Proud Or Not?

 This little bird was sitting in the snow on the deck railing. He looked content and happy. I just had to take a picture of him!

"Don't be proud. Although you may have a large spiritual estate--a wide domain of grace--you don't have even a single thing to call your own--except sin and misery." Charles Spurgeon

The above statement stopped me as I was reading in the devotion book Look Unto Me of devotions by Charles Spurgeon. I'd never thought about the knowledge and truth that I have obtained through the years as something to be proud of. As most of my friends are in their later years now, we should all have obtained a "large spiritual estate and a wide domain of grace" through the years of following Jesus.

I'm thankful for all I have learned, all I have experienced, all I know about Jesus and the Christian faith. It actually thrills my soul to be assured of what I know from God's Word and how it affects my daily life. But being proud?

The text of the devotion was from Ezekiel, verse 15:2, that speaks of "the wood of a vine better than that of a branch on any of the trees in the forest." Spurgeon said the words were meant to humble God's people.  "Only through God's goodness have they become fruitful, having been replanted in good soil."

No matter how much more we may know of the Bible, the Christian faith or living for Christ then someone else, "Your life dies without the fresh streams of life flowing from Jesus," Spurgeon said.

Proud? I don't think so. All we, as Christians, have to boast about, is the Lord.

Spring came to my home early this year in the form of my newest quilt project. I had purchased several different bundles of fabric back in August, and the spring fabric I hadn't used yet. So January seemed an ideal time to get it out and make something.

I love the blues and yellow together. Spring sprung early for me! I may love snow, but the wonders of spring cheer me on through the cold winter months.

So . . . just remember when you're prone to boast for any reason, the only reason you have to boast is the Lord. As the old song goes: "I'm just an old sinner saved by grace!"

Sinner Saved by Grace

by Bill and Gloria Gaither and Mitch Humphries

If you could see What I once was If you could go with me Back to where I started from

Then, I know you would see A miracle of Love that put me In it's sweet embrace

And made me what I am today Just an old sinner Saved by grace

(Chorus)

I'm just a sinner Saved by grace When I stood condemned to death He took my place

Now I live and breathe in freedom With each breath of life I take

Loved and forgivin Backed with a living I'm just a sinner Saved by grace

How could I boast on anything I've ever seen or done How could I dare to claim as mine The victories God has won Where would I be Had God not brought me Gently to this place

I'm here to say I'm nothing but A sinner saved by grace

(Chorus)

I'm here to say I'm nothing but a sinner saved by grave!

Back to the Old

 I always love seeing our flags blowing strong, and it was extra nice during the snow fall.

"Oh Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth."

Psalm 8:1

I remember singing those words with Sandi Patty when she sang: "How Majestic is Your Name."  It was one of the first songs I learned as a new Christian. That prompted me to share the following.

At the first of the year I went downstairs and brought up all the DVDs and VHS cassettes that were down there. They'd been in some of the lone boxes that hadn't been unpacked when we moved in a year ago.

I had plenty of DVDs up here that we enjoyed watching. I couldn't remember what we had downstairs, so it was time to do something with them.

We came across all the Gaither Homecoming shows we'd purchased from the early 90s through the years. As well as many other movies, some we kept and some we got rid of. Seeing all those Homecoming shows made me want to watch them again.

I was saved in '78 and my faith grew up with Sandi Patty, Amy Grant, Truth, Dallas Holmes, B J Thomas, Evie and others of that age. It wasn't until my mother told me I might like to watch the Gaither shows that Jerry and I watched our first one. And we were hooked.

I had never heard of most of the people in the shows. Jake Hess, James Blackwood, The Speer Family, J. D. Sumner were all unknown names to me. Bill Gaither brought a number of the old gospel singers together to sing one song that would go on the GaitherVocal Band album. It was so popular the Homecoming Shows were born. And what a difference the shows would make in the lives of millions.

I was hooked early on, and happily waited for each new show to come out for purchase. I learned songs I'd never heard of before. They'd been around and sung in the south for ages, but were unknown to me. I became familiar with old saints that gave their life sharing Jesus in song.

These Homecoming shows helped build my faith, encouraged my heart and touched my soul. What a wonderful way to start the new year, I thought! We have about 50 of the shows so we'll be warmed through the cold winter months by the passion and sharing of Jesus through song and stories.

The other evening Jerry said, "Ya, know, watching these old videos has really been good for my soul." Mine too! Yes, "Oh, Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!"

I've never been one to focus on fashion and all the new designs that come out through the years. I'm a very traditional dresser and know what wears best on me. It's sustained me so far. But this past Christmas I received a gift of a pair of gloves that tickled me.

 I don't recall seeing gloves like this before. They're like a muff that you put both hands in to keep warm, but there's a muff for each individual hand! The first time I wore them made my heart laugh! They are so cute! Have any of you seen gloves like this before? I'm tickled with them. Thanks friend!

A humbling revealing of me . . .

The Homecoming shows often have songs about seeing your loved ones in heaven. Many tears are shed by the singers as they look forward to that glorious day of seeing members of their family once again. Tears are shed by me too. But sad ones. I don't know if I have any family waiting for me in heaven. I think of all I've missed not growing up with faith and God's presence, and it's a very sad thing.

I have two friends who have gone on to heaven and a treasured pastor, but there was no faith lived out in my immediate family or extended family. It's always a sad time for me when a song like this is sung.

Until the other evening. For the first time, while hearing songs of seeing loved ones in heaven, the thought came to me that I do have family waiting for me in heaven. Christ. He will be there with His welcoming arms and bring me into His home. Now that made me cry!

From a pond across the street from our former home in MD.

"Hold on my child, joy comes in the morning."
Joy Comes in the Morning by Bill Gaither
Psalm 30:5

I'm holding!

As For me . . . I Will

It's 2018! Happy New Year everybody! I'm starting the year off with words to remember. I hope your heart will be encouraged too!

"I asked God for all things so I could enjoy life. He gave me life so I could enjoy all things." Unknown

Recently I began reading from the devotion book "100 Favorite Bible Verses" written by Lisa Guest and illustrated by my friend, Karla Dornacher. It is a favorite book to pick up, refreshing to read through and lovely to look at. It's no longer on Amazon, but I found a few on Ebay.com

I came upon the Scripture verse in Joshua, verses 24:15: "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." And many memories followed for me to ponder over the next several days.

When Jerry and I married 32 years ago, December 1985, it was the end of this verse that was printed inside the wedding bulletin.

And this is what we have tried to do through our years of living together. I've failed miserably often . . . I've lost valuable and treasured relationships . . . made some difficult and upsetting decisions, cried heartbreaking tears, but I've not wavered in my determination to serve the Lord.

Christmas Day I posted on Facebook a picture of the front page of our County newspaper. It was of the Nativity. I didn't post the following two pages that were also in this Christmas Day issue. I'm so thankful for those who take a stand for what is right and true. The Christmas story from Luke, chapter 2, and a prayer by Robert Lewis Stevenson

I once heard if you don't stand for something you will fall for anything. In this case, standing for Christ means you will be hurt and misunderstood. But my heart has believed, and I continue moving one foot in front of the other living what I believe.

I wanted to create two quilt projects before the end of the year. I finished both of them! This is the first one.

There is so much incredible, true evidence that the Bible is without error, and no evidence that it is false. I'm thankful to have the faith to believe. Another saying I've found quite profound is "If I'm wrong and the Bible isn't true, I haven't really lost anything. I've lived my life how I believed. But if you're wrong, and the Bible is true, you have lost everything."

Two mornings after reading "As for me and my house . . .", I found another verse of Scripture which tells you one of the ways  you can be successful in living for God:

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." Philippians 4:8

How true. What we see with our own eyes is what we base everything on. If you think on things that are honorable than you will think honorable thoughts. If you think on things that are trashy you will think trashy thoughts. It's really quite simple.

Liberty Bible Commentary puts it this way: "True: resting on reality and aiming at reality. Honest: honorable, dignified, worthy of reverence, the combination of gravity and dignity. Just: righteous relations between man and man, and man and God. Pure: stainless, chaste, unsullied. Lovely: lovable, endearing, amiable, gracious, charming, pleasing, winsome. Of good report: attractive, fair speaking. If there be any virtue: mental, moral, and physical excellence. If there be any praise: anything praiseworthy, deemed worthy of praise. Think of these things: meditate on them with careful reflection . . . "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." Proverbs 23:7

So, yes, I still stand for Christ. Jerry and I do our best to live faithful lives. We fall. We disappoint. We struggle. But our aim is to do what is right. It isn't easy. We are far from perfect. But it can be done!

This is the second project I wanted to complete.

As this new year begins, these were good words for me to think on. Lisa Guest closed this devotion with the following prayer. I think it is a good one to follow:

"Lord God, I want to choose to serve You. Help me do exactly that--in the simple moments of an ordinary day, as well as in the big issues of life. It truly does make no sense to serve anyone else; yet, too often I choose to serve myself instead of You. Forgive me and, again, help me always choose to serve You."

These are all the quilt projects I completed for myself in 2017, August through December. I look at them and just have to say "Thank you, Lord" for the opportunity to learn something new. It was just the thing I needed to climb out of a stump in this foreign land that we moved too. It has brought me much joy, and I hope in the new year, I'll be able to make many more with the ladies I met in the quilt ministry to bring encouragement to those in need.

"The most important thought I ever had was that of my individual responsibility to God."
 Daniel Webster, 1782-1852

HAPPY NEW YEAR FRIENDS!! I hope you will choose to serve the Lord!