SWEEEEET!

How sweet are thy words

unto my taste! Yea

sweeter than honey to

my mouth!

Psalm 119:103

A dear friend in college came quickly into my dorm room one morning with her Bible. She had come across the above verse as she was reading her Bible. She was so excited in that she had never noticed anything about honey in the Psalms. It was exciting for her because on her family farm, there were several bee hives. She knew first hand the sweetness of honey.

If I didn't know it then, I know it now that the best honey we can use is that honey that has been developed within our own territory. Honey is different all over the place. It may taste about the same but there are anti-allergy components that build our resistance to local flora.

My friend and I began talking about that verse. To even sip on a teaspoon of honey is about as much sweetness I desire to take in at the time. It seems sweeter than any sugar or other sweetening products. Honey manages to survive even if left on a shelf until it turns to sugar. Dipping it's container in hot water brings that honey back to good use.

What I have to ask myself has to do with how I view God's Word. Through the years it has been instrumental in my salvation. From that point it has strengthened, supported, and comforted me. It has taught me...encouraged me and given me the sense of God's presence in my life like nothing else. There are times when I come across a passage in my Bible that suddenly warms me in a spectacular way. When that happens, I know the Holy Spirit is speaking to just me as if there is no other around. He wants to be just that personal to us and as He speaks through His Word...well, it's sweet, just so very sweet. When I eat honey in any form, I can't help but be reminded of the sweetest of all sweets...Jesus and His Word as well.

God's Word isn't just applicable to any certain territory as real honey might be. It can speak to us through the Holy Spirit no matter our circumstances or places of residence. Once we really taste the sweetness of God's Word, we will want more and more of it. There are scholars who have written books on the attributes of God. I've seen some. There's one attribute of God I've never seen listed...sweetness. How sweet our God is!

Dear Father, the sweetness of Your presence is beyond words and Your Word has the same effect in my life. Thank You for the sweetness of Your Word and Your presence. In Jesus' precious name...Amen

 

THE RING

And we know that all things work

together for good to them that

love God, to them who are the

called accordng to his purpose

  Romans 8:28

There has been some jewelry on my dresser that I've needed to put in my jewelry box. It's not much, but should be in the appropriate place. As I opened the lid of the jewelry case, there sat a small ring. It's the size to be considered a “pinkie” ring, mostly black with tiny engraving on it. For the life of me, I don't remember this ring, where it came from or the where and when's of it's being purchased. I don't think I have any jewelry Brian hasn't bought. It's just a mystery.

I've had a difficult last couple of days, still having the ups and downs of grieving. Despite days like that, I'm so grateful for the comfort and strength God continues to pour into my life. He has done that through His Word, through the love and concern of friends and then in very unexpected ways.

One of those unexpected ways came today in the form of that small ring. Perhaps it was purchased ages ago and got lost among chains and charms. It's hard to tell how I could have missed such a treasure, not remembering how it got into that jewelry box. The print on the ring is so tiny, it's hard to read what it says, but with some broad daylight, I managed to decipher the inscription. It says, “Serenity to accept, Courage to change.” It added the reference Roms 8:28-30 just like that.

In these days, I have been asking the Lord, “What now...what is life after Brian to be like?” We have all gone through drastic changes, some more devastating than others. It may not involve the passing of a relative or close friend, but no matter the change, it still seems to turn our lives upside down. It could be our lives will never again be the same. In God's wisdom, He has His reasons for allowing changes in our lives. We may not know until Heaven all the answers, but when we get there, I don't think any of it will really matter.

I have come to believe that when these drastic things come into our lives, it's too late to prepare spiritually for their coming. If I want God's strength and wisdom for the hard times, I need to be preparing day by day for such in my daily devotion to Him. We can't make up for all the sermons we missed, neglected devotional times in the Word or prayers unspoken. Our Father is so anxious to be a part of everything that comes our way. How sad if we have relegated Him to the back pews of our lives often leaving Him out of all consideration.

You may not find a small forgotten ring in your jewelry box, but God stands ready to minister in His own ways for those of us who are called according to His purpose.

Dear Father, thank You for Your presence and care for me in these days. I love You and so appreciate your love shown to me in unexpected ways. Thank You for this ring...what a blessing. I want to be all You want me to be for your glory. In Jesus' name...Amen

PRECIOUS

Precious in the sight of

the Lord is the death

of His saints.

Psalm 116:15

At our house, it was a REALLY big weekend...some called it Memorial Day but for my family and others among our friends and family, it was Decoration Day. My Mother had saved up tomato juice cans mostly from friends. We had some flower bushes in our yard. Mother went to the local greenhouse to purchase other flowers to make up the difference.

As a little girl, I remember going to three different cemeteries on Memorial Day. The last one we went to was where my Dad's family is buried. In fact, there on that day was also a huge dinner on the grounds after all the decorating was finished. The men had used their saw horses and planks to make the longest table ever. The women put out all of their country cooking. Coffee and sweet iced tea were both in abundance. We all ate, the adults sat around and talked while all of us kids ran around, just goofing off. We had been to three cemeteries, ate good food until we were about to pop and then returned home.

Today in most places, Memorial Day is just another day off of work. People decorate the graves of loved ones and may have family gatherings, but for me, for some reason, it it has always seemed lacking.

In one of my Bibles beside the above verse, I have names listed. At my age, there are many who have passed away but the ones I have listed are really dear saints who had an influence in my life. That list covers a lot of times and places. I've had to curtail the list though. When I look at that list, sometimes I've become teary, but most of the time, I smile.

This year is different. I can't even bring myself to add Brian's name to the list. As precious as all those folks are, it's just different now. I used to watch “old folks” put flowers on spouses graves, step back and dab their eyes with a wrinkled handkerchief. I didn't get that part of it back then, but this year is different. My precious one lies in a grave by a small town church in a mountain cemetery. It was his choices...the plot and even much of the stone/engravings. When I go to put my flowers on his grave, there may be families there doing the same thing but maybe there will be a little girl, curious about all of the goings on. That was me at one time but now it's her.

In a book I came across the neatest saying, that is designated as being from an unknown contributor. It says:

“How blessed I am to have known someone

who was so hard to say goodbye to.”

That's precious no matter how you look at it and just so very true. Take time to remember with fondness and perhaps even a big smile when someone's face comes to mind who has gone on before you. Don't forget the Jesus who always remains with us to whom we never have to say goodbye to. It's all precious...just so precious.

Thank You dear God for the memories of so many who have given to us in so many ways. Help us to be a grateful people by maintaining the faith, standards and generosity they left behind for us. In Jesus' precious name....Amen

 

AND WE KNOW

And we know that all

things work together for

good to them that love

God, to them who are the

called according to His

purpose.

Romans 8:28

My first acquaintance with the above verse was when I was in college. It was a Christian school which meant we had a few male students, walking around campus with their Bibles under arm, ready to pontificate on the Scriptures at any given moment. A favorite verse some liked to toss about was this one from Romans 8. Talk about translations ,,, there weren't that many back then, but usually those guys had own view as to how that verse was to be approached and used.

Low these many, many years to the present, I'm afraid the same thing often happens when well meaning folks wants to be an encouragement to one who is going through a negative episode in his or her life. This verse has often been misused and misunderstood.

Very often, the verse is reduced to just “now remember...all things work together for good.” The verse begins with “and we know...” that is questionable in itself because many people using the verse really don't KNOW much of anything about the verse. Most people have no idea about how things work for good in God's realm. No one knows how God does it all, but we sure are glad He works like He does.

In these past weeks, I haven't had anyone beating me over the head with this verse. I am sure that Brian's passing has certainly worked well for him. So happy for him to be breathing Heaven's air. Although dealing with bouts of loneliness, I know that the Lord is going to open up new avenues in my life for growth in Himself. I've learned how God can make something out of nothing as well as abundance from need. He loves His children and always has our best interest at heart. He continually works good on our behalf.

What an honor for we believers to have the privilege of “being called according to God's purpose” knowing He does all things well.

Thank You Father for taking such an interest in our lives. You know all of the ups and downs of our beings and You bring blessing into our lives despite it all. We love You and are so privileged to be Your children. In Jesus sweet name....Amen 

IN THE HALLWAY

I will instruct thee and teach

thee in the way which thou

shalt go: I will guide thee

with mine eye.

Psalm 32:8

Perhaps you are different from me,and I hope you are, in that I'm not very good at waiting. I don't like grocery store lines, waiting for the day of my wedding, expecting a baby that goes a full ten months or as simple as waiting for grass to grow in the mud that encircled our new house.

For some, waiting builds character. Many times for me, it has meant chewed off fingernails, restless sleep at night and wanting to eat anything that isn't nailed down.

However, there is much to be said about waiting and God's promises attached to those times of waiting. There are many listed in Scripture who were made to wait. I can't imagine sitting in a lions den for any length of time as was Daniel. Then there is Jonah, three days inside a fish...waiting in the smell and trash of his disobedience. There was a gathering of people waiting in the Jerusalem temple for the coming of the Holy Spirit. All of these and others we can read of were called on to wait. It took a faith beyond even their own understanding for God to open a door in their lives.

Has God ever called on you to wait? You may have known what you were waiting for or perhaps it was something quite vague in your eyes. Sometimes, change in our lives will cause us for a time to come in contact with a closed door. The door has no handle on the outside. It has to be opened from the inside. It is from the inside, only God can open that door. Our calling for the moment is to wait...wait in faith, knowing that God does all things well.

While we wait, what then....

UNTIL GOD OPENS THE NEXT

DOOR, PRAISE HIM IN

THE HALLWAY.

Doesn't sound logical, does it, but what better way to spend those times of waiting than to praise Jesus, the door opener, who always knows what He's doing.

Father, we are so grateful that You always know what You're doing in our lives. Give us the faith and patience we need out in the hallway. We love and praise You today. In Jesus name...Amen

“SOMETHING STINKS”

Now thanks be unto God, which always

causeth us to triumph in Christ, and

maketh manifest the savor of His

knowledge by us in every place.

For we are unto God a sweet savor of

Christ, in them that are saved, and

in them that perish.

II Corinthians 2:14,15

The human body is so full of miraculous wonders that most of them we can't even name. Most of us have learned what our seven senses are: sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell and oh yes, as society would feel a further need of improvement, we have two others I didn't even know about until now....vestibulary (in short, balance) and proprioception (having to do with body movement). Now you have had your education in our physical senses for the week. For now, I am interested in only one of those senses mentioned.

Brian and I had been married only a short time when I got word that my Mother had been in a car accident. Mother only sustained a bump on her head. However, my Mother soon learned that she had something disturbing as a result of the bump...her senses of smell and taste had been affected. For a long time everything tasted like burnt coffee and she had little sense of smell. She felt terribly disabled. Eventually things came back to some normalcy.

When I was quite young, I caught on quickly that my Mother had a very strong sense of smell. She could pass a woman in church and some steps later could name the perfume the lady was wearing. She could walk into any kind of building and say immediately what it smelled like. She could smell a dirty diaper even at some distance. I've been with her when we would walk into our house together and she would say, “Something stinks” and she usually found the problem right away.

I love our verses above regarding God's expectations of us. Both verses refer to sweet smells....the sweet aroma of Christ. That's what you and I are supposed to be, for God's glory. I've been around the sweetest of Christians and am blessed and encouraged. God is glorified because of their lives lived for Him. I also have to say that I've been around some “stinkin' Christians.” They may or may not be believers but their conversations and life styles do not exude the sweet aroma of Christ.

Have you noticed how smells can rub off on you. I've been around ladies who I knew just came out of a kitchen after frying up some chicken. They reeked with that wonderful aroma of lovingly prepared food. Some ladies perfumes rub off on us. The most important scent that can rub off on us is that sweet aroma of Jesus we get when we consistently spend time with Him in His Word and in prayer. Spiritually speaking, what do we smell like to other people we meet? Do we give off a wonderful aroma just being one of God's children. I hope so. We live in a world that needs Jesus any way He can get to them and not that of a godless culture that out and out “stinks.”

Dear Father, how I enjoy the sweetness of Your presence and special touches in my life. May I be quick to express my gratitude for Your influence in my life that You desire to rub off into the lives of me and others. In Jesus' precious name...Amen 

THE LITTLE GLASS JAR

Every good gift and every perfect

gift is from above, and cometh

down from the Father of lights,

with whom is no variableness,

neither shadow of turning.

James 1:17

Through the years, I have learned that our acts of kindness don't have to be big and huge events. We often think what we do for others has no meaning unless we buy something fancy, or something that is very costly. I'm sure there is a place and time for those things, but for the most part, it's the smaller things that seem to make the bigger difference.

I recall those things our children made for us in elementary school for appropriate occasions. They were so excited to bring those things home to us. Many of those things were cards while some were items with magnets for my refrigerator. I still have a couple of Christmas decorations with children's pictures on them. I've always loved things that make memories and that warm the heart.

As adults, we are more in a position of giving rather than receiving. I find it so much fun surprising someone with a little piece of meaningful, loving...almost nothingness. There are times when we have no idea what comes of those things, especially when given in secrecy.

Since Brian's Home going, for some reason, my Tuesdays and Thursdays are tougher than the rest of the week days. In the hospital it was on a Tuesday Brian turned critical and then on Thursday morning, went to Heaven. This morning, as I write, is a Thursday, and has seemed to be off in a bit of a negative way in that I couldn't even decide what to eat for breakfast.

I decided for breakfast, to fall back on the old familiar scrambled eggs and toast. Half-heartedly, I went through the motions. I went to the refrigerator for a familiar Smoky Mountain jar of jelly. In the process of shuffling some things around in the door, there in the back was a small glass jar, the kind often used for canning. It had a brown substance in it and then it dawned on me that in recent months, our daugher-in-love, Jenna, had brought apple butter to us from a batch she had recently made. Brian didn't much care for apple butter like I do but, there it was...my personal jar of apple butter, made and then later delivered with love and now, on this Thursday morning, just as I needed an apple butter hug.

The gift wasn't costly, but helped and I knew that God had seen it all, looking down the road to this Thursday morning in my kitchen. His leading was in it all the way, whether Jenna was aware of being used by God to be an encourager or not. That's how He works, behind the scenes, but directing things all the way from the giver to the receiver. How great is that? By the way, I wonder if God likes apple butter as much as I do.

Thank You Father, for the opportunities we have to work with You in being a blessing in the lives of others. We may never know results, but You do and that's what counts. May we be alert when You prompt us to touch another life on Your behalf.. In Jesus' precious name...Amen 

SEASON AND PURPOSE

To everything there is a season,

and a time to every purpose

under the earth.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Through an elementary-age student, I learned what the word “purpose” meant and also in adult years being a teacher of young elementary students. While on the playground, a sobbing little girl could come to me complaining that “so-and-so” had hit her. My response was usually, “I'm sure he didn't mean to do that.” I was soon corrected with: “Oh no, he hit me on purpose.” Every child knows what that word means in that context. It meant that something was deliberately done...no accidents.

That kind of human intent is a type of purpose. Looking at purpose from an adult point of view, it entails ones destiny and a goal one is meant to accomplish.

The verse begins by using word “season.” We know by now what the four natural seasons are that our country gets to enjoy. I had always lived with four seasons until moving to Texas. Fall and Spring moved very quickly and winters were usually pretty mild. Summer came on strong in Texas. Moving to Tennessee, I got back to enjoying four seasons.

We can look at our lives with relation to our natural seasons: Just as we look at the physical seasons we enjoy, we can view our own personal seasonal times. We are in the middle of all things spring where I live. One can smell the sweetness of flowers because of new growth, blooming trees are showing off all around us. It's that way in beginning years as far as our physical being is concerned.

In our opening verse, we find the words “season” and “purpose” together. When thinking about it, both concepts compliment each other. Whatever the season of life we find ourselves in, there is purpose. Right now we are living in the middle of God's purpose for our lives. Some would say they don't feel they have a purpose, but all believers have purpose in their lives that God has ordained for them. Knowing our gifts can be a help in realizing our purpose as can the Word of God, but it's there whether one feels it or not. We are all in certain seasons of life. Seasons may refer to ones age. but can also have to do with one's life experience. My “season” changed drastically in February of this year when my hubby Brian, went to be with the Lord. Not only am I in a certain season of age but also of experience. Life has changed for me and I will be a widow for the rest of my days.

No matter where you and I are in this thing of life, we are where God has intended for us to be. Some may fret and stew about season or purpose, but God is in charge. God makes no mistakes in our lives and we can rest in that fact. Many of you know I make little “foldies” for my Sunday school class when I teach. The following saying speaks to both season and purpose. It says:

WHERE THERE IS A PULSE, GOD HAS A PURPOSE!

If you and are kickin' and breathin', God isn't finished with us, and aren't we glad!

Thank You Father for Your precious will in our lives, for wanting to use us for Your glory, no matter our age or abilities. We are honored to be used by You. In Jesus' name...Amen 

JESUS LOVES ME

Jesus loves me, this I know,

For the Bible tells me so.

Little ones in Him belong,

They are weak but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me,

Yes, Jesus loves me,

Yes, Jesus loves me,

The Bible tells me so.

Maybe it hasn't ever happened to you like it has to me, but I'm at a loss for words this week. For ten years I've written a weekly blog. I don't think I've missed a week. The tally I see is over 5,000 blogs written and here I sit at a loss for words. Doesn't sound like me, does it?

Despite the heartache of missing my honey, I'm learning that every prop in my life may be kicked from under me, but there is a constant in my life and in yours as well  that is the consistent and fulfilling love of God. We painstakingly at times feel that there is no love like the love we know now in our earthly lives. That love may involve family, friends, things we love and God wants that kind of love for us, but not when we put those things ahead of the love of God that is deeper, wider, higher and to our very depths...a love we can't grasp or even understand.

I learned a long time ago that we will know broken hearts in this life of ours. I've also come to realize that only God can fill those gaps, filling them with I've often referred to as “God's Love Putty.” No one can mend our hurts like He can, that is if we let Him do it. He stands ready to comfort and heal any negatives in our lives as we snuggle under His precious wings.

Why do we love Him? John tells us it's because He first loved us. Paul tells us that nothing can interrupt or separate us from God's precious love. He speaks of it in Romans 8:38-39:

For I am persuaded, that neither death,

nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,

nor powers, nor things present, nor things

to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other

creature, shall be able to separate us

from the love of God, which is in

Christ Jesus our Lord.

Yes, Jesus loves me (and you) this I know even when I don't deserve it.  How great is that?

Thank You Father for loving us even when we least deserve an ounce of your attention. May we show our love for You in living obedient lives that honor you. In Jesus precious name....Amen 

The “New Normal”

For I am persuaded, that neither

death, nor life, nor angels, nor

principalities, nor powers, nor

things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any

other creature, shall be able to

separate us from the love of God,

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38,39

I've been hearing a lot   New Normal's these days. I understand what is meant by the term and know for the most part that it's something that has come my way. In thinking about the term, I've decided that with a New Normal, separation and change of some sort will surely be involved.

Our Bibles are full of folks who due to some drastic circumstances n their lives, found themselves in the middle of a New Normal.  For instance:

Abraham & Sarah...expecting a baby in those way-up years.                                                      God's people taken into captivity into a heathen land                                                                  Mary had a visit from an angel...she's to give birth to the Christ child                                          Disciples having close contact with Jesus for 3 years watch Jesus die 

The list could go on and on so this New Normal thing isn't anything new to mankind

Brian and I moved quite a bit, mostly because of his jobs transferring him and oh, how I hated those moves. It not only involved my personal New Normal but children were involved. Many a time, I went into the bathroom to take a bath and sat there with tears running off my face into the bath water. Brian always said that I hated change more than anyone he ever knew. I know he was right.

The biggest change for now is not having the earthly love of my life sitting in his chair next to mine as I write. Many have experienced this earthly emptiness I now know. I've come to believe that any New Normal has some of the same things involved in all our lives. New Normal's at least for we girls usually involve separation with change washed in tears. This isn't church camp or going off to college.

What I cling to in these days in part are the verses from Romans 8 I have loved for so long. My relationship with Jesus will never end through separation and we read that He changes not. He lovingly understands my tears and sense of loss. But if Jesus were to ask me right now, as He asked Peter, “Lovest thou Me more than these”...put in my present time, I would hope I could say that there is no one or no thing more important than my love and relationship with Him. He will never leave us or forsake us even on our worst day. May we hang on for dear life to this precious, unchanging and ever-present Savior of ours

Thank You Father for Your consistent love and concern for me. I especially thank You for Your nearness and for so many family and friends who have come along side me who have been “Jesus with skin on.” Help me to stay focused on You in these days as I walk this journey one day at a time. I love You more and more each day. In Jesus name...Amen