Author: terriplace89

We all need rest.  In fact, God knew that rest would be essential for our wellbeing, so He built a sleep cycle into our body’s functions.  During sleep, our bodies recharge, and our minds quiet down. Doctors and scientists have many different opinions about how long we should sleep, when we should sleep, or how we should sleep.  But they all agree that sleep is a necessary part of living. 

Sleep plays a significant role in our lives.  If you have a baby, sleep is the principal concern – for everyone!  Small children fight sleep and get cranky.  Teenage children can sleep all day.  In our 20’s, who cared if we ever slept?  In our 30’s we prioritized nightlife over sleeping.  Then as life settled down a bit, sleep began to be more commonplace, however, if we missed sleep we could still recover quickly.  But now as we get older, it seems that sleep eludes us.  There are nights that either falling asleep or staying asleep is problematic.  And missing too much sleep can ruin our days.  I find that sleep is a regular topic of conversation, especially among people my age.  Have you ever awakened and counted the hours that you slept and allowed that number to determine how you feel?  Maybe we are too focused on sleep?  I think the question should be, “how much rest did we get?”  It’s possible that a few hours of sleep provide all the rest we need.  Or maybe we do need 9 or 10 hours of sleep to be fully rested.  In any case, what’s important is the rest we receive, not the hours we sleep.  This kind of rest provides rejuvenation. 

My friend Merriam-Webster says the following about rest:
1: REPOSE, SLEEP; specifically, a bodily state characterized by minimal functional and metabolic activities
2: freedom from activity or labor
3: peace of mind or spirit

We can see from these definitions that sleep is only one kind of rest.  It’s probably our most familiar or sought-after form of rest, but it’s not the only kind of rest we need. 

Have you ever worked in the yard for hours?  Or cleaned the house from morning to night? Or worked at a demanding job all day?  At the end of those efforts, you are ready to rest!  Your body is tired, and your energy is spent.  You need the “freedom from activity or labor” kind of rest.  This rest involves relaxation. You may need a nap or a hot shower or just sitting for a while.  And although, sleep is always a welcomed friend after a hard day’s work; simply relaxing for a while can provide the desired respite before taking on other activities.   This kind of rest provides recuperation. 

Rest from labor can be as simple as a change of pace.  There are times that we work hard to finish a task so that we can participate in another activity.  That change of pace provides rest to us.  A good example is cleaning the house for a party.  We can scramble all day preparing for a party, even to the point of exhaustion.  But when the festivities begin, we have freedom from all that labor – hence rest and restoration of energy.

I will add, that just like people need different amounts of sleep, people need different amounts of rest from activity or labor.  I know people who are on the go all day with no appearance of fatigue.  And I know others whose stamina is limited.  Rest is an individual requisite.

How about the end of a stressful situation?  Or recovering from an illness?  The conclusion of a worrisome circumstance definitely produces rest.  However, this rest is more of the “peace of mind or spirit” kind of rest.  This rest is usually received by deliberate decisions in our minds.  We engage our thoughts of patience and perseverance and determine that we won’t give up.  We remain steadfast in our convictions and claim our deliverance from unfavorable situations.  When we do that, we receive the calming rest that comes from successfully weathering the storm.  The things we learn from standing fast in adversity are lessons that we can carry with us throughout our lives.  This rest is not only peace of mind, but also rejoicing in our victory. 

This reminds me of the custom behind the Biblical parable of the woman who lost one of her ten pieces of silver.  The ten pieces of silver were small silver coins that were hooked in a wife’s hair and worn only on the most special occasions.  They were the most precious gift she received from her husband because they were a family heirloom of great significance.  Their value was more sentimental than monetary, but a wife losing one would bring her great shame.  So, if a wife did lose one, she would not stop searching until she found it.  She had rest only after she found the lost piece of silver.  Her neighbors rejoiced with her because they all knew the consequences of losing one of those silver coins.  When her task was finished, she rested with a profound sense of relief and much celebration. 

There is an element of reward in this kind of rest.  Think of it in your own life.  Isn’t it fulfilling to work hard and finish a task?  It is so satisfying to rest with that sense of accomplishment.  That rest is our reward for a job well done.  And looking forward to that rest motivates us to complete our task.  It’s a gratifying cycle.  I should note, however, that rest is not the end of the cycle.  It is the regrouping, refreshing, re-energizing part that not only rewards us, but also prepares us to tackle the next challenge. 

There is one more definition of rest that wasn’t covered by my friend Merriam-Webster, and that is the Biblical usage of the word, which indicates completion.  This is used in Genesis 2:2 where it says that God rested on the 7^th day from all His work of creation.  He didn’t rest because He was tired or because His energy was spent, but because the work was finished.  God resting on the 7^th day signified that His creation was complete.  Nothing was missing and nothing needed to be or could be added.  God rested to demonstrate that work of creation was done.    

It also says in Matthew 16:19 that Jesus Christ was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God.  The word “sat” in this verse carries the same indication of the work being finished.  Jesus Christ completed all the work necessary for our salvation and then he sat, he rested, and his sitting denotes that the work is done. 

Life in this world can burden us with situations and circumstances that place great demands on our time, energy, and convictions.  It can weigh us down with hardships and heartaches.  Life can be cruel.  But Jesus Christ said that if we come to him, he will give us rest.  His finished work enables us to face the heavy burdens of the world because he provides the rest we need for recuperation and rejuvenation.  We can have rest because God’s constant support helps us conquer the world’s demands.  We can have peace of mind in the midst of the world’s insanity because we can fill our minds with the sound thoughts of God’s Word.  And because we can have no fear, our sleep can be sweet.  (Proverbs 3:24)

Matthew 11:28

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

That is a promise!

Note to my readers:  Enjoy your rest!  Thanks for reading! 

Recently, my husband got a new job.  He had been unhappy at his old job, so we prayed.  And almost out of nowhere, this new job fell in his lap.  He is very happy in his new position and one of the benefits of the job includes opportunities for us to visit family because of its various locations. 

Not too long ago, our granddaughter asked us to pray for good tips at her weekend job because she needed extra money for college.  We set a dollar amount in our minds and prayed.  She received more than the amount we prayed for.   

Also, in recent months, a friend was in the hospital being kept under deep sedation due to the severity of her condition.  Lots of people prayed for her.  She is home now and doing well.

These are just three examples of answered prayer.  I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised by the outcomes of all three situations.  Each solution was beyond my expectations.  Each answer was considerably more than I imagined it would be. 

In all three of these situations, there was a need.  I don’t think anyone would disagree with that.  But in those circumstances, people may have different opinions about how that need should be handled.  Even when we pray, we might have an idea in mind of what the solution could or should be.  That indeed was the case for me in these examples.  I limited God in my expectations, but He was not stifled by my ideas.  He promised to supply all our need (Philippians 4:19), and He did so in a wonderful way! 

In the case of my husband’s job, I knew that he needed a new job, but I never dreamt that he would get another job without the job search and formal interview process.  But he talked to his new boss on the phone, they agreed on the terms and the job was my husband’s on a “hand-shake”.  God answered our prayers – beyond my expectations! 

In our granddaughter’s case, she asked for prayer while my friend was visiting us.  I asked my friend to pray with me.  She proposed the dollar amount in her prayer.  Inside, I thought, “that might be too high”, but I thanked God for blessing our granddaughter.  God answered our prayers beyond the amount that I initially thought was too high. He supplied our granddaughter’s need super-abundantly!

In the case of our friend in the hospital, I prayed earnestly but I was concerned that the condition was too serious for her to recover from.  I worked to fight those thoughts in my mind and continued to pray.  God answered all of the prayers and she got better.  Despite my reservations, God healed her.

I learned a lot from each one of these scenarios.  First, I was reminded that God is much bigger than any of my expectations.  So often in life, we limit God in by restricting Him to our finite natural understanding.  We may have a hard time expecting to receive things that we can’t picture in our minds.  But God sees way beyond the confines of our thoughts.  His vision is exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20), and that is the way He is able to answer our prayers. 

Secondly, I was reminded that God is love and full of grace.  God does not expect us to be perfect.  In fact, He never forgets that we are frail.  He is tender and kind, just like we are for a newborn baby.  Our tenderest care is evoked by a newborn because we know that they are helpless on their own.  God remembers that are dust (Psalm 103:14) and He provides graciously and mercifully for our every need. 

Thirdly, I was reminded that it is NOT all about me.  Sometimes when I pray, I think that the answer to that prayer is dependent only on my believing.  Oh, I know that believing is necessary, but there is a fine line between relying on my own believing and relying on God’s abilities.  I know that God honors our believing, but so much of God’s care is simply grace.  I heard it said in a Bible teaching that God knows exactly who we are and what we can do.  In this world, our bodies and souls are imperfect.  So why do we think that we (in our imperfect bodies and imperfect minds) can have perfect believing?  Can’t be done!  So, it has to be by God’s love and grace.

These three outcomes to our prayers were remarkable examples of the goodness of God and His ability to bless His children.  God is omnipotent (all powerful), so He is able to surprise us at any time by his marvelous works.  God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son for us all.  If He was willing to do that; what wouldn’t He do for us who have accepted His son as our Savior? 

When we receive miraculous answers to prayer, REJOICE!  We can always be pleasantly surprised by God going beyond our expectations and blessing us more than we anticipated.  That is His way of demonstrating His love for us.  Have you ever wished that you could really help someone, but you lacked the means?  God yearns to take care of His children and He has the means to provide for everything we need and then some! 

God is a loving Father, who wants the best for His children.  He is not keeping a tally of the things we do wrong and the things we do right and measuring us against that.  He looks at us as His beloved children and showers us with His grace and mercy.  He LOVES to take care of us.  So, the next time you pray, don’t be afraid to ask for the miraculous and allow God to surprise you by what He can do!  “Let go and let God!”

Psalm 86:10

For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.

Note to my readers:  Let’s pray for great things for each other and see what God will do.  Thanks for reading!

Our lives are made up of moments.  When we reminisce, we often remember notable moments.  For example, thinking back to my earliest memories, I remember being at home with my mom while my brothers were in school.  During that time, we did many things together.  But a memory that stands out in my mind is the day that my brothers’ pet lizard escaped from their bedroom and ended up in the kitchen.  My mom and I were at the dining room table where we would often spend time so I could color, practice my alphabet, or such like things while she drank her tea.  There was a swinging door between the dining room and kitchen.  This particular morning, my mom pushed the door open to go into the kitchen but froze in her tracks because she saw the lizard in the middle of the kitchen floor.  She gasped loudly and let the door swing shut.  She thought for a minute then got a box and a book.  She went into the kitchen, put the box upside down over the lizard and the book on top of the box.  And that was where the lizard stayed until my brothers got home from school.  I can’t tell you everything that my mom and I did back then, but that moment is a vivid memory.  I bet if I could ask my mom, she would tell a different story about that moment because of her perspective.  And that’s okay.

Our moments are uniquely our own just like our memories.  You have probably observed times when someone else’s memory of a shared experience is different than yours.  That is because moments are personally perceived and therefore uniquely remembered.  Our past moments become our memories; and our perceptions are flavored by a concoction of our memories.  Special occasions are moments that highlight our memories.  Extraordinary or overwhelming events are moments that stand out in our minds.  Life-changing moments are usually deeply etched in our memories.  And all of these make us unique. 

Think about the moment that you got saved.  Salvation is not only a distinctive moment for each of us; it also brings unique deliverance because no two lives are exactly the same. I can’t specify the moment that I got saved, but I can tell you about the moment that I knew beyond any doubt that I was born again.  One evening while reading my Bible, I felt an oppressive presence around me.  I didn’t know many scriptures at the time, but I had read the verse that says, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow” (Philippians 2:10).  So, I commanded that the presence leave in the name of Jesus Christ, and it disappeared immediately.  That moment changed my life because I knew that I had the power of God inside me.  It changed the way I thought about my life and the way that I wanted to live it.  It opened the door to a new life, a very different life from the one that I had been heading toward. 

That moment also changed the way I thought about other moments in my life.  It began to show me that I could cherish good memories and refute bad ones.  That moment allowed me to appreciate my past but not be constrained by it.  It showed me that my past was in the past, and that I could live today in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free. (Galatians 5:1) 

Of course, that moment didn’t automatically change my life.  I had to continue working to learn God’s Word and believe It.  And that is an ongoing daily process.  But isn’t it marvelous to have the freedom to choose what thoughts we keep in our minds and what ones we put away from us?  Not everybody knows that they can renew their minds.  They are haunted by their past and uncertain of their future.  We who know the Good News can surely help them by taking a moment to speak God’s Word to them.

All the moments of our lives contribute to who we are.  Being born again brings momentous change to our lives, but we may still be saddled with moments from the past that try to tear us down.  We need not be in bondage to any of them.  We can live without regrets.  We can succeed today where we failed before.  We can determine to not let the hurtful things of the past drag us into reliving their pain.  We can view our past as merely a steppingstone to get us where we are today.  And we can be thankful for what we’ve learned on our journey.  If we aren’t happy where we are at this moment, we can continue to learn, grow, and change so we can make tomorrow better.  Being a Christian is truly a wonderful life. 

And if all of that isn’t enough, we still have a moment to look forward to.  A moment that will change life as we know it forever.  A moment that will make every past moment inconsequential.  That moment is described in the first letter to the Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 15:52

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

This will be the moment when the Lord comes back to gather us together unto him.  It will be the moment that all born again Christians will meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:17).  I often picture this moment and the celebration that will follow.  What rejoicing there will be!!  What a glorious family reunion!!  Talk about a moment, this will be a MOMENT!!  This moment is a guaranteed victory for each and every one of us. Whether our lives are messy or neat, all will be made perfect at this moment!  None of the trappings of this life will matter after this moment.  And this moment could occur at any time. 

This life is short. Forget the painful past and reach forth to the fabulous future that God has prepared for us.  Remember always, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…” might happen today! 

Note to my readers:  I pray for you to have many beautiful moments in your life now and I look forward to seeing you at our great family reunion!  Thanks for reading! 

When I was a little girl, we had ONE television (TV) in our house, and its picture was in black and white.  It was a big square box full of wires and glass tubes of varying sizes.  I remember my dad having to open the back of the box routinely to replace those tubes. Television stations stopped broadcasting every night around midnight, and there was no TV remote.  We used to joke that the youngest kid was the TV remote because they were usually the ones who had to get up, go to the TV and turn the channel dial.  (I know this because it was my job for a while!)  Another job that the ’TV remote’ often had was adjusting the rabbit ears.  In those days, there was neither cable nor satellite dish. Instead, there was a two-pronged antenna that sat on top of the TV like a rabbit’s ears.  From time to time it would need to be adjusted so it could better receive the broadcast signal.  The adjustor would have to stand on the side of the TV and move the prongs around while others would observe the picture quality and direct the adjustment.  And if that didn’t work well enough, aluminum foil would be scrunched onto the tips of the ears for better reception.

Another interesting phenomenon of having only ONE television was that there could be only one show on at any given time.  Granted, there was a limited selection of shows back then, but it still required family cooperation.  In our house it was simple.  Dad watched what he wanted to watch in the evenings.  And at other times, we kids watched what we wanted to watch as long as it met with Mom’s approval.  The family watched TV together in the evenings even though the shows were Dad’s choice.  We didn’t mind for the most part because the programming was family-friendly anyway.  And for me, it was always a treat because I could stay up past my bedtime. 

All of this may sound archaic to my younger readers, but it was an uncomplicated lifestyle.  It was all we knew, and we were satisfied with it.  There were plenty of other activities to pursue so our entertainment was not limited to what was on TV.  We read books, played games, built puzzles, did crafts, and played OUTSIDE!  We did many activities as a family. 

I say all this because TV is a good example of how things have changed in my lifetime alone. I often heard from my parents how different life was when they were young, but I really didn’t pay attention.  However, comparing my youth with the youth of today, I see many changes, and not all of them seem to be for the better.  I understand now what my parents were trying to tell me. 

Of course, not embracing change labels me as “old fashioned”, but that designation doesn’t bother me because I am rather old fashioned.  I like antiques and old photos.  I appreciate the wisdom of age.  I respect my elders.  And I admire the ingenuity, workmanship, and accomplishments of the past.  However, I do embrace some change.  I love that I can type on a computer that automatically corrects my spelling.  I love that I can post this online for people from many different places to read.  I love that I can video chat with my children and grandchildren who live far away.  But this kind of progress can also have negative side effects. 

For instance, I have all my family’s and friends’ contact information on my phone.  For the convenience of pushing a single button to call people, I have forgotten everyone’s phone numbers.  I used to know many of them by heart, but I lost that skill because I chose convenience.  I recently wrote my family’s and friends’ phone numbers in my journal so I wouldn’t be totally lost if something happened to my phone.  But the only number that I can recite without looking at my list is my husband’s. 

Our Friday night routine is going out to dinner, often at the same restaurant.  As we relax with a drink and a meal, I see families out to dinner also, who all are individually looking at their phones – even the babies in highchairs!   I don’t see those families having lively conversation or cheerful interactions. Sometimes they barely acknowledge the server.  This does not seem like positive progress to me.

With respect to TV, what was a periodic source of entertainment when I was a kid, has become the hub of our agendas.  Most homes now have multiple TVs, and they are often turned on more than they are off.  In addition, many have other devices as sources of entertainment as well, (gaming consoles, tablets, laptops etc.).  Don’t get me wrong, I like watching TV as much as the next person – I could sit all day and watch movies and I’m a sucker for online solitaire!  But I see a loss of family interaction and the introduction of too much unsavory information as being side effects of this electronic invasion.

 Of course, not all TV shows are bad, nor are all video games or internet sources of information.  But we must be cautious.  We must always consider the origin of the information, the validity of the information and the impact of the information on our minds.  Do we really need to know about deadly acts?  Do we need to see sexual exploits?  Almost all of us would scream “NO” to this kind of information, but it’s out there and accessible.  Not that these things are new, (there is nothing new under the sun), but this information is readily available for anyone to observe – even our children and grandchildren.  Remember also that even the innocuous information we receive from the world may have ulterior motives behind it. 

Now, I am not calling for some kind of government restriction or censorship.  And I’m not saying we should get rid of all our electronic devices.  I’m simply encouraging all of us to guard our own minds and protect our children from driving too fast down the information highway.  Everything that we receive into our minds has an effect on us.  If the majority of what we receive comes from worldly sources, our thoughts will be worldly.  And those are the thoughts that can tear us down.  But if our thoughts are centered on God’s Word, we will have positive Godly thoughts that build us up and set us free from the burdens of this world.  We can decide what information we keep and what we throw out.  God’s Word is the standard for that determination.  But if the influx of worldly information is too weighty, that task becomes more difficult. 

We as Christian parents and grandparents try our best to keep our families tight and our surroundings positive.  We fight for the Word of God in our own minds and in our family’s lives as well. We know that this is a daily battle, and we know that God is always on our side to support us, to defend us and to supply all of need.  We know that God says we are more than conquerors and that we can put on His armor. 

(Romans 8:37 and Ephesians 6:11)

There is nothing wrong with enjoying a TV show, surfing the internet, or playing video games.  But beware of possible side effects and forget not all the benefits of God. 

Note to my readers:  Family time is some of the best time you can have!  Thanks for reading! 

Having just celebrated our granddaughter’s graduation from college, the word, “milestone” came to mind. 

The use of milestones goes back to the Roman Empire where they installed obelisk style mile markers along the Appian Way.  Their purpose was to help travelers know that they were on the right path and to judge how far they had travelled.  I find that interesting in light of how we use the word today.  We have special celebrations for milestone birthdays and anniversaries.  We recognize milestone achievements.  We remember milestone events. 

Graduating from college is definitely one of life’s milestones.  It marks the distance that has been already traveled and illuminates the path to new opportunities.  Graduates can breathe a sigh of relief when we see how far they’ve come, and they can look forward to the vista of exciting adventures ahead.

Picture yourself on a long road trip.  You know before you leave what is entailed – the mileage involved, and the estimated time needed to get where you’re going.  But even with that information, while you are enroute, it can become tedious or tiresome.  You can get anxious or discouraged.  On such trips, I often play games with my mind to break the monotony. For instance, I look for road signs and note the milage to the furthest town listed.  Then when I reach that town, I feel a sense of accomplishment.  I have arrived at a milestone.  And each additional milestone brings me closer to my goal.

Life can be like a long road trip.  The milestones we pass herald our successes along the way.  The milestones ahead give us incentive to keep going.   Milestones can be cause for celebration because they mark our victories.  We can look forward to reaching them and we can appreciate them as they’re accomplished.

Any road we travel (literal or figurative) has smooth stretches and rough patches.  Reaching a milestone rewards our endurance and encourages our perseverance.  Milestones are achievement markers that we can steer toward and applaud passing.  Milestones commemorate accomplishments and call us to future endeavors.

Not all milestones are as noteworthy as getting a college degree, nor are they as modest as reaching a town on the map, but milestones can play a meaningful role in our lives.  We have milestone birthdays that can change our outlook on life.  Think about turning 21.  What about turning 90?  Two very different attitudes about life!  Think about milestone events – getting a new job or having a baby.  These kinds of milestones can make big changes in our daily activities.   All diets utilize milestones to promote success.  And arduous tasks often incorporate milestone steps along the way for encouragement.

Of course, the most significant milestone anyone achieves is getting born again.  Talk about a change!  Getting saved changes everything for the better forever!   Being saved even helps us to achieve other milestones in our lives.  God provides for our every need.  He can smooth out the rough patches, break the tedium and enable our success.  With God on our side, no challenge is insurmountable.  He wants to see His children triumph. 

So, congratulations to all the graduates of 2022.  “The future is as bright as the promises of God.”

Note to my readers:  Cheers to your milestone achievements and to many more to come! Thanks for reading! 

Last year at this time I reminisced about my mom and grandmothers.  After all, Mother’s Day is supposed to stir those kinds of thoughts and it generally does for me.  I’m thankful to have had my mom and grandmothers in my life and my mind is full of wonderful memories of them.  But this year, I thought I’d talk about another mother who has been a positive influence on me; and that is my sister.

My sister is twelve years older than I.  She got married when she was very young and moved away from home when I was only 5.  This provided a unique relationship for us.  She was not only my sister, but she was also like my mom because she was a “grown-up” while I was still just a kid.    

My sister and her husband moved into an apartment that was not far from my elementary school.  I remember walking up the hill after school to visit her.  They lived on the fourth floor with no elevator.  Of course that didn’t mean much to me as a kid, but they had their first child while living there.  So, as an adult, I can certainly appreciate the impact of climbing all those stairs during pregnancy and carrying basket after basket of laundry (including cloth diapers) up and down from the basement, which was technically 5 flights of stairs.  But my sister did it.  And at that tender age, she managed to be a good wife and mother in a less than conducive environment. 

When they moved into their first house, I occasionally visited on the weekends.  It was a like a home away from home for me.  There was structure, but there was also an element of freedom not found with mom and dad.  During their time living in that house, their second child was born, another beautiful baby girl. 

I have good memories of that house.  One day while helping her with the chores, I asked my sister where babies came from.  She told me that they came from seeds of love in our minds.  That answer satisfied me at the time, but for a year or so, I thought I had seeds in my head. 

Another vivid memory I have is learning to ride my bike in their basement.  I didn’t have a bicycle until I was 10 and I thought it would be very embarrassing to be seen outside learning to ride a bike at that age.  So I taught myself in their basement riding back and forth around the boiler. 

My sister and her family moved to their second house and life was good until one day her husband was seriously injured in a boating accident.  I was around 12 and didn’t grasp the severity of the situation at that time, but I knew that there was grave concern about the future of my sister’s family.  During their father’s lengthy hospital stay, the two girls lived with us.  Of course, being a 12 year-old, all I could think about was how those little girls followed me everywhere I went.  (If you read my last post, you’ll see that I hadn’t quite learned to be unselfish yet!)  However, one of my favorite memories of that time was my brother and I playing hide and seek with the girls.  When they would hide and we would come to seek them, the older one would say things like, “Don’t look behind the couch because I’m not back here.”  Of course, we would play along and look everywhere else before looking behind the couch.  And if we took too long, the younger one would jump out and surprise us.   They really weren’t too hard to find!  😊

The good news is that my sister’s husband recovered!  He was able to walk and have a full life.  (Praise God!)  And my sister managed to be a good wife and mother through that devasting experience.

I have always thought my sister’s homes were beautiful – she has very good taste!  And at their second house, they had a pool!  During their time living there, my parents moved so we lived about 2 hours away.  But after I turned 16, I could drive myself to my sister’s to visit.  I was in prime sunbathing shape in those days and took advantage of the pool as often as I could.  I remember one occasion of watching chipmunks popping their heads in and out of the stone wall next to the pool.  It was hilarious and something that I had never seen before, or since.  Too bad there weren’t cell phones in those days.  I would have had a great video! 

While they lived in that house, my sister and her husband were blessed by the birth a third beautiful baby girl.  And interestingly enough, there is a 12-year span between my sister’s oldest and youngest girls, just like there is between my sister and me.  I was already a senior in high school when that baby was born, so I didn’t see as much of her when she was little as I did the other two. 

A few years passed and I got married and had my own kids.  But my sister and I stayed close.  We would often meet at our parent’s house for holidays and other occasions.  I have the greatest picture of us and all six of our kids together – ages 2 to 23.  There are also some great shots of my mom, my sister, and I in our 1980’s outfits and hairstyles! UGH!

I remember many times through the years that my sister and I laughed together.  But there were also times that we cried together.  She was there for me during a very difficult time in my life.  She helped me with her wisdom and experience.  I still seek her advice on many topics.  We also share a love for God and His Word, which is an even stronger bond than blood! 

Our relationship changed as the years passed.  We are no longer the “grown-up” and the little kid.  We are peers.  As it always happens, an age difference that seems huge when we are young, seems to decrease as we get older.  My sister and I are pretty much in the same stage of life right now; all of our children are grown, and we are both grandmothers.  Well, she is also a great-grandmother, which I do not anticipate being for quite a while, so she is still the big sister!  Although many miles separate us, we try to talk regularly, but if we miss the opportunity, we are still firmly planted in each other’s hearts.  I am thankful that she is my sister. 

Mother’s Day is officially set aside to honor mothers because of the importance of their role in our lives.  Some folks see it as a commercial holiday.  Others, like me, see it as a chance to recognize not only our own moms, but also others who have influenced us in similar ways.  No matter how you see the holiday, why not take a moment to say thank you to the moms who have a special place in your life?  I’m sure they would greatly appreciate it. 

Note to my readers:  Happy Mother’s Day to my sister!  And to you, whether you are a mother, have a mother, know a mother, or love a mother, have a happy day on Sunday.  And… Thanks for reading! 

P.S.  I will not be able to post next Friday as we will be away at our granddaughter’s college graduation.  I’ll be back online on May 20^th. 

The title of this post is from a poem that I wrote a few years ago.  I thought it might bless YOU! 

Something great happened 
On the day you were born
Something that touched people’s lives
The hard work was over
The promise fulfilled
The receipt of the sought-after prize.

Your family rejoiced 
On that wonderful day
For your presence changed everything
A welcomed addition
A blessed event
A new life that came into being

Your needs were many
In those earliest days 
But your family was always there
To give you their strength
To give you their love
To give you their most tender care

In time you grew up
So you could stand on your own
And give back to your family so true
To give them your strength
To give them your love
To give them the best of you
 
Your family was blessed
On that day you were born
But your heavenly Father, even more
He saw you that day
He knew you’d believe
For He called you a long time before

Your first birth was needed 
For you to arrive
At the place you would answer God’s call
Now you’re born again
Now His seed lives within
Now God is the happiest of all

As much as you’re loved
By your mom and dad
God’s love is far greater yet
For you are His child 
For you are His joy
It was YOU that He yearned to get*
 

Those of us who are parents know what the birth of a child means to us.  It is probably one of the greatest highlights of our lives, and one of the hardest at the same time.  That beautiful baby that we anxiously waited for so long to arrive, was finally here!  But taking care of them could be unexpectedly difficult. Newborns are pretty much helpless, so their needs are many and their demands are fairly constant.  Add to that sleepless nights and lifestyle interruptions, and parents can feel overwhelmed.  I can’t tell you how many times I cried right along with my newborn because I didn’t know what else to do.  But looking back now, I consider those moments to be some of my most precious experiences because I have great kids, and I love them a lot.      

Although, I can’t remember my own infancy, I know that my parents must have shared a lot of the same emotions and experiences because they loved me.  They wanted me to grow up straight and tall.  They cared for me and taught me in the best way that they knew how.  I can still hear my mom’s voice admonishing me, “The world does not revolve around YOU!”  (Boy, did she say that a lot!)  Her point in saying that was to teach me not to be selfish.  All children need to be taught this because their lives begin with the whole world revolving around them of necessity.  Loving parents understand this and are happy to take care of their children.  But they also know that their children must learn that cannot stay self-centered.  A well-rounded life is an unselfish one. 

We probably all have known people in our lives who are self-centered.  Sometimes they are not so pleasant to be around.  I knew someone once that no matter what you said on any topic, she could turn it around to be about her.  I used to marvel at her skill for doing that.  I would intentionally say things from time to time that I thought she couldn’t possibly turn around, but it seemed she always managed to do so.  It’s actually kind of sad for those folks because they are missing so much of life’s fulfillment by keeping their thoughts so focused on themselves. 

The reason we cannot be selfish is because of the principle of giving and receiving.  It is a Godly principle that always works.  Selfish people seldom give, so they seldom receive.  And since they are not receiving what they need (or think they want), their attention is spent on their lack.  And their efforts center on taking what they need instead of receiving it.

So, we see that being selfish is not a good thing.  But does that mean that we should never think about ourselves?  Of course not.  There are always times that we must focus on our own lives.  Times of need, times of celebration, times of reflection all come to mind as ‘self-caring’ times.  It is okay and necessary to take care of ourselves.  If we don’t, we won’t have anything to give, and we’ll end up not receiving what we need either. 

Perhaps, you might have had thoughts like I did.  Selfishness was so appalling to me that for a long time in my adult life, I didn’t take care of myself.  I tried to be constantly giving because I felt that receiving was selfish.  The result was that my needs grew and my ability to give shrank.  Eventually, I was so depleted that I began to fail at everything I did.  This resulted in my thinking, “what is wrong with me?”  Although, I didn’t realize it at the time, that was being selfish.  My thoughts were constantly filled with my own inadequacies, and my focus was always on my failures.

My deliverance came when I realized my importance to God.  God chose me and YOU before the foundation of the world to be His children!  He knew on the day we were born that we would answer His call.  He knew that we would be His sons whom He would love with all His heart!  Sons that He would rejoice about having in His family!  That makes me and YOU very special!  Oh, I’m still inadequate on my own, I know that.  But God made me and YOU adequate to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. (Colossians 1:12)  He gave me and YOU the gift of holy spirit.  We have His abilities in us now.  And we have access to God’s unlimited resources! 

Thinking of ourselves in these Godly terms is never selfish because we are giving the glory to God, and not boasting of ourselves.  We never have to feel second-rate because we belong to the family of the one true God.  We never have to suffer need because God promised that He will supply all our need (Philippians 4:19).  And we are sufficient because God made us so. 

2 Corinthians 9:8

And God is able to make all grace abound toward YOU (and me); that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Having been given all these abilities allows us to freely give and freely receive God’s blessings.  We need never be selfish because God cares so fully and completely for us that our thoughts can be unincumbered by worries.  We know that God is always able to be whatever we need Him to be; and to provide whatever we need Him to provide.  Claiming all these promises isn’t selfish, it is confessing the truth of God’s Word. 

It might seem like a paradox, but our most unselfish thoughts come from always remembering who we are and what we have in Christ.  When we are thankful for all that we’ve been given, and rejoice in all of God’s blessings, we will be ready, willing, and able to be our best for God and follow His example of unselfishness.

Romans 8:32

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

YOU and I can be thankful for our earthly families who did their best to raise us properly.  And YOU and I can be thankful to our Heavenly Father who called us both to a life of peace that surpasses our understanding.  There is no room for selfishness in our lives because God has filled YOU and me with all spiritual blessings through the new birth, which is Christ in YOU (and me), the hope of glory!    

Note to my readers:  YOU are special to God!  And to me!  Thanks for reading!

*Poem is personal property of Terri Lee

When I was young, there were some people who were called “the beautiful people”.  They were stylish Hollywood stars and rich socialites who led glamorous lifestyles.  They were trend setters and fashion icons.  They were the rich and famous.  (There was even a TV show about them called, “Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous.”)  They were touted as the people everyone else wished they could be.  Of course as a young person, I thought their glamorous lifestyle seemed exciting.  Who wouldn’t want to have all those cool clothes, fancy houses, and parties with hundreds of their ‘closest friends’? 

But I grew up.  Reality replaced fantasy and life left little time for day-dreaming.  Yet, for a while deep down, I still kind of wanted to be like the beautiful people – maybe on a smaller scale.  I thought I needed a trendy haircut, stylish clothes, a big house, and the right circle of friends to be happy.  Then I actually did grow up and I began to understand the ways of the world.

Scheme #1 – Unattainable standards

Our society has determined the standards for what is called beautiful and for what is considered successful.  Hence, bombarding us with the images of “the beautiful people”.  Somehow, the beautiful people became the standard, howbeit, an unattainable one.  And this is because no matter how beautiful we are, the standard will point out our flaws.  And no matter how successful we are, the standard will up the ante.  The result is a lifetime of striving and never really being fulfilled.

People who get caught up in this scheme can spend their lives never accepting who they are or appreciating what they have.  We’ve all seen it.  Women (mostly) who take extreme measures to change their appearance because they cannot be content with the way they look.  Or others whose careers are the central theme of their lives, and they have no time for family or friends.  Both are constantly seeking to attain a standard that eludes them. 

Scheme #2 – Copious criticism

Have you ever noticed that often in the world, criticism flows like a firehose but praise trickles like a dripping faucet.  The world is quick to judge and even quicker to criticize the things we think or do.  And constant criticism is stifling.  Criticism can be such a habit for people that it seems like every word they speak is critical.  I think sometimes people may not realize how hurtful their words can be.  Other times, it seems that they are purposely trying to thwart our efforts or discourage us.  Sometimes we can let criticism roll off our backs, but a lot of times it paralyzes us.  And that is the scheme’s design.  The world would have us doubt and question ourselves whenever possible.

Scheme #3 The grass is always greener…

This scheme produces dissatisfaction by comparison.  Maybe we are struggling in our lives, but we look at our friend’s lives and think that they are doing just fine. We might become jealous.  We might have thoughts like, “If only I had whatever they have, I could be happy.”  Or maybe, “If I had (or had not) done whatever, I would be as well-off as they are.”  Meanwhile, our friends may not be feeling very fortunate at all, but we don’t see their struggles.  In reality, the grass is not greener on the other side.  What is more commonly the case is that we don’t recognize the value of our own grass because we are too busy envying someone else’s.   

Scheme #4  Why bother?

This scheme is the culmination of the first 3 schemes listed.  Worldly forces would have us quit trying or give up altogether.  By flaunting a standard before us that we cannot attain, by criticizing all that we think and do, and by coaxing us to compare ourselves to others, the world wants us to be disheartened and think, “Why bother?  Nothing is going to change anyway.”  If the world can trick us into thinking that our efforts are futile and our lives are worthless, it has successfully accomplished its goal of suppressing our initiatives, thus by default, accepting its lies. 

We as Christians are often able to recognize these schemes, but we are not immune to them.  Any of us might fall prey to measuring ourselves against the world’s standards or being critical or becoming jealous.  BUT we also have the ability to change those thoughts and put on the thoughts of God’s Word instead.  The world screams inadequacy at us, while the Bible says that we are perfectly equipped. (2 Timothy 3:17)  The world calls us losers, while God says that we are super conquerors.  (Romans 8:37)  Society says we’ll never measure up, while the Bible calls us masterpieces.  (Ephesians 2:10) 

We must decide to whom we are going to listen.  If we listen to the schemers, we will indeed be miserable and unfulfilled.  But is we listen to God’s Word, we will have our needs met and live an abundant life.  (Philippians 4:19 and John 10:10)  The choice is ours.  Cling to the words that God speaks and resist the adversary’s rhetoric. 

So the next time society tries to trick you into thinking its way, stand up and say, “Not today, world!  I am what the Word of God says I am.  I have what the Word of God says I have.  I can do what the Word of God says I can do.  And I will be what the Word of God says I will be.” 

Note to my readers:  Never forget that God loves you! (and so do I)  Thanks for reading! 

What is commonly known as Easter takes place this Sunday.  I don’t particularly like calling the holiday, “Easter” because that is not really a Biblical term.  But regardless of what it’s called, I appreciate that it is so widely recognized and celebrated as the day that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.  A more accurate designation for the day might be “Resurrection Sunday”.  But I doubt that society will change it at this point.    

The angel’s declaration to the women at the tomb as recorded in the gospel of Matthew is probably the single most important statement ever made to mankind. 

Matthew 28:6

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Two thousand+ years later, our hearts still thrill at the sound, “HE IS RISEN”!  Those words changed the world.  They changed the course of history.  And they changed us. 

No other event in the history of mankind has ever had such a long lasting, life-changing impact as the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  Think about it.  Without the resurrection, there would be no Christians.  There would be no hope for this world, and there would be no future for us.  Without the resurrection, the adversary (the devil) would have free reign. 

The resurrection of Jesus Christ redeemed man to God.  The sacrifice that Jesus Christ made as the Passover lamb and his subsequent resurrection fulfilled all the legal requirements necessary to reconcile man back to God and free him from the clutches of the adversary once and for all.  In fact, man’s redemption and salvation are so totally legal that they are above reproach.  They are a done-deal! 

To the non-Christian, the resurrection may seem of little consequence, however, nothing could be further from the truth!  For those of us who are saved, the benefits of the resurrection are beyond comprehension.  Could any of us imagine what our lives would be like without our salvation?  Could we conceive of a lifestyle that didn’t include a relationship with our heavenly Father?  Could we envision our despair if we didn’t know that we were going to heaven?  All of these things and much more are ours because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 

Jesus Christ paid the price that unlocked the door so that we could enter into the throne room of God as His beloved children; and stand in His presence without any sense of sin, guilt, or shortcomings.  We have all the rights and privileges that being a child of God affords.  We have peace with God.  We have joy and hope.  We are loved.  We are free.  (And that is just scratching the surface!)

So, no matter how you observe the holiday this Sunday, let it be a day of praise and thanksgiving for the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made in laying down his life for us; and for what God wrought in Christ when He raised him from the dead and set him at His own right hand in the heavenlies (Ephesians 1:20).  Our salvation is completely and absolutely complete.  Because of our Savior’s resurrection, we are now children of God with Christ in us, the hope of glory, and nothing in this world can ever change that!   And although this Sunday may be set apart as a special day of recognition, we know that all these things warrant our praise and thanksgiving every single day of our lives! 

 HE IS RISEN!  Hallelujah! 

John 8:36

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Note to my readers:  Happy Resurrection Sunday!!  Thanks for reading!

This time of year, our excitement is kindled by new life exploding all around us.  The days grow longer as the sun’s light and warmth loosen winter’s cold grip on our lives.  Flowers begin to show their dazzling colors; and leaves and grasses turn bright green in their awakening.  Almost overnight it seems that the slumber of winter gives way to the clarion call of spring.  We can see it on people’s faces. The sullen expressions of winter’s grey are replaced by the enthusiastic smiles of springtime’s cheer. 

Spring is my favorite season.  I love the onset of warmer weather.  I love the influx of color and the return of the sweet sounds of the songbirds.  It is a time of regeneration, and a time of renewing.  Think about it.  We till our gardens to prepare for new growth.  We do spring cleaning to rejuvenate our homes.  We head to the ‘great outdoors’ to revitalize our bodies.  And in the midst of all that, our minds are refreshed as well.

It seems that the onus of wintertime can be like a cloud hanging over our heads.  Even if we are fans of winter, by the end of March we are usually tired of the cold temperatures.   For most of us (except the winter sports enthusiasts) the cold weather is uncomfortable.  And for just about all of us, the short days tend to impede our ambitions.  Who wants to go back outside in the cold and dark after you’ve hunkered down for the evening?  But springtime changes all of that.  We don’t mind being outside at night when it’s warm.  In fact we look forward to the nighttime activities that spring ushers in.  Some of my favorite memories are of campfires, fireworks and star gazing on summer nights.

Springtime is the happy transition from winter to summer.  Not only is springtime beautiful, but its gradual warming also prepares us for the hot days that lay ahead.  It would certainly be a shock to our systems if it were below 0° one day and above 90° the next!  Spring and fall both afford mild temperatures to offset the extremes of summer and winter.  Both seasons are enjoyable, but to me, spring is waking up and fall is preparing for sleep.

My husband saw a funny meme the other day that talked about the seasons in Florida.  The list of seasons included a couple of “fake springs”.  I laughed because we can all relate to the times when the weather started warming up and we thought, “yea, spring!”.  But then it got cold again.  That is fake spring!  There can be multiple fake springs that just seem to taunt us.  And a fake spring can end abruptly with the onset of “premature summer”.

Springtime offers us new beginnings.  Although it happens every year (at relatively the same time), it seems to surprise and delight us with all its budding foliage and bright sunshine.  It offers us a change of lifestyle from winter’s seclusion.  It awakens our outlook for brighter days ahead.

It is only fitting that this time of year is also the time that we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Talk about a new beginning!  That was the pivotal point in history that changed everything forevermore.  It was that occurrence that enabled us to become born again and gain eternal life.  It was that occurrence that sealed the devil’s fate forever. 

Just as springtime awakens growing things, the resurrection awakens new life in us.  And just as spring supersedes winter, our new life supersedes our old one.  Our new life is more beautiful than all the blossoms of spring, and more delightful than all of its sunshine.  For all that the Lord’s resurrection gave us, we are thankful, and we rejoice with joy unspeakable.

Note to my readers:  Enjoy the new birth of spring and the new birth of you!  Thanks for reading!