Morning Coffee - Hey You of Little Faith

Yesterday I made a monumental decision – probably only monumental for me because I am such a big chicken.  I rarely take risks, preferring instead the safe and less challenging paths in life.  So my big decision is this:  I will drive – by myself – the 600 miles of road between here and Indianapolis to see my friend, Audrey.  I know,  no big deal to many most people, but to me this is huge!  So many uncertainties; so many unknowns; my mind reels with them. 

In fact they got the better of me during the night and when I woke up this morning, the trip was off.  What on earth was I thinking to think this was doable for me?  Then I began my devotional time.  Doesn’t God work in wonderful ways?  These are the bible verses that accompanied my readings for today:

Be not afraid, only believe.  Mark 5:36

⁶ Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”  Deuteronomy 31:6

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life.  Luke 12:25

O you of little faith.  Luke 12:28

Ok – I get the message.  Time for one more cup of coffee before I begin to pack!

Morning Coffee - "The future looks brighter...."

On January 1 of 2011, I wrote in my diary: “The future looks brighter than any day past.”

This was the last line of a poem written by Karin Ristau and posted on her blog, Yesterday, Today, Forever.

Serve God with your whole heart, in joy and contentment.
Be strong and courageous. Be not afraid.
You’re never alone in your journey of life.
God will not fail you! Be not dismayed.
Do not look back! Keep your eye on the goal!
Only what’s done for Christ will last!
Don’t rest on your laurels or deny your mistakes!
The future looks brighter than any day past.
Karin Ristau

Who could have possibly known what the year ahead would have in store for Jim and I yet I could not have begun the year with a better perspective given what transpired for us.  In fact when I look back at my journal entries for the months before his illness it is amazing to me what verses and phrases I chose for meditation and emphasis.  God was definitely preparing me for what was to come.

January 4^th:  “You never learn faith in comfortable surroundings.” 

January 16^th:  “O God!  Take me, break me, make me.” 

January 31^st :  “The thing I send is best for Thee.” 

May 23^rd:  “He worketh …even now.”

June 1^st:  “I entreat you, give no place to despondency.  This is a dangerous temptation – a refined, not a gross temptation of the adversary.  Melancholy contracts and withers the heart, and renders it unfit to receive the impressions of grace.  It magnifies and gives a false coloring and thus renders your burdens too heavy to bear.  God’s designs regarding you, and His methods of bringing about these designs, are infinitely wise.”  Madame Guyon

June 12^th:  “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct thy paths.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 

June 17^th:  “You will hear a voice say, ‘This is the way; turn around and walk here.’  Trust Him.”

June 20^th:  Be still and listen.  Thy Father knowest best.  Praise Him for all he has planned.  Do not seek to get out of God’s will.  There is a purpose for being where you are.”

It was on June 20^th, our 41^st wedding anniversary, over breakfast at McDonald’s, that Jim confided to me that he had not been feeling well.  We immediately scheduled a Doctor’s appointment and thus began our final journey together.  And I believe we traveled it well together having been so decidedly prepared. 

Today begins another year.  And again, no one can possible know what lies ahead. But I do know that if I stay close to God He will prepare me for whatever plans He has.  He has promised that.  And He does keep His promises.

My entry for today, my first of 2012, begins, “Momento Vivere”  Remember to live!

Happy New Year!

Sandy

(Note - Being journal entries I don't always reference my quotes - but most are probably from Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Chas Cowman - a favorite devotional of mine.)

Morning Coffee - Deuteronomy 33:25

The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days.  

 Deuteronomy 33:25

Perspective is an interesting thing; it colors everything we do.  And, more often than not, I let my perspective change me rather than me change my perspective.  This makes for a very unpredictable approach to life.  I find myself constantly working at rearranging my view to meet my needs as my day progresses.

Wouldn’t it be easier (and smarter) to begin each day with the proper perspective?  And then let come what may; knowing I’ll be ready.

“Your tendency upon awakening is to assess the difficulties ahead of you, measuring them against your average strength. This is an exercise in unreality.  I know what each of your days will contain, and I empower you accordingly.”

Sarah Young

Jesus Calling 

So, why not measure my difficulties against the strength of God.  After all that is the strength that is readily available to me.  And there will always be enough to face the difficulties of each day – no matter what.  That is His promise!

Time for a second cup and a prayer of thanks for His steadfast presence and immeasurable strength. 

~~~

Morning Coffee - "I remain the same..."

“Although you and your circumstances may change dramatically, I remain the same throughout time and eternity.”

 Sarah Young

Jesus Calling

When I think about this promise of His, I picture God as a straight bold line across the page of my life.  And I am the jagged line that crisscrosses Him - up and down - rarely staying completely in tandem; always coming back to Him - but never staying for very long before I’m off following my own path again. 

I also think about the well-known poem, Footprints in the Sand, and think that maybe that isn’t the way life with God is supposed to be – walking beside Him and only being carried in times of crises.  Is that really what God desires?  Or does He want us trustingly in His arms in all circumstances.

“Although you and your circumstances may change dramatically, I remain the same throughout time and eternity.”

Food for thought with my morning coffee.

~~~

Morning Coffee - Sweating the Small Stuff

The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;
      Blessed be the name of the LORD.”  Job 1:21

The best response to losses or thwarted hopes is praise:  The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.  Remember that all good things – your possessions, your family and friends, your health and abilities, your time – are gifts from Me.  Instead of feeling entitled to all these blessings, respond to them with gratitude.  Be prepared to let go of anything I take from you, but never let go of My hand.

Jesus Calling

Sarah Young

“Be prepared to let go of anything I take from you…”.   Right off, our minds go to the big things in life – loss of job, loss of family, loss of health.  But sometimes I think we have more trouble letting go of the small things.  I know that for me it’s the small stuff that gives me more trouble.  It’s as if the small stuff is really mine and I shouldn’t have to go without or deal with inconveniences and besides, it’s all sort of flying under God’s radar anyway, isn’t it?  This isn’t the stuff God cares about; He only deals in the big stuff.   

Boy, how wrong I can be sometimes.  In fact, I’m beginning to wonder if my reaction to the small stuff isn’t more indicative of the true perspective of my heart and mind.  The big stuff is – well, big – and big stuff takes extra intentional attention and I usually can muster some of that when I need to.  But the little stuff is allowed to slip by unnoticed – by me anyway.  And really, only me.  Others notice.

Time to refill my cup and prepare to focus on the small stuff of this day.

~~~

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!

~~~

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.

~~~

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

~~~