Month: November 2021

Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, we may hear more people talk about being thankful than at other times of the year.  Thanksgiving Day is a reminder to all of us to think about how much we have to be thankful for and to honestly say “thank you” for it.  Some might struggle to find reasons to give thanks.  Others may joyfully recount all their blessings.  But no matter which end of the spectrum you’re on, there is always something to be thankful for.

Did the sun rise this morning?  Even if it was obscured by clouds, it rose.  And for that we can be thankful.  Take a deep breath.  For that we can be thankful.  Even the most fundamental things in life offer us reasons to be thankful if we take a moment to recognize them.

Thankfulness is an attitude that we must maintain.  It doesn’t happen automatically; we must choose to be thankful.  And that choice often starts with making the effort to notice and appreciate our surroundings. We need to pay attention to the things around us, to the people around us, and most importantly to God, who is always around us.  Simple things may be taken for granted or appreciated.  The choice is ours.  However, taking anything (especially God!) for granted profits nothing.  But appreciation is the basis of a thankful lifestyle. 

But it can get tricky.  Society teaches us to not appreciate what we have or who we are by taunting us with things that we can’t afford and physical attributes that we don’t have.   The decision to appreciate God, and all the good in our lives is almost always in direct opposition to what society is propounding.  The evil in this world would like to keep us miserable, but being thankful can impede those efforts.  Thankfulness brings peace and rejoicing into our lives.

Sometimes we face hardships; some are difficult, others are devasting.  It may seem impossible to be thankful at those times.  But we can weather those storms by looking toward a victorious outcome.  We are not thankful for the hardship, but we can be thankful to God for His help to get us through it.  Prayer gives us that ability.  Our prayerful requests with thanksgiving to God give us peace that guards our minds.*  And when we receive our victory, rejoicing abounds. 

Consider the origins of the Thanksgiving holiday.  The Pilgrims who came to this country to escape religious persecution in Europe suffered tremendous hardships on their voyage to the New World.  By the end of their first year of settling here, nearly half of their company had died and many of those who remained were weak or sick.  But through prayer and believing they survived and prospered. And at harvest time, they celebrated the abundance that they had received with great thanksgiving.  That thankfulness eased the memories of the hardships that they had endured.  Our thankfulness can do the same. 

Another essential element of thankfulness is expressing it.  We cannot be silent in our giving of thanks.  We must thank people when they bless us.  It is the polite thing to do but much more than that, it is our way of giving back.  It is a healthy response for both speaker and hearer.  Wouldn’t your heart break if you never heard a word of thanks?  Bear that in mind the next time someone does something nice for you.  And of course, God wants to hear our words of thanks.  Prayer and praise to God are an integral part of our relationship with Him.  And if anyone deserves our thanks, it is God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy!  God, who satisfies our mouths with good things so that our youth is renewed like the eagle’s; God, who gave us His only begotten son so that we could be saved and have eternal life ** – that God deserves all of our thanks all of the time!

When we live a thank-filled life, we are blessed.  Not only are we recognizing the good that surrounds us rather than focusing on all the bad, but we’re also recognizing that God is our sufficiency, and that He meets our needs.  We are allowing God to open the windows of heaven and pour out His blessings on us.  I heard it said that a lifestyle of thanksgiving is “thanks-living”.  Isn’t that the way we want to live?  Let’s be thankful for all that we’ve been given, for all that we have and for all that we will receive.  Praise God with lips of thankfulness and joyfully receive all the bounty that He has to give.  Then, as we give to others with a blessed and thankful heart, the cycle will start all over again.      

Isn’t it wonderful that our country has set aside a day for giving thanks?  In the hustle and bustle of daily living it is easy to forget to say thanks for all the things that bless our lives.  So let’s take advantage of the opportunity that Thanksgiving Day affords us; and be especially thankful to our God and Father for His goodness, for His extraordinary kindness, and for His mercy that endures forever!

         Scripture references:

         *  Philippians 4:6,7

** 1 Timothy 6:17, Psalm 103:5, John 3:16

Note to my readers:  HAVE A VERY HAPPY AND BLESSED THANKSGIVING!  Thanks for reading! 

A friend recently commented that she thought I was flourishing.  After I thanked her for her kind words, I thought, “What did she mean by that?”  So, my quest began.  First, I turned to my trusty Merriam Webster’s dictionary, and I discovered that the first two definitions of the verb, ‘flourish’ are, “to grow luxuriantly – thrive”; and “to achieve success – prosper”.  That made sense to me because my first two ideas about the word were of a garden flourishing or a business flourishing.  I don’t really tend a garden and I don’t run a business, so how am I flourishing? 

When we think about it, we all can flourish in so many ways.  In our lives, we are always growing.  We can learn something new every day.  Each day is a new experience. We flourish when we embrace these opportunities; when we approach our days as new adventures, rather than thinking. “it’s just another day”.  What if we started each day by asking ourselves, “What exciting thing does God have in store for me today?”  Inviting God into our lives sets the stage for luxuriant growth.  What if we asked God, “What can I do for you today?”  Each day would be an occasion to thrive.  Growing in our understanding, our commitment, and our service to God is flourishing at its best!

The second definition, “to achieve success – prosper” takes growth a step further.  We all have goals and aspirations; but how do we achieve them?  The first rule of success is that we cannot quit.  And the only way to prevent quitting is by positive conviction and the corresponding action.  We must be fully persuaded that we are able to achieve our goals and then we can proceed accordingly.  And the only way I know to assure we can accomplish that, is to trust God to help us and guide our steps.  Walking with God is the greatest way to flourish because God WANTS us to prosper.  

Here is a little side trip down one of my logic trails… 

God wants us to prosper, as the Bible clearly states in 3^rd John, verse 2.  And according to the MW dictionary, ‘prosper’ illustrates ‘to achieve success’, which is a definition of ‘flourish’.  So we can safely say that God wants us to flourish.  Now, if God wants us to flourish, it must be available.  And since God is well aware of our limitations, He must certainly intend to help us flourish.  And because God is all powerful, we know that with His help we are able to flourish.  When we believe that we are able; we won’t quit.  And if we don’t quit, we will achieve success, which is to flourish.  And not only will we flourish – but we’ll flourish with God’s kind of flourishing, which is the best kind!  (How’s that for ‘flourishing’ logic?? 😊)

So much of our lives is determined by our mind-set.  Are we positive minded or filled with negative thoughts?  Do we expect good things to happen or fear the worst?  Do we see the silver lining in the storm clouds or expect that rain will ruin our sunny days?  Do we see each day as an opportunity to succeed, or worry that we might fail again? 

The difference in these attitudes is the difference between flourishing or not.  If our minds are clouded by a plethora of negatives, we cannot flourish.  But if we regularly expect God’s best in our lives, we will assuredly live a flourish-filled life.  Now I know that our lives are not always a bowl of cherries, no one’s is.  But even at the challenging times, it’s available to flourish with God’s help.  We just need to trust Him and not be swayed by our circumstances.  We cannot allow the situations with which we are faced to be the determining factor of our attitude of believing.  We can flourish in negative circumstances by patiently anticipating God’s resolution and by confessing our belief that God will come through for us.  Confession is a key to keeping our minds on track. And confession is not always audible words that we speak, but often is just words that we say to ourselves.  We remind ourselves that God is able.  We remind ourselves that God WANTS us to flourish.  We remind ourselves that God is love. 

Flourishing is maintained by a positive attitude, which is maintained by continued positive confession.  Thereby we enjoy the benefits of thriving and prospering.  Flourishing is not dependent on our surroundings, but our surroundings can be improved by our flourishing.  Flourishing is the way of life that God desires for His children.  Why not expect to flourish in everything you do?  And if you’re not flourishing now, expect that you soon will be.  Expect God to help you in any and every situation and allow His abundant grace and peace to cause you to flourish.  Never forget that God loves you and that He is ABLE.

Note to my readers:   3^rd John 2   Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Thanks for reading. 

This post marks the one-year anniversary of my blog.  This venture has been a most fulfilling endeavor.  It was something that I had wanted to do for a long time but lacked the confidence to try.  When I finally made the leap, it was a great victory for me. 

Everything I’ve written has been for the sole purpose of blessing others.  I prayed each week for inspiration and trusted that God would help me with my words.  If only one person got blessed by only one post, I would still be thankful for this opportunity.  But many have responded with positive feedback, and that makes my heart soar. 

I have renewed my site license for another year. So, we’ll see where this thing will go!  I thank each and every one of you who have encouraged and supported me.  You are the motivation for my continued writing.

Poems have always been special to me, and this one is one of my favorites.  It was written by Edgar A. Guest, an American poet who wrote from the early to mid 20^th century.  His poems are known for their inspirational and optimistic views of everyday life.  It is reported that he wrote some 11,000 poems in his lifetime!

Sermons We See
I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day; 
I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way. 
The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear, 
Fine counsel is confusing, but example's always clear; 
And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds, 
For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.

I soon can learn to do it if you'll let me see it done; 
I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run. 
And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true, 
But I'd rather get my lessons by observing what you do; 
For I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give, 
But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.

When I see a deed of kindness, I am eager to be kind. 
When a weaker brother stumbles and a strong man stays behind 
Just to see if he can help him, then the wish grows strong in me 
To become as big and thoughtful as I know that friend to be. 
And all travelers can witness that the best of guides today 
Is not the one who tells them, but the one who shows the way.

One good man teaches many, men believe what they behold; 
One deed of kindness noticed is worth forty that are told. 
Who stands with men of honor learns to hold his honor dear, 
For right living speaks a language which to everyone is clear. 
Though an able speaker charms me with his eloquence, I say, 
I'd rather see a sermon than to hear one, any day

How loudly this poem speaks to us from the hearing and seeing standpoint!  Of course, we want people to ‘say what they mean and mean what they say’ – and the only proof of that is in their actions. We have more respect for someone who walks their talk; who lives according to their creed; than for someone who is always preaching one thing and doing another.  And absolutely, we learn more from someone’s example than from the words they spout. 

But this poem speaks even louder to me about what I am doing.  Am I walking the talk?  Am I living according to the words that I am speaking?  Am I being a good example?  My heart’s desire is to be a sermon that someone sees.  To be the one who walks with others rather than giving them directions and sending them away.  I want to be the one who helps and teaches by my example, the one who shows kindness, the one whose honor is visible.  And why is that my heart’s desire?  Because I know if I am doing those things, I am walking the way my Heavenly Father wants me to walk. 

Basically, Christians yearn to be pleasing to God.  But sometimes they get side-tracked, or tricked, or complacent and they forget what they are really supposed to be doing.  It takes much less effort to talk than it does to take the required action.  So people can find themselves in a situation of thinking they are doing okay because they are saying the right things; but they are actually missing the mark.  We do not want to find ourselves in that boat!

Let us all show the world what it means to live for God; to live the way that our Heavenly Father designed for us to live.  Let’s be bold.  Let’s be fearless.  Let’s do more than just talk!  Let’s be good examples of what it means to be Christians.  Let’s be the sermons that everyone can see! 

Note to my readers:  I cannot thank you enough for reading!  I love you all. 

This post is a bit different than my usual writing.  I wanted to do something to honor my friend, Rev. William I. Winegarner.  If you knew him, I hope my reminiscing will bless you.  If you didn’t know Bill, maybe my thoughts will spur your memories of someone special to you.  I am dedicating this post to the legacy of Bill’s life.

Bill Winegarner fell asleep on October 27, 2021.  It was a great loss not only for his family but also for the body of Christ.  It was a personal loss for me because I counted him as my friend and brother.  Many of my readers may have known Bill as an active force in the Way Ministry.  If you were a WOW Ambassador or attended the Rock of Ages, even if you didn’t know him, you probably heard of him.    

Bill was many things to me.

He was my brother in Christ, and my big brother in the Word.  He was my friend and the husband of one of my best friends.  He was my boss and my real estate broker.  He was my trusted counselor and my confidant. 

In addition Bill was a great example of the believers.  He was a wise teacher and a faithful minister.  Bill was a dedicated husband and a loving father and grandfather. 

 I first met Bill in the early 1970’s.  It was at a time when God’s Word was making a great resurgence and many of us kids were turning-on to It.  Poor Bill was charged with raising all of us from the central Ohio area in God’s Word.  I say poor Bill because I guess there were over a hundred of us hippie kids in our late teens and early twenties who all were zealous for the Word, but clueless about life.  It must have been like herding cats for him. 

Bill taught us many things back then, but there is one lesson that I have never forgotten.  He was running a meeting and when he began to speak, it was obvious that he had a bad cold.  I for one was perplexed — being so young in the Word, I couldn’t understand how a leader could get sick.  I must not have been the only one with those thoughts racing around in their head, because Bill paused his agenda and sternly addressed the group, “Don’t you dare judge God’s Word because I have a cold.  You need to get to the place that you believe the Word is truth regardless of what your senses say!”  I took his admonishment to heart.    

I remember when Mary told me that she was going to marry Bill.  I was surprised and a little puzzled.  I thought, “But Mary, he’s a grown up!”  She said that he was the kindest, most unpretentious man she had ever met.  So, I gave her my blessing – not that she needed it – and I was very happy for both of them. 

Bill and Mary moved to the Way headquarters in New Knoxville, Ohio, where Bill served in positions of great responsibility.  Our lives moved in separate circles for many years.  But then as God would have it, we ended up in close proximity again, and Mary and I reconnected.  When we started spending time together, it was like we had never been apart.  And to me, Bill was still my leader in the Word. 

My husband and I asked Bill to be our real-estate agent when we wanted to buy our first house.  Boy did we look at some unusual houses together!  However, what I remember the most was the absolute confidence we were able to have with Bill on the job.  He was genuinely more concerned about us getting the best house / deal than he was about making his commission.  He was honest and trustworthy.  I remember thinking, “Why would anyone choose another real-estate agent instead of Bill??”  Later, we called him again to sell that house and find us a new one, and eventually to sell that one.  As a real-estate broker, Bill really knew his stuff and he was a shrewd businessman.

It just so happened around the time we sold our first house, and were buying our next one, I needed a new job.  Of course I mentioned that to Bill.  And after the new house deal was done, he hired me to work for him at a retiree organization of which, he was the Administrator. 

I worked for Bill for about 6 years in that organization.  During those years, our brother-sister relationship grew.  I would unload all my problems on Bill – I mean really, isn’t that what big brothers are for?  And he would always counsel me with God’s Word and sometimes with other tidbits of wisdom.  One day after having had an argument with my husband the night before, I was complaining to Bill about how hard marriage is.  And he gave me one of those tidbits that was the best advice EVER!  He said, “One thing you must always remember about your spouse is, their best quality is that they put up with your raggedy ass.”  He referred to himself in that same manner and those were the perfect words to get me back on track. I have repeated his advice many times, not only to others but also to myself. 

Another thing I learned about Bill during our time working together is that he loved a good debate.  I learned to never casually say, “The Word says…” without making sure that I knew what I was talking about!  It was such good training for me to “study to show myself approved unto God”, rather than just repeating something I had heard.  I learned so much from all of our debates!

Another one of my favorite memories happened after Bill got the Board of Directors to approve 3 days of paid leave for employees for snow each year.  He did this not only for me because I had a long commute, but also for an older employee because he didn’t want her driving in bad weather either.  Well, one year we had a terrible ice storm, which was especially bad out in the rural area where I lived.  I missed three days of work because everything was engulfed in 2 inches of solid ice.  I actually had to use a hammer and chisel to get the ice off my car.  Well, the next week when payday rolled around, I was not paid for those days because the Treasurer said that my absence was due to ice and not snow.  What??  So I marched right into Bill’s office ranting and raving.  I told him that he could keep his stupid snow days because there was no way that I was going endanger my life driving on in icy roads to get to this job whether he paid me or not.  Bill sat quietly and listened to my tirade, then grinned and said, “I just wanted to see if you were going to fight for yourself.”  I got paid for those days. 

My time working for Bill ended because my husband got a job in New Jersey, and we moved.  During those NJ years, Bill and Mary remained part of our lives.  I would often visit with them when I returned to Ohio to see our kids.  We would get together whenever possible.  They came a couple times to visit us while we were camping with our son’s family for the Fourth of July.  Those visits were particularly special to me. 

This year, Bill and Mary joined our online fellowship on Sunday evenings.  It was always great to see them even though it was just video conferencing.  On Sunday, October 17, I had the privilege of sharing God’s Word with the group.  Bill was online that night.  He liked my sharing.  That was our last interaction.  I will always cherish that memory. 

We all may have experienced losing someone.  So we know how sad this time can be.  BUT – praise God that we have The Hope.  We know that our loved ones are asleep awaiting the sound of the trumpet. There is no consciousness of time for them.  The next thing they will know is their getting up and meeting the Lord.  And if we are still alive at that time, we will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  (ref: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17)

Everything in this life is temporal. Knowing the truth of God’s Word about our future brings great comfort to our hearts, especially at these sad times.  We know that right now, God is nigh unto the broken hearted,* and we know that all of our tears shall be completely wiped away by the absolute glory and joy that we will have for all eternity being together with the Lord.*

1 Thessalonians 4:18,  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Note to my readers:   Mine was only one of the many lives that Bill touched.  I hope my memories gave you a glimpse into the wonderful man that he was.  Thanks for reading. 

** ref: Psalm 34:18, Revelation 21:4