Morning Coffee - With Christ

There he proved them.   Exod. 15:25

It is very easy for us to speak and theorize about faith, but God often casts us into crucibles to try our gold, and to separate it from the dross and alloy.  Oh, happy are we if the hurricanes that ripple life's unquiet sea have the effect of making Jesus more precious.

Better the storm with Christ than smooth waters without Him.

--Macduff

Streams in the Desert

Mrs. Chas. E. Cowman

Amen!!

Time to refill my cup - with Christ - for the day ahead!

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Their Children's Children

But from everlasting to everlasting 

the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, 

and his righteousness with their children’s children  

Psalm 103:17

Noah James & his Grandpa

Addie Noelle & Favorite Big Brother

 Say"Cheeseburger"!

Meghan Elizabeth grilling hotdogs for Grandpa!

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Morning Coffee - Where You Lead, Lord

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"In waiting, I waited, for the Lord"  Psalm 40:1

"When we learn to wait for our Lord's lead in everything, we shall know the strength that finds its climax in an even, steady walk. Many of us are lacking in the strength we so covet. But God gives full power for every task He appoints. Waiting, holding oneself true to His lead--this is the secret of strength. And anything that falls out of the line of obedience is a waste of time and strength. Watch for His leading."     S. D. Gordon 

Streams in the Desert

Mrs. Chas. E. Cowman

I believe I'll pour another cup of coffee and then see where today leads me.

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Thank God!

Thank God for:

The prayers of family and friends

Medicine that doesn’t taste too badly

Cream of Wheat cereal

Lively Grandchildren

Caring children

A comfortable sofa

Juicy watermelon

Ice Cream cones

Farmville (-:

           

And especially, best friends who fly 600 miles

to surprise you with a hug and a cup of coffee!

If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth.  

Eccles. 11:3

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Morning Coffee - He has Promised!

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises." 2 Pet. 1:4

When a shipwright builds a vessel, does he build it to keep it upon the stocks? Nay, he builds it for the sea and the storm. When he was making it, he thought of tempests and hurricanes; if he did not, he was a poor shipbuilder.

When God made thee a believer, He meant to try thee; and when He gave thee promises, and bade thee trust them, He gave such promises as are suitable for times of tempest and tossing.

O man, I beseech you do not treat God's promises as if they were curiosities for a museum; but use them as every day sources of comfort. Trust the Lord whenever your time of need comes on.--C. H. Spurgeon

Can God say no to something He has promised?

Streams in the Desert

Mrs. Chas. E. Cowman

Time to refill my cup and claim those precious promises for today!

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Morning Coffee - A New Project

"Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee. . .who passing through the valley of weeping, make it a well" Psalm 84:5, 6

When night--needful night--gathers over the garden of our souls, when the leaves close up, and the flowers no longer hold any sunlight within their folded petals, there shall never be wanting, even in the thickest darkness, drops of heavenly dew--dew which falls only when the sun has gone.

"As we travel thro' life's shadow'd valley,

Fresh springs of His love ever rise;

And we learn that our sorrows and losses,

Are blessings just sent in disguise.

"So we'll follow wherever He leadeth,

Let the path be dreary or bright;

For we've proved that our God can give comfort;

Our God can give songs in the night."

Streams in the Desert

Mrs. Chas. E. Cowman

This morning, as I read today’s encouraging devotion, I had a thought.  While it is well and good that I am finding strength and comfort in my Streams in the Desert devotional, it would be even better if Jim could as well. Now I could just hand him my book and suggest that he make the readings part of his day.  But I really want to do something more personal. 

So here is my idea.  I will go back through my blog and pull out my favorite gleanings from Mrs. Cowman and put together a small personal devotional - making two copies, one for me and one for Jim.  I’ll add blank pages for personal notes and reflections. And maybe little pockets for small treasures and photos.  Personal Devotional Journals for us for the journey ahead.

Time to pour another cup and get this day started!  I have a project to begin.  And I love a good project!!

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Morning Coffee - Finally a Diagnosis

This week we learned the final diagnosis of what has been sapping Jim’s energy.  It isn’t what we wanted to hear but then these types of diagnosis usually aren’t. 

Pleural Mesothelioma is the official term. 

Asbestos causes Pleural Mesothelioma.  And while Jim doesn’t remember ever having been exposed to asbestos, the reality is that prior to 1970, asbestos was everywhere – in Army barracks, in our school buildings and especially everywhere industrial.  And while Jim attended school in old public buildings and served in the Army - in Viet Nam, it was probably his years in manufacturing that might have been the most damaging.  Even when his job provided a safe office, Jim was more likely found on the production floor rather than behind his desk. He was a hands-on guy in his career - and is still now in his retirement years.

Our next step is to meet our Oncologist and learn what treatment options are available.  Mesothelioma has never been an easy cancer to treat but there appear to be newer options and better plans these days.  We will learn all about these next Wednesday when we meet, as a family, with Dr. Puneet Cheema. 

Then the family discussions will begin as we decide what direction we will follow.  It will be an important week.  Any and all prayers will be very much appreciated.  They have helped us tremendously up to this point and I know they will continue to do so as we put our trust in God and his plan for us.

It has been almost a year since I found my copy of Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Chas. E. Cowman.  I believe that through her daily devotions, Mrs. Cowman has prepared me for this time and place.  My original post,  last October 15^th is here.

Time to spend a moment with Mrs. Cowman and refill my cup!

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Morning Coffee - Be Strong!

Quit you like men, be strong. 1 Cor. 16:13

Do not pray for easy lives! Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be a miracle. --Phillips Brooks.

We must remember that it is not in any easy or self-indulgent life that Christ will lead us to greatness. The easy life leads not upward…

Be strong!
We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;
We have hard work to do, and loads to lift.
Shun not the struggle; face it. 'Tis God's gift.

Streams in the Desert

Mrs. Chas. E. Cowman

“Be strong!”  My friend Joni ends many of her emails to me with those words.  Being strong has never been an attribute of mine (not even close).  So maybe all the better that I am now getting a good chance to work that muscle.  Time for a second cup of coffee (and some carbs) as I prepare to accept God's gift for today.

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Morning Coffee - Investing or Salvaging

“Life is not salvage to be saved out of the world, but an investment to be used in the world.”

My Mrs. Chas. E. Cowman devotions this morning ended with this sentence.  What an excellent way to describe how our lives should be lived. 

Salvage and scrap are very near and dear to both Jim and I.  Jim’s garage is full of salvaged stuff; lengths of wire, pieces of board, nuts, bolts, screws – you name it, he has a storehouse of it.  And I’m no better; my spare room closet is overflowing with pieces of fabric, yarn, buttons and other crafting left-overs.   Salvage – that wonderful stuff that we grab and store because we just might have a need for it someday – yet something that costs us very little and needs little care. 

And then we have our investments - which are treated totally different from our scrap.  We monitor them closely.  Jim pours over them often, thinking deeply as to what they will return for us and how they can best be used.   They are kept in a secure place and guarded carefully so as not to be misused.  Our primary goal is to derive maximum benefit from them.  And we care for them with that in mind.  Far differently than our salvage.

“Life is not salvage to be saved out of the world, but an investment to be used in the world.”

Time for a second cup of coffee and a prayer that our day not merely be salvage but a valuable investment. 

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