Prayer

Prayer! What is it that keeps us on our knees. Is it concern for a child? A sick loved one? Difficulty at work ?The dying? Prayer is the essence of conversing with God, our Father.

Here is a quote by Max Lucado from his book "Outlive Your Life" -

Did God call us to preach without ceasing? Or teach without ceasing? Or have committee meetings without ceasing? Or sing without ceasing? No, but he did call us to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thess 5:17).
Did Jesus declare: My house shall be called a house of study? Fellowship? Music? A house of exposition? A house of activities? No, but he did say, "My house will be called a house of prayer" Mark 11:17."

"Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray for us, too that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ." Col 4:2-3 NLT

"God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, you created all that exists, and you sustain all through your infinite wisdom and boundless power. Yet you invite me to come to you in prayer, boldly and with the expectation that you will hear and answer me. Teach me, Lord to take full advantage of this privilege, especially in regard to reaching others with your love. Give me a heart for those who have yet to experience the fullness of your grace, and prompt me to pray for them and for their welfare. In Jesus name, amen."

A day to remember

Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May. It is a day set aside for remembering and honoring those who died while serving in the American Armed Forces. This holiday has also been called "Decoration Day", and is the unofficial beginning of summer.

The holiday began around the time of the American Civil War. More Americans died in this war than in any other US war. According to tradition some women chose May 30th to decorate the graves of the Civil War soldiers.

In 1971 Congress passed a law making Memorial Day a national holiday. Originally it honored those who died in the Civil War, Spanish American War, World Wars I and II, and the Korean War.

People of the Christian faith see a spiritual application to Memorial Day. According to Biblical writings and history, Jesus died in a spiritual struggle for the destiny of mankind. Without His death, which paid for man's sins, all humanity was lost, and had no future with God. Because of Christ's sacrifice, Christians enjoy a relationship with God and know their sins are forgiven. Churches have a memorial of Jesus' death. It is often called The Lord's Supper, Communion, The Lord's Table and others.

I am thankful for the men and women who gave their lives to keep our country free. I am thankful for a Savior who saved me from the punishment I deserve and gave me the free gift of Life eternal.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Happy Mother's Day

May this day bring some sweet memory to cherish in your heart.


"Psalm for Mama"
Forgive me for the times I may have hurt you. Hear the song of love in my heart.

I do not remember the times I drank from your breasts, or the times I slept in your arms, or the times you sat beside me as I tossed with fevers.

I do not remember them, but I know those times existed. I have experienced those times with my daughter who will also not remember them.

I now understand things only mothers understand.

And at night, when I bend over and kiss your granddaughter, I sometimes feel your love in the room.

I only hope.... you can feel mine too!
(Terry Helwig)

Miss you Mom.........

Invisible Mother

INVISIBLE MOTHER

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store..

Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously, not.

No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all.

I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated sum a cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going; she's going; she is
gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England.

Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling
pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.'

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe .. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To My Dear Friend, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.

These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam; He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it..' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place.

It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.

The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'you're going to love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right; And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Great Job, MOM!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YU0aNAHXP0

My Pressed Flower Friend

My Pressed Flower Friend

In my book of memories, 

there is a pressed Flower that fills a page,

With a gentle fragrance lingering still,

though it's faded now with age.

The way my Friend smiled and laughed,

The many ways she cared,

Are a legacy that she left behind

In stories I love to share.

So remember the hearts who've touched

your life,

It's what we each are here for.

A pressed Flower gently reminds us

To love and treasure our friendships more.

·.·.,¸¸,.·´¯`·.,¸¸,.·´¯`·.·\o/.(¨`-¦-´¨).\o/·.·´¯`·.,¸¸,.·´¯`·.,¸¸,.·.·

I love you Diane.  Your Fragrance still lingers.

A Harvest

Every single morning when I get up, I have to decide what I am going to wear. Sometimes it is an easy decision, other times it is tough. There are days when I look in the mirror and sigh (hurmph). Do I look sharp or frumpy.

But each and every day, the garden is dressed with no cares. The seeds were planted, and they know what they will produce. We water and fertilize and wait for the beautiful show. Some of the fruit are beautiful, and some are a little wonky. But they taste delicious just the same.

"Therefore, I tell you, don't be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn't life more than food, and the body more than clothing? See the birds of the sky, that they don't sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you of much more value than they? "Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan? Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin, yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won't he much more clothe you, you of little faith? "Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself."

God's Promises

For the last week or so we have had a bird who is singing the praises of Spring. Well singing, might not really be the appropriate word. Let's just say, this bird has been screeching, chattering, hollering, and on occasion singing.

It's a Mockingbird and she is either very mad or very happy. I cannot really tell, mostly because I don't speak bird. But she has been insistent in her call. She starts early every morning and does not stop until the sun is gone for the day.

I've also noticed a white cat roaming around in our neighborhood. One day as I was pulling up into our driveway I saw the white cat running out of our yard. Hummm......... could there be some sort of connection here?

Every morning I go out to check our little tomato plants and give them a drink of water. This morning I heard Mrs. Mockingbird singing once again. But then it all stopped. I wondered why. And then I heard the rain. The pouring down rain.

So my little Mockingbird friend has found some cover and has silenced her song. The rain won't last long. It's a much needed Spring shower, doing a better job at watering my small garden and will soon pass.

But I think of Mrs. Mockingbird. Is she mourning the loss of her little eggs? She flits about here and there. I don't know, but she does.

"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God.
"Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
"And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God,
"but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. "
Luke 12:6-9

We have storms and rain that pass our way but may your day be full of Sunshine, Spring flowers and God's promises!