometimes we wriggle and squirm and refuse to be still long enough for you to do Your work. Help us to yield to your craftsmanship in our lives and to glorify You as a result.