My Sister . . .

My one and only sister is here from Oklahoma, and I've had the pleasure of spending time with her this week. We've enjoyed a number of outings, just the two of us, and enjoyed a day with our husbands too!

I often wonder how different my life would have been if my sister and I lived close to each other. But she was swept off her feet and taken to Oklahoma some 40 years ago and we've only shared short visits since then.

I give thanks for my sister and thank God for the wonderful relationship we share. She was saved a number of years before me, and I know the prayers of her and her husband impacted my life and brought me to Jesus.

Thank you, Kathy, for being a wonderful sister and a great friend! I love you.

What Really Important . . .

Many years ago a friend asked me if I would type a collection of poems that her grandfather, P. J. Wolz, wrote. He was not famous . . . just an average person who worked hard and was trustworthy. He lived his life for God and was this girl’s hero.

Of all the poems he wrote, my eyes and heart stayed with a simple two line poem. I call on it frequently to remind me of what’s really important as we walk with God.

“How wonderful, at evening, to be able to say,
‘What a day! Lord, What a Day! Because I could pray.’”

These words tell me that no matter what kind of day I’ve had, it’s been a wonderful day because I can pray. Any time. Anywhere. That I should be praying all through the day and enjoy communication with my Heavenly Father.

Remember . . . He’s always there. We just have to call on Him. That’s really important!

The beautiful picture is of Mount Hood in northern Oregon. My friend, Cindy Dunigan, snapped it. A beautiful end to a beautiful day!

"Learning" to be Content

“A dog at the feet of her mistress, a cat curled up in front of the family fireplace, a cow in the midst of a green pasture–these are pictures of contentment far beyond what most human beings enjoy.” Dorothy Kelley Patterson, BeAttitudes for women

I like this statement and believe everyone can learn from it. It helps that I enjoy watching and photographing cows and deer. This certainly provides me with the word picture she creates. This is “peaceful satisfaction” in my mind.

So few individuals practice the art of contentment. Paul said “he learned” to be content. “For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."—Philippians 4:11. This is a state you must strive to attain. It won’t come unless you seek it.

Charles Spurgeon put it this way: “THE APOSTLE Paul was a very learned man, but not the least among his manifold acquisitions in science was this—he had learned to be content. Such learning is far better than much that is acquired in the schools. Their learning may look studiously back on the past, but too often those who cull the relics of antiquity with enthusiasm, are thoughtless about the present, and neglect the practical duties of daily life ... It was a thing of ever-present utility, and alike serviceable for all generations, one of the rarest, but one of the most desirable accomplishments.” http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0320.htm

Fanny Crosby, 1820-1915, wrote about it:

“O what a happy soul am I! Although I cannot see,
I am resolved that in this world Contented I will be;
How many blessings I enjoy That other people don’t!
To weep and sign because I’m blind, I cannot, and I won’t.”

In Job 36:11, Elihu says: “If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.” Contentment is an important element in living. If you’re not content, your life will be spent striving to find happiness with things. We can only be content when we’re following God’s plan for our life and living within His laws.

It seems being content was learned very early in the life of the world. Socrates, 470-399 B.C. said: “He is richest who is content with the least.”

Charles Spurgeon continues his teaching on being content: “Now, contentment is one of the flowers of heaven, and if we would have it, it must be cultivated. It will not grow in us by nature; it is the new nature alone that can produce it, and even then we must be specially careful and watchful that we maintain and cultivate the grace which God has sown in it. Paul says, ‘I have learned to be content;’ as much as to say he did not know how at one time. It cost him some pains to attain to the mystery of that great truth.”

One of my favorite poets, Edgar A. Guest, had these words to say at the end of his poem titled “Contentment”:

“So I fancy the joy which men strive to win
Is born of something which lies within,
A strain of courage no care can break,
A love for beauty no thief can take--
The pride of neighbors, the faith of friends
And a mind at peace when the sun descends.”

Where are those cows? I want to spend a little while watching them. There’s still more to learn.

Simple Pleasures . . .

"Pleasure is seldom found where it is sought; our brightest blazes of gladness are kindled by unexpected sparks.” Samuel Johnson, 1709-1784

After all these years it finally happened. On a breakfast date with a friend, after we both enjoyed a delicious breakfast, we shared a slice of ice cream pie for dessert. A big piece. Chocolate, of course. Ah, the simple things of life make all the difference.

It tasted good. It was fun. I wonder if there’s ice cream in heaven. Maybe I’ll get to be a “fountain girl” and make milkshakes all eternity. Chocolate, of course.

It was as natural as if I did it every day. (Well, if no one is home, I do!) Ice cream for breakfast. Chocolate, of course.

Sydney J. Harris said: “A real friend is not so much someone you feel free to be serious with as someone you feel free to be silly with.” My friend, Jackie, has a special place in my heart for enthusiastically sharing such a special treat with me.

What simple pleasures are you letting pass by? I encouraged you to be a little silly. With chocolate, of course.

"Whiter than Snow"

In a recent chapel service where I work, we were asked if we had a favorite Bible word. Snow immediately popped into my mind. I consider snow to be one of the most beautiful things God has created.

Snow not only falls in a beautiful fashion but lays upon the earth in a delightful form. It is mystical. I believe God gave us this creation so that we can better understand how our sins will be “washed as white as snow.” Psalm 51:7 From snow ice cream to snowballs to snowmen, snow is God’s way of slowing us down so we can spend time with Him. Snow draws me to God to meditate upon His gift of salvation.

“I Shall Be Whiter than Snow,” by James Nicholson, 1857, who lived in Maryland, provides beautiful lines to ponder:

“Lord, Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;
I want Thee forever to live in my soul;
Break down every idol, cast out every foe–
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

“Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow,
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

“The blessing by faith, I receive from above;
Oh glory! My soul is made perfect in love;
My prayer has prevailed, and this moment I know,
The blood is applied, I am whiter than snow.”

The next time we have a snow fall and you watch it cover the ground, and your insides start churning because “you have plans,” I encourage you to sit down and consider how completely Jesus’ blood washes away your sin. And if you haven’t listened to snow fall, open your door in the quiet of night or early morning and hear beautiful music composed by God. Your plans may not seem quite as important after all.

“ ... I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7

The above picture is “snow balls” in summer!

"Songs in the Night"

I recently had the pleasure of reading Charles Spurgeon’s sermon, “Songs In The Night.” It is a thought-provoking, inspirational exhortation which provides help as you go through trials.

Do you have “songs in the night?” when your heart breaks and you don’t know what to do. Spurgeon gives three subjects to sing about when your heart is sad: “the day that is over,” “the present night,” and “the days to come.” Following is just a handful of his thoughts:

“In the midst of the night the most usual subject for Christians to sing about is ‘the day that is over.’ There was a time when I could say, ‘I know that my Redeemer lives.’ I have my doubts and fears at this present moment; but it has not been long since I could say, with full assurance, ‘I know that he shed his blood for me; I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God’ [Job 19:25-26].

“No matter how dark the night is, there is always something to sing about, ‘even concerning the present night.’” (It truly is amazing the comfort you can find when you seek it. From God’s word . . . to godly friends . . . to beautiful music that stirs your soul, it is there, you just have to find it.) yours truly

“Besides, Christian, however dark the night is, there is always a star or moon. There is hardly ever a night that we have, when there are only just one or two little lights burning in the sky. However dark it may be, I think you may find some little comfort, some little joy, some little mercy left, and some little promise to cheer your spirit.

“But, beloved, there is another thing we can sing about and, even more sweetly; and that is, we can sing of ‘the days that are to come.’ A day is coming when every minister of Christ will speak with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, when all the servants of God will preach with power, and when the massive systems of heathenism will tumble from their pedestals, and mighty, gigantic delusions will be scattered to the winds. The shout will be heard, ‘Alleluia! Alleluia!’ The Lord God Omnipotent reigns. For I look to that day; it is to the bright horizon of that Second Coming that I turn my eyes.

“Your head may be crowned with thorny troubles now, but it will wear a starry crown soon; your hand may be filled with cares—it will hold a harp soon, a harp full of music. Your clothes may be soiled with dust now; they will be pure white in the future. Wait a little longer”

You can find this sermon at http://www.biblebb.com/files/spurgeon/2558.htm
... there is so much more to glean!

I encourage you to read his words. We will all experience night. Let’s choose to go through it with joy!

Charles H. Spurgeon
1834-1892
Preached sometime in the mid to late 1800's


Finally, after several years, a big doe was standing in the perfect place on a homestead I pass. The scenery is beautiful, but there was never a deer there. Always deer on the homestead beside it, but never there. Last week I was thrilled to see this doe and she let me take her picture.

Have You Been Changed For Good?

On Sandi Patty’s CD Songs for the Journey, she sings the song For Good. As you may know, the song was written by Stephen Schwartz for the musical Wicked. I’m not familiar with the musical except to say it involved two friends. And that’s where I come in.

“Because I knew you I have been changed for good.” Each time I hear those words I begin recalling my friends and how they have affected my life. I am blessed with women I call friends. My friends date back to my elementary school years and through my entire life— childhood . . . teen years . . . early adulthood, middle age and every year since.

Friendships just don’t happen. You have to nurture a friendly relationship just like any other relationship. Sometimes you’ll find the relationship one–sided. Sometimes you learn the relationship is not a good one for you. Only you can determine if you’ve chosen well. But if you believe the relationship has value, I promise you the end results are worth all the effort you put into building a friendship

“We need people with whom we can be open and share our struggles, those who will bear our burdens as we also bear theirs, and who will support us in prayer. That kind of vulnerability is what produces genuine fellowship, or koinonia–the heart-to-heart connection God desires for His people.” Leigh Ann Powers, just between us

Sister’s Keeper, words and music by Twila McBride-LaBar and Anita Renfroe, is another song that expresses love for friends. It was recorded by Kim Hopper, on her CD Imagine, and it shares the following words: “ ... and though our lives are different, we share a common bond, our Father makes us family, and family makes us strong, our sisters make us strong.”

“C. S. Lewis said, “ Is any pleasure on earth as great as a circle of Christian friends by a fire?” [“especially on a snowy day.”]

Have I been changed for good because of the friends I know? Yes, I have. Friendship is indeed worth having. Another line I like from “For Good,” “I know you have re-written mine [life] by being my friend ...”

Have you been changed for good? I think it’s a question worth your time.