Friday, April 28, 2006

Sign in a Diner

Serendipi-Teas

Morali-tea
Securi-tea
Sereni-tea
Integri-tea
Hones-tea
Loyal-tea
Fideli-tea
Sinceri-tea
Humili-tea
Humani-tea



Thanks for sharing a 'cuppa' with me today.

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Who


Who is it lurking
On the edge of time
Ever just out of reach?

At the corner of my eye
A passing shadow
I turn…..but where?

A scent on a breeze
Stirs a memory of my soul
I turn…but where?

A soft touch
On the apple of my cheek
I turn…but where?

An elusive wisp of thought
Circling in my mind
I turn…but where?

A melodic note
From some song
I turn…but where?

Who is it just afar,
A step away, beyond the touch?
I turn….it’s Jesus.

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Merciful One

Judges 10:13-16 “But you have forsaken me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you. Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!” But the Israelites said to the Lord, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now.” Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the Lord. And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer. (NIV)

How many times have we turned away from God and worshiped other gods? Our world creates advertising to lure us into desires that become our needs.

There are many comforts today that use to be just ideas. We have been overtaken by ads that claim the fulfillment of any desire. These have become our ‘other gods’.

God will let us go our own way until those ‘gods’ own our worship. Then He will turn away and allow sin to wreak havoc in our lives. Let the other gods save us. When we knock on wood or burn it in the fireplace, call upon that wood to save us.

But God will raise up those who remind us of Him and His saving grace for repentance and mercy. Listen to the prophet for he will tell you of your errors.

Repent, therefore, and confess our sins. Then tear down those idols we have cast for ourselves and turn to the Living God.

Then, our miseries, He will bear no longer.

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Dropping the Word

“The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground.”
Lord, forgive me for ‘letting your words fall to the ground’. Many times I have heard you and many times I have discounted what You said. Open my ears that I may hear and my heart that I might gain understanding. Continue to speak Lord, for your servant is listening. Your Word is food to my soul. Help me to receive and store up the Truth of You. I want to capture every morsel within my being. In Jesus Name I ask and thank the Lord of all.

Monday, April 24, 2006

"Just" A Path

Scripture: “In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the roads were abandoned; travelers took to winding paths.” Judges 5:6 NIV

The above verse could read as “In the days of George Walker Bush, son of George Herbert Walker Bush, in the days of Laura, the churches were empty; worshippers compromised their values.”

The churches of today are empty of worshippers, true worshippers in Spirit and in Truth. The attendees are compromisers, those who try to live in the world and change what God says in His Word, adapting to their lifestyles.

In much of the world, I see where the laws of God are tested daily. Human cloning, embryo stem cell research, same sex marriages are just some of the issues.

We do take the winding paths. We, the travelers on the paths of righteousness, pussyfoot around the inherent truth of life. With our apathetic stances on these important issues we open our selves to satan and fail to speak what we know to be the truth.

If we would just stick to the ‘paths of righteousness’ He will ‘make our path straight’. When we take to the winding paths, we’re treading on dangerous ground.

Friday, April 21, 2006

Grab It


“Agreed,” they answered, “We will only tie you up and hand you over to them. We will not kill you.” So they bound him with two new ropes and led him up from the rock. As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him in power. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and stuck down a thousand men.Judges 15:13-15

In this story Samson allowed himself to be captured by the men of Judah. (The Philistines ruled over Israel and the Lord raised up Samson to deliver Israel.)

The men of Judah found him in a cave in the rock of Etam. Bound by new ropes, his own brothers would deliver him to his enemy.

We too, may be facing a situation that is ‘new’ to us. It may forcibly try to lead us, leaving our Rock of hiding, to our destruction.

Then the enemy will come at us shouting! The enemy can only make a lot of noise, for we are covered by the Blood of Jesus. He roams about ‘like a roaring lion’ seeking someone to devour. It’s up to us to realize he is just smoke and mirrors, not able to 'lay a finger' on our bodies.

When we stand on our rock of salvation, He will provide us with fresh weapons. The Spirit of the Lord will give us the power to resist, the fire to burn off the ties that bind. He will also give us a ‘fresh’ or new weapon that is specifically designed to bring victory in our time of need.

All we need to do is to ‘grab’ the provision and ‘strike down a thousand men’. Our deliverance is at hand!

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Workin' Day


Today I'm staying home. I need to get more stock on my ebay store and decided to do it today. I borrowed a mannequin from Bonnie and worked all morning taking pictures. I really should have picked a rainy day. It's gorgeous here.

Tonight I'm attending a writer's workshop at the local college. It's for non-fiction writers.

I seem to be drawn to non-fiction writing more than fiction and it's easier for me to write.

Maybe this 'season' will open new avenues of thought as I draw closer to the Lord for inspiration. Prayer before thought is the best way to write.

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Effective Fervant Prayer

If you have never heard of David Wilkerson, I would recommend that you find out about him.

He pastors the Times Square Church in NYC and publishes a monthly newsletter called the "World Challenge Pulpit Series".

The words that he sends forth from God have blessed me each time I get his newsletter and sometimes it's the attached letter with it.

This month his words were about 'The Lord Has Promised to Deliver You'. He spoke about how David wrote Psalm 34 after God saved him from his own foolishness when he entered the Philistine town of Gath, ruled by King Achish. He faked insanity, which was feared by all as they thought they were demons, to save himself.

As he was faking the insanity with wierd movements and frothing at the mouth, he was praying inside...silently, fervently and passionately.

God heard him and delivered him back into the land of safety where he fled to a cave and penned the psalm of thanksgiving and deliverance.

Many times I have prayed silently and not even a 'prescribed prayer'. It has been just one word at times...HELP! Other times it was maybe five words, whatever.

Quote from Pastor Wilkerson: Sometimes the loudest cry is made without an audible voice.

God has answered them. He answered them swiftly and more acurately than I could have imagined. My brain wants to be totally surprised at his deliverance, but my heart knows it with a calm peaceful acceptance and thankfulness.

Praise God that He just takes care of us, even the smallest details of our lives. He is truly with us always and will never leave us or forsake us. We'll leave Him before He'll leave us.

It order to be called a 'deliverer' you must be one. God is the Deliverer.

Daved declares, "I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears... The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them... The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles... Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of them all" Ps.34:4, 7, 17, 19.

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Quenched Thirst

Judges 15:18 “Because he was very thirsty, he cried out to the lord, “You have given your servant this great victory. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?” Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned and he revived. So the spring was called En Hakkore, and it is still there in Lehi."

We know the battle is the Lord’s and we are His instruments. When we finally see the deliverance and are wearied from the battle, the Lord will send refreshment to revive us. It is necessary to continue in strength for there will be another conflict, but take heart for He is with us.

One of the most interesting details in this account of Samson is the name of this spring that God brought forth out of a rock. It means ‘caller’s spring’.

Call out to the Lord and He will bring rivers of living waters when He hears our cry.

Dear Father, we call out to the Living Water. This war has left us dry and thirsting. Thank you for the victory. Revive us, oh Lord. Pour out your Grace and Mercy upon us. In Jesus Name. Amen

Monday, April 17, 2006

Monday Monday

A new day has dawned. The birds are at the feeder and the sun has barely risen.



I have a squirrel, with white ears and black circles on his/her belly, that visits my feeder rock. He is quite a messy eater and very territorial. Today, I inadvertantly scared him away, but, I know he'll be back.

On Saturday, one squirrel was so angry at the lack of his kind of food that he took the top of my wooden feeder and tried to carry it off to his tree. He got halfway down the yard and another squirrel came by. I'm sure he told him that he was being silly and vindictive. Needless to say, they started carousing and both took off towards the trees.

Easter gave me a yellow-shafted flicker to watch. Even though he is of the woodpecker family, he likes to dig in the yard for grubs and other things.


Speaking of Sunday, God gave me another gift.

I had been praying for my husband to come to church with me and He worked it out...totally.

My mom, who usually goes with me, went away with my sister. My granddaughters, three of them, went to their other parents. My husband and I went to his parents on Saturday night. Everything was out of the way.

I got up on Easter morning and my husband asked what time was church. I told him 10 am because I attend Sunday School. He said 'Well, I have some time before we go to do some other things.' He went with me. Hallelujah!

My husband is not one to express his emotions, much less his faith. But in church, when Pastor Dann gave communion, he said 'We believe that only Christians should partake of communion. If you aren't one, please let the plate pass you by.'

My husband took communion, so I believe that is his 'statement of faith'. He thoroughly enjoyed the service and the people whom he hasn't seen for awhile. He even remembers the sermon.

God is so good to give us the desires of our hearts...sometimes when we don't even ask anymore. Maybe that's when God enjoys making our day.

Sunday, April 16, 2006

Imagine...

The iniquity of the whole world was cast upon Him. He became sin for us so that we might live with Him. He came into the world as a whisper and the whisper of death could not hold Him. Now, it's our turn to spread the whisper of Him to the world. He lives. In Him there is no darkness. Where He is, there is only light. The Light of the world is here.

Share...

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Monday, April 10, 2006

Saturday, April 08, 2006

Friday Nite Blues

Had a great time last night jammin' to some tunes with friends.

They were much more accomplished on the guitar than my husband and I. We learned a few new things and enjoyed the whole night.

Fellowship is so important. It makes you realize that you're going to spend eternity with a ton of people and you might better get to know them now.

What fun to have similar gifts and yet used so differently.

I even woke up with a skit in mind, playing guitar in front of a ton of people. "God...that's not me, not the real me, anyway." On my own, I would never have the courage to do anything like that. With God, all things are possible.

I just wanted to give you this picture, too. I got it in an email and it expresses some of the peace and joy that I have with my Lord Jesus Christ.

Thursday, April 06, 2006

In the Middle


My bible studies have been leading me through Job.

I hate to say it, but I'm in the middle of the book and can't wait for God to speak and set everyone straight. I guess that's why God wrote the book...to show us that everything takes time, even our trials.

I don't like sourpusses, pessimists and doomsayers. I love confidence, optimism and hopefulness.

So I guess that's why I look for those things in amongst all the gloomy words. I choose to hope and be happy.

Look at these jewels I found in the 'middle':

Job 26:14b 'how faint the whisper we hear of him!' That's what it's like to believe in God. It's so subtle that we have to strain to be aware of Him at all times. We never hear Him audibly. We can't touch or feel Him. But we believe He's there. Sure He gives us things to remind us of Him, but, of Himself...where is He? It is just a whisper...the still small voice. Oh, how glorious!

Job 27:3b 'the breath of God in my nostrils.' Yes, I need the breath of God in my nostrils more than ever. May it never leave me, nor forsake me. It just makes my lungs happy!

So, these are my ramblings for today. Hope you enjoy them. Peace be with you and yours.

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

June 6, 2006 or 06/06/06


With all the conversations about the end times, this date has become the newest point of interest.

So many people are noticing the '666', which, according to the Bible, is man's number for the antichrist.

People freak out if their groceries total to $6.66, they rip up checks with the number 666 in it and they totally refuse to have anything to do with the number.

One person told me they received a dollar bill with 666 in the serial number and they just had bad luck the whole day.

Let's see what the Bible has to say about the number '666'.

Revelation 13:11-18 (NASB) Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.

Now, I'm not an expert on the Bible nor am I a mathematician. But I do know that it's been almost 2000 years since this Book has been written and no one has been able to identify the beast.

There are many rumors: the sum of the letters of Hitler's entire name came up to '666' is just one of them. Do a Google search and you'll find tons.

Understand what the Word is telling us. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WORSHIP ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE BEAST. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BUY OR SELL WITHOUT THIS DISTINGUISHING MARK.

The Word is telling us to be observant and understand the times. Don't be carried away by signs and wonders. Look to the Word, pray for understanding and don't worry. God has it all under control. Judge everything by the Cross.

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Wednesday Morning



Just in case you wanted to know this:
On Wednesday of this week, at two minutes and three seconds after 1:00 in the morning, the time and date will be

01:02:03 04/05/06.

Saturday, April 01, 2006

And Here....It....Is....


It arrived just the other day...

No. That's a line from a song.

My new Bean Blossom Morgan Monroe F-style Mandolin.

Of course, I am selling my a-style on ebay. The sound is very different on the f-hole mando. It's a little more throaty.

Now, if I can get my best friend, BONNIE THE SEAMSTRESS, to shorten my leather strap, it'll be great.

I almost bought an electric model but I found a great deal on a Fishman bridge pickup. Anyway, it's hard to find a black electric mando without spending a lot of money.

At least I don't have my husband's condition, 'gas', which in mandolin terms is 'mas'.

And for those of you who don't know the terms, they are:

GAS - Guitar Acquisition Syndrome
MAS - Mandolin Acquisition Syndrome