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Morning Devotional...








"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (Matthew 11:28-29, MSG)

Friend To Friend

C.H. Spurgeon wrote, "God often sends us trials that our graces may be discovered, and that we may be certified of their existence. Besides, it is not merely discovery, real growth in grace is the result of sanctified trials. God often takes away our comforts and our privileges in order to make us better Christians. He trains His soldiers, not in tents of ease and luxury, but by turning them out them to forced marches and hard service. He makes them ford through streams, and swim through rivers, and climb mountains, and walk many a long mile with heavy knapsacks of sorrow on their backs. Well, Christian, may not this account for the troubles through which thou art passing? Is not the Lord bringing out your graces, and making them grow? Is not this the reason why He is contending with you?"

Like C. H. Spurgeon, the Bible tells us hard truths.  It doesn't paint a rosy picture.  It actually paints a thorny picture.  It promises hardship. It assures us that in this life there will be troubles...times when we find ourselves caught between faith and a hard place.

Christianity is no free lunch. Faith in Christ doesn't shield us from troubles but it does help us through them. There are natural tensions here.  Questions that beg to be asked:

         

• Is God really all loving? Yes.
• Is God always good? Yes.
• Will we each find ourselves caught between faith and hard places? Yes.

Many television preachers, churches and groups will tell you differently, but the truth remains: faith is an anchor of hope for the believer. Jesus spoke of the hard times we would face. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33, NIV).

I don't have all the answers to life's hard questions, and I don't know why His hand brings healing to some and not to others, but I do know that when we take our burdens to Jesus, we can experience peace in each hard place. God is always faithful, whether we are delivered from our hard places or through them.

As Christians, we have faith in a person, God.  Faith in and of itself is meaningless, but faith in an all-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful, loving heavenly Father means everything...because - though our problems come and go - He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8 ).

I'm not sure what hard places you face today, but God knows exactly where you are and what you're facing. When you find yourself between faith and a hard place, even in the times when you don't know what to pray, turn to the Lord. God hears every cry and loves you deeply. He's placed two Scriptures on my heart to share with you:

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

"But now, this is what the LORD says--he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Isaiah 43:1-3a

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, Thanks for the reminder that I never have to walk through a trial without You. Help me to trust You in everything...even when I don't understand. Today, I bring _____________ to You and ask that You would move powerfully in and through this burden of my heart.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Thank you, Jeanne, for this week's devotional message.  I've just read through it and find it so timely and a good reminder for us all.   

Want to sing?  Use the  buttons to turn music off if you wish.

Thank you, Pat!  I don't think anyone does a better job than Bing.

Amen  and Amen

Thanks Jeanne!

Don

Good Afternoon everyone. I am learning animations and now how to resize them to much smaller. I am through with  my Christmas shopping, Buying two cameras our of my own Christmas  money  is about all I can do as I still need to  make the trip down there and also get my Oregon drivers license before I run out of $$$. Someone said to me "Why are you using your Christmas gift for practical things?" my replay is I would have used it for practical things anyway.

Thank you Jeanne for the timely devotional. although it was written years ago is is  just for today. It all depends on how each person receives the message.

Hi everyone.

Jeanne, thanks for the new devotional thought for this week.  Pat, that is a very pretty presentation visually of Silent Night.

It has been rainy and cloudy here today.  I think we are to see the sun again tomorrow.  It will make our trip downtown much more enjoyable. 

I went to church this morning and then picked up bar-b-que lunches for Pat and I as she didn't want to cook today. 

Good postings since I last posted.  Janet, that sounds like quite a suitcase you got at your painting group.  They say laughter is the best medicine.

Good evening!  I will post this and then I am headed to bed.  A sore throat is trying to attach itself to me, and I am trying my best to head it off, using prayer, zinc and vitamin C.  I didn't sleep well last night, so will try to get to bed soon.

The reception for Toni was nice.  And Abby's program was really nice.  The gal who directed it really did a super job with the kids.  There was a large group of kids, most of them stood in rows on one side of the stage and sang songs at the appropriate times, and Abby and several others were the 'actors.'  She played the part of the teacher, and the play was wonderful in that the story of Christmas was clearly explained by Abby's character, and the progression was that the kids went from a selfish attitude about the gifts under the tree, to hearing her explain Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and the plan of salvation; a couple of them prayed to accept Jesus.  Then they asked if, instead of opening the gifts themselves, could they take them to the shelter and give them to others who had nothing for Christmas.  I was praying in my heart that each child there will remember the things they learned while doing that play, and that each will truly accept Christ and live for Him.

I feel bad that I didn't get to see Beth today, so must go see her tomorrow.  I still haven't figured out how to be in two places at the same time! 

Oh!  Marilyn, you asked about Beth.  They did get her problem solved, or at least for the time being, with suppositories.  Thanks so much for thinking of and praying for her.

Jeanne, good devotional, and thanks.  Pat, I still can't get any of the music to play on this laptop.  But the graphic for Silent Night is very nice.

Larry, hope you have a good trip tomorrow, and stay safe!

Good night, friends.

Janet  you  will probably have to hook speakers up to your laptop or use a head set.

Why is there a line at the top here that says I need to install  the missing plugins which is Quicktime is  that to hear the  music that Pat posted?

Finally had time to read your devotional.  Excellent message.  Thank you for that.

yes, that is a good one, Jeanne.  Now I just have to take it to heart.  I mean that I have to say to the Lord, "Thank You, Lord, even for this trial, this sorrow, this difficulty, for I know You mean it for good to me and for glory to You."  Oh may I be more concerned for His glory and my growth than for my immediate comforts.  Oh make this true for me, my Lord.

Janet said...

QuoteI still haven't figured out how to be in two places at the same time!

That's my problem!!!  I am constantly forgetting things.  I have already been home twice this morning.  First to get my pills that I forgot to bring last night.  I printed the Euchre tallies and made two cups of milk with dry milk.  The second time over was to get my pills that I forgot last night and the first trip today!  And I brought breadstix and cheese from Pizza Hut Saturday.  I couldn't find them and figured I left them in the car.  So went to the garage and they weren't there either.  So when I went back home the second time, I found them.  In a bar stool...with INKY teeth marks on the box.  Inky had knocked them off the bar into the bar stool!  Yes, about the time I figure out how to be in two places at the same time, I will be home and coming here twice a day instead of going home twice a day! 

I called the doctors office this morning to get an appointment for Ivalou to get a blood draw and the message was 'The number you called is not taking calls at this time.'  Never had a message like that before! 

Thanks, Jeanne, for the devotional today.  Great message.  And I love Bing!! 

Etta Sue, I'll bet it is because it is because of the Christmas season.  We have messages like that up here all the time.  We can never leave a message.

Well this day has moved on at a fairly fast pace.  I am wanting to get some baking done today for Christmas.  I will have Heather and her family as well as Doug and his family here Christmas Day.  Mother is coming as well. So it will be a noisy busy day here n the farm.  I am going to suggest all the kids go sledding after dinner so we all can get the dishes and food all put away.  Perhaps by then we will have a rink made up and some can go skating.

Decorating the house seems to be put off by the day.  Today through to Wednesday night will be in North Bay at concerts and such, so the earliest will be Thursday.   It seems everyone else is done!

Have a great day I have baking to do.

Well I finished my shopping, I got a pk of 20 batteries for Forest who is 9 and Savannah who is 13½ to share for their cameras. I also bought Keith another  jar of peanuts, he goes through about 5 jars of unsalted peanuts a month along with his must have cake and ice cream. I bought marshmallows to may some Rocky Road fudge to take to the family when I go down, I will make them a loaf of Banana bread, too. I got some mini loaf pans but I think I will make them a regular size loaf. Maybe some small ones to give as presents.

I need to spend less time on this computer. my back right between my shoulder blades has been hurting. I sure needed that yoga class this morning, my back felt real good afterward.

Well I better get busy, I have not done a thing today except go to yoga  fix a couple of sandwiches for lunch and go shopping. I did look at some tops for me but  nothing really jumped out at me.

Jeanne:  Thanks for your wonderful words.  There is  a Reason for the Season

Marilyn:  You didn't have a top jump out at you?  Well, that is OK - it would have been a lively shopping trip. 

We just had someone come and fix a broken spring on our garage door.  It is much too much for us to work on these things anymore.  thankful that we can pay for it.

Yep Carol if it doesn't jump right out at me  am not  going to buy it.
It has to jump off the rack into my basket or onto my arm.

Hi, friends, I've had physical therapy, hunted up a new recipe I want to try, and now's time to get my kitchen ready to tell it goodnight!



I'm certainly enjoying that music. Y'all have a good rest of the day.

Hi everyone.  It looks like I am first to post for this new day. 

Yesterday was a full day.  We took Stacey for an important appointment that she had at 1 pm.  We got her there on time and then waited until 2:20 for them to call her name.  There were some really interesting people in the waiting room.  It was 4:15 before we got home. 

Pat had a quilting guild Christmas party last evening but I had a quiet evening in my easy chair. 

Today is a meeting this morning and then we have been invited to a Christmas luncheon.  I think that will complete our special Christmas activities.  We still need to wrap and mail the Christmas packages to our great grandchildren and to our granddaughter and her husband. 

Well-I guess I be number two for posting, hehehe! Larry you got me beat by 7 minutes...

Want to share with you my friends-my dauighter is in early labor-she called this morning at 6...I went to check and yep surely is in labor...I'm so excited...my 1st is having her 1st....Perfect timing as her Drs appt was at 11:30 today...God really knows how to time...I praise and thank Him for all his wonderful works...

And you My Friends I wish for a rejoiceful, blessed, happy day...

I had a crazy-busy day yesterday and didn't make it in to post.  Beth called me just as I was walking down the hall to her room.    She asked me to meet her at Alco at 1:30, as they were taking them there to do a little shopping.  So I went, and they arrived exactly at 1:29--I was surprised!  She got a few things.  I couldn't manage both her wheelchair and a shopping cart, so I just put the items on her lap, and we managed.  She didn't get that much, but it was nice she could get out and choose a few things herself.  That took a chunk of my day.  And of course, there are always so many things to do this time of the year!

I may not be back for a couple of days, so you kids try and behave, will you?  and that includes YOU, too, AL!!  

Well, today is Euchre!  And guess what?  Ivalou is going and she is going to play!  We got the cards out last evening and she shuffled, dealt them out and held them in her hand and played.  Euchre is only 24 cards to shuffle and only 5 cards to hold in your hand so that is great!  She is excited to get to go out. 

After Euchre is Photo Guild for me.  So I won't eat with the Euchre group and another lady is bringing Ivalou home.  I am taking my Cornbread Salad to Guild and will probably be driving there by myself since I probably won't get to Kitty or Cherie's by the time they leave.  Busy day! 

And I finally talked to the doctor's office and Ivalou's blood draw for her kidney functioning will be Jan 4.  She gets to go to Ohio with Jo between Christmas and New Year.  Now...where can I go?  I wish I had someone to go to a motel with a heated pool for a couple of nights.  But will probably just sit home and think of all you people who are having to take down your decorations before relaxing again!

That's it for this neck of the woods!

Treadmill is done and sipping coffee and listening to a local station - the story should be national but most won't pick up the real news.  Don is still asleep because he had a long time of being awake - even new sleeping pills have no effect.  My back is iffy for some reason this morning. 

you have to be a very strong Christian to step back and give thanks when things are going sour.  It brings a feeling of contentment when you really need that peace of mind. 

I made two French Canadian meat pies for Christmas Eve and they are frozen.  My freezer is packed and there are so many more things I would like to bake.  Again, no pumpkin at WalMart so that will be interesting to see if I get to bake pumpkin bread this year.  Tonight is grandson's concert; my two quilting groups had luncheons and neighbors and friends keep inviting us - I had to "learn" a new card game and made it through - now some others want us to learn Mexican Train.  We have never been game players and now muddle through because everyone else wants to play these games.  January is the month when we have invited everyone at different times to visit as this is too busy right now. 

Janet:  It is just great that Beth could get out - I like the ALCO stores, they have nice fabric.  Baking Vanilla Raisin bread today - for gifts. 

Carol Thank you for filling in the missing ingredient on my Christmas Eve menu.  I want to have a peaceful night with John and the girls and that will do it for us. I too can make it ahead!!

Good morning everyone.  We have a Christmas Eve service at Church, as well as a concert on the 20th.  That is the limit of our Christmas traveling.

I am going out to get new tires on our van today.  Kass has band practice today so that will leave me some time to do a bit of shopping.

We had snow again last night.  No bus cancellations though.  Tomorrow the temperature is to drop and the frigid temperatures of the prairies will hit.  I am not looking forward to that.

Pat I had a nice conversation with Paul last night.  I do enjoy his calls.

Well I must run i have a pair of slacks of Dougs to mend. Wish our mother was here she had a knack for mending a right angle tear.  Thankfully it is a small one..

Have a great day everyone

Good Morning, Please excuse  while I snivel a little bit here this morning. Last night I returned a call to Gilbert, He suggested that I come  down on Christmas day rather than the day before because Christmas morning was when they had their little family Christmas before going to Sarah's parents, but I was welcome to  be there too. He will let me know. I told him it would be too much for me to drive down on Christmas morning  go to Ann and John's for Gift giving and dinner then go to the nursing home to see Fay, spend the night and drive back home the next morning. That it would hardly be worth the  $$ I would spend on gas to even come down at all. So that is  still up in the air.

Then he tells me that when he told Sarah what I got the kids for Christmas she said that was what she wanted to get them. As it turns out the camera I bought for Forest is not what he specified, he wants a Canon Camera; for heavens sake, the kid is only  9 and wants an expensive camera that I can't afford anyway. Then he tells me that Savannah already has a camera that is much better than the one I bought, so could I please take them back and get something else for the kids.

I did let him know how disappointed I was and he told me he would call me today and let me know what I could get for the kids.
By the time I got off the phone I was so disappointed that  now I don't even want tog o there  for Christmas. I can't afford the expensive gifts that   they and  the other grandparents can buy as it is Gilbert and Sarah are going to shop on credit cards because they don't have the money either. I just can't keep up with the Jones; (yes that is really Sarah's parent's name) and I have never even tried. I just wanted to get the kids something they wanted and wouldn't want to return because they didn't like it.

Well now that I have vented I will go back to my corner and pout some more. I am so disappointed.

Marilyn be thankful that you have contact with the family.  Many have fragmented families and that is heartbreaking. Be thankful for what you DO have.
What about a gift card then they can get what they want.

Judy I know what it is like not to have contact with family members I have 4 other  older children that I haven't seen in about 16 years. I only have contact with one of them. My daughter never ever has returned any of my calls when I have had to leave a message on the machine. As far as the two oldest sons I don't even know where they live or have phone numbers for them.

Don't you think that I know the heartbreak of fragmented families?  I am living it!!!!!! I  am so thankful for  what I DO!!!!!!! have, This part of my family is very important to me.

I"m sorry, Marilyn.

I can't even imagine that after going to buy the presents you've bought.  I truly am sorry.  Were you going to go down on Christmas Eve?  Was that what was planned first?

Pat I was planning on arriving there on the afternoon of the 24th. and coming home on the 26th so as not to wear out my welcome. I would have loved to stay until Sunday. Keith is  staying home  and caring for all the animals. Over Thanksgiving we boarded the dogs and stayed at a motel while we were there so it turned in to be an expensive two days.

The kids have a small house and not really enough room for  more than one overnight guest. As it is I slept on the floor on an air mattress when I went down over Labor day. Keith is doing the drawings/plans/blueprints for them to  remodel and  put a second story on the house.

Pat  am sorry to whine here but I  was so disappointed after than phone call, and also hurt by Judy's comment.

Don't worry about whining, Marilyn.   That would be such a sad phone call.  I know how I'd feel if I received it after I had made all my plans.

Something kind of nice to read...




The yellow shirt had long sleeves, four extra-large pockets trimmed in black thread and snaps up the front.  It was faded from years of wear, but still in decent shape.  I found it in 1963 when I was home from college on Christmas break, rummaging through bags of clothes Mom intended to give away.

'You're not taking that old thing, are you?' Mom said when she saw me packing the yellow shirt..  'I wore that when I was pregnant with your brother in 1954!'

'It's just the thing to wear over my clothes during art class, Mom.  Thanks!'  I slipped it into my suitcase before she could object.  The yellow shirt be came a part of my college wardrobe.  I loved it.

After graduation, I wore the shirt the day I moved into my new apartment and on Saturday mornings when I cleaned. 

The next year, I married.  When I became pregnant, I wore the yellow shirt during big-belly days.  I missed Mom and the rest of my family, since we were in Colorado and they were in Illinois .  But, that shirt helped.  I smiled, remembering that Mother had worn it when she was pregnant, 25 years earlier. 

That Christmas, mindful of the warm feelings the shirt had given me, I patched one elbow, wrapped it in holiday paper and sent it to Mom.  When Mom wrote to thank me for her 'real' gifts, she said the yellow shirt was lovely.  She never mentioned it again.. 

The next year, my husband, daughter and I stopped at Mom and Dad's to pick up some furniture.  Days later, when we uncrated the kitchen table, I noticed something yellow taped to its bottom.  The shirt! 

And so the pattern was set.
 

On our next visit home, I secretly placed the shirt under Mom and Dad's mattress.  I don't know how long it took for her to find it, but almost two years passed before I discovered it under the base of our living-room floor lamp.  The yellow shirt was just what I needed now while refinishing furniture.  The walnut stains added character. 

In 1975 my husband and I divorced.  With my three children, I prepared to move back to Illinois .  As I packed, a deep depression overtook me.  I wondered if I could make it on my own.   I wondered if I would find a job.  I paged through the Bible, looking for comfort.  In Ephesians, I read, 'So use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy whenever he attacks, and when it is all over, you will be standing up.' 

I tried to picture myself wearing God's armor, but all I saw was the stained yellow shirt.  Slowly, it dawned on me.  Wasn't my mother's love a piece of God's armor?  My courage was renewed. 

Unpacking in our new home, I knew I had to get the shirt back to Mother.  The next time I visited her, I tucked it in her bottom dresser drawer.

Meanwhile, I found a good job at a radio station.  A year later I discovered the yellow shirt hidden in a rag bag in my cleaning closet.

Something new had been added.  Embroidered in bright green across the breast pocket were the words 'I BELONG TO PAT.' 

Not to be outdone, I got out my own embroidery materials and added an apostrophe and seven more letters.

Now the shirt proudly proclaimed, 'I BELONG TO PAT'S MOTHER.'  But I didn't stop there.  I zig-zagged all the frayed seams, then had a friend mail the shirt in a fancy box to Mom from Arlington , VA.   We enclosed an official looking letter from 'The Institute for the Destitute,' announcing that she was the recipient of an award for good deeds.

I would have given anything to see Mom's face when she opened the box.  But, of course, she never mentioned it. 

Two years later, in 1978, I remarried.  The day of our wedding, Harold and I put our car in a friend's garage to avoid practical jokers. After the wedding, while my husband drove us to our honeymoon suite, I reached for a pillow in the car to rest my head.  It felt lumpy.  I unzipped the case and found, wrapped in wedding paper, the yellow shirt.  Inside a pocket was a note:  'Read John 14:27-29.  I love you both, Mother.' 

That night I paged through the Bible in a hotel room and found the verses:  'I am leaving you with a gift: peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't fragile like the peace the world gives.  So don't be troubled or afraid.  Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again.  If you really love me, you will be very happy for me, for now I can go to the Father, who is greater than I am. I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do, you will believe in me. 

The shirt was Mother's final gift.  She had known for three months that she had terminal Lou Gehrig's disease.  Mother died the following year at age 57 

I was tempted to send the yellow shirt with her to her grave.  But I'm glad I didn't, because it is a vivid reminder of the love-filled game she and I played for 16 years.  Besides, my older daughter is in college now, majoring in art.  And every art student needs a baggy yellow shirt with big pockets.