We Encourage ourselves!

I have often wondered what it means when King David “encouraged himself in the LORD his God” (1 Sam. 30:6 KJV).   Me, like so many of us, mostly depend on other people to encourage us on those dark days when something has tipped our heart into sadness.  Lately I have been fighting depression over several things that have flown in my face. Yes I drink from the Word of God and I am THRILLED that His Word is FILLED and overflowing with Encouragement to my wounded soul. [I am fighting well and on the winning side, for sure.]

As I was thinking on this topic, the Lord reminded me of our recent trip to MI.  We took the car instead of the motorcycle, as we wanted our daughter to be able to go with us to see her brothers.  But as we were traveling the clouds were overhead and the rain began to pour.  It was hard for Ken to see the road clearly.  Ken in his chipper voice said, "Let's put on our yellow glasses!"  We use these on the motorcycle on cloudy days.  We put them on IN THE CAR, and it is amazing how everything brightens up!  It is like the SUN is shining, even though my mind KNOWS it is the yellow glasses that is bringing the sunshine into my vision. 

It was amazing how it brightened my mood as we continued down the road.  Soon the SUN did come out, and the glasses could be put away.

Sometimes we just need to ENCOURAGE OURSELVES....at least for a short time, until the SON penetrates our downcast soul and we can REJOICE in who we are and what we have in Christ!

THIS WAY

One thing Ken helped do for Kaili's graduation party was to put out the signs directing people to her party.  One person put the lettering on the signs.  One person put the sticks on the sign.  one person added the balloons.  One person put them in the ground at certain locations......but it was the responsibility of EVERY driver to follow the signs if they wanted to be sure and arrive at her party.

Invitations had been sent out.  Food prepared.  Tables and Pavillion all decorated in school colors.   Plenty of outdoor games were ready to be enjoyed.  Powerpoint presentation set up and scrolling picture after picture of Kaili.   Kaili had a table full of accomplishments for all to see what she has done up until this point in her life.  But that is all the family could do.   Now it was up to the people to come.

There is some anticipation before such a party.  One thing for sure, they had enough seating and enough food!  In fact they had EVERYTHING in order.   But the wait for the cars  was hard.  We knew of other events in the area that may be drawing people to other places.   What will we do with all this leftover food?  How disappointed Kaili will be if only a handful come!

THEN, the cars started coming.  They had followed the signs right to Kaili's party.   Plenty of people gathered to celebrate Kaili's graduation.  She had relatives from both sides galore.   Children were playing in the fenced park area.  Men were playing horseshoes.  There were bean bag games, bocci ball, croquet, balls, frisbees, slides, swings, merry-go-round.......and more food than you can imagine. Kaili was dressed so pretty, greeting each guest as they came to celebrate her graduation.

As Christians, that is all we can do as well.  We send out invitations.  We let people know they are personally invited to join the family of God.  We explain to them HOW.  We put up signs along the way showing them, leading them to the right place.   We tell people about Jesus and all He has done for them.  We invite them to come to His table of riches now and forevermore.  We tell them of all He has accomplished for them.    We can put out balloons  by having special events, we can make the signs big and flashy....but it still is up to each individual.....to WANT to come to Christ.

I pray that you and I will be faithful to put the signs out.....for Christ.

Escanaba City Band

Most of our family gathered together at this Band Shell to hear the Escanaba City Band play patriotic music.  The band looked so nice in their red and blue uniforms.  The numerous american flags only added to the festivity as we honored our flag.  The band had a great sound and there were lots of various instruments making up this band.  

But our eyes were only on one clarinet player, our grandaughter, Kaili. 

No offense to all the other members, for indeed I am sure they are fine people and great musicians......but our family came to hear Kaili play.

Our eyes were fixed on watching her whether she was playing or not playing, whether she was sitting or standing. Our attention was on one beautiful, newly graduated, young lady playing her clarinet.  I am very sure, she was aware of our presence in the audience, yet her attention was on the Director and on the notes in front of her.  Her eyes and attention were properly focused , as expected of each member of the band.   THAT produces the sound the audience applauds for.

I am sure there are lots of lessons we can glean from this - but right now I am thinking about the Church.  We are a team, although we play various instruments, or have various roles and talents.  Sometimes one section is featured, and another section is silent.  Sometimes we all play together where one instrument does not dominate over another. Sometimes a player or two will be featured for a short time.   But at the end of the concert, it was all about the Band as a whole. 

The Band as a whole, reading notes on a page and following the direction of a Conductor.  Oh it is so similar to a healthy Church, where the people have various roles, and yet work together as a team.....using the Bible as a guidebook, and following the Conductor of our lives:  The Lord Jesus.

Some people go to Church to see a particular player (maybe the Pastor), or to hear a particular instrument (like worship music)....but God wants us to go to Church to hear the beauty of the Body of Christ....in sweet unity....loving each other.

Let's go to Church, pick up your 'instrument', read the manual and follow the Conductor.....and show the world how beautiful it truly is, to be a Christian!

All from a Baggie

What a THRILL to teach Children's Sunday school today! I have the miracles of Jesus all in a baggie, and each week a child chooses one out of the bag to be our lesson. So it is a surprise to me also. A fresh word from the Bible for the student/s and also for me! Today the healing of the Crippled Woman was chosen. Luke 13: 10-17. Fun as we walked around the room all humped over trying to imagine how awkward and sad it would be to have had that condition for 18 years, like the Bible says. Then I had cardboard people which we used to act out the miracle. We had a man figure that was JESUS, and a woman figure (which we bent over with our hands) to be the crippled woman. We took turns re-telling the miracle story. Amazing how the woman went to Church crippled and went home HEALED. We talked about how Jesus SAW her and called her forward. Most of the time when a teacher tells you "Come up here"....it is not for something good. But Jesus had something WONDERFUL planned for this woman. I love how Jesus spoke to her his intentions, and then touched her. So glad that JESUS is a touchy kind of God who does not stand back from us, but loves to touch us, love on us, let us know that HE is with us. Her reaction to His touch of healing, was to praise God. [There is a whole sermon in that statement alone!] I said: "Do you think everyone in the church was happy that this woman was healed and could stand up straight?" YES, was the reply. But then we read verse 14. Not everyone was happy! But when Jesus tells the man he should be ashamed of himself. Jesus had healed a person on the Sabbath which the Accuser had considered "work" on the sabbath. Jesus pointed out that he had untied his donkey that morning and led it out to water. Was THAT not work on the sabbath? A Donkey needing water and a woman needing the ability to stand straight were both needed today! AND all the people understood and left REJOICING. Sounds like that was one powerful Church service when Jesus was teaching, stopped and healed someone in need. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> TONIGHT in our Church service, a lady was feeling terribly sick, and made it known to Pastor. He stopped, went back to her, Gentely touched her and prayed for her.........and she begin to feel FINE once again. Thank You Lord, that YOU STILL hear and answer prayer. That You Still minister to the needs of Your people. May we never be too involved in our lesson, our plan, our life.....to miss the needs of people...one precious soul at a time.

Unknown Protection!

On this wonderfully hot day in Florida, I decided to make a lunch of fresh fruit and took it out to my hubby who was putting shelves in our shed. We decided to take our lunch out to the chairs that overlooks a lovely pond behind our "house". Our dog, NOMAD, sat in his chair begging Ken for pieces of cantelope. A lovely Lunch by the water. Then I looked out and asked Ken if he thought THAT was a gator whose eyes were barely visable above the water level. Sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference between gator eyes and the huge turtle noses....but as we continued to look...his head lifted, his back came to the surface and his identity was WELL KNOWN. No more doubting. It was indeed a Gator. Little did our 15 pound, tail wagging dog know that without our presence and protection, he might be the target of a gator's lunch. Nomad had no idea that danger was just alittle way off. I could not help to thank my LORD for the zillion of times HE protects us and yet we have no idea we are even in danger! I am so very thankful for a God who cares about us! Thank you Lord for your care!

Sermon from my Cupboards!

This is not my first house to have the Fruit of the Spirit stenciled on my kitchen cupboards. I find it challenging, empowering and comforting to walk into my kitchen several times a day and to see the REMINDER of how God wants me to think and act on my kitchen cupboards. When we moved here, I thought I could do without it....but before long I found myself stenciling the familiar words to my cupboard doors.

I am a believer in Scripture and desire the Word of God to be around me and in me as much as possible. I need to be renewed in my mind on a regular basis so as not to return to my old pattern of thinking or acting. I am so thankful for the Word of God, that truly is life changing. His Word changed me and I have no desire to go back to where I used to think or act! In the photo you see some of my kitchen cupboards. "Gentleness" is found under the oven. The others are on the other side of the kitchen. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. -- Galatians 5:22-23 You can see the Fruit on my cupboards, but my prayer is that people can see them in my life!

What a Dream!

RARELY do I remember what I dream, but I STILL remember a short dream I had the other night!

Hubby and I were at a large deaf event, like Deaf Expo, although I am not sure what it was. We were walking around and chatting with deaf people when I noticed a newly converted DEAF FRIEND of mine enthusiastically going up to deaf people and signing: "Are you saved?"

If they signed back "Yes", she smiled and gave them a hug. If they signed: "NO, and get out of here.", she quietly left them to go to the next. BUT IF THEY SIGNED: "I don't know what SAVED means" or " I hope so"....she would gently take them by the hand and lead them to us.

Holding the person's hand (my dream only showed woman to woman), she came up to me and said: Would you please explain to her what SAVED means.

This happened over and over. All the time we were there, I noticed this deaf friend, going around as if THAT was the whole reason she came to this Deaf event.

I had come to meet Deaf people.
She had come to lead them to Christ.


Oh that Christ might make me more of a soul winner. Oh, that Christ, would stir up the Deaf people to reach other Deaf people for Jesus. Oh, that my dream will become more of a reality!