Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Glorious Color
Saturday, October 5, 2024
You've Got a Friend in Me
John 11:4-7
When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No,
it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now
Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that
Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said
to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
A friend’s a friend forever... Reunion class of 1979
Krista, Debbie, and I drove in the wind and rain to Grayson, Kentucky, to join friends we’d known for forty-plus years. The alumni reunion was taking place over the weekend, and we looked forward to spending time with our forever friends.
Our crew of teenage girls met in 1975, while some of us knew each other
before we arrived on the campus of Kentucky Christian College. That year in the girls' dorm, God bound us together. Over the course of time, we went our separate ways.
I kept in touch with a couple of the girls through letters and brief visits,
but it wasn’t the same, until several of us gathered at Helen’s house (she and
Terry stayed in Grayson) several years ago. Through Facebook, we’d found each
other again, and when we gathered, it was like we’d never been apart.
Like this year, we sang songs, shared prayer needs, hugged,
and loved on each other. My soul needed the restoration of these dear friends.
In John 11, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus needed Jesus. Lazarus was
sick to the point he died, but Jesus, in His wisdom and knowledge, knew Lazarus
would live. Without the dear friendship with Jesus, Lazarus would have stayed
in the tomb. When Jesus arrived, Mary questioned why he took so long. This is
the time Jesus wept. The bond between Jesus, Mary, and Martha brought the
sister’s comfort, and the love Jesus had for Lazarus raised him from the dead.
Our friendships on earth won’t bring people back to life,
but they can restore a hurting heart or a weary soul. Fellowship with my
friends, who believe Jesus is Christ and God is our Father, fills my soul with
joy. I pray you have friends like mine, but more than anything, I pray you are
friends with Jesus.
Seek Jesus and fellowship with believers. Jesus listens and loves.
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Please, Pray
Saturday, September 28, 2024
Embrace the Little
Luke 12:27-31
“Consider how the wildflowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell
you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If
that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and
tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of
little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do
not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and
your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and
these things will be given to you as well.”
It's the little things.
I miss when I was a child, and I played in the yard among
the flowers, soft grass, and trees. For hours, I’d pretend to build houses for
fairies and trolls. The days rolled by in simple appreciation of acorns, bark, leaves,
and twigs. I never gave thought to how they got there. I just knew discovering
a new item for my playtime filled me with joy.
Perhaps that’s why I love walking in the woods, along trails
where flowers bloom. And I enjoy nurturing a garden of wildflowers and herbs.
Although I appreciate other people’s flowers, the ones planted every year, there’s
something magical about the ones which push through the soil every spring on
their own, like black-eyed Susan’s, columbines, and daylilies.
When I hike in the park with Tim and Rosie, I adore the
changing in flora. Different plants seem to bloom all year. Now with fall in our
sights, a sweet little bloom has sprouted. The wild blue aster is no more than
a half inch in diameter, yet it is one of the prettiest blossoms on the path.
The lavender petals and yellow center add beauty to the woods.
That little flower reminds me “big” things are fine, but the
little things often mean the most. By things, I mean moments, delights, hugs,
smiles, encouraging words, a butterfly, a child taking my hand, a kiss, a
flower, my dog’s faithfulness. So many things seem little, but in reality, they
are the big. The blessings bestowed by God. Instead of worrying about the big
things, seek God in all things and embrace the blessings.
I’m thankful for every one of you who takes the time to read
this blog. That’s a little thing that blesses my heart in a big way.
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Happy Fall Y'all!
Saturday, September 21, 2024
In Jesus' Name
Matthew 6:7-13
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think
they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for
your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’”
I went to dinner with my daughter, Sara, and her family one evening. My granddaughter, Ella Cate, offered the prayer for our food. Sara reminded her to address God at the beginning of the prayer, then end the prayer in Jesus’ name. As we ate, Sara and I talked about why she taught Ella Cate to do that.
We address God because He is the creator of all mankind and
our Father. We end asking in Jesus’ name because He is the one who restored our
relationship with God after Adam and Eve disobeyed.
God made me, He breathed life in me, and He is the one who hears
every prayer of every person. The beautiful thing is—He wants to hear from us.
When Adam and Eve failed to listen to God in the garden, they
broke our bond with God. But Jesus restored it. He connected us back to the
Father through his sacrifice on the cross.
When I pray, I want to address God and seek Him. Then, I
want to speak the prayer in Jesus’ name. The Holy Spirit is in this too. The Spirit
speaks when I can’t. He carries my prayers to God.
As Jesus teaches in the Lord’s prayer—Speak to God in
reverence, seek to be a part of His kingdom. Do the tasks and touch the lives He
lays on your heart. Ask for provision and forgive others. Seek protection from
the temptations in this world, and be covered with grace, so the devil stays
away. All of this in Jesus’ name.