Category: Month

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A Better View Point

Most of this past week I have been removing decals from the side of our RV but the last day and a half have had a bit of a twist.

The ladder. Not just any ladder, an extension ladder!

For days I had been able to work with both feet on the ground or on the wider, more secure steps of the step ladder. Once all the lower decals had been removed the only ones left to work on were the ones at the roof line. (Deep breath taken)

Up the extension ladder I went. I was definitely out of my comfort zone. I don’t like high ladders. They wiggle, the rungs are narrow…and did I mention they wiggle? Because my arms are short I was only able to apply the decal remover to about three feet of it at a time. This meant multiple trips of ascending and descending.

Yesterday I completed the one side. Monday I will be completely finished! But here’s what I learned on my many trips to the heights – I was more comfortable each time I climbed to the top. Although I had been shaky, hesitant and at one point some what frightened I now felt comfortable and able to complete my task feeling relaxed.

I had a better point of view!

I had learned to work with the ladder. I got rid of the wiggle, I had a routine for the things I needed to carry up and down. I was better prepared to do the job once I got to the top. Things went smoother.

Climbing that ladder I thought of the story of Abraham’s grandson, Jacob. He encountered a ladder in the wilderness. He was on a journey to find a wife but on the way he encountered the Lord.

“He took one of the stones there and put it under his head for a pillow. 12 And he had a dream. He saw steps going up from the earth to heaven. He saw the angels of God going up and down these steps. 13 And he saw the Lord standing above them. He said, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham, and the God of Isaac. I will give to you and your children after you the land where you are lying… 15 See, I am with you. I will care for you everywhere you go. And I will bring you again to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done all the things I promised you.” 16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “For sure the Lord is in this place and I did not know it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “This place is so different! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” Genesis 28:11-17 NLV

When we encounter the Lord we will have a better point of view.

It may be frightening at first. The Lord has a life plan for us; it will take us out of our comfort zone. It will require us to lay aside our small thinking and to see things from God’s point of view. But rest assured, we have the same promise from the Lord that Jacob did, “I will not leave you until I have done all the things I promised you”.

It’s time to climb higher. God will give us His point of view and it will be much better than our own.

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Don’t Go to the Party

There are some parties that we should never attend. Specifically, the pity party.

The guest list is disasatrous: loneliness, condemnation, self-loathing, imperfection, and low self-esteem.

If you’ve ever attended a party like that or you might be today’s guest of honor, I have Good News!

“We sinned against him, but he didn’t give us the punishment we deserved. 11 His love for his followers is as high above us as heaven is above the earth. 12 And he has taken our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west. 13 The LORD is as kind to his followers as a father is to his children. 14 He knows all about us. He knows we are made from dust. 15 He knows our lives are shor… 17 But the LORD has always loved his followers, and he will continue to love them forever and ever! He will be good to all their descendants, 18 to those who are faithful to his agreement and who remember to obey his commands.” Psalm 103:10-18 ERV

Don’t go to the party!

It seems we fall prey to that destructive kind of thinking at one time or another. Do you know why?

We forget what God says about us. What’s the first thing that jumps from the page when you read the verses above? For me, it’s “he didn’t give us the punishment we deserved.”

Jesus died for my sins so I don’t have too. He knew I was incapable of living a sinless life so the Father placed the responsibility for my sin on Jesus! The Father showers me with love and kindness – my sin has been blotted out. My failure has been expunged! The handwriting against me has been cancelled!!

No pity party here – send the guests back to hell, that’s where they came from!

Each day we can walk free of condemning thoughts, low self-esteem, by reminding ourselves what God has done for us through Christ Jesus.

“So I beg you, brothers and sisters, because of the great mercy God has shown us, offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him—an offering that is only for God and pleasing to him. Considering what he has done, it is only right that you should worship him in this way. 2 Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.” Roman 12:1-2 ERV

The more we focus on God’s love, the less we will focus on our short comings.

“But God’s free gift is not like Adam’s sin. Many people died because of the sin of that one man. But the grace that people received from God was much greater. Many received God’s gift of life by the grace of this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 After Adam sinned once, he was judged guilty. But the gift of God is different. His free gift came after many sins, and it makes people right with him.” Romans 5:15 ERV

Tear up the invitation; don’t go to the party! Remember, “the LORD has always loved his followers, and he will continue to love them forever and ever!”

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A Safe Place

Dave and I enjoy spending the evenings on our patio. It’s a busy place.

We watch the hummingbirds scooting in for their last drinks of the day. Flittering here and there at high speed. Up to a tree branch, down to the feeder and in just a few minutes they are gone.

About this time we hear the cooing of the doves who are roosting in the mesquite trees. Then comes the lone call of the quail. Quail are very vocal birds and Dave and I will make up conversations when we hear them calling at dusk.

“Hurry up now. It’s almost bedtime. Don’t delay, you need to come in before it gets dark.” And then there will always be an annoyed chatter…”But I don’t want to go to bed yet, can’t I stay out just a little longer”.

It’s amazing the natural instinct God has gifted to the different animals. They all have a desire to protect their young, keeping them safe from danger.

Is it no wonder that the Scriptures talk about us being safe, under the wings of Almighty God?

“Your love is a treasure, and everyone finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. 8 You give your guests a feast in your house, and you serve a tasty drink that flows like a river.” Psalm 36:7-8 CEV

“God will save you from hidden dangers  and from deadly diseases. 4 You can go to him for protection. He will cover you like a bird spreading its wings over its babies. You can trust him to surround and protect you like a shield.” Psalm 91:3-4 ERV

We don’t need to beg the Lord for protection. He is the One making the offer. He wants us to come to Him for help and safety. He has given us an open invitation to utilize His protection.

Shortly before His death, Jesus was on a hilltop looking over Jerusalem and He was heart broken. He was praying for the Jewish people and their leaders. He had been preaching and teaching for three years and still there were many who refused to accept His message, a message of salvation and protection.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets. You stone to death those that God has sent to you. Many, many times I wanted to help your people. I wanted to gather them together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you did not let me. ” Matthew 23:37 ERV

Do you hear the heart ache? I wanted to gather you in, under my wings, but you wouldn’t let me.

“With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 4:16 ERV

Coming to the Lord for help in times of trouble isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s an action of wisdom. Come to the Lord’s safe place!

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Praying Not Preying

This morning I saw a picture of a praying mantis. You know the insect that looks like its’ front legs are bent in a position of prayer.

I had to stop and think for a moment – why do they call it praying and not preying? This insect eats, devours, other bugs.

There is a reality there. If we aren’t praying for others and over our circumstances we will be preying on them or we will become their prey. I’ll wait a minute while you think about that.

“Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. 7 Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.” Philippians 4:6-7 CEV

Pray about EVERYTHING. That’s everything. I learned years ago to pray over my grocery list and the amount of money I had in my wallet. That may seem like a small thing but the list was bigger than my cash. Most week’s I would find that the items I needed were on “special”. I came home with all that I needed to make good meals for our family and then there would be the bonus. Farmers Dave worked with would have extra veggies and fruit to give away, a dairyman would have cheese, a friend who be in the neighborhood with a couple extra bags of groceries and we would have more than enough!

Prayer and thankful hearts go together. Complaining does nothing except make you vulnerable prey for bitterness and worry.

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.” Matthew 5:43-45 NLT

These are the words of Jesus. If anyone had just cause to harbor a grudge against their enemies it would be Jesus. A perfect man, with perfect motives, was constantly harrassed by his enemies. But He chose to pray for those who wanted Him to be discredited and who called for His death.

Pray or prey.

Quite often I will get a phone call, text or email asking me to pray. I consider that a high honor. I take time to pray right then, I don’t put it off for a more convenient time. After that, each time I am reminded of the situation I thank the Lord that He is working everything out and bringing peace to the hearts of those who need it.

“I pray that God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ will be kind and merciful to you. May they bless you with peace!” I Timothy 1:2 CEV

I hope this is a word for you today. Pray, not prey, and be filled with thankfulness and peace.

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Practicing My Preaching

Yesterday after I posted my blog I picked up my journal and pen. I opened it to a clean page and found that it had been several days since I had written any of the things I am thankful for. I had also neglected to record the prayers of my heart.

Lots has been going on. Although, I have been praising the Father for miracles large and small and I have also been pouring my heart out to Him with specific requests, I had failed to write them down. Now to some of you that may not seem significant but to me it was a true sign that I had become overwhelmed in the circumstances.

So…I stopped, almost mid sentence and asked the Lord for a verse or verses that I could live out. Remember what I said yesterday? It’s better to read one verse and live it than to read chapters and not have it make any impact on what we do.

I wanted and needed to practice what I preach.

“O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! 2 From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, 3 for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. 4 Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings!” Psalm 61:1-4 NLT

These are the words that jumped out at me – when my heart is overwhelmed. What do we do when we’re overwhelmed? Answer: Cry out! That’s exactly what I did.

I practiced what I was preaching.

Then next words that caught my attention were rock of safety, safe refuge, safe beneath your wings. Key thought here – when we cry out to the Lord, when we are overwhelmed, He will lead us to a safe place.

“You, Lord, are my shepherd. I will never be in need. 2 You let me rest in fields of green grass. You lead me to streams of peaceful water, 3 and you refresh my life. You are true to your name,  and you lead me along the right paths. 4 I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won’t be afraid. You are with me and your shepherd’s rod  makes me feel safe. 5 You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch. You honor me as your guest, and you fill my cup until it overflows. 6 Your kindness and love will always be with me each day of my life,  and I will live forever in your house, Lord.” Psalm 23 CEV

Life will always have circumstances and situations that will try to unsettle us. We will have many opportunities to be fearful and overwhelmed. However, when we are following the Lord we can choose not to take them.

I found a place of safety and peace. I can trust my Father. I don’t need all the answers because He has them. If I follow His lead I will come to a place of rest.

I will practice what I preach.

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My Greatest Desire

What’s the one thing you desire most?

I would like to say that my one thing is to honor and serve the Lord, but many times my days are so wrapped up in my own pursuits that the Lord is put somewhere further down the line. Just being honest folks – if we aren’t honest with ourselves we can’t and won’t serve the Lord the way we should.

“LORD, teach me your laws, and I will always follow them. 34 Help me understand your teachings, and I will follow them. Obeying them will be my greatest desire. 35 Help me follow your commands, because that makes me happy. 36 Give me the desire to follow your rules, not the desire to get rich. 37 Don’t let me look at worthless things. Help me live your way. 38 Do what you promised me, your servant, so that people will respect you. 39 Take away the shame I fear. Your laws are good. 40 See how much I want to obey your instructions! Be good to me, and let me live.” Psalm 119:33-40 ERV

King David had a “greatest desire” mentality.

The Bible says that David was a man after God’s heart. He wanted to serve God will all his natural ability but that wasn’t enough, he wanted more. He knew he needed God’s help if he was truly going to follow God’s word.

David didn’t just sit by each day and have harps playing in the background, eating grapes and contemplating the greatness and vastness of God.

His life was full – he had a kingdom to run, he had wives and children, there were enemies to defeat and battles to be won. Yet his priority was God’s word – he wasn’t seeking wealth or power – but those things came to him. He was “seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things were added to him.” David was living the very thing that Jesus taught but he was living it hundreds of years before Jesus delivered the message.

Jesus said “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” John 6:38

Have you ever looked at a single day in the life of Jesus? From the time He got up until late at night he was busy. His daily life was filled with walking, sailing, healing, teaching, facing his critics and raising the dead. When he did take time to pray and be alone, people would seek him out and interrupt his prayer time. He had learned the Scriptures from his youth and was living them out each and every day.

Reading one verse from the Bible and living it all day long will have more of an impact on our lives and the lives of others than reading chapters and not having it change us.

I like this part in today’s verses. “Don’t let me look at worthless things. Help me live your way.”

It begs the question “what worthless things am I looking at”?

Like King David, our goal should be to live in a way that people know we are depending on the Lord.

My heart’s desire is to do more than read the Word today – I want to live it!

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Know When to Be Silent

Do you ever stop to think where you would be without God’s amazing, unconditional love?

On our best days, when we’re kind and gracious to those around us, we still don’t measure up to the love that He shows us on a moment by moment, 24/7 basis. He has forgiven us of all we’ve done!

All of my sins have been forgiven and even, according to Hebrews, forgotten, never to be remembered again – that is just so overwhelming – so, well the only word for it, awesome!

If God, who is perfect, can forgive and love not just me but everyone who is living and has ever lived with all of their sins, their failures, screw ups and out and out vulgar living than I should be able to love and forgive those who live in my house, work on my job and who are acquainted with me on a daily basis.

The Father isn’t just asking us to do this; He’s telling us we need to be an example of Him. He never asks us to do anything that we are unable to do. That would be unfair and our Father is just. We have His strength and His character living in us so we can accomplish all He instructs.

“God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. 13 Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. 14 Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together. Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful. 16 Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives, while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17 Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of him.” Colossians 3:12-17 ERV

Since we are a part of the body of Christ, we should work together to be a display of His love to the world around us. I love verse 17. WHATEVER you say or do, do it in the name of the Lord. If we are going to say or do something that won’t represent the Lord, then we should remain silent!

I know some days my world is really quiet because I’m holding my tongue until I can say something that would be representative of what Jesus would say if He were speaking through me.

Yes, very quiet indeed!

I asked you at the beginning to stop and think where you would be without God’s amazing love. It’s imperative that we let His love and forgiveness flow through us since we are His representatives.

“There is a time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; a time to be quiet, and a time to speak.” Ecclesiastes 3:7 NLV

Father, help me to know when to keep silent!

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Never Satisfied!

Thank you for coming along on our adventures.

For the eighteen months you have been sharing our RV outings. We were blessed when we purchased our neighbors older 5th Wheel in December of 2019. For Dave and I it was a dream come true.

Since the time of purchase we have remodeled the inside to make it us! New flooring, walls and cabinets painted, colors added, furniture changed out, new window coverings, etc. It’s our Bunk House!

About two weeks ago we began working on the exterior. The decals were weathered and had oxided badly. That was the first step. But removing the oxidation didn’t restore the color the way we had hoped. Next step, we found a product that removes the decals completely. It was much easier than we expected and so for the last few days we have removed the nose cap decal and half of the decals on each side. Waiting for more product and then all the decals will be removed.

New decals have been ordered. A fresh new look. Dave will be washing, buffing and waxing before we head out on our next trip. All will be made new.

As we talked last night on the patio, we both expressed how happy we are to have our mobile Bunk House and began talking of all the places we want to go. We want her to be well stocked and well traveled, looking good!

God is so like that!

He takes what we were and makes us new: “Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.” II Corinthians 5:17 CEV

He equips us for service: “God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That’s why he sent Christ to make us what we are.” Ephesians 2:10 CEV

He sees that we are well supplied: “I pray that God will take care of all your needs with the wonderful blessings that come from Christ Jesus!” Philippians 4:19 CEV

He wants to enjoy the journey: “The robber comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I came so they might have life, a great full life.” John 10:10 NLV

He wants to go with us every step of the way and keep us free from fear: “God has said, ‘I will never leave you; I will never run away from you.’ 6 So we can feel sure and say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. People can do nothing to me.'” Hebrews 13:5-6 ERV

He takes care of us because He loves: “‘Don’t fear, little flock. Your Father wants to share his kingdom with you.'” Luke 12:32 ERV

Our Father does a much better job at “make overs” than we ever will. We can trust the outcome when we put ourselves in His hands.

“ Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That’s the most sensible way to serve God. 2 Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.” Romans 12:1-2 CEV

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Blessed With The Best

Yesterday was Dave’s birthday. It wasn’t filled with balloons and birthday cake but it was filled with love. There were phone calls, text messages, email greetings and neighbors dropping by.

It was a day where we worked side-by-side, out in the sunshine, doing what we do best – “being together”.

This morning has me reflecting on our last forty-eight years together. What an adventure! It makes me smile. Most of those years we have worked together in business. That’s the way it started and also the way it was before we retired. Together!

All marriages have their struggles and we have too but we got past our difficulties and were determined to be stronger together. Marriage is to be an example to the world of Christ and His love for those of us who are believers.

“No man hates himself. He takes care of his own body. That is the way Christ does. He cares for His body which is the church. 30 We are all a part of His body, the church. 31 For this reason, a man must leave his father and mother when he gets married and be joined to his wife. The two become one. 32 This is hard to understand, but it shows that the church is the body of Christ. 33 So every man must love his wife as he loves himself. Every wife must respect her husband.” Ephesians 5:29-33 NLV

The love that Christ has for us is so much greater than the love that we can share as man and wife. There is never a selfish motive or thought when Christ considers us and what is best for our benefit.

He never harbors a hurt feeling or struggles with not getting his own way. Christ lives for our best. He provides for us all that is good. In providing for us He shows that He is actually taking care of Himself because we are one with Him.

I don’t know about you but that is really hard to wrap my head around. Christ loves me as a part of His body and He would never do anything to harm Himself, nor will He do anything that is not for my good.

“Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or 5 rude. Love isn’t selfish or quick tempered. It doesn’t keep a record of wrongs that others do. 6 Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. 7 Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. 8 Love never fails!” I Corinthians 13: 4-8 CEV

You’ve probably done this before but I’m going to ask you to do it again. Read those verses again and this time replace the word “love” with the word “Christ” or Jesus. The more times you read it that way the easier it will be to see yourself receiving the unconditional love of Christ. He has chosen to love us in this unselfish way!

The result of understanding the love of Christ is this; we will be more loving and understanding of those around us.

My marriage to Dave is wonderful! I know that I am truly blessed in our relationship. But as good as it is, it still has a ways to go to measure up to the love that Christ has for both Dave and I.

In Christ, we are blessed with the best!

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Wanderlust

Dave and I just got back from a week’s trip to City of Rocks, NM but of course you know that because I wrote about it in one of last week’s blogs.

We love going to new places, exploring. We imagine what it must have been like to be one of the first travelers to arrive in a particular place.

Imagine being one of the first people to see the Grand Canyon. You’ve been walking for days. (Have you seen the shoes from back then?) Foot sore, body tired, provisions running low, head down and possibly discouraged. “Why did I ever start out on this journey”?

Something startles you and you look up. Your eyes focus on the beauty before you. You stand in awe – in awe of the grandeur of God’s creation! Breath taking.

Do you ever feel restless and have a desire for a change of scenery?

The words from a old hymn came to mind again this morning.

This world is not my home
I’m just passing through
My treasures are laid up
Somewhere beyond the blue

The Angels beckon me
From Heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home
In this world anymore *

This world has so much beauty, so many enticements but I don’t want to be so caught up in what’s going on around me that I loose sight of what God has prepared for me in heaven. I will enjoy friends and family, visiting beautiful places but there will always be an unsettledness in my heart. This world is not my home.

“You were raised from death with Christ. So live for what is in heaven, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Think only about what is up there, not what is here on earth. 3 Your old self has died, and your new life is kept with Christ in God. 4 Yes, Christ is now your life, and when he comes again, you will share in his glory.” Colossians 3:1-3 ERV

Father, I look to you and all that you want me to become. I desire to live here on earth as if I was already there with you in heaven. Then I truly will be who you want me to be; living the life that You have planned.

*This World Is Not My Home by Jim Reeves

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