What Truly Matters

 

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must no show favoritism.  Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in.  If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? ~James 2:1-4

Can you guess who owns the shoes pictured above?  If you thought Danny, you'd be right on the money.  Yes, they are worn, torn and mighty forlorn, but he can't bring himself to toss them in the trash.  He insists that they are the most comfortable pair of shoes he has.  In fact, he's wearing them at the moment as he's blowing more leaves off of our decks and yard.

When we have plans to leave the house on a given day, Danny is careful to change into a presentable pair, either the brown ones for doctor's appointments,

or the black tennis shoes if our destination is the park.

There have been numerous occasions in the past when we've arrived at a grocery store, started our shopping, and Danny suddenly realizes, to his chagrin, he's forgotten to change out of, what he affectionately calls, his "Hobo Shoes."

Yes, that has caused plenty of moments of embarrassment for him, enough that we now make it a ritual to recite our check list verbally before departing the house:  Keys, wallet, phone, SHOES.

Maybe, this tendency to feel a sense of shame is a bi-product of being Baby Boomers.  We are taught by our parents to appear presentable whenever we go out in public.  To do anything else invites humiliation upon the family.  When I see younger generations sporting pajama bottoms, ratty T-shirts and slippers to do their shopping, I catch myself shaking my head and wondering if their parents have taught them anything about societal propriety.

Or did the pandemic that forced lock downs produce a culture where being unkempt and lax is okay, no matter where you go or who you're with?

Okay, am I being too critical?  Too picky?  After all, the person dressed to the nines may look attractive on the outside, but that's no guarantee that he or she has a heart of gold.  Whereas the teen with a nose ring, wearing ripped jeans and shuffling along in slippers just might be the most loving, caring person you could ever hope to meet.

The message I think that James is conveying in the above verses mirrors the old adage: Don't judge a book by its cover.  Actually, as Christians, we shouldn't judge at all.  That's God's job.

And if anyone sees Danny on those rare occasions when he's wearing his hobo shoes and thinks less of him for it?  I say, as the one who knows him inside and out, it's their loss.  He has a heart for God, and that's what truly matters.

Amen!

I Want to See

 

"What do you want me to do for you?"  Jesus asked him.  The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." ~Mark 10:51

Years ago, I have cataract surgery on my left eye that truly needs it.  No, I don't follow up with my right eye because it isn't in dire straits and I don't mind continuing to wear a contact in that eye.  Everything has been just fine until about six months ago.  That's when I begin to notice just a slight lack of clarity in my vision.

Fast forward to last week.  I visit my eye doctor for my annual check up, prepared to ask him questions about the seeming disfunction happening and about my frustration with reading text in books and on the computer without the convenience of larger print.  Regular, standard type, at times, simply isn't legible.

A scan of the back of my left eyeball tells the tale.  Over time, scar tissue has formed where the surgery to implant the corrective lens is done and the cataracts removed.  According to Dr. H., whom I trust completely, this is a common occurrence, and he procedure to clean up the scars and restore my vision is quick and painless.  Of course, I will have to go to the same place that did my cataract surgery in the first place; it's about an hour's ride there from our house.

The procedure is scheduled for Wednesday of this week at 2:00 (EST).  Afterwards, my eyes will be dilated for an indeterminate length of time, so reading and responding to comments here during that adjustment period simply won't be happening.  However, as you all probably well know, I will respond to your comments as soon as I possibly can.

In the meantime, I would so appreciate everyone's prayers for a successful outcome.  Jesus knows how precious our eyesight is to us as witnessed by the many references in the New Testament to His willingness to heal those who were blind.  He cares so deeply for us and our needs and always, always hears our prayers.  May we never cease to hive Him all the honor and glory, and thank Him with grateful hearts for all that He has done.

Amen!

A Gratitude Attitude

 

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. ~1 Thessalonians 5:18

November is here!!!  How I love this month with is chilly mornings, falling leaves, cozy sweaters, and wool socks.  The very best part of November, at least for me, is Thanksgiving.  This is a holiday for traditional foods and family gatherings that bring back precious memories, and invites us to make new ones.  But most importantly, it is a time to intentionally thank God for all His grace-filled blessings which He lavishes upon us each and every day.

I'm sure that all of you who follow me here are grateful to the Lord for all He has done.  But do we stop and actually take time to thank Him?  Verbally or in writing?  If you are a parent, you understand the monumental task of teaching your children from the moment they can speak to say the "magic" words, please and thank you.  What a glorious day it is when our children say, "Thank you," without having to be prompted or prodded to do so.

Imagine, then, how our heavenly Father feels when we actually tell Him, "Thank you," and mean it with all our heart.  I can envision Him smiling broadly like a proud Papa at His beloved children.

That's why I've decided to start a Gratitude Attitude journal for the month of November.  I'll write down at least one thing for which I'm grateful each day.  Some days, of course, I will certainly record more than one circumstance or happening where the Lord deserves my thanks and praise.  At month's end, I'll have a record of the manifold ways in which God has blessed me and others in my life.

Would you like to join me in this journal adventure of gratitude?  Or, maybe, you're already engaged in a daily routine of keeping a journal of your thankful thought to God.  Either way, I'd love to hear about it in the comment section below.

And who knows?  We may all fall in love with our gratitude attitudes toward our Abba that this practice will continue until the moment we draw our last breath here on earth.  And the best news?  We can then spend eternity thanking Him face to face.

Amen!

Day After Day

 

Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. ~Acts 5:42

I'm a homebody.  Yes, I do like occasional outings, but these days, I'm happiest and most content when I can be at or close to home.  I actually enjoy the simple, dependable routines of the day to day.

My Circadian rhythm wakes me with remarkable accuracy upon which I can depend.  My first task of the morning is to push the start button on our coffee maker that's been prepared the night before.  I'll cursorily check my email, and once I have coffee in hand, I'll read, delete or comment as I see fit.

I listen to the morning news on my headphones because Danny likes to sleep in whenever he can.  After my coffee while my program is still running, I'll get up during commercials to prepare Danny's coffee and possibly work a few Jumble puzzles.

I wait until 9:00 before I shuffle back to our master bath to take my shower.  Once that's complete and I'm dressed, it's back to the kitchen to prepare my breakfast.  Believe it or not, I eat, and enjoy, the same items every morning.

Once Danny is awake and taking his shower, I'll slip back into our bedroom to brush my teeth, dry my hair and, of course, make up the bed.

Mornings are never off to a good start if I don't accomplish that particular chore.

Mid-mornings find me visiting blogs, leaving comments, completing my Five Across word puzzle, and most importantly, spending time in devotions, Bible reading and prayer.

Lunch?  If it's a wonderful stay-at-home day, my go-to repast, as boring as it seems, is peanut butter on toast piled with actual peanuts and a small glass of whole milk.  The protein in both of these foods really holds me for a good long while.

The remainder of the afternoon is usually spent in reading books and blogs writing a new blog using my mini-bike, and doing other necessary chores like laundry and dishes.

Now that the weather is cooler, though, both Danny and I want to make a point of walking at our local city park which is what we do last Sunday.  The air is brisk and refreshing, and the outdoor exercise is a welcome change for the both of us.

Dinner is always delightful because Danny is the best chef!  I love it when he surprises me with something special like he does with this fancy-looking chicken pot pie with puff pastry on top.

Once I've cleaned up after dinner, it's backgammon time! 

I'm off to a fairly strong start this wee, but Danny is known for his winning unless his dice decide to go south on him.  Win or lose it's always great fun and a pleasant way to unwind at the end of the day.

And don't worry about me not leading a more challenging life, friends.  We've juggled countless doctors' appointments over the last two years, and it's simply a relief to have a normal, non-eventful day here and there.

I'll be the first to admit that in light of the apostles preaching day after day in the temple courts, and going house to house spreading the Good News of Jesus, my day after day sounds trivial and, dare I say, a bit selfish.  Oh, just imagine the joy the message of the risen Jesus, the Messiah, brought to them and to all who heard their testimony and believed!

But even in my quiet, uneventful days, God still calls to me, inviting me to meet His miracles in the mundane.  And that's what this blog is all about.

Amen!

Five Across Fever!

 

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. ~Matthew 24:35

I've always loved word games.  Whether it's old-fashioned Scrabble or Jumble puzzles, I find them all to be delightful pastimes with the added bonus of stimulating my brain at the same time.

Several months ago, I discover this free Five Across word game on the Fox News website.  I'm immediately hooked!  I have to admit that it takes me some time and practice before I actually develop a strategy to better tackle the daily puzzle, and those tactics aren't foolproof by any means.  Still, it's a rarity for me NOT to guess the word well within the six lines given.

Here's the puzzle I solve this past Saturday.

Notice that on my first try, I use as many vowels as possible.  This will not only tell me if the vowel is present, but automatically eliminates the wrong choices.  The latter will be greyed out, vowels and consonants that are there but in the wrong place will show up on a brown background, while correct letter placements are displayed in green.

As you can see, I really luck out on my second try as three of the five letters are in their right location.  But do you see, too, that it takes me until the next to the last try to actually get the winning word?  Yes, even when I have this kind of advantage, I can still come up against linguistic roadblocks.

Have I ever solved the word on the first try?  Nope!  The second?  Only once, and what a lucky fluke that was!  Most of the time, as my stats show, it takes me at least four tries to realize success.

Here's my better try on Sunday.

This also illustrates the brown background of a letter in the wrong place in the puzzle.  I solve it in three tries!

The only drawback?  Just one Five Across is offered per day.  Probably good for a word nerd like me who would easily become addicted to playing game after game after game instead of meeting the real demands of the day.  I'd certainly develop a chronic case of Five Across Fever!

As much fun as I have with these word challenges, like all else in heaven and earth, these will eventually pass away.  But what a comfort it is to know that the words of Jesus will never be obsolete.  They are eternal and eternally true.  And for all who believe in Him and His saving grace when God calls you home, rest assured that you will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Amen!

Blown Away!

 

To everything there is a season.  A time for every purpose under heaven. ~Ecclesiastes 3:1

Ahh!  The first signs of fall are finally here!  The early morning temperatures dip into the high 50s and by afternoon, the sun-warmed air is a balmy 79 degrees at most.  Neither Danny nor I enjoy the hot, muggy days of summer, so these cool and breezy autumn days are a slice of heaven for us.

As many of you already know, our home is nestled in the woods.  The thick moss growing in so much shade is our lawn, and Danny takes great pride in maintaining it.  The only "yard" work in which he engages is weed-whacking in the spring/early summer and, as you may have already guessed, blowing off the leaves from the yard and driveway in the fall.

The chore is not a one-and-done activity.  Even before the leaves begin changing into their brilliant reds and yellows those which are dry, brown and brittle eagerly descend to the ground.  If Danny doesn't tackle this first invasion early, the eventual avalanche of fallen leaves will overwhelm any attempt to blow them off the moss.  No, don't ask either one of us to rake such massive amounts!

Here are some photos of Danny hard at work this past Friday and Saturday.

You may have detected a difference in the leaf blowers he's using.  The larger one with the cord is Danny's heavy-duty electric blower and the smaller one is a battery-powered model which, he concludes, is better suited to clear debris off our decks than to remove leaves from the moss.  That mistake won't be repeated.

It blows me away that with all the medial issues that have plagued Danny over these past two years, he can even begin to accomplish this task.  No small miracle!  The physical activity is good for him as his doctors want him to get exercise, but they also caution him not to overdo it.  That's, of course, my concern, too.  Danny promises me he will be mindful of his body and stop when he feels he should, not when he absolutely has to.

And that's exactly what he does.  Perhaps, this initial clearing before the impending onslaught of the millions of leaves is in full swing, will leave our yard looking loved and cared for just the way we like it.

And our carpet of moss will continue to thrive in this season of fall, fulfilling its purpose under heaven.

Amen!

Read and Worship BIG!

 

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. ~Psalm 119:105

I look forward to my daily Bible reading as I seek God's wisdom and reflect upon His promises.  My goal is always to complete the entire Bible within the course of a year, and start over again when the new year rolls around.

Lately, however, this practice has become a struggle.  Not because I've ceased to enjoy it, but because no matter how I angle the light in my study room or pull the Bible closer to me, the type is frustratingly small.  I mention to Danny that, perhaps, I should look into one of those reading magnifiers that you can drape around your neck.  He promptly researches these on Amazon, but none of them look appealing, and few come with high recommendations.

Nix that!

I'll just press on in spite of the inconvenience.

Last Wednesday, I'm checking out mail and blogs on my laptop when Danny asks me what to me sounds like an out-of-the-blue question.  "Have you done your Bible reading yet today?"

I give him a quizzical look.  "Not yet.  I wanted to finish up a few things here before I go back to the middle room.  Why?"

"Just let me know what you think when you do," he says rather cryptically.

Okay, that does it!  I hastily finish up what I'm doing on the computer and retreat to my middle room study.  When I flip on the desk lamp, I can hardly believe my eyes!

Danny has unexpectedly gifted me with a large print Bible!  I'm over the moon with excitement and gratitude!  "I even made sure to order you one with a pink cover," he quips.

Yes, Danny knows my favorite girly color.  I even have a pink-colored case protecting my smart phone.

How he manages to place the order, sneak the delivery box into the house, inscribe it to me and still keep all under the cloak of secrecy is a mystery he won't divulge, and that's okay by me.

Can you see what he's written to me at the top aside my name?  Read and worship BIG!  

That first day of reading the large print version is a dream come true.  So much so, that I read way beyond my intended amount for that day.  I do so again the next day.  And the next.  And the next.

I'm still on a roll as I type this up for Tuesday's blog.  Oh, goodness, is it that time already?  Excuse me, friends, while I retreat to my favorite study place with my favorite teacher:  Our Father in heaven.

Amen!

Psalm 121

 

In reading many of your blogs and reflections this past week, I find that every one of you have been going through some rough patches in your lives as of late.  When I'm feeling overwhelmed with sadness, worry or uncertainty, I often rely on the Psalms for comfort and peace.  I thought that a selection of Danny's photos from our various trips to the mountains over the years paired with Psalm 121 might boost your spirits and bring you closer to God as you marvel at and revel in His majestic handiwork.

I will lift my eyes to the hills - From whence comes my help?

My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to be moved, He who keeps you will not slumber.  Behold, He who keeps Israel  Shall never slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,

Nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve you from all evil, He shall preserve your soul.

The Lord shall preserve your going out and coming in

From this time forth, and even forevermore.

Amen!

Praise the Lord!

 

Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. ~Psalm 28:6

Thanks to all of your prayers and love sent Danny's way and mine, his heart ablation was a resounding success!  Yes, Dr. G. was authorized to use the yet-to-be FDA approved device for up to 60 seconds, but only needed it for 30 seconds.  Danny's heart is free of the "dead" matter and his VT is miraculously under control.  Dr. G. tried for four minutes to stimulate a VT reaction, but could not.  Hallelujah and praise be to God!  Danny will be coming home this afternoon.

May the Lord continue to bless all of you, dear friends.  Never forget the power of prayer.

Amen!

Lord, Hear Our Prayer

 

 

I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. ~Psalm 17:6

On Thursday of this week, my husband, Danny, will undergo a third ablation on his heart.  The reason?  There is a spot his heart that his surgeon was unable to treat previously due to the length of time it would take and the location of this troublesome area.  This why Danny is on the medication, Amiodarone, for so long.  That works fine.  Until it doesn't.  The accumulated side effects land Danny in the hospital with pneumonia-type symptoms for eight days in July of this year.

Dr. G., his cardio surgeon and specialist, wants to have a go at another ablation instead of putting Danny on yet another drug treatment.  This requires approval for use of an advanced device from the FDA as it is used at this time only on candidates for whom other options have proved ineffective.  Think President Trump's "right to try" policy.

Needless to say, Dr. G. gets the approval he requests and, as residual effectiveness of the Amiodarone wanes, it is imperative that he schedules this procedure for Danny without delay.  He even reschedules less pressing surgical procedures in order to bump Danny up to the front of the line.

I can attest, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God has been walking steadfastly and faithfully through all the health issues and trials Danny and I have been facing together.  We know His grace is always sufficient for us and because of it, we have the hope and peace which pass all understanding.

Yes, we are praying that it's God's will to allow Danny to successfully go through this surgery and to mend as swiftly as possible.  I know that so many of my readers are valiant prayer warriors, and we are most certainly in need of your prayers at this juncture.  Please feel free to share our situation with your church families and your friends both in person and online.  Prayers are one of the best gifts we can ever give to one another, if not the very best, because we can rest assured that God always hears them.  I plan to post an update on this blog about Danny and the results on Friday.

Thank you, dear friends, for all your caring, loving hearts that carry the light of Jesus to shine into the lives of others.  May our good Lord bless and keep you!

Amen!

Courage For His Faith

 

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. ~John 8:32

I would like to be remembered for having courage for my faith. ~Charlie Kirk

This past week, our nation and the world are rocked to our very core.  Turning Point USA founder, Charlie Kirk, is brutally assassinated at Utah Valley University while engaging students in his signature "Prove Me Wrong" discussions.  In these sessions, Charlie invited anyone to question him and his conservative outlook on life, helping young people to think for themselves in logical, moral and fundamental ways while encouraging healthy, constructive debate.  He fostered civil, respectful and compassionate dialogue, showing that everyone, no matter what their political or religious persuasion deserves to be heard and treated with dignity.

In an eerie parallel to the Butler, Pennsylvania attempt to assassinate now President Trump, this shooter accessed a rooftop on the campus where crowds had gathered to hear Charlie speak and for some, to wait patiently in line to pose their questions to this unique man wise beyond his 31 years.  The perpetrator fires only one shot, but it takes only one to end a life so boldly and unabashedly lived for Jesus, and for the freedoms of speech and religion espoused the our Constitution.

But if the killer thought that his heinous act to silence Charlie would work, he was delusional.  Instead, the exact opposite, and I would add miraculous, effect resurrected beauty from ashes.  On Sunday, as I'm drafting this post, over 36,000 requests for campus chapters of Turning Point USA have poured into their headquarters.  Charlies authenticity and grace-filled love for Jesus, some have posited, has sparked a spiritual revival among Gen-Z-ers who are returning to the church in unprecedented numbers.  And more than ever, young people aren't afraid to question, speak out and speak up with the same authority, conviction and love that Charlie showed to them.

This powerful movement which Charlie began in life will only magnify and multiply in the wake of his untimely death.  And all because he knew his Lord and Savior, spoke the truth in love, and set the minds of millions free from fear and subjugation to a secular culture that is oppressive and intolerant of anyone professing faith in God.

As a physical man, Charlie literally stood head and shoulders higher than most, but his spiritual body will be a towering touchstone for not just this generation, but for countless generations to come.

I will close this post with one of Charlie's quotes about Jesus:  Let's mirror His heart, speaking truth firmly yet tenderly, trusting that only God can open spiritual eyes.

Amen, and again I say, amen!

Harbor of Rest

 

Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.  The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"  He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet!  Be still!"  Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.  He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid?  Do you still have no faith?" ~Mark 4:38-40

This past Saturday, I indulge in something I haven't felt the need to do in quite some time: Taking a nap after lunch.  Life has simply been too crazy and demanding as of late, so quiet moments when I have no looming obligations to meet are few and far between.  I'm settled in comfortably on the couch, dozing blissfully, when the unexpected happens.

>BOOM<!!!  Thunder rudely jolts me to unwanted wakefulness.  How has a peaceful, overcast afternoon morphed into a gully washer?  Rain and even pea-sized hail drum against the windows and ping off the skylights.  The wind, too, joins the percussion section, pounding our swept decks with all types of forest debris.  Who (but Jesus) could possibly sleep through this?

I certainly can't, so reluctantly, I rouse myself up, my hopes for a longer nap dashed by nature's sudden show of force.  The storm is short-lived, but the damage is done.

~

All of us will encounter storms at one point or another as we live out our days.  These storms can be literal or metaphorical, but they can feel threatening to our feelings of safety and security all the same.  It is in these times of trouble that I recall our former minister, Pastor Wallace's wise words:  "Sometimes, Jesus tells me He will keep me out of the storm, and at other times, He says, 'This looks like a good one, Wallace.  Let's ride this out together.'"

And that's precisely what Jesus is telling His disciples in Mark 4:38-40, and it's what He's still telling us today.  We need not be afraid of the storms when we walk with Him.  He will see us through them all when we place our faith and trust in His sure and saving grace.

Jesus is our anchor of stability and calm in times of chaos and confusion.  May we all know the protective harbor of rest only our Lord and Savior can give to our weary souls.

Amen!

And the winner of Cheryl Smith's Homespun Devotions - Volume Three is Glynn Young, who blogs at Faith, Fiction, Friends.  Congratulations, Glynn!  Your autographed copy will arrive soon.

Book Launch and Give-Away

 

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" ~Matthew 4:4

When Cheryl Smith, a long-time blogging friend, contacts me and asks if I'll help to promote her latest book, Homespun Devotions - Volume Three, I am thrilled!  I've read and enjoyed her previous devotional books, and I can't recommend them enough to those of your searching for a down-to-earth, home-grown collection of stories that are sure to enhance your daily walk with God.

Cheryl's unpretentious writing style reveals her beautiful heart.  She puts the reader at ease right away with her honesty, transparency and hope in the Lord's love for her and for all of us.  She is an expert at finding the miraculous in the mundane (as my blog's subtitle states) and can turn everyday occasions into unique opportunities to encounter God's presence in entirely new ways.

Here's how Cheryl describes her labor of love:

Homespun Devotions - Volume Three continues a series of books that record the piecing together of many of the stories of my life and the rich spiritual truths that God has imparted along the way.  As you read these homespun narratives of faith, family, love, marriage, motherhood, friendship, and the music that is such a part of my heritage, you will discover glimpses into moments of the soul-searching and intense struggles I have experienced while journeying to a place of complete surrender to the One who bled and died for me.

Beautifully said!

While we all need spiritual nourishment, the Lord knows we also need our daily bread.  Cheryl has included as a bonus in this volume 50 tried and true family recipes that reflect her Southern roots.  They are sure to delight all of you who love to cook.

And here comes the fun part:  Leave a comment below to be automatically entered in a chance to win a free copy of Homespun Devotions - Volume Three.  Your name will be placed in a hat, my husband, Danny, will do the drawing, and the winner will be announced on next Tuesday's blog.  I'd love to include my out-of-country followers in this drawing, but the high cost of shipping overseas is prohibitive.  I know you will graciously understand.

Should you not win, you can order any of Cheryl's devotionals from Amazon.  

May her latest collection of devotions touch your heart as deeply as it has touched mine!

Amen!

About the author:

Cheryl E. Smith is the author of the books "Biblical Minimalism:  Following Jesus from a Life of Abundance to a More Abundant Life," "Homespun Devotions - Volume One," and Homespun Devotions - Volume Two."  She blogs at www.biblicalminimalism.com, where she writes about minimalism from a Biblical perspective, and www.homespundevotions.com, where she writes devotions and conducts "Inner Views."  She loves to spend time with her husband and

son in the mountains, sing, play her guitar, and write.  You can hear her original songs on YouTube@mountainhopeband.