Gray...white...

Gray...white...

A year ago I had blond hair...today, I have gray/white...where did the years go?

One of my grandfathers had pure white hair for all the years that I knew him, one grandmother had brown with a few strands of gray...my other grandmother had gray, but she put purple in it, sometimes darker purple than others....my mother colored her hair until into her seventies, then white...my father had some gray...and I have had strawberry blond all my life until yesterday...

I looked into the mirror after my hair appointment, and I was different ....one hair cut made the difference, it cut the rest of my blondish locks away, leaving  the gray...whoa, I wasn't ready for that...vain isn't it?

We go on such outward looks..."first impressions", instead of looking at the heart of those around us..when God looks at the heart of each of us...

1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 

So instead of the gray I see in the mirror everyday, I want to look to see if my heart is right with God...that is is clean, contrite, honoring Him is all I do...He really doesn't care about my hair color...He cares about my heart...He is the sustainer, Saviour of my soul...Thank YOU ....help my heart to be right with You no matter what...

Proverbs 16:31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness. 

Proverbs 20:29 The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old. 

Isaiah 46:4 Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you.I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. 

Boxes upon boxes...

Boxes upon Boxes....

It is not too early to begin gathering items for Operation Christmas child boxes...

I was just in their site and it sAid that over 124 million boxes have been distributed since it began in 1993.. That means we are on a second generation of children to receive these free gifts around the world in "open and closed" countries.   What a joy!!!

I think about my recent trip to Yucatan, and the joy that was in the faces of the children there to receive a soccer ball or a new toothbrush and toothpaste. What fun it would have been to give each child a box filled with goodies packed by someone praying for them in the United States...

http://video.samaritanspurse.org/channel/operation-christmas-child/

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/buildonline/

I just think of the abundance that we live around and take for granted...giving is so easy...help me to be that cheerful giver, imagining the smiles that simple gifts give,...Thank YOU for the opportunity...

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” 

Psalm 65:11 You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. 

2 Corinthians 9:7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 

Jude 1:2 Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. 

Take words and return to the Lord....

Take words and return to the Lord...

I think Hosea has become one of my favorite books...along with the rest of God's Word....so redemptive, so seeking, so restoring ....so healing, so loving when all God  wants is to love us  back into His loving arms...

His boundaries are loving , not awful...

His words are comforting, not tearing down...

He desires that we flourish not die in the vine...

We wants us to understand , not be confused...

He is gracious....

Hosea 14:1-9 Return, Israel, to the Lord your God.

Your sins have been your downfall! 

Take words with you and return to the Lord.

Say to him:“Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.

(2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. )

 Assyria cannot save us; we will not mount warhorses.

We will never again say ‘Our gods' to what our own hands have made, for in you the fatherless find compassion.” 

“I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them.

 I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. 

Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots; his young shoots will grow.

His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon. People will dwell again in his shade;

they will flourish like the grain, they will blossom like the vine—Israel’s fame will be like the wine of Lebanon.

 Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols?

I will answer him and care for him.

I am like a flourishing juniper; your fruitfulness comes from me.” 

Who is wise? Let them realize these things.

Who is discerning? Let them understand.

The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them. 

(Ecclesiastes 12:13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. )

So many promises...

Ephraim=means "it is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering."..

We can be fruitful, by God's grace...and at His bidding and with His help...

Thank YOU that you care so much for us ...help me to walk in your ways...seeking your path ...turning to You and not the world...

Divided neighborhood ....

Divided neighborhood...

I woke myself early this morning...I was having a bad dream and didn't want to continue it....

We had moved into a neighborhood, new people all around and many new friends....which was great!!

The downside was that one woman asked the others over for a Bible study and all of them came...but  as the morning continued, there was a distinct divide with the older women versus the younger ones until the younger ones walked out...

My heart was broken as I desperately tried again and again to bring these two groups back together with no success....so I wanted to wake up from this nightmare!!!!

One group wanted it just as it had been in the past with no changes, while other wanted some change which weren't acceptable to the first...

The trouble was I had been there is real life...factions at "war" with one another in the church where we should be able to work things through in a peaceful manner...ending in shouts, bad manners, hurting words filling the air that should not have been spoken, hidden agendas,  generations torn apart...a body divided...over colors of rooms, or methods of teaching, or lack of information or no empowerment or the "old" way versus the changing times or old songs versus new ones...

I don't   know what prompted my dream, I rarely do, but the theme was as vivid as real life and just as uncomfortable....there was nothing I could do except pray that it would get better....splits in churches not only hinder the Gospel, but hurts the people both inside and outside the body of believers...and who wants to be a part of a dysfunctional body? Christ's peace doesn't reign nor is it sought...or proclaimed...the divisions if allowed to continue can rule and tear apart one congregation after another for years to come...so that people just walk away from the one  place that should give comfort the most ...

Christ, it seems, is nailed on the cross again and again for the divisions of the people instead of exalted as the Savior who brings salvation from the sins of division...the Holy Spirit is grieved....people come with divided hearts and no peace...we miss the blessings of God's comfort...

Thank YOU that you can mend broken churches when we seek You with whole hearts...help those who are hurting for past encounters to seek YOU above all...

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. —COLOSSIANS 1:27

Colossians 2:2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, ....

Mark 3:25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 

1 Corinthians 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 

Riches....

Riches....

For some reason, we humans measure riches by the size of one's bank account, the size of their house, the number of cars in the driveway, the amount of jewelry one wears, the most livestock, etc. ....outward adornments only...

But, having seen little ones come into the world and loves ones leave...they came with no "riches" and they left with none...the outward "adornment" that we call riches was totally not part of the arrival or departure ....they may have left an inheritable to others, but they took nothing with them...but riches/ wealth is  so much more than money or things...

The Word speaks of riches as God's statues, His instruction, His honor, His inheritance, a good name, humility, His i wisdom, His knowledge, His understanding ....these all cannot be bought for any price, any amount of worldly goods, gold or silver...they are, alas, priceless...no big house can be traded for them, or cars or livestock or land...

But, are offered free, for the seeking...for price of believing, faithfulness, the hope we find in Christ...and that hope is what we take with us into eternity...

King Solomon, the richest man, asked for understanding and God chose to add worldly riches...beyond his wildest dreams only only to come back to the basic of "Fear God" as his worldly riches didn't satisfy...as God did...

Thank YOU for the riches You bestow...help me seek the true riches in life....

Psalm 119:14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. 

Proverbs 8:1, 10, 12, 18-21 Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? 

Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;

I possess knowledge and discretion. 

With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. 

My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.

 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, 

bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love   Me and making their treasuries full. 

Proverbs 22:1, 4, 9 A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. 

Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life. 

The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. 

Luke 16:11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 

Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable his judgments,and his paths beyond tracing out! 

Ephesians 1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 

Colossians 2:2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, ....

Yucatan 7... Boundaries...

Yucatan 7....Boundaries ......

Driving around the area in the Yucatan, was Like driving in tunnels...miles and miles of brush, trees about thirty feet high, brush so dense it looked  impenetrable except for the small forest animals...

Most every family had a building made of poles and thatched roofs from this jungle of small trees, they also used this brush for feed for their animals...we saw many bikes loaded with branches on their way home with this staple...as well as wood for their cooking fires...but there was plenty of brush to go around, the forest wasn't being denuded....

When a family decided to build, they staked out their piece of ground, built a rock fence  about 3 feet tall all around it, cleared some of the brush, built their stick home and eventfully built a cement block home as well as an outhouse. Their water came to a spot in the fence with hoses attached. They had water tanks set on a frame for Gravity flow to the house or wherever... Each parcel looked pretty much the same... Some had gardens, livestock areas...although the chickens ranged freely, some had fruit trees, and even flowers...some parcels were neat and well kept while others were not...

But each had their boundary...

In the book of Numbers, there are lists of boundaries as God portions out the promised land to various tribes...God gave them specific pieces of ground which stayed in the family to be handed down from generation to generation.

It was both freeing and intentional to give boundaries...they knew their limits...

Psalm 16:5-6 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. 

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. 

In Hosea, God was protecting Gomer or Israel by "walling " her in...keeping her safe from the evilness outside the boundaries...  

Hosea 2:6 Therefore I will block her path with thornbushes;  I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way.

There have been times when raising our children that we prayed for boundaries that only God could make for safety for our children...we had set boundaries, but they chose to extend them and then they could only be kept safe by God...we could physically do nothing...as we handed them over and over the the real Safekeeper.... And now I find that I pray the same for them and their children...God has them in his mighty hand...

He does the same for me as well...He blocks certain paths and opens up others for my safety as well...so that I don't stray or "free range" following after the lusts of life ...there are consequences for going outside the boundaries ...but I desire those "pleasant places" and Him to be my inheritance...as David states in his song...

Thank YOU for the boundaries that you have established....help me to be thankful for Your portion and security ...

Yucatan 6...generations...

Yucatan 6...generations....

On the team, there were 6 generational groups...one day I sat with a 13 year old girl and asked how she came along..."when we turn 13, my grandmother takes us on a mission trip and I could hardly wait to come"....whoa, what a concept...passing the torch of being involved and giving.... 

There were two mother/daughter teams, two grandparent/grandchild teams and two families with children from 8-20's....working, playing and serving together ....

It took me back years to lessons I learned...my grandmother gave to missionaries in Alaska (that I know of), my parents gave to missionaries in Nicaragua...I heard of those as I grew up..we visited the Alaska one when I was in my teens...as our children grew, we entertained missionaries in our home, and supported  ones, we attended various missionary presentations as well over the years...then our oldest son wanted to go on a short term mission, followed by his sisters, while  our youngest did camp counseling...then my husband went to show the Jesus film twenty years ago, we went as a couple to teach English for two weeks in Asia, he went again to help with VBS, one daughter went with her family as missionaries for five years, the other daughter led and helped two teams various places, each serving in churches from giving to security, from encouraging others to discipleship, from makeup for fundraising to giving wood, from preaching to babysitting----service to others ....now our oldest grandson has gone on one summer mission and as I write this blog, two more are leaving for Mexico to build houses...passing the baton yet again....

All of my children and their spouses have given in time, resources, themselves  in some way to serve in the furthering of the Gospel of Christ...it warms my heart beyond imagination to see each serving in some way the God in whom we have put our trust...in whom they have put their trust...this trust has become their own...not mine or their ancestors ...their own ....

And I pray that it continues in for generations until Jesus returns...not for my sake, or their own, but for the glory of God...and to win more into the kingdom .... 

Thank YOU for generations, for the impact they make over the years, that we continue in Your path, not walking away, but walking with You to Your glory...and that these other families continue as well...serving in some way In your  kingdom...You are our blessing...

Deuteronomy 6:1-2 These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 

Deuteronomy 32:7 Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you.