Streaming Tree

In Sunday's sermon our pastor used a an example which caused me to start thinking. I had a visual in my mind but an actual picture is even better.  The reference was to being planted by the stream. Are we where we can get spiritual food? Are we self feeders? As I was thinking on this Jeremiah 17:7-8 came to mind.

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him, he will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

I want my spiritual roots to grow strong and deep so that when the heat and drought come to my life - my  leaves will always be green and I will bear fruit. "A Streaming Tree" is what I want to be with my roots deep in my Savior.

Jesus is my Savior, I shall not be moved;
In His love and favor, I shall not be moved,
Just like a tree that's planted by the waters,
Lord, I shall not be moved.

In my Christ abiding, I shall not be moved;
In His love I'm hiding, I shall not be moved,
Just like a tree that's planted by the waters,
Lord, I shall not be moved.

If I trust Him ever, I shall not be moved;
He will fail me never, I shall not be moved,
Just like a tree that's planted by the waters,
Lord, I shall not be moved. 

On His word I'm feeding, I shall not be moved;
He's the One that's leading, I shall not be moved,
Just like a tree that's planted by the waters,
Lord, I shall not be moved. 

Chorus
I shall not be, I shall not be moved;
I shall not be, I shall not be moved;
Just like a tree that's planted by the waters,
Lord, I shall not be moved.

Meeting Needs and Moving Out of Our Comfort Zones

"Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.  Do to others as you would have them do to you."
"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you?  Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungreatful and wicked. Be merciful, just are your Father is merciful." 
 Luke 6:30-36

I have been very troubled today as I have pondered our reactions or lack of reactions as Christians, when we are presented with a need.  We start by analyzing the need - we dissect the need - we make excuses for why the need - we explore why do they need - we spend  unnecessary time and energy trying to JUDGE the need.  Tell me where in scripture does it tell us to do anything to the need except to fulfill it to the best of our abilities.


As stated in Luke 6 it is easy to love those that love us, to do good to those who are good to you, but the scripture also asks us "What credit is that to you?' It says that even sinners lend to sinners, and sinners love those who love them. It is easy to live out your faith when you are doing so with family and friends - but the rubber hits the road when God directs us to live out our faith beyond our self-imposed boundaries. As a believer we are not asked to pass 'judgement' or rate the needs of others, we are commanded to answer the need.  Who are we to "decide".  God is God and we are not.


I am sure that I have not always done what I should have done when God has given me the opportunity to meet a need.  I too, have been the one who dissected the need to death and then in the end ignored it all together.  Shame on me and I have asked the Lord to forgive me for those actions.  It is time as Christians that we grow up and quit only serving and loving each other and reach out to those who need what we can only give them - the Love of Christ. 
 It is an everyday calling to look outside our comfort zones to dare to step over or around that comfort zone.  We have a higher calling - let us begin today to strive towards the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus.

Seven year old - Charlotte

What a special day for us as grand parents, Charlotte celebrated her seventh birthday with us.  We had a delightful day honoring this day of her birth.  She had most of her favorite foods and the cake she wanted was a cookie cake which her Aunt Tiffany ordered and Uncle Brett picked up.  So she was quite the center of attention.  I love birthdays.  I love the fact that of all the days in the year God chose this day for you to be born.   I remember a lot of birthdays and a lot I have forgotten but none the less they remain special to me.  I am blessed to be a mother and now more than blessed to be a Nonnie.  Thank you Lord for this blessing in my life.  Thank you for my husband, children and grands and yes even the grand dogs.

I pray God will bless Charlotte as she grows and matures. I pray she will always seek the Lord in all her ways. I pray for her parents as they raise their family.  I pray for Nonnie & G'daddy as we watch. Love you my purple Charlotte.  Many many blessings to you this day and every day.

Nonnie

PSALM 130 - I Wait for You Lord!!!

Psalm 130

"Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord;

O Lord, hear my voice.

Let your ears be attentive

to my cry for mercy.

If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins,

O Lord, who could stand?

But with you there is forgiveness,

therefore you are feared.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, 

and in his word I put my hope, 

My soul waits for the Lord

more than watchmen wait for the morning.

O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, 

for with the Lord is unfailing love

and with him is full redemption.

He himself will redeem Israel

from all their sins."

I continue to wait on the Lord, His direction, His will, His way is what I desire.  Lord help me to wait and not run in front of you.

Blessings & encouragement to all.

WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE

WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE

Sing them over again to me

Wonderful words of life,

Let me more of their beauty see, 

Wonderful words of life;

Words of life and beauty

Teach me faith and duty.

Refrain:

Beautiful words, wonderful words,

Wonderful words of life;

Beautiful words, wonderful words,

Wonderful words of life.

Christ, the blessed One, gives to all

Wonderful words of life;

Sinner, list to the loving call,

Wonderful words of life;

All so freely given,

Wooing us to heaven.

Sweetly echo the Gospel call,

Wonderful words of life;

Offer pardon and peace to all,

Wonderful words of life;

Jesus, only Savior,

Sanctify us forever.

I have been talking about our words this week and this song keeps going through my thoughts. So here are the words.  Jesus, only Savior, Sanctify us forever.  Blessings to you all.

WORDS - ENCOURAGING OR DISCOURAGING

"A few words can uplift, encourage, and do positive things in a person's life and a few words can also put down, discourage, and ruin a person's life.  Please forgive me of allowing any words to leave my mouth that would harm others and dishonor You, O Lord. I pray that my words will be honest and positive; that they will inspire and challenge others to greatness.  Show me who You want me to encourage through my words today. Please help me to affirm someone closed to me today, that they will be blessed and You will be glorified. In Jesus' name I pray, amen."  OS Hillman

Today as I was reading one of the devotions that I get daily I was touched by the prayer that accompanied the devotion.  It caused me to think about the words I say.  Are the words that I say God led? Are they thought through before being spoken?  Sad to say but I fail at both.  I know that encouraging is one of my gifts but do I always encourage the person I am speaking to?  I was reminded as I responded to one of my grand daughters today.  She voiced one of those attitudinal remarks and I responded with my "mother" tone.  I had to stop and reel in the words that were so ready to come flying out of my mouth.  Whoooooo.
The prayer also spoke to me about words that would wound others or dishonor God.  Dishonor God - it is a different way of thinking - that our words could dishonor God or harm others.  We all have been there done that.  If you haven't been the one speaking the words you have heard the words and saw the emotional results of those words.  Lord forgive me.


" Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. James 3:5-6


Lord help me to seek the right words spoken in the right way.
Blessings to you all

It's Good to Know I've Still Got It !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can still fix dinner for an 8 & 6 year old while feeding a 10 month old.  Whoop Whoop!!  I haven't had to do that in many many years and it is good to know I can still multi-task in that way.  I have however realized why God gives us children while we are younger.  Having and raising a family is hard work.  I admire all you moms out there weather you have one or a dozen children.  There is literally always something that needs your attention.  I loved being a mom but I also love being a Nonnie, what a blessing.
Our son-in-love had to have an emergency appendectomy today. We are thanking God that surgery went well and he is on the road to recovery.  So Lee & I were called to come and keep children, we were packed and on our way in less than 20 minutes.  So thankful we are close enough to be able to help.
Well I am done for the day and need to go to sleep because I am sleeping with the baby monitor so I will say good night and thanks to all who have been and will continue to pray for us.  Blessings to all and to all a good night!