Momma

On this Memorial Day, I couldn’t help but think about my Momma.  Of course I always think of our soldiers and what they gave for our country, but this memorial day was different for me, I stepped back in time and thought about the precious lady that gave me life.  I thought about her laughter and giggles.  The sweetest thing she was.  She was shy, and unassuming, but would do anything for anybody.  She was a helper Bee.  She was pretty much perfect in my eyes.  She was a concert pianist and once played in the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. My grandparents who were from Scandinavia were determined to make her a piano super star forced her to take many lessons for years and made her practice up to 6 hours a day.   The results were tremendous but she was very humble about the whole thing and rarely  talked about it.  Her favorite thing to do was to play by ear, she was great doing the boogie woogie. I loved my Momma and so did my brother.  I lost my Momma when I was 19 years old.  Nearly lost my whole family in one quick moment of time.   While taking my brother and his friends on a swimming party for his birthday, they were hit head on by a drunk driver going 120 miles per hour.  I will never forget that morning when Momma came in to wake me up.  Wanted me to go with them.  I was to tired and decided to stay home.  Had I gone I would have been in the middle seat and surely would have had the same fate as my mom.  My brother and his friends were in the back of the pickup and were thrown out and all very injured, my brother being the worst.  My dad was also very badly injured.  It was a very horrible day in our lives and one that you  never can imagine happening.  This photo is the truck in which they were riding.   All of this to say:  The heartache was so horrible, I had a really hard time induring it all.  But what helped me most is that I knew my mom knew Jesus, and I cried out to the Jesus she knew for comfort.  I later came to know him myself.   Because I know my Momma knew Jesus I know she is there now with Him, and I can’t wait to see her again.  What a hope we have.  This life can give us some pretty tough times, but with the Lord we press on and will make it to the end of our journey, keeping our eyes on the Lord.  Thank you Lord for my Momma who was such a great example for me in the 19 years I had her.

Troubled But Not Distressed

When we are in Christ, and we have the mind of Christ.  We have the ability to walk through the storms of life and have peace in the midst of trouble.  We can wonder why, but not despair over it.  We just trust the Lord.  persecution may come, but we hold our heads up high because we know that Jesus never leaves us or forsakes us.  Being cast down means to  actually be down on our backs and not able to get up on our own. The the Lord picks us up during those times.  We are a blessed people, knowing that Jesus will bring us through the things that would normally drive us crazy or tear us down.  The mind of Christ which we have, is not crazy.  We may have these experiences, but we are able to handle them because of Jesus.  Thank You Lord!!!

Jesus, The Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever

As I have traveled, I always love to see the wonderful old churches, that can be found around our country.  They can be in the middle of paradise,  in green country pastures, and sometimes in the dry dusty desert.  There has always been a remnant of people in any loation that will build a place of wordship.  As I stand in these lovely  churches or even view them from afar my mind goes to that time, and who these people might have been.  I am also reminded that Jesus is the same, yesterday,today,and forever.  This church is in Bodi, California circa 1800’s.  I think of the joy these people had as they built this church, board by board to honor and worship the Lord.  Today many in the body of Christ meet in warehouses, store fronts, and the like, but no matter where we meet he is there with us, he has never changed and never will .                                         

Never Alone

When I took this photo, I knew right away the scripture that was to go on it.  Alone at the end of the earth, that is what I saw here.  I think we have all been there in our lives.  Through circumstance or events, sometimes of our own making we feel very alone and overwhelmed.  At times like this we feel very small and helpless.  The good news is that at times like that our Rock who is Jesus Christ is there to hear our desperate cries.  He wants us to cry unto him and not the hand of man or the world.  We just need to get to the Rock, he is so much higher than any of our troubles. 

Love The Lord

There are times in life when we are not sure if we are loved back when we love.  It’s really hard to know for sure about love and it can sometimes lead to heartache.  But you can be sure if you love the Lord your God you will be loved back many times over.  The next part of the above scripture means several things to me.  Seek him early.  Why waste your life thinking you will wait til you have sewn all of your wild oats.  Time you could have spent with the Lord is wasted in those  years.   Second point of seek him early is; rise early in the morning when the dew is still on the grass and  all is quiet.  Meet the Lord in the morning light, for prayer.  Meet him as you read the Word with him.  Or just walk and talk with him.  I find that the best time of all.  That beautiful quiet time makes it easy to hear the still small voice of the Lord.

Joyful Noise

What is a joyful noise?  Well joy is the epitome of happy.  You can be joyful when you are pleased, blessed or thankful.  The Lord does all of these things for us.  We are blessed, have much to be thankful for and I personally am very pleased with my Lord.   That joyful noise can be singing joyfully unto the Lord.  You can even make up your own song to the Lord, he loves hearing that joyful noise.  You say “but I can’t sing.” Remember It says noise!  We can praise him joyfully as we pray.  Tell him how happy you are, and how blessed you are to know him.  Think if you were the Lord, and all you heard was sad needs and complaints. He wants to hear the great things and the joyful things in our lives.  He deserves our joyful praises!  Make some joyful noises today.  This little guy is my grandson.  He is now 15 and a fine young man.

Wonders

As we walk along life’s path with our Lord, seek out his wonders.  They are very instrumental in building our faith and love of the Father.  A wonder is something awe-inspiring.  Something far superior to anything.  The dictionary even says a wonder can be a miracle. The saying goes, take time and smell the roses.  I would say take time and see the wonders. I was in Alaska here and it was a wonderous moment.  I was in awe and so thankful that I had the opportunity to take this photo.  I saw a wonder!!  A wonder can be right where you are.  His wonders are all around us, the sky, the stars, the moon.  A baby is a wonder beyond our comprehension.  They are little miracles.  Today think about his wonders, and in life take time to see the wonders of the Lord our God.

Un-forgiveness

Un-forgiveness is a seed that grows into bitterness.  It is like a cancer that will eat away at an otherwise happy man or woman.  Those roots of bitterness go deep  and are very painful, shattering every vestige of peace.  But most importantly the Word says that if we forgive the people who have hurt us and made us angry, he will also forgive us.  Matthew goes on to say that if we don’t forgive men their trespasses, our Heavenly Father will not forgive us. That is a strong word from the Lord, because he knows the unhappy life that can result in un-forgiveness. If we are in pursuit of the Lord and want to be like him, we need to take a good look at his character.  He is gentle, kind, and full of mercy.  Most of all, he is full of love and forgiveness.  So whatever it is that you have been holding on to, let it go.  Invite the Lord to pull that root of bitterness out .  It is then that you will find true happiness.  Let this be a day of forgiveness.

Great Things?

The Lord has done great things for us, really?  He does great things for us everyday of our life, but we just look for the big things.  That is a common problem with many who call themselves His.  Those who don’t know him don’t acknowledge him for any thing he does.  Every breath that we take is a great thing that he has done.  Every step that we take is a great thing.  He created us so we can walk.  Those eyes that are always looking for the great big things are one of Gods greatest things.  Many small things are great too, and we can tend to overlook them.  In my world a robin pair decided to make her nest on our front porch near the top.  They worked and they worked, and the wind would blow it away, or we would walk out the door and scare them away.   They never gave up and much to our delight, the nest is complete and mom is sitting in it.  I feel honored that they chose our porch, and I thank the Lord for that Great Thing, It has made me glad.  Look for all the great things that he is doing for you, and I am sure you too will be glad!

Our Help Comes From The Lord

We are helpless without you Lord.  You supply all of our needs and fill us with Joy.  But so often when a need is before us we look elsewhere for our help. What is that about us, that we so quickly forget where our help comes from.  Today, many people need jobs, their help is in the name of the Lord.  People have health problems,  their help is in the name of the Lord.  There are those who have relationship problems, their help is in the name of the Lord.  Depression is a huge problem, Our help is in the name of the Lord.  We need to let the Lord take us by the right hand and help us.  When the scripture hit home in my heart, I picture the Lord always on my right side, holding my hand.  It does bring a wonderful peace knowing that.  He says fear not about those problems that are looming about you.  “I will help you”.  Help me today dear Lord, I need your help  everyday for every thing.  I can do nothing without you.  “Our help is in the name o the Lord who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:8