Sunday's Specialty

Psalm 136:1

 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Good morning, everyone!

This is another Special Sunday the Lord has blessed us to enjoy. I awoke this morning with the subject of thankfulness on my mind. A grateful heart is a great possession. God has poured blessings on us too many to number, so my aim today is to provoke us to offer more thanks to Him.

For starters, how many days do we thank the Lord for our senses? Do we start our days thanking Him that we can see, hear, smell, taste and feel? When was the last time we thanked Him for a sound mind? Are we guilty of taking these seemingly small but very important blessings for granted? Let's take some time today to thank God for these benefits.

If our family is near us, be thankful. If we have a family and they are not near us, be thankful. If we have a spouse to have and hold, be thankful. If we have children and grandchildren near, be thankful. Let's be thankful for family today.

Our possessions came to us because of God's blessings. When was the last time we thanked God for clothes to wear, food to eat, a car to drive, and a house in which to live? Let's be thankful today that we have been blessed with all these things.

And last, but definitely not least, how thankful are we that we have been born again of the water and of the Spirit? When was the last time we thanked God for salvation - for repentance, baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost? (John 3; Acts 2). My challenge to all of us today is to thank God for these very important blessings.

The late Carroll McGruder wrote a beautiful song some years ago, and it has been sung in many churches. Its message remains relevant today:

Thanks

by Carroll McGruder

Verse One

I give You thanks for the strength You give

To simply carry on

Through life's toils and tests, in the worst and best

I'm never left alone

You are always right beside me

Hear me every time I pray

Since I first began, You've been my dearest friend

And I just want to give You thanks

Chorus

Thanks, thanks, I give You thanks

For all You've done

I am so blessed, my soul has found rest

Oh, Lord, I give You thanks

Verse Two

I give You thanks this moment

And I will continually

For each day I live, Your grace You give

I'm blessed abundantly

I can't forget that moment

When in my life You made such a change

Since the Spirit came, I've not been the same

So I give You all my thanks

Here are a few quotes to go along with today's blog post:

"God gave you a gift of 84,600 seconds today. Have you used one of them to say thank you?" - William Arthur Ward

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend." - Melody Beattie

May we all be stirred to start each day from here on out with a thankful heart! We have been given much, so let's show gratitude to our Great God for all our blessings!

Lord willing, we'll meet again tomorrow for another spoonful!

Saturday's Snippet

Ecclesiastes 3

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

² A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

³ A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

⁴ A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

⁵ A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

⁶ A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

⁷ A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

⁸ A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Good morning, everybody!

As I awoke on this very crisp Saturday morning, I thought about seasons. We are now in the autumn, or fall, season and I truly love this time of year. The changing colors in the trees has always fascinated me. One of my favorite sayings is - Isn't it swell that we fell into Fall - the greatest season of them all!!

I love this verse from Genesis 8:

Genesis 8:22

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

And here's another one:

Psalm 74:17

 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.

We have a promise from God that there will always be four seasons while the earth remains; and, HE is the one that has, "set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter." Our God sets the borders of the seasons.

Not only does God set the borders of the seasons upon earth, but He is in charge of the seasons in our lives. Unlike the seasons upon earth, we are not all in the same season when it comes to the one we're walking through right now. Some of us are experiencing Spring with new growth in our churches and in our relationship with the Lord; while others may seem to be in the bitter cold of Winter where there is no growth.

Then, there are others who are walking through the Summertime where life is all sunshine; while others are in the Autumn watching everything change. What a consolation we have that in whatever season we are experiencing in our walk with God, HE IS THERE! He is our warmth in the cold of Winter; our rain in the Spring; our Sonshine in the Summer; and our stability in the changes of Autumn. Wow! I feel Him while I'm writing this!

My husband loves this song, and I'd like to share it as I bring this spoonful of tonic to a close today:

He Never Changes

(I could not locate the author's name)

Verse One

The world may end tomorrow

The sun refuse to shine

Stars may cease to twinkle

The rivers may run dry

The mountains high and mighty

May tumble to the ground

But Jesus is my Fortress

In Him my hope is found

Chorus

He never changes

He's just the same

Now and forever

He will remain

Heaven and earth may pass away

But one thing is sure

My God is eternal

In Him I'm secure

Verse Two

Spring will change to summer

 Summer into fall

Fall will bring the winter

And time will change them all

Only the love of Jesus 

Will live forevermore

Throughout the endless ages

His promises are sure

One last verse to share:

Malachi 3:6

 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Rest assured, whatever you're going through and wherever you are right now in life, amid all the changes around you, our God NEVER CHANGES!!! He remains the same. He remains constant at all times.

God bless you all with the sweetest Saturday ever! Walk with Him and bask in the fact that He knows where you are; He knows your name; and He has orchestrated your present season. 

Lord willing, I'll see you tomorrow for another spoonful!

Friday's Footnote

Mark 9:23

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Good morning, my dear family and friends!

Finally, it's Friday!! When I worked outside of my home, Fridays were indeed fabulous because it meant I could be away from the workplace for two whole days. Now that I no longer work a public job, I still find Fridays to be a special day, probably because I think about all my hard working family and friends who are ready for their weekends to begin.

The verse from Mark 9 that I chose to head up today's blog post tells us that "all things are possible" if we believe. Something that I've noticed about society over the past fifteen years or so is that we always seem to be in a hurry; wanting anything and everything to happen "just like that." This manner of thinking can be compared to a microwave.... Put in a dish, enter 1-2 minutes, press START... then enjoy! Without realizing it, could it be that we view prayer the same way? "Jesus, please help me with this particular problem. Amen." Then, we expect to rise from our knees and find the answer met. 

Unfortunately, or maybe I should say fortunately, things don't always turn out so quickly. There is a time of the testing of our faith. Let's take a look at Joseph. When he was young, God gave him dreams of being a leader over his family and others. Were Joseph's dreams fulfilled within the first year? No, the fulfillment of those dreams were many years in the making. 

Psalm 105:19 tells us regarding Joseph: "Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him." He was sold by his brothers; lied on by Potiphar's wife; then imprisoned - and he was living right. The fetters surely hurt him while he was imprisoned, but the real hurt was in wondering, Where is God? When we pray and our prayers are not answered, we must keep believing. God is at work, even though we cannot see Him nor understand His plan.

During the years that Joseph waited for his dreams to be fulfilled, God was strengthening him, so that when the answer DID come, he was prepared to lead the people during famine, and deal with forgiving his brothers. The years of his faith being tried were not in vain. God was with Joseph and shaping him for bigger things.

So, when you find that the answers have not come to your prayers, don't dismay. Trust that God knows what is best and, just like with Joseph, one day our answer will come, and we will be ready to step into whatever role God has for us.

I'd like to share just the chorus of a beautiful song, Keep Believing, by Tim Pedigo:

Keep believing in what you know is true

Keep believing

You know the Lord will see you through

When troubles rise in your life

And you don't know what to do

You'll be fine

If you just keep believing

May your Friday be indeed fabulous, as you faithfully follow The Father wherever He leads!

God bless you all and, if He's willing, I'll see you again tomorrow.....

Friday's Footnote: "God may withhold an answer to prayer until we relinquish control of the outcome and put our complete trust in Him." - Suzanne Elizabeth Anderson

Thursday's Thought

Matthew 8:14-15

¹⁴ And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.

¹⁵ And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

Good morning, one and all!

Grateful to be alive one more day to live for Jesus, and shine for Him. Yesterday, I wrote a little about a physical problem my husband is having. In addition to the abdominal pain he has suffered while preaching, he also has a skin rash that won't go away, even with an antibiotic cream.

It's difficult to find a doctor when you are out-of-state, but it's also difficult finding one who has time to see you! My husband called one dermatologist regarding the rash and they informed him that they didn't treat rashes. It is rather frustrating to want the help of a physician and cannot get it.

I heard a saying years ago that the Great Physician still makes house calls. When I was about 5 years old, and I believe it might have been Christmas Eve, I was sick and I vaguely remember a doctor coming to our apartment and treating me. That was a long time ago, I tell you! I don't ever recall another house call after that. But, Jesus DOES make house calls, even though earthly physicians have stopped that practice. He went into Peter's house and touched her; the fever left, and she started ministering to others.

The stripes laid upon Jesus' back were for our healing. He suffered that we could be healed. He still heals today, and I'm believing for a miracle for my husband (and others). There's a miracle in the making!

Here's a song I recently heard and loved:

When Nothing but a Miracle Will Do

by the McRaes

Verse One

When you've tried everything, 

And everything you've tried has failed,

When you're standing at the harbor, 

And the ship of hope has sailed;

Friends have no answers and peace just can't be found,

Oh, but there's a hand of mercy 

That can turn it all around.

Chorus

When nothing but a miracle will do

There's nothing that the hand of God

Cannot bring you through

I know He's more than able

And He will deliver you

When nothing but a miracle will do

Verse Two

When you cried out in the darkness

And no one seems to hear

Just because you can't see Him

Doesn't mean He isn't near

Perhaps He's only waiting

'Til you've done all you can do

Until He's the only thing left to hold onto

Verse Three

In your time of trials

When you face the trial of doubt

Oh, just listen to a crowd of witnesses

You'll hear them crying out

From a lions' den and a fiery furnace,

From the belly of a whale

Through prison walls, at a hopeless turn

Walks a God who never fails

Ask Daniel, and Jonah, Peter and Paul

They're shouting with Lazarus,

He's living after all!

Keep praying, keep believing - keep leaving the door open for the Great Physician to make another house call. He has an abundance of miracles left for us in his doctor's bag!

Have a Terrific Thursday, trusting the hand that never will fail. Lord willing, I'll see you tomorrow for yet another spoonful of daily tonic!!!

Wednesday's Whisper

2 Corinthians 1:10

 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Good morning, family & friends!

I do not often write of personal issues but today I have something urgent to share with my readers. As you know, my husband, Michael, is an evangelist, a man who is very passionate about reaching souls. And, as you know, when he preaches, he puts his whole being into it, not to mention his love for lively church and worship. That said, he has experienced three episodes of severe abdominal pain during the past services. By the time he is finished preaching, he is almost doubled over in pain. Bottom line, he needs a miracle.

As I was praying for him yesterday, I remembered how God had healed in our family before:

1) He healed my husband of a blood condition before we ever married.

2) He healed our oldest son of seizures.

3) He spared our youngest son when he was burned; and spared him in 2013 when he was struck with high electrical voltage.

Those were just three of the miracles in our past; but God is not just a God of the past - He is well able to heal my husband NOW. I am believing for a miracle, but I also need others to believe with me. 

Several songs are on my mind today, but I'll share only one:

He'll Do It Again

by Shirley Caesar

Verse One

You may be down and feel like God has somehow forgotten

That you are faced with circumstances you can't get through

Right now it seems there's no way out and you're going under

But God's proven time and time again He'll take care of you

Chorus

And He'll do it again for you

He'll do it again

Just take a look at where you are now

And where you've been

Hasn't He always come through for you

He's the same now as then

You may not know how

You may not know when

But He'll do it again

Verse Two

God knows the things that you're going through

He knows how you're hurting

You see He knows just how your heart has been broken in two

He's the God of the stars, the sun and the sea

And He is your Father

You see He can calm the storm and He'll find some way

To fix it for you

Bridge

Oh He's still God and He will not fail you

Oh He's still God and He will not change

Know, know He's still God and He's fighting for you

Just like Moses, just like Daniel

Just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

He'll do it again.....

The God who DID deliver, will YET deliver. He is the same; never changing. One other song contains the lyrics... If He did it before, He can do it again. Same God right now, same God back then.... (Tye Tribbett, If He Did it Before....).

Thank you for allowing me to bare my heart to you today, but bigger thanks to those of you who pray for my husband! God bless you for caring.

Lord willing, another spoonful awaits tomorrow......