Wednesday's Whisper

Psalm 119:11

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Psalm 119:140

Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.

Wonderful Wednesday to all of you, my dear blog friends!

During the past few weeks, my husband and I have been privileged to meet some new people in the area where he's been preaching. I've watched people receive the gospel for the very first time, and not only receive it but embrace it, and my soul has been touched deeply.

Yesterday, we sat around the table, breaking the "bread of life" with some new friends, and the comment was made from a man over forty that for most of his life he had been forbidden to read the Bible. I was reminded of young people I had known growing up who had also been forbidden to read the Word of God, but it had been years since hearing something so disturbing. I wanted to weep.

Later on, in a time of prayer at the local church, I did weep; a spirit of deep gratitude consumed me. Gratitude toward God for saving my parents when I was young. Gratitude for those parents taking me to church every time the doors were opened, and making the Bible a part of our daily lives. Because of my godly upbringing, I can truly say along with David, that I love the word of God. I cannot fathom a life without my Bible!

The Word works! The Bible is packed full of encouraging stories, provoking admonition, strength, inspiration..... the list could go on and on! 

Without coming across arrogantly, I have been a faithful reader of the Word of God since I was probably nine or ten, and I can truly say that I treasure God's Word! There are not enough journals to contain how I have been helped by the scriptures, both in church through anointed preaching, and in daily devotion. This blog post is just a "spoonful" with regards to this cherished book.

I will close this post for now, as I want to once more read this wonderful book of holy scriptures.... there's something new and fresh in it every day! 

Until tomorrow, Lord willing............

Tuesday's Tidbit

Philippians 4:11

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

1 Timothy 6:6

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

Good morning - and a terrific Tuesday morning to you!!

What does contentment mean? According to the dictionary, it is a "state of happiness and satisfaction", with one synonym being fulfillment. While reading the fourth chapter of Philippians, the Apostle Paul recorded a bit of insight into his life, sharing with us how he knew about being based or made low; yet he had known how to abound, or be well supplied. He had known the state of being full at times, and hungry at other times. Life taught Paul many lessons and it is apparent by the writings he left us that he learned his lessons well. Through the ups and downs he experienced, he summarized it by declaring that he lived a life of satisfaction because his life was totally wrapped up in God.

Although our lives are much different than in Paul's times, the good and bad will always be a part of our earthly sojourn. Have we grasped the same concept as Paul? Are we learning from life's lessons, and are we learning them well? As we ride the roller coaster of life with its smiles and tears, faith and fears, have we come to the same conclusion - that in whatever state I am I will be content? Can we truly hold onto the truth that if we are living for God, wherever we are, and whatever we are going through, that it is the best life - a life of fulfillment?

My utmost desire is to be a good student in God's classroom of life. 

He who is contented is rich. 

- Lao Tzu

Content makes poor men rich:

discontent makes rich men poor. 

- Benjamin Franklin

Monday's Moment

Proverbs 15:15

All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.

Proverbs 17:22

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

The definition for merry is: cheerful and lively, with a few synonyms being: joyful and joyous.


Good morning, and a Marvelously Merry Monday to all of you!!

An early morning text said that today was "Fun Day", so along those lines I began to think about being merry and then the word joy came to mind. This kids' song from long ago started playing in my mind, too  --

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.  Where?
Down in my heart
Down in my heart
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.  Where?
Down in my heart to stay

I've got the peace that passes understanding down in my heart. Where?
Down in my heart
Down in my heart
I've got the peace that passes understanding down in my heart. Where?
Down in my heart to stay

(And this verse was a mouthful)

I've got the wonderful love of my blessed Redeemer way down in the depths of my heart. Where?
Down in the depths of my heart
Down in the depths of my heart
I've got the wonderful love of my blessed Redeemer way down in the depths of my heart. Where?
Down in the depths of my heart to stay

And if the devil doesn't like it, he can sit on a tack. Ouch!
Sit on a tack
Sit on a tack
And if the devil doesn't like it, he can sit on a tack. Ouch!
Sit on a tack to stay

I've heard it said that happiness is circumstantial, but true joy comes from the Lord. His joy is our strength, and in His strength we can do all things.

I pray your week has started off in a merry way. As the verses above point out, if we have a merry heart (or a joyful one), we will never be hungry and we will always have our "tonic".

Love to all......

Sunday's Specialty

Malachi 3:3

And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

Glorious Sunday morning to all of you!!

I've been reading and pondering the subject of refining silver. From the materials I gathered, several points stood out and I want to share them with you today.

First of all, there is a breaking process where the refiner breaks up the rough rocks in order to free the valuable minerals, like silver, that lie within. Even though we are discussing the natural process of refining silver, we want to compare it to our lives - we are the silver; the Lord is the Master Refiner.

After the breaking, the silver is placed in a crucible (a fireproof pot), which is then placed in a furnace. The heat is applied, which allows impurities (also known as dross), to rise to the top, at which time the refiner carefully and skillfully removes them. The trials (or heat) we go through are not meant to harm us, but to remove things out of our lives - to make us pure like our Lord.

More heat is applied to make sure that all impurities are removed. Up to seven times, the refiner will continue to put the silver back into the furnace. Once again, the Lord knows how much heat He needs to apply because He knows how many impurities we have inside.

     Psalm 12:6 - The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

During all this process, the refiner never takes his eye off the silver. His precious silver is always in his sight during the heating process. In the heat of our own spiritual battles, the Lord has His eye on us, as well. In all that we go through in our lives, we are never left alone.

What is the refiner's ultimate goal? To see a clear reflection of himself in the silver. When the refiner sees his reflection in the silver, then he knows he is holding something pure. Once again, this is our Lord's ultimate goal. When He sees His image in us, then He knows that the work has been accomplished in us.

We are a work in progress, but the breaking and the heat is all for our good, that we may reflect the One who created us, and who has saved us!

Until tomorrow, Lord willing..............

Saturday's Snippet

Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Good morning, Friends!

My heart is overwhelmed as I ponder the great love of God today. It is truly measureless. As one scripture points out - "His ways are past finding out...."(Romans 11:33)   I am not able to fully understand nor convey the vastness of God's love for mankind, but I feel it, and I love Him in return.

I awoke this morning with the words of a very old hymn on my mind. This is our "snippet" for today.

The Love of God

Written by Frederick Martin Lehman

The love of God is greater far   Than tongue or pen can ever tell. It goes beyond the highest star   And reaches to the lowest hell. The guilty pair, bowed down with care,   God gave His Son to win; His erring child He reconciled   And pardoned from his sin. O love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong! It shall forevermore endure - The saints' and angels' song. When hoary time shall pass away, And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall; When men who here refuse to pray, On rocks and hills and mountains call; God's love, so sure, shall still endure, All measureless and strong; Redeeming grace to Adam's race - The saints' and angels' song. Could we with ink the ocean fill, And were the skies of parchment made; Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade; To write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry; Nor could the scroll contain the whole, Though stretched from sky to sky.

Friday's Footnote

Proverbs 18:24

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

So happy you joined me today, friends, because that is the subject of today's blog - FRIENDS!!

Imagine life without a friend. No one to talk to when you feel low. No one with whom to share exciting news. No one to hug you, or shake your hand. It would be a sad, lonely life if we had no friends. Thank God for friends! 

There are friends we have known all our lives, then there are those we just met. Some talk a lot while others are quieter. We have those friends who love to laugh and those who are serious. Friends who are near and friends who are far away. They all mean the world to us.

The verse above points out that we must be friendly if we want friends. My parents taught me a lot about being friendly when they insisted that I never walk past someone without offering them a smile. Even though I was taught that as a teenager, I still remember it and try to practice it wherever I am. It's amazing how many respond back with a smile of their own but others seem to really need a smile.

The part of this Bible verse I truly love is the last part - "and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."  I am blessed with two brothers so I understand brotherly love, but to think of a friend sticking "closer than a brother" - now THAT'S a very close friend, which brings me to one of my favorite hymns:

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

(lyrics by Joseph M. Scriven - 1855)

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.

Of all my friends, both past and present, there's never been one like Jesus!

Here's our footnote - 

"The greatest gift of life is friendship, and I have received it." 

- Hubert H. Humphrey

Celebrating friends this Friday - and that means Jesus and YOU!

Thursday's Thought

John 16:33

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Romans 8:38-39

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

My spoonful of tonic on this Thursday is all about trouble. It's a given that we will always have trouble, tribulation, affliction, pain, distress. We are strangers and pilgrims on this earth, in search of a heavenly city, but until we get there, we must deal with the bad as well as the good. But, as I like to point out - we are never alone. Our strength is not our own. As born again Christians, our strength comes from Christ.

While He was still on this earth, Jesus assured His disciples that even though they were in a world filled with tribulation, they could have peace. Why? Because He IS the Prince of Peace. How can we overcome? Because Jesus overcame!

There is no sure-fire plan to go by in dealing with life's problems. What works for us in one situation, may not help at all when we face the next issue. In every situation, regardless of its intensity or lack thereof, we must fully rely on the Lord for help. He alone knows how to help us make it through this life. What awaits us beyond this life cannot compare to what we are facing now! Press on. Overcome as He overcame. Remember, in the end WE are going to WIN!

Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but how we react to what happens, not by what life brings us, but the attitude we bring to life. - Wade Boggs

Until tomorrow, Lord willing...........