Finding the Power

 For the Spirit God gave us

does not make us timid,

 but gives us power,

 love and self-discipline.

1 Timothy 1:7

I do not possess any of these attributes on my own.  I lean on the God who made me want Him to receive my portion for the day.  It is a daily thing...asking for God's help.  When I don't, I suffer and miss the opportunities He provides.

Lord, I need strength today, the power of the Spirit to go about the duties of the day.

Lord, I need your kind of love, the love that is unselfish.

Lord, I need self-discipline because "self" is so weak.

I know you are the provider and I wait for your gifts.  Thank you for being there for me.

Photo Credit: Sharon on Flickr

License for Use

So Blessed

God has allowed me to see your children.

Genesis 48:11

I'm so blessed. 

 This little boy was born last Wednesday morning, Jonah Thomas, our fifteenth grandchild---

10 boys and 5 girls now.

This last week has been quite busy with shopping, cooking and child care and I'm so grateful that we've been able to help. 

It's a joy living so close to our daughter and her family and our son's family will be visiting this weekend.  The fun never stops!

Thank you, Lord.

Photo from personal files. 

Rain---Flowers,Please

Photo Credit:  LadyDragonflyCC

I will send you rain in its season, 

and the ground will yield its crops

 and the trees their fruit.

Leviticus 26:4

The rain has come.

  It has either flooded or nurtured. 

 It is all in God's hands.

I vote for "nurtured," please.

(The events at Union University the past week have put all of us into a tailspin.  One week has seemed like a month.  There are so many residual effects from such an event as this and some of it can be quite damaging.  The Chairman of the Music Department sent his students, staff and faculty two letters this past week and he has held our heads above water throughout the week with his encouragement and words of wisdom.  He has pointed us to the Almighty instead of the other way.  It is a privilege to work with this dear man and I am so appreciative of his care during the storm.)

[See the story line of events here]

Nothing

...neither height nor depth,

 nor anything else in all creation,

 will be able to separate us

 from the love of God

 that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:39

Yes, nothing can separate us from God's love that was demonstrated in the life and death of Jesus Christ.

My thoughts went further...

not even:

hunting

shopping

fishing

child rearing

jobs

family

friends

hobbies

home business

entertainment

books

high tech,

etc.

NOTHING!

He keeps his promises.  Do we?

Photo Credit: Julie Delcourt

Shadows

Photographer: dorena-wm

Our days on earth are like a shadow....

 Lord our God,

 all this abundance that we have...

comes from your hand,

 and all of it belongs to you.

1 Chronicles 29:15

My favorite time of day is dusk...just when the sun is setting and all the trees are shadows against the sky.

We are all just shadows on this earth...mere wisps of God's breath.  We have only a brief period in which we can accomplish what God intended for our lives.  Every day is a blessing and its minutes are precious.

So...

time to get busy loving God 

and loving others.

Rough Week

 Be strong and courageous. 

Do not be afraid;

 do not be discouraged,

 for the Lord your God 

will be with you

wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

It's been a rough week at UU.

I'm praying this for all involved.

Seems it is not getting better for a while.

So senseless. So sad.

A death, an arrest...

a funeral, an incarceration...

So senseless. So sad.

Oh, God, we need you so badly this weekend.

Photo Credit: Maria Teresa Ambosi

When We Don't Understand

 And surely I am with you

 always,

 to the very end of the age.

Matthew 28:20

I didn't know her well but I knew her enough to speak to her as she walked down the hall.

I heard her sing in repertoire classes, student recitals, and with the Singers in concert.

Honor student, friend to many, serious Music Education major, fiancee, daughter, sister...

God's child.

Gone.

So many questions. Not enough answers.

A death with a question mark.

Sadness.

Photo credit: Rachel Kramer

Just Enjoy It

Photo by Rachel Kramer

Be very careful, then,

 how you live—

not as unwise but as wise,

  making the most of every opportunity,...

Ephesians 5:15

Are you snowbound, getting cabin fever, wishing for the sun, read all the books you have and wish you didn't have to wear boots ever again?

We in Tennessee are wishing for a snow day but haven't had one yet...at least not like the one above.  We keep hoping.

Why is it that we can never be satisfied with what we have?  

Maybe we haven't done what God wants us to do with what we already have.

 Why should he give us more?

Little Pleasures

Lord,

 you alone are my portion

 and my cup;
    you make my lot secure.

Psalm 16:5

I love the beginnings of the day.

I enjoy reading God's word and applying it to what is happening in my life.  

I was searching for a word from the Lord this morning and He gave me this.

You may think it is frivolous to connect a cup of coffee with God but I get it.

Thank you, Lord, for little pleasures.

Photo Credit: Jeff Noble on Flickr

Hungry yet?

Photo by Sheila on Flickr


Blessed are those
 who hunger and thirst
 for righteousness,
 for they will be filled.
Matthew 5:6



I'd weigh a lot less and be more satisfied if I followed Jesus' words.

A Heart Divided

Photo Credit: Q Thomas Bower on Flickr

I have chosen the way 

of faithfulness;

 I have set my heart 

on your laws.

Psalm 119:30

It takes a conscious effort to "set my heart."  I have to wake up with God on my mind and His will in my heart.  Even at my ripe old age, I am still being teased by the evil one and my heart begins to divide.  The main part is still God's but the periphery becomes segmented.  

Usually I recognize that the struggle is evil and tell "it/him/her" to flee.  However, sometimes I'm grabbed and taken down for the count and turned into a monster (and I don't even like to wrestle.)  I don't like monsters and my family, friends and co-workers don't either.

As you see from the Psalmist, we have a choice.

Photo Credit: Q Thomas Bower on Flickr

Just Stop

 I’m listening, Lord.

 What do you want me to do?

1 Samuel 3:9

The trick...

stopping long enough to listen.

Photo Credit: Art4The GlryOfGod on Flickr

Faithful in Love

Photo by Moyan Brenn

For the word of the Lord is right and true;
    he is faithful in all he does.

The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
    the earth is full of his unfailing love.

Psalm 33:4-5

The clouds are just more beautiful over water.  God's love never fails and if you don't believe that, just look at the sky. 

He is faithful in all His promises.

(I'm thankful for photographers like Moyan Brenn on Flickr for allowing people like me to use his works free of charge.  I'm careful to link his, and others', photographs to their site so you can have the same pleasure.  This photographer is amazing.  Click on his name under the photograph above, click on his name on the link- bottom right side, click on the slideshow icon- top right and then sit back and enjoy viewing his works.)

Gaze

Photo by tinyfishy (Home Again) on Flickr

...gaze 

on the beauty of the Lord...

Psalm 27:4

This is an untouched photo of God's beautiful earth.  I get lost in its beauty.  God, The Great Painter, provides such loveliness for us daily except we're too busy to look.

I don't want to be so busy, Lord, that I should miss the beauty around me.  Thank you that you care enough to provide it 24/7.

Singing of His Love

Photo Credit:  Kate Ter Haar on Flickr

But I will sing of your strength,
    in the morning I will sing of your love....

Psalm 59:16

February...the love month.

I like finding pictures with hearts.  Last February I included a few, so as I encounter new ones, I'll share them.  This one is so cheerful and fits the scripture verse of the day from biblegateway.com to a T.

Have a LOVEly day.

A Chandelier Day

Ron Miguel on flickr

Perry McKenna on flickr

Philip Brewer on flickr

OakleyOriginals on flickr

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on flickr

The breath of God

 produces ice,...

 

Job 37:10

I love when everything turns into a chandelier.  It's that kind of day.

It's been a great birthday so far.  It's the first day of my tenure as organist at First Baptist Church, Jackson, TN with

a great sermon by a wonderful young pastor,

an interesting and enjoyable Life Group,

lunch with my daughter and her family,

a peaceful nap,

fun on the computer,

and now

making a snack supper for the family as the Super Bowl does its thing.

The only thing that could be better would be to have my sons and their families here, too.

They're in my heart and, for now, that will do.

Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to live to serve you another year.  I praise your name.

Now

back to the window to watch the ice form.

Songs of Joy

The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;
    where morning dawns, where evening fades,
    you call forth songs of joy.

Psalm 65:8

The Lord has answered prayers this week for some little ones for whom I, and many others, have been praying.  I'm so grateful and my heart swells with gratitude.

You created us, Lord, and I give you praise for your awesome deeds.

Photo Credit: Rachel Kramer on Flickr