Sideline coach…

 Sideline coach…

The water exercise coach is usually on the deck of the pool giving instructions through each class…she walks back and forth instructing throughout the class…giving the best example she can of each exercise which we are to copy in the water….

Today, she jumped in…into the pool…after “threatening “ that she would to personally instruct…from our level…

It made me think of the story which the late Paul Harvey told once a year of the birds in the snow…and a man…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODoMZD5xi7A

Jesus came to live among us….

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

1 John 4:7-12

Jesus was no sideline coach…He “jumped “ into the world to live among us and he still does through the Holy Spirit…who teaches truth …

13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

John 16:13-14

Thank YOU….

Prepared…

 Prepared….

I was recently sent a small earthen jar and lamp, a depiction of the lamps used in the New Testament reading of the ten virgins…

A reminder to be prepared…the bridegroom may come at any moment…

With world events as they are, famines, wars, earthquakes, disruptions of various kinds throughout the world….we wonder and watch for Jesus’ return….wanting it to happen soon to release many from the pain of watching and waiting….in real or instant news, we can see the pain and suffering of millions….we wait patiently and impatiently, hoping…

But, I have to ask myself, am I prepared?   Is my lamp trimmed, have I secured enough oil…do I shine in the darkness, do I yearn for the arrival of the bridegroom, Jesus…is my heart prepared, cleansed, to greet Him with exaltation…or am I selfishly awaiting Him to get out of the present circumstances…have I foolishly let my lamp go out…do I reflect Him or represent myself…

Will the words, “good and faithful servant” be said or “I never knew you” be repeated?

Preparation…is key …we can’t go back…there are no redo’s…

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

John 3:16-17 

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 

2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 

3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 

4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 

6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 

7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 

8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 

9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 

11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ 

12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ 

13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Matthew 25:1-13

35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 

37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 

38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 

40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

Luke 12:35-38,40

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

1 Peter 3:15

https://sermonwriter.com/biblical-commentary/new-testament-matthew-251-13/

https://bible.org/seriespage/26-ten-virgins-what-it-means-be-ready-matthew-251-13

https://redeeminggod.com/sermons/matthew/matt_25_1-13/#:~:text=Matthew%2025%3A1-13%20is%20the%20parable%20of%20the%20Ten,introducing%20us%20to%20ten%20virgins%20in%20Matthew%2025%3A1.

And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

Revelation 22:5

Pure joy…

 Pure joy….

At my class at the local “Y”recently, the area rang with giggles and bubbling laughter of a tiny 2-4 year girl who repeatedly jumped into the pool to her instructor….she obviously loved the water and the instruction…just her enthusiasm brought smiles to all who watched and heard her…the smiles were infectious to the whole crowd who were involved in various pool classes or exercises…

Awhile later, a little boy about the same age, came in crying, holding on to his patient mother’s hand, repeating over and over again, “but, I don’t want to go swimming”….(he finally acquiesced, reluctantly getting in)…

Such contrasts can be found in many situations….joy, reluctance….when meeting new adventures…

The scene in Acts came to mind when Peter and John met a lame man ….not that either one of these children were lame, but the joy exuded from  the little girl gave the wonderous feeling to those around…”walking and leaping and praising God”…joy….

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 

And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 

Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 

And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 

And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 

But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 

And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 

And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. 

And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Acts 3:1-10

On the other hand, the little boy, was “Eeyore”, looking for the “downer” things in life, not wanting to try something that might give him delight …or not…His mother faithfully bringing him to the pool…hoping he would receive that fun time in the water…like the friends of the man bringing him to beg for alms…only to receive a much better gift, healing and joy…

What do we look for when faced with the “over and over” events, joy or reluctance?    Am I diligently seeking Joy in the Lord or being dragged along, complaining the whole way,  dreading any change…

My attitude says it all…. 

Thank YOU for the sweet picture in two little lives….

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.

Psalm 5:11

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Psalm 51:12

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

Psalm 98:4

 Role changes…2022

We’ve come to the section in Griefshare which touched in role changes…after the loss of a loved one…spouses, children, even friends…

Where do we fit with friends, family, those around us…in small groups, family groups, this may change…some feel uncomfortable and not able to accept the changes we have experienced…we are of “odd” number in a group…when all we may want is someone just to talk to “normally “…not left out because our life has changed sooooo much…

I am now ten years out this month…time has crawled at times and flown at others…more than half of my grandchildren don’t know their grandfather….where I have lived or live, no one knows me as a wife…

We still use business advisors, but, even they have changed and didn’t know my husband…I have gotten younger ones who can relate to my children…but, I can go to the older ones myself…

The world has marched on…

Roles do change…lives do change, children grow up, paths change, new chapters are being written….God has been so gracious in guiding the way…opening doors, closing others…I have learned and and still learning to settle in His peace…

Thank YOU…. 

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

“Answered prayer....contentment....2013
 


One of the things I have been "fighting" since my husband's death is change of roles or "new hats" I have had to put on....
 
I was comfortable in my old roles ....and I didn't want change or like the change...I didn't want the authority, the final decision making responsibility to lay with me...I wanted it like it was...him being the businessman that he was, not me...I liked working on women's church  issues or time to work in the floral shop, to create, to serve in other areas...not business....not paperwork....not my forte...
 


But, apparently, God had other plans....but He did them so graciously .....we still had a trusted administrative assistant, lawyers, accountants and partner who knew and willingly advised and counseled about what to do and where to go...my husband and I had even added this list of advisors to our estate planning binder for our children to call upon in case  something should happen to us...I am glad we talked over the qualities of each and agreed on them...as I am now using them...


 
I remember the day we walked into one of our lawyer's office....we sat down as usual with unusual news...we have known him for 25 + years...he had helped us with so many things, from adoption to land issues to wills to trusts, a friend....we sat there before him and told him about my husband's cancer and our deadlines of changes in paperwork, the many  changes we needed to make, quickly....his face in dismay, his burden for us evident (his wife's mother had just died from exactly the same cancer).....a good advisor...
 


Or our administrative assistant who was going through issues of her own...a friend ....and so much more in our business...she helped immeasurably ....while she herself was losing her father to dementia ....and finally death as well...


 
Or the accountant, with my uneducated questions about what was right or wrong with various accounts and accounting procedures ....
 


Or our partner, who this past year has repeated radiation for his own cancer and received a new voice from throat cancer....his work and enthusiasm on work projects...and diligence through his cancer, his father's death....
 


I would call upon these wonderful advisers, friends with all sorts of questions...how to do this or that,...and they would patiently walk me through them......

I realized the other day that I wasn't as rattled or anxious about the decision making as I was a year ago...I was in a better place emotionally ....time had  helped...Prayer had helped...

God had intervened yet again to add contentment in this area of my life....
 
 But beyond me, God has been working in all of our lives, through drastic events, deaths,  cancer, moves, business ups and downs, church revision, graduations, job changes ....we are all a small microcosm of the whole world in flux...
 


We are to give thanks in ALL things....I usually want to do that in my perceived good only ...but the Word says ALL...not part or things of my choosing, but ALL...contentment in ALL as well...

.
 
Then the peace which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus...Phil. 4:6-7
 


Thank YOU for answered prayer, peace, guarding my heart and mind...”
 

Interesting….thought provoking….

https://trk.klclick2.com/ls/click?upn=lmlf-2FiVd5CZjE3UU6GM90IiaNXq3GUs4sY-2FfN4m1hoAk-2B87fOv38fG1XyWTL0TxjaT4mMGwh33OdJlNo936iUHSQRIKUDg-2BYgG-2BTEdpL1Za-2FK4i4DnSpaXADoLp6aWcmb2qmFCQd1-2B0FLFBAD6sQ9RT29dAOku87gD4-2BhO5KK-2B4-3DZdrC_Gniv7UsiNKLaIk3PbgTc-2FSbJ5wAvkRVVTjLxk3ZDv3oI1S3UcbpIm9ZDixZfKrIgMwMfZx1JNxGisL4jOxjOQB99pGmHyVnNynfnxJV2F8NJSAIj2uMdsdEna9v0cUXukziD86PnJbAZ5ZO7EEu9zSNMqdmV3koAKON6oY-2FxI1tKq2-2FnmfIlcUeqSFIlOsW4QxmP8NW8NEpJOyh-2Bh9S4xSJT4PmB0C0HS4XTlQtifLYD7iF071gfTYIgFEZ7T6XEtNzAEbvKhhKVRDK0qW9pjM09Y98Xy-2Fr9WrajspAC04ZX1XMOL7SB1t08r0EkWSpKR74ZMD0qt51rMP7Omewx0453SlVUM4Qb3QUq4o7r-2FKevoBHKrP4OqB4GB4iC1P3o-2BW5A9YcO-2Bva8QYFIqcg1nA-3D-3D

 he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

Isaiah 49:6

Behold, these shall come from afar, and behold, these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Syene.” 

Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord  has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted.

Isaiah 49:12-13

Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and raise my signal to the peoples; and they shall bring your sons in their arms, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders.

Isaiah 49:22

but ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ For I will bring them back to their own land that I gave to their fathers.

Jeremiah 16:15

Behold, I will bring them from the north country and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, the pregnant woman and she who is in labor, together; a great company, they shall return here. 

With weeping they shall come, and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble, for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. 

“Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.’ 

For the Lord has ransomed Jacob and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him. 

They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall languish no more. 

Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. 

I will turn their mourning into joy; 

I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. 

I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, declares the Lord.” 

There is hope for your future, declares the Lord, and your children shall come back to their own country.

Jeremiah 31:8-14,17

Covenant….celebration…

 Covenant…celebration….

Recently I got to watch a video of a friend’s 50th wedding anniversary celebration…was so fun watching this couple stand before their family, friends and God in celebration of the covenant which they have kept for over 50 years…they don’t renew their vows but celebrated those vows….

Watching vows being kept and dissolved over my lifetime has been both wonderful and heartbreaking….people being blessed and torn apart…

Looking through the Word, there are over 300 references to “covenant” from Genesis to Revelation, Noah to heaven…

It is worth the read through each verse…totally uplifting from the 

Perspective of God keeping his promises …throughout generations in the past, present and future…His continued care and love for those whom he deemed his and those who have put their faith and trust in Him…

God repeats his covenant over and over to generations…promises He made to the patriarchs…his faithfulness even in their unfaithfulness…to His chosen…

“Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 

And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 

I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. 

And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 

When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 

God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

Genesis 9:9,11-13,15-17

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 

And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness. 

On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.”

Genesis 15:1,6,18-21

When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 

Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 

No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham,  for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. 

And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.” 

God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.

Genesis 17:1-8,19 

And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.

Exodus 2:24 

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;

Exodus 19:5

“Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to you that has come upon us, upon our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until this day.

Nehemiah 9:32 

All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. 

The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.

Psalm 25:10,14

For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Isaiah 54:10

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 

And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord . 

For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Jeremiah 31:33-34 

I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the Lord,

Ezekiel 16:62

Daniel 9

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.

Malachi 3:1

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 

28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 26:26-28

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:20-21

Thank YOU….

Sheep…

 Sheep….

For several years as our children were growing up, we had sheep, Suffolk and Merino.

Now the Suffolk were very independent, roaming around the pasture at will. My daughters worked with them, bottle feeding lambs until they were so tame that they thought their home was our front porch…(which it wasn’t)…

The Merinos, on the other hand, stayed in a flock, always moving together as a group…very protective, watchful…

Their wool is different…the Suffolk’s was coarser, while the merino was fine and soft…much nicer to work with…

My husband would shear them if needed, but he would rather hire shearers to come and shear them…they would plop them on their back, tummy up, run those electric shears around and down the bodies until a whole fleece would lay on the floor…a pure white sheep would get up and run free from the constraints on the shearer and the fleece…the fleece was then bundled up and added the huge, long burlap wool bag to be sold later…

As a child, my step grandfather had sheep as well, when their fleeces were piled into the bags, we would get into the bag and stump and stuff and condense the wool to get as many fleeces as possible into the bags before they were closed and sewn with heavy twine…

Whenever I read the following verses, those past scenes come to mind…those Suffolk sheep were perfect examples of “going their own way”…they had a mind of their own, wandering around, not staying in any group…and leading little, cute lambs was fun, as they gambol around, jumping, playing …not knowing their end…the sheep being sheared on their backs are quiet, lying helplessly as the shearer does his work…

Thank YOU for speaking to our hearts ….thank YOU for taking on our punishment, being wounded for our healing…

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

Isaiah 53:5-7

https://petkeen.com/popular-types-of-sheep-breeds/

https://www.bristolpetitions.com/are-there-sheep-in-israel/