The Unspeakable Love

What a wonderful world it would be to be around those encouraging, thrusters and lifters.

 Life would be so much more enjoyable. 

As we read in 1 Corinthians 13 verse 7

Love bears all things, 

believes all things, 

hopes all things, 

endures all things.

Love never fails. 

Love is patient and kind, 

never gets upset easily,

 does not want to be babied.

We have lifters and thrusters, but as well we have downers and draggers, which none of we would have asked for. No, no. 

The gift at Christmas was a gift God gave us of His Son, the Lord, Jesus Christ.

 He came to give you and me this abiding peace. 

As we learn the very hard lesson of love,

 His love as 1 Corinthians says -

 bearing all things and enduring all things -

 for Gods love never fails.

Let us keep Gods loving gift,

 working in our lives, that gift given at Christmas, the gift of His Son - 

The gift of love, 

the Unspeakable Love.

White Water Lilies

       
        On my vacation to Rushing River my daughter, Ruth and I, had a great time.
         As we were paddling along in a small inlet we came across a few beautiful white water lilies.

     I started to wonder how they grow in so much water? Where do they receive their nourishment?

      Apparently they have root stack called rhyzomes or some tuberous roots.

      They had been planted in rotten old wood under which was rich soil well able to provide nourishment for these White Water  Lilies.

      These lilies were tough to the touch but extremely beautiful.

       Some with yellow and others with pink enclosures.

     The bible says we are to be routed and grounded in love.
     Getting our strength and nourishment from God.

 

In Ephesians 3:17

 

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; being routed and grounded in love.

 

A Little Reminder

 

Like the bible says:

Be careful for nothing, or be anxious for nothing.

Philippians 4:6

St. John 14:27 says

Peace I leave with you, peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, I give unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Keep calm, do your work and don't worry.

So you can live to retrieve - which means restore, recover, regain, reclaim, repair, or even says makes amends.

I like the above; don't you?

Have a nice day.

 

 

 

 

Relationship Advice

 

One of the world's best leaders said,

"You can't be successful if you do not have good relationships."

 

Amazing? - Yes.

 

Back in the Bible, John chapter five, verse eighteen,

it tells us Jesus was equal to His Father

when he said that God was His Father,

making Himself equal with God.

 

Relationships are of great value, even in today's society.

They'll bring out the best and the worst in us.

 

Jesus was showing us how to have a great relationship with others

when he healed a man sick for thirty-eight years.

 

Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up thy bed and walk."

 

The Jews wanted to kill Jesus now because he had broken the sabbath.

And also because Jesus had said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.

In spite of all this, Jesus continued to show mercy and kindness.

 

Does Jesus want you and I to have great relationships?

 

Listen to the verse of scripture: Mathew 22:37:

 

Jesus said in His word:

 

Love the Lord your God

with all your heart

and with all your soul

and with all your mind

and your neighbor as thyself.

 

Let's keep loving, being kind, and trustworthy.

 

Blessed be the peace makers.

 

One of the greatest beatitudes in the Bible. Matthew Chapter 5 and verse 9.

 

Was John Maxwell right when he spoke these words?

I'll let you answer that.

 

One Teaspoon of Love

The other evening, while I was baking muffins, I didn't add any baking powder all because it wasn't written down in the new recipe.

 

Just one teaspoon of baking powder (something I always use), was all that I needed - one teaspoon.

 

Perhaps today, just one kind word, one kind act of interest in someone else, one smile, another visit, is all that's needed.

 

Let's take the time to add one more hug,

one more time, to help to encourage those who are fainthearted

and tempted to despair.

 

Jesus came to free us of sin.

Not to condemn us for our condition.

 

Isaiah said of the promised Messiah: 

 

"A bruised reed He will not break,

 and smoking flax he will not quench;

He will bring forth justice for truth."

 

Isaiah 42:3

 

Let Your Colors Show

 

My daughter Ruth took a picture of a red-winged black bird in flight.

It was a great photo that caught my eye.

Why? Because it's exceptionally vibrant colors of orange and white

 that can only be seen when its wings are open in flight.

 

Just as the red-winged black bird shows off its colors,

 we too can show the characteristics of Jesus

when we allow God's Spirit to direct out lives.

 

Humility, patience, cheerfulness, kindness, hope..the list goes on.

 

The Bible says:

Let your light shine before men,

that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father,

 who is in heaven.

Mathew 5:16

 

A Real Gem

 

Back a few years ago in 1962, when our first baby was born, I had to intervene in his birth. How?

 

"Bear down, push, push, the doctor was saying. Bear down and push when you have pains".

I said "I had pains back in the other room, but you weren't there".

Then I said, to myself, "If you're going to have the baby you'll have to pray for pains.

 

Well, I did just that - pray and listen; no just pray, don't stop.

Wow, what a job that was!

 

Stanley James was born a very healthy baby boy.

8 1/2 lbs. Though he only had a faint cry, it was enough for me.

 

What a good baby boy he was.

 

God had given us a real work of art.

 

Summer 2013

 

What a great week I had at camp this year with my daughter, grand-daughter, and a young boy from Africa and a mother with her two children!

 

The cabin we rented was more than enough, the water, well a little on the cool side.

 

The services were super and the meals were just what we all enjoyed. It was the warmth of all our friends that was I believe the best part of our week.

 

I loved getting out early in the morning, listening to the birds and walking by the lake.

The freshness of the early morning air can do us all so much good.

 Now- let's enjoy the rest of our summer and early fall!

 

Psalm 69:34

 

 

Good Thoughts

Does thinking affect your thoughts? Someone has said “Don’t dwell on that.”

Your thoughts become your thinking and then they become your attitude. 

Your attitude becomes - - 

What does it become? 

Well here it is in the Free Press: 

If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face

 like sunbeams and you will always look lovely – Ronald Dahl.

Think in good thoughts. 

You will always look lovely.

Who wants to look sad?

Think in good thoughts.

 

Touching Jesus

        Eleanor Roosevelt wrote: You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.

       In Matthew Chapter 9 verse 21, it tells us of a lady who had an issue of blood for twelve years. You and I may say that is long. This woman said, “If I may but touch Jesus’ garment I shall be whole.

        I like that – "be made whole". She said that from her heart of faith. Now to only touch Him.

        Like Eleanor Roosevelt said, you must do it; and she did.

        What happened is Jesus turned to her and said,

        “Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole."

         And the woman was made whole from that hour.

        Here we find Jesus calling her “daughter”, and then to be of good comfort.

        I can hardly imagine she must have been going through. And then, yes, being called a daughter, putting her into the family of God.

        Giving this daughter comfort instead of pain and sorrow; a hope and a future.

        Jesus, God’s Son, is waiting for you and I to say, “If only I could touch Him”.

       "Let me touch him", – This should be our cry. I’m reaching out to Him. Are you?

 

 

 

 



Hope

In Hebrews,

 it mentions in Chapter ten and Verses twenty two to twenty four,

 these commitments:

1.       Let us draw near – The confidence to come into God’s favor.

2.       Let us hold fast; Verse twenty - the confidence in God’s Provision.

3.       Let us consider one another; Verse twenty-four and twenty-five –

the comfort and encouragement of God’s people.

 

There is a beautiful hymn that says:

My hope is built on solid rock.

Let’s hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering;

for he who promised is faithful – verse twenty-three.

 

A message on the back of a T shirt said “Hope is for Suckers” and someone happened to see.

Hope is for all of us.

Allowing yourself to have this God-given biblical hope

 is not foolish because it has a strong, strong foundation.

One that has stood the test of a very, very long time.

In fact, this grand old him, and I quote,:

When He shall come with trumpet sound, oh,  

may I then in Him be found;

dressed in His righteousness alone,

faultless to stand before His throne.

 

God is faithful.

He can be trusted with everything and anything we will ever face.

 

Both today and forever.

Does God love us?

Yes, He does love us with an everlasting love.

That’s God’s name; “Love”.

 

 

 

Mother's Day

“I love you mom,

you are special.

No one is quite like you.”

These are some of the words you’ll receive this Mother’s Day.

 Then there are cards, ornaments, and then there’s flowers, that also say, “I love you”.

     Mother’s Day: What is it all about?

Does communication make a different when a daughter, daughter-in-law, son, the list goes on;

gives you something on your day, mother?

 

Statistics say there are more flowers given on Mother’s Day than any other day.

 For me, flowers, cards, ornaments, meals out, I love them all.

But oh! At this time of year and every time of year let us give of ourselves freely to our mothers. What about hugs, kisses; they are what mothers like best.

 Let’s keep communicating love to our mothers.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!

 

Easter 2013

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James and Salome came to the sepulcher.

On arrival they found the stone rolled away, and an angel of God sitting on the right side, clothed in a long, white garment. They were afraid.

He said unto them, “Be not afraid, ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen.  He is not here.  Behold, the place where they laid him. Then he said, “Go on your way, tell His disciples that he goeth before you into Galilee.  There shall ye see him.”

Did they go? Yes, they went out quickly and fled from the sepulcher saying nothing to each other.

The disciples listened as they told them the story. They were in great mourning and weeping.

On their way to Galilee, they met Jesus where the disciples constrained Jesus, saying, “Abide with us or stay with us.”

 They had to know more about Jesus. They didn’t comprehend what was going on. It didn’t take them long before they believed it was truly Him.

It says He took bread and blessed it, and broke it and gave it to them.

In Luke, Chapter 24 and verse 31, it says:

“Their eyes were opened and they knew Him. They said the Lord is risen indeed.”

 Many of His followers had reason for rejoicing as well.

This amazing truth can happen to each and every one of us. We can know Him too, and we can be right with God because Jesus is alive.

I serve a risen Savior. He’s in the world today. I know that He is living, whatever men may say.

I see His hand of mercy, I know His voice of cheer, and just the time I need Him, He’s always near.  ---Song by Ackley

 

 

Flood

 

This cool weather is sure holding back the flood; cold at night and a little warmer during the day.

Each and every day will make a big difference.

How?

Because every day a little bit of water melts and is able to get away.

In the same way, if we are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and have a good report, we are holding back the forces of evil.

We need to think on all of the above.

These were the Apostle Paul’s virtues that he used and wanted us to do as well.

Philippians chapter 4 verse 8:

We can all do our part at this time.

 

If we haven’t done our part let’s try just one more time.

“The most certain way to succeed is to try--- just one more time.” -Thomas Edison

 

 

 

The Wise Little Bird

One day a naturalist was trveling through the forest of South America.


A naturalist is someone who studies birds, plants, and animals.

He sat down to eat his lunch and suddenly heard the cries of a bird, which was fluttering over a leafy spot. He figured that's where his nest must be.

The bird was in great distress. Of course the naturalist was curious to know what all this fuss was about.

Then he saw it. Creeping slowly along towards the tree he saw one of the most venomous snakes in South America. His small glittering eyes were fixed on the birds' nests and his forked tongue darted quickly out and in; as though anticipating his prey.

Presently he saw an unusual thing take place.

The bird flew quickly away hither and thither as though in search of something.

In a few moments he saw him return with a small twig covered with leaves in his beak. Perched over the nest, he laid the twig carefully across it, covering his mate and her young completely. The little father bird had been shown by God what to do and do it quickly without delay. Then, taking his place on one of the top branches of the tree, he seemed to grow quieter and calmer.

And there awaited the approach of the enemy.

He was sure the protection he had given his little family would work.

By this time the snake had reached the tree, and bent upon his object he twisted himself around the trunk and begun climbing up, up, up.

Then, gliding along a branch, he came close to the nest.

He lifted his venomous head, ready to dart upon the poor bird. His small glittering eyes watched the nest a moment, and then -- throwing his head back, as if he had recieved a sudden blow.

The snake turned around, and as fast as possible, made his way back down the tree and disappeared in the tall grass.

You can imagine how curious the naturalist felt as to the cause of this. He could not understand why the snake had turned back from his prey at the very moment it seemed in his power. Nor could he understand the quietness of the father bird, who until his enemy departed showed no sign of emotion and NOW,

Sang a song, a rapturous song of praise!

He climbed up the tree and examined the little broken branch the leaves of which were curious in shape and color. He carried it home and told the whole story to a friend, showing him the branches. His friend explained that the leaf plucked off by the father bird to protect his family was poisonous to the snake. The snake never touches this leaf!

Just like that little bird we too have an enemy; the old devil, or the serpent.

Revelation 20:2

But God has provided a way.

 

Psalms 32:1

Blessed is the man whose sin is covered because his transgression is forgiven.

1 John 1:7

But the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin.

Just like that little bird went and got the leaf, so we must by faith recieve his forgiveness or protection.

 

John 1:12

But as many as recieved Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God.

Just like that dear little bird applied that protection, we too can be protected by the word of God. By having on the whole armour of God.

Just like the little bird we too can sing a rapturous song of praise unto our God. A good way to start your day, right?

We All Have Something To Give

           What a wonderful thrill it was greeting my daughter as she was returning home from Uganda, Africa. With my two grandchildren we all hugged her. That I liked, wouldn't you?

           I have already seen some of her many pictures she took while in Uganda. You've guessed it; one of them is a lion, an elephant, a giraffe and a hippo; not to mention a picture one took of her holding a baby monkey. Wow!

            While in Uganda, she had the opportunity to help build, along with many others, a classroom in an orphanage called Laminadera. Laminadera is in a city in Uganda named Gulu; which is like a village - with schools, homes and churches.

           This was built early in mornings, as the afternoons were too hot.
I also liked the picture of her feeding these two babies. Each one looked so bright, happy and healthy.

            Then she went on a trip to London, England, where she admired the sights and sounds of the country. While walking on the streets of London, she took a couple of pictures for her daughter's "Street Style". I can't wait to see them. Look at the "Focus" page of the Winnipeg Free Press, you will find all this. Believe me, it will be good.

           What an encouraging thought to know by having a willing heart ready and willing to help others, our daughter was able to help build ,in a small way, a better life for some of the children in Uganda, Africa.

           The bible tells us to do good to all men, especially unto them of the household of faith.

Galations 6:10.

          What a privilage we all have to be able to give in other ways to the needy of this world.  Let's keep giving. We all have something to give right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leave your Water Pot and GO!

 

        In the New Testament John chapter four verse seven to thirty we read of an exciting conversation between Jesus and a Samaritan woman. 

 

        Jesus had just come to a well, actually Jacob’s well. Well bring tired, Jesus sat down. When this Samaritan woman came by to draw water, Jesus said to her,

“Give me a drink”. 

 

     The conversation continues and Jesus says to her,

 

“Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him

shall never thirst;

but the water that I shall give to him shall be in him a well of water

springing up into everlasting life.”

 

       In verse fifteen the Samaritan woman said, “Give me this water that I thirst not, neither come here to draw water.” 

    

     Then the Samaritan woman found out this was the prophet, the Messiah, for he had told her she had five husbands and the one she now had was not her husband. Verse twenty-six to twenty-eight and twenty-nine:

 

Jesus said to her,

“’I that speak unto thee am he." 

The woman left her water pot and went into the city and said to the men, ‘Come see a man which hath told me all things that ever I did; is this not the Christ?’” 

 

My meditation is this; the Sea of Galilee flows into the Jordan River to the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea has NO outlet  - the water becomes polluted (dirty and filthy). The Samaritan woman left her water pot and began to witness to the men of the city. This witnessing became the woman of Samaritan’s outlet. The outlet of her telling others about the Messiah became her well of water springing up unto everlasting life. 

 

In verse thirty-nine it says,

“And many of the Samaritans believed on him,

 for the saying of the woman, which testified,

‘He told me all that ever I did.’”  

 

Let’s all leave whatever is hindering us from witnessing about our Lord and Savior and like the woman of Samaria go out and witness. Leave our water pots and go!