pause 'n ponder

Dear Lord, I do not pray to know
What lies ahead each day,
But for the faith to trust in You
And let You show the way.
I do not pray for strength
To conquer every task I face,
But for a humble spirit to rely
Upon Your grace.
I do not pray to understand
Why life can seem unfair,
But for a grateful heart
To always give and love and care.
I do not pray to take
the smoothest path in all I do,
But, Lord, I pray that always
I may walk and talk with You.
- Amanda Bradley

what matters?

Someday, this earthly life will end.  It will end and I’ll be gone, gone for eternity.  My journey will be over, it will come to an end. 

I’ll leave family and friends who I treasure and love.  I’ll leave all hopes and dreams and precious memories.  All photos and cards and songs and books.  All grins and giggles and smiles and laughter.  All kisses and hugs and twinkling eyes.  These dear blessings I’ll hold close to my heart.

It won’t matter that our yard has weeds or our house is small or the floor needs vacuuming.  It won’t matter that bills need paying or our cat needs brushing or the towels need folding.  Does it matter?  None of these things matter.  Not a single one. 

I’ll leave things left undone, things I should have done, things I didn’t say, things I intended to do, things I put off for later, things I wanted to do, things I wished to do, places I didn’t go.  Did I make good decisions, Did I get it right?  Did I make a difference?  Any regrets?  There will be no more chances, nothing I can do.  Does it matter?

What matters?  Did I live a Godly life?  Did I obey God?  Did I completely live for Jesus?  Did I do the work of Jesus?  Did others see Jesus within me?  Did I walk with Him?  Did I appreciate His peace and joy and love and blessings?  These actions matter.  These actions have significance, they have meaning.  These actions are first and foremost and uppermost.

When my life's work is done, Jesus will take me home.  My home for eternity.

green

HEAVEN'S DOOR 

by Allison Chambers Coxsey

If I should go before you, If life on earth were through; I'll stop just inside Heaven's door, And there I'll wait for you. You've but to look 'cross star filled skies, Past the moon and then beyond; To know my leaving could never break, This heart's undying bond. And if you should go before me, If your journey on earth were through; You know I will be close behind, I'll never be far from you. Across the span of time and space, This love will reach this far; For you'll always carry a bit of my heart, No matter where you are. We've no way of knowing who will remain, Or who will go on before; But if I should go first, you'll find love there, I'll be waiting just inside Heaven's door.

grace, grace, God’s grace

Sometime ago I made a note that ‘Grace is God’s infinite generosity’.  That sums it up quite well.  To be honest here, there have been times in my life that I couldn’t ‘see’ God’s grace.  Times when I didn’t understand why I deserved grace.  I sing Amazing Grace, but do I realize what it is?  Ask me the definition of grace, and I probably can’t answer the question.  It’s a very complex subject (to me).

God gives of His grace freely.  It’s His gift to us.  When I accepted Jesus as my Savior, I accepted God’s grace.  His grace has no strings attached, no conditions, no limits, no taking back, no failure.  Even though I haven’t, don’t, nor won’t ever deserve grace, God gives it to me anyway.  Amazing.   

For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Romans 6:14 NAS

but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

2 Peter 3:18 NAS

who is God?

He is light, love, longevity, and Lord. He is goodness, kindness, gentleness, and God. He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure. His ways are right, His word is eternal, His will is unchanging.

His is my redeemer, He is my Savior, He is my guide, He is my peace, He is my Joy, He is my comfort.  I serve Him because His bond is love, His burden is light, and His goal for me is abundant life. I follow Him because He is the sovereign Lord of all that was, is, and is to come. He will never leave me, forsake me, mislead me, forget me, nor overlook me.

He is everything for everybody, everywhere, every time, and in every way. He is God, He is faithful, I am His, and He is mine. God is in control, I am on His side, and that means all is well with my soul.

riding along the way

I recently spent a couple of days visiting with my Mom and Sister.  Sis doesn’t work on Wednesday afternoons, so I thought of something different for us to do.  They only knew I wanted to visit the family cemetery plot behind the old Brown’s Baptist church.  There are headstones of my Papa and Nana, and Papa’s parents.  Papa, his father, and I share the same birthday.  Pretty neat.  Some very old headstones need cleaning to read them.  There’s one for a great aunt of mine.  She was a missionary in China and the Congo.  I have some of her keepsakes in my curio cabinet.  And then there’s my Dad’s.  He’s been in Heaven for almost eleven years, and I look forward to seeing him again.  I imagine he sings beautifully by now.  (Let’s just say he couldn’t carry a tune, and leave it at that.)  :)  Fond memories... 

After that, I drove all around the countryside enjoying old memories and the beauty around us.  I paused along the way to snap photos of old barns, old sheds, and country churches that held special meaning.  I played a song from a CD, and the three us sang along, at least three times.  The song was ‘He Touched Me’.  Actually, we sang very well together, our voices in harmony praising our Lord.  It was a wonderful day.  This is the song...

He Touched Me

Shackled by a heavy burden
Neath a load of guilt and shame
Then the hand of Jesus touched me
And now I am no longer the same

He touched me, oh He touched me
And oh the joy that floods my soul
Something happened and now I know
He touched me and made me whole

Since I met this blessed Savior
Since He cleansed and made me whole
I will never cease to praise Him
Ill shout it while eternity rolls

He touched me oh He touched me
And oh the joy that floods my soul
Something happened and now I know
He touched me and made me whole

to post or not to post

Before I begin a post, somewhere along the way my mind/heart seems to choose a subject or an idea.  It may be something that just pops into my head from nowhere.  It may be something I’ve heard or read.  It may be a memory or a sight or a smell or a feeling or a sound.  It may be something similar to an old post.  I may think of it while driving or in Walmart or out in the yard or sitting in traffic or in a waiting room or looking out a window or just watching people go by.  Sometimes there are many thoughts swirling around in my head and sometimes my mind is blank.

Today, my mind is blank...

quick quotes

Lord, give me a humbling sense of my sins, give me a humbling sense of thy glory, give me a humbling view of thy love, for surely nothing humbles like these. All my pride springs from ignorance.... May I be nothing in my own eyes, may I be willing and desirous to be the servant of all.

John Newton

If anyone would tell you the shortest, surest way to all happiness they would tell you to make it a rule to thank and praise God for everything that happens to you. For it is certain that whatever seeming calamity befalls you, if you can thank and praise God for it you will turn it into a blessing.

John Newton

My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: That I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Savior.

John Newton

lay it down

Have you ever had burdens in your life weigh you down?  Way down, like a backpack full of rocks?   It’s difficult and painful.  Sometimes, it takes me longer than it should, but I finally remember I don’t have to carry my burdens alone.  I don’t have to struggle alone.  I don’t have to hurt or grieve or suffer or cry alone.  I’m a child of God, and He will always carry me.  I don’t have to be alone.  I constantly need God in my life.

When I lay down my burdens at the feet of Jesus, I need to leave them there.  I don’t need to pick them up again.

I read this somewhere, and it struck home with me.  Thought I'd share:

We all have burdens. Some have physical burdens like chronic sickness or some disability that you cannot change. Some have spiritual burdens. Satan might have struck your life and bonded you spiritually. Some of you may be dealing with emotional burdens like depression, anxiety, loneliness, heartache of a loss, or financial struggles.  The fact is we all have burdens and cares and they weigh down upon us like a load on the back. 

Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

Psalm 55:22 NAS

pause 'n ponder

Above All Things

Rebecca St. James

I cannot tell you all the reasons why
Jesus in His wisdom took an interest in my life
It must be endless the boundries of His grace
For He is patient with us and worthy to be praised

For above all things He is powerful
And above all things He is the King
And above all things He is merciful
For above all things He thought of me

I can't conceive it the torture of the cross
The Author of creation gave us life at His own cost
And all those present thought the grave would be the end
But Jesus rose above it and so will I my friend

God is good!

It’s comforting to know that God not only cares for me, but He also carries me.  It’s comforting to know that God knows everything about me, yet He forgives me and loves me just the same.  It’s comforting to know that God is with me when life is happy and good, and He is with me when I’m struggling and discouraged.  He freely gives me mercy and grace, even though I deserve nothing.  He knows my heart, and yet again, He forgives me and loves me just the same.  My God is an awesome God!

 

The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him.

Nahum 1:7 NAS

who is He?

Jesus.  He is God, the Way, the Truth, the Light of the World, Almighty God, our Deliverer, the Prince of Peace, our Redeemer, the Lord God Almighty, our Savior, the Messiah, the Good Shepherd, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Word, the Great Physician, Son of Man, Anointed One, Bread of Life, the Christ, the High Priest, Lamb of God, Morning Star, the Beloved, Everlasting Father, Righteous Servant, our Salvation.

Who is He?  He is Jesus Christ, He is God.  God sacrificed His only Son so I may be saved.  I don't deserve it, never have, and never will.  God freely gave me His mercy and grace.  That’s love. 

  

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 NAS

pause 'n ponder

Within You Is The Strength
To Meet Life's Challenges!

You are stronger than you think,
remember to stand tall.

Every challenge in your life
helps you to grow.

Every problem you encounter
strengthens your mind and your soul.

Every trouble you overcome
increases your understanding of life.

When all your troubles weigh
heavily on your shoulders,

remember that beneath the burden
you can stand tall,
because you are never given
more than you can handle...
and you are stronger than you think.

~ Lisa Wroble ~

who am i?

The question of ‘who am I’ is not easily answered.  I am more than just me...

I’m a daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mom, mom-in-law, and nana.  I love being part of a family!

But, more importantly, I’m a child of God, loved, saved, born again, accepted, believer, follower of Christ, and forgiven.  I love being part of the family of God!

Who am I?  I’m a Christian.  A Christian?  Someone who sees they can never deserve it and gratefully accepts and trusts in what God has done in His Son. That's faith.

Jesus Christ is who He says he is: "I am the way and the truth and the life."

John 14:6 NIV

bright light or dim light, there’s only one choice

There’s a children’s song that many may be familiar with.  The title is ‘This Little Light of Mine’.  The chorus and the first line of each verse are below:

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel? No!  Don't let Satan blow it out,  Let it shine till Jesus comes,

A little song sung by innocent little children.  I sang it many times when I taught the three-year-old Sunday School class. 

As a Christian, do I shine for Jesus?  Do I shine His light for others to see?  Do I share His light in a dark world?  Does my life shine for Him?  Do my words shine for Him?  Do my actions shine for Him? 

These are questions I need to pray about.  These are questions I need to answer.

"You are the light that gives light to the world. A city that is built on a hill cannot be hidden. And people don't hide a light under a bowl. No. People put the light on a lamp table. Then the light shines for all the people in the house. In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that people will see the good things you do. Live so that people will praise your Father in heaven."

Matthew 5:14-16 ERV

all things work for good

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28 NAS

To me, this verse says that I, as a Christian, will still go thru pain and heartache and sadness and suffering and troubles and anxieties and hardships and burdens and difficulties and grief and testing and more.  To me, it also says that God will use each of these things for His own good.  I can’t and won’t escape bad times.  I often don’t understand or know why.  When I became a Christian, God never promised me a happy and carefree journey thru life.

When I look back at some of the most challenging times I’ve faced, I can now see how God used them.  God meant these things for good.  It’s a lesson hard to learn, but God is in charge of every aspect of my life.

I love God with all my heart, but He loves me so much more.

i’ll never be the same

When I hear songs that ‘speak to me’, I often look up the lyrics and note the lines that have special meaning to me.  The songs with the ‘I’ll never be the same’ message are similar.  It’s a simple message.  It is what it is, and it will never change:

God sacrificed His only Son to save us.  Look at the empty cross and the empty grave.  What you see is eternal life.  Jesus is alive, period.  He always was, and He always will be.  There’s no denying that.  He’s the truth, He’s the Messiah, He’s the Light, He’s the Word, He’s the Savior, He’s the Way.  

When I accepted Jesus Christ, He forgave me.  It was a glorious day when He entered my heart.  He loves me, He has always loved me, I belong to Him.  When I struggle, when I’m lost, when I fall, when I make a mess... He’s always there with me.  And, the best place to fall is on my knees.

After loving Him, I’ll never be the same, I’m forever changed, He’s all I need, He’s everything to me.

‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

Isaiah 41:10 NAS

quick quotes

Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.

~Brian Tracy

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.

~Willian Arthur Ward

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.

~Melody Beattie

stars above

In his ‘second’ senior year, my son lived in a townhouse with three other young men.  The road to it was steep and curvy, just as I like.  I loved the mountain setting and the excellent view of Boone down below.

Hub and I were visiting, and I will never, ever forget what I saw that night.  I sat alone on the steps of the rear deck, with the lights of Boone concealed behind me.  I looked upward and stared in awe at the black sky above.  There were literally millions and millions of stars and a bright, white moon.  The sheer beauty was unimaginable to me. 

It struck me that the God who created this splendor also created me.  He knew how many stars were above me, and He knew everything about me. 

Yes, God knows every single detail of my life...the past, the present, and the future.  The good and bad, the joy and sorrow, the delightful and painful, the peaceful and suffering, the calmness and anger, the hopeful and depressing, the happiness and sadness, the right and wrong...  you get the idea.

That night I saw millions and millions of stars.  At home, I do well to see five stars.  It reminds me that God is always with me thru thick and thin.  Millions of stars or five stars, no matter what.

fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:10 ESV