Daily Wisdom for Women April 16, 2023

 April 16, 2023  Always Praise

"I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high!  I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving...When the humble see it, they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive."  Psalm 69: 29-30, 32

When Lynnlee and I were in the barn yesterday and checking out the goats, she saw Rohrshack in a stall all by himself.  His pen was bigger than all the rest of the pens, and he had a huge hay feeder plus a smaller feeder plus a watering pan.  Lynnlee immediately called him"The King of the Barn" because it seemed like he was very special and had bigger feeders and more water than the other goats.

Later as she was telling Papaw about that, he said that really Rohrshack was not in a pen alone.  Two other goats were in the pen with him.  They were females so you can understand why they were all together!  But the point was that he couldn't enjoy all of that hay for himself.  He had to share.  There was enough hay for three goats, not just one. For Lynnlee that changed everything.  He was still a king, but he had two queens with him and had to share.  Now remember that she is 5 and all she is thinking about really is not sharing and being able to enjoy all of that hay and the bigger pen for himself.

Often we think of our circumstances and don't appreciate what we have.  Every day I try to be thankful for our new home, for being able to go through things and get rid of what we didn't need or want anymore.  I am thankful that we live closer to our daughters and their families.  I am thankful that even though Gary has had some health issues since we moved, we were able to find solutions to the problems and he has healed.  Over the weekend a bug hit me that really knocked my sense of equilibrium out and had my head all stopped up.  I feel better now, but while I was feeling sorry for myself yesterday, I neglected to remember those people who are suffering with cancer or other serious diseases.  Here I was, grumbling because I had a cold---and I have felt much worse with previous colds than I did yesterday too!  

Sometimes I am just ashamed of myself for grumbling and moaning and whining when I really have no reason to, considering what others are facing.  I need to appreciate what we do have, the good health we do enjoy, and the family bonds that we have strengthened.

Just like Rohrshack, we may seem to be living like a King, but we do need to share our time and our resources with others, and be sure to thank God for all that we have and enjoy.

Father God, no matter what hardships I experience in life, let me always sing praises to You!  Amen.

Daily Wisdom for Women April 12, 2023

 April 12, 2023 - Wide Eyed Wonder  "No one lights a lamp, then hides it in a drawer.  It's put on a lamp stand so those entering the room have light to see where they' re going....If you live wide-eyed in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light.  If you live squinty eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a musty cellar.  Keep your eyes open, your lamp burning, so you don't get musty and murky.   Keep your life as well-lighted as your best-lighted room.:  Luke 11: 33-36

As I was typing the scripture, I was thinking "I have never heard the word 'squinty' used in the Bible."  Then I checked the reference and saw that it came from The Message---so that explained it!  

I also thought of the song "This Little Light of Mine" and how the kids used to sing "Hide it under a bushel?" and then shout "NO!" as loudly as they could!  That was always a fun song to sing in Sunday School and VBS.  In fact it was a favorite of Nicole Christenson's and she requested it EVERY time we had music time.  

I like lights.  I don't like totally dark rooms.  I guess that is why we have night lights in just about every room in this house.  Either a night light or a light on a Scentsy type bulb is everywhere.  In this house I think it helped at first so that we would know where we were and how to navigate if we were moving around at night or after dark so we didn't stumble or fall down the steps accidentally!  But now I like the soft glow and being able to see where I am going!  It is ambiance!  I like the candles around the fireplace that are set on timers also.  Plus we installed a light above one door on the barn and in the eave on the Party Barn, just to give some light to the outside.  It was so much easier to see the door when we had to bottle feed the baby goats last winter.  

I have been trying to stay more positive about things---and I think prayer, daily devotions, and chatting with Rhonda helps so much.  I also think that the new med Dr. Hart prescribed had an effect on my mindset also. 

God, open my eyes to your awesome wonders. Amen.

Daily Wisdom for Women April 8, 2023

 April 8, 2023 - URGENT! - 'First things first...Announce God's kingdom!"...Jesus said, "No procrastination...You can't put God's kingdom off till tomorrow.  Seize the day."  Luke 9: 60, 62

I did not know that 'Seize the day' was in scripture!  That is one of my favorite literary phrases, Carpe Diem!  I enjoyed teaching Robert Herrick's poem "To the Virgins to Make Much of Time" which always led to chuckles from my students.  But there was a good message in that poem, and in that phrase!  

I am a procrastinator sometimes.  That closet upstairs in our bedroom that needs to be purged.  The stacks of fabrics in the sewing room that needed to be cut and stitched into beautiful quilts.  Making reservations for a getaway trip in May.  Moving all of the furniture in our bedroom and deep cleaning...which hasn't been done since we moved in five years ago.  

But dishes?  I don't procrastinate about those.  I like to keep the kitchen tidy, especially since the first room anyone sees when walking in the door off the deck is the kitchen/dining room.  

Laundry?  I actually like to take care of laundry.  There is something about having clean clothes in the drawers and hanging up in the closets that makes me feel good.  

Plus I am much better about daily devotions and prayer since we moved.  Rhonda and I keep each other accountable in that area!  It is good to have a prayer/devotions partner, a sister-in-Christ.  

Now if we can just do something about focusing on better eating habits and daily exercise......

Father God, I humbly come before you, asking you to help me keep my mind and heart focused on you.  I want to help grow your kingdom, Lord!  Amen.

Daily Wisdom for Women - April 6, 2023

 April 6, 2023 - Negative to Positive -- "If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.  But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer.  Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me."  Psalm 66: 18-20

When I read the first list of negatvie thoughts, I felt like I had written them. I have always thought I was not good enough.  I am boring (I said that the other day, actually).  I am not talented or smart (even though Owen thinks I can sew ANYTHING, I really can't.  My skills are very limited).  I didn't really feel that God didn't love me, but I had a distorted definition of  'love' in my mind because my mom always told me that God wouldn't like me because I had done something she didn't like.  As a child, my 'in my head definition' of love was based on what I knew from my parents, so I felt like I must be really bad and God wouldn't love me because often I felt like Mom didn't.  I know that my dad did, but he was never showing us that he loved us nor did he tell us.  Negative thinking was a big part of my life.  I think that is why when anything good or positive happened to me, I was so thrilled, I wanted to share that with others.  Maybe it came off as bragging or being proud, but after all of my faults being pointed out and remembered for all of my life, anything good was so exciting.  Now I know that I am good enough.  I know that God created me to be just as I am and that he gave me skills and talents for me to work with and share with others.  I know that he cares about me and watches over me.  More than anything else, I know that he will open doors that I need to walk through and close those that will keep me where he wants me to be at that time in my life.  God IS faithful (there is my word of the year again---faith) and I do know that he loves me, not just if I do something good, but even if I mess up with something.  He won't hold grudges against me.  He will be tuned in to my prayers and my concerns.  Isn't that wonderful!

Father, I praise you!  Thank you for loving me perfectly.  Thank you for listening.  You are everything I'll ever need and more.  Please take control of my thoughts.   Help me to let go of the negative and focus on the positive.   Amen!

Daily Wisdom for Women - April 4, 2023

 April 4, 2023 - God of All the Earth - "Shout for joy to God, all the earth; since the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! Say to God, 'How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.  All the earth worships you and sings praises to you.'" Psalm 66: 1-4

Songs of worship----I have noticed lately that when songs are running through my head, that they are often songs of praise.  How great is our God...

How Great is Our God Lyrics

[Verse 1]
The splendor of a King, clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in Light, and darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice

[Chorus]
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God

[Verse 2]
Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end
The Godhead Three in One
Father Spirit Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb

[Chorus]
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God

[Bridge]
Name above all names
Worthy of our praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God

[Chorus]
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God

 

 

Praise is coming more easily for me now.  Maybe it is a result of the morning devotions.  Maybe it is because Rhonda and I share our worries and troubles with each other and know the other won't judge.  Maybe it is because of the new med I am taking for anxiety.  Maybe, finally, it is sinking in that I really need to trust God to take care of us.  Even with the trouble that is brewing on the political front, even with the loss of a dear friend and another friend's husband, even with the aches and pains of getting older, even with the loss of a couple of new baby goats, I can still find so much to praise God for.  

Right now...there is a 13 year old grandson sitting in the recliner, watching something on Netflix.  He stayed home from school sick today and Papaw picked him up to bring him to our house for the day.  Every time I look at him I praise God that He placed Landon with us.  While I feel so blessed by Tessa, Cooper, Owen, and Lynnlee, there is something special about Landon and the connection with my dad, his being a Safe Haven baby, and the ease of his adoption.  He is such a blessing to all of us, and he is growing into a fine young man with so many talents and such a great character and personality.  A definite blessing, for sure.  

I am thankful.  I am blessed.   Praise God!

Father God, You are God of all the earth.  And I am so thankful.  I will praise You every day of my life.  Amen.