Tag Archives: Blessed

Home?

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Moments with my Father ~

 

I’m traveling through life with you all today and as I reflect on the many different kinds of  people in the world, I see some who are constantly on the move in life, hardly ever home and some who are real homebodies and hardly ever go anywhere.  Home is a place of familiarity and hence, it becomes so comfortable, people become very content right where they are at.    But to step out into the world is an adventure and with it new patterns and habits develop as we seek to adjust to a different life. It doesn’t take too long, though to become pretty comfortable in a new setting  given a little time.  But no matter where one chooses to roam in this great big world, there is an eternal home that belongs to all of those who believe upon our Lord Jesus and the presence of Him always dwells within each of us.  His voice speaks to us no matter where we are and because of that, we always have an element of familiarity with us –  part of our eternal home or pilgrimage, a comfort of our eternal home!  Our Lord says that :blessed (happy) is the person who finds their strength in Him no matter where they might be.   When our minds are always stayed on Him, our lives always have an element of familiarity about us, home sweet home, our eternal home is always with us!  Now how cool is that?  It sure works for me!  May our Father bless you wherever you may roam!

 

Psalm 84:5; 1 Co 6:19; Jn 14:23-16:5-16,

Giving Thanks

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Moments with My Father

 

It’s a wonderful Wednesday morning – a gift from our Father who loves us greatly!  What a blessing it is to know of His love for us His kids.  This morning my Father has laid it on my heart how very blessed I am.  I have so much to be thankful for!  I am seeking to put into practice this day, the will of our Father to give thanks.  No matter where we are in life, when we exercise this Truth, it can bring us a whole new perspective on life and as I begin to think of all I am thankful for today, you all are at the top of the list.  Our relationship with our Father and our dear relationships in life are by far the most precious gifts to be thankful for.  I thank my Father upon every rememberance of you!   I hope you have a blessed day wherever you are.

1 Th 5:18; Php 1:3

 

 

Show and Tell Day by Sheila and Dad

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Good mornin’ brothers and sisters. What a delight that we get to experience Tuesday together! Yesterday we experienced in our study of Mark’s story, the celebration of a once blind brother who received not only his physical sight as he sought Jesus, but also our Father’s vision for the direction he needed to go in life. If you have been following me along in this study of the book of Mark, you will recall that yesterday I wrote of how I imagined that we were all right along side of this brother, dancing, clapping and singing as we followed Jesus along the road to somewhere He was leading. Well, today we get to find out where we are ending up. It’s in Jerusalem! Just before Jesus’ arrival into the city, He sends two of His disciples ahead of Him to borrow a colt for Him that no one had ridden in order to make His entrance into Jerusalem on. Yeehaw! I never thought of Jesus as a cowboy before, but apparently He had quite a way of taming the wild. I don’t suppose He needed spurs on His sandals (Jesus boots) to make a go of it either! Jesus wanted to enter Jerusalem on this donkey as fulfillment of the prophecy that said the Daughter of Zion’s (Jerusalem’s) King would come to her, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Jesus told the disciples that if anyone asked why they were untying the colt, to tell them the Lord needs it and that He would send it back shortly. This is a good place to ask ourselves how we feel about the things we have. What if Jesus asked to use it for His purpose of helping someone who had need of it? He tells us in His Word that whatever we do for others, we do for Him. In so doing, He tells us He will send it back to us (there will be eternal rewards). I admire the hearts of those who were willing to support the ministry need of Jesus and His disciples so that the work on behalf of the Father’s Kingdom could be realized. I find it intriguing that the disciples also gave what they had to the effort as they placed their cloaks over the donkey and Jesus sat on it. Did ya notice there was no rodeo involved; He just got on and rode. Talk about a donkey whisperer! He spoke “heehaw” language in such a manner that the donkey totally understood and was united with Jesus’ efforts! It is mentioned also that many of the people laid down their cloaks on the road, while others laid down branches they had cut in the fields. It seems people were very drawn to show their love to Jesus and to offer Him a gift. In addition, they shouted out their testimonies to enlighten others of the specialness of Jesus and the Father’s Kingdom, saying “Hosanna (save, we pray)!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the coming Kingdom of our Father David.” “Hosanna in the highest!” Hmmm. In thinking about this, I guess you could say they had a team “show and tell” day. May we all have a “show and tell” or “do-tell” day while it is day as well because our Dad, He is just too great not to show and tell about. I’m teaming with ya to make Him known!
Mk 11:1-10; Zec 9:9; Mt 25:31-46; Jer 32:19

Counting Little Blessings by Sheila and Dad

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Here’s wishing you all a memorable Memorial Day Monday today! Please join with me in a prayer of thanksgiving for our military veterans today who have sacrificed to bring blessing to us all. If you know a vet, please thank him or her for their service to our Country today. Speaking of blessings today, Dad’s Word tells us the story of how people brought their children to Jesus for His touch or blessing upon them. What an example they set for us. I ask us, do we take our children before the Lord for His touch or blessing upon their lives? In seeing the people doing this, the Disciples rebuked the people perhaps thinking Jesus had bigger concerns for His time. This speaks to my heart that often times, people skip over children, thinking ideal ministry efforts are only for adults. God can call us to minister to a select people group and in doing so, we may find ourselves surrounded by children. In their midst, I have to ask myself, what is my tolerance of little children? Do I show favoritism to adults or do I discriminate against children? Upon seeing the Disciples doing so, Jesus was indignant at them. Yeppers – even the best at times get upset with the people the closest to them and the truth needs to be spoken in love. Jesus’ attitude reminds me of a little song that I will sing for you. It goes “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world!” Despite my singing, I hope that was nice music to your ears. Ok, so back to the story. Jesus said to the Disciples “Let the little children come to me. Do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to these.” Ok, here is some more application for us to ponder: Who are the children around us that we need to help to receive the blessings of Jesus? Is there some way we are a hindrance to children around us being able to see Jesus? The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to children and it can be seen within their little hearts. Tears well up in my eyes as I think of time spent with the dear children God has put into my life and how in stepping out to minister to them, they have ended up ministering to me. I end up being the one blessed! I thank my God for the children He has given me the privilege of having in my life. Jesus said “Anyone who does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” As I have reflected upon “child-like faith”, I think of a little child that approaches their dad with an inquisitive heart asking “why” to him. The father gives an answer and the child asks “but why?” The dad in all his wisdom tries to explain to the child so he can understand in his limited knowledge only to be asked again, “but why, dad?” This continues on until finally the dad says “just ‘cuz, son, that’s just how it is.” The little child accepts his daddy’s wisdom and goes on about his life content, nothing changed in his relationship with his dad. He trusts and believes in his dad. As His kids, to believe in our Dad (Jesus) with this same kind of “child-like faith” that is simple, trusting and accepting is our entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. I ask myself, where in my life do I need to have “child-like faith?” I’m thinking I need to talk to my Dad about it. Next, we see Jesus taking the children into His arms, putting His hands upon them and blessing them. As imitators of Him, He desires the same for us. He says that whoever does unto the least of His, we do unto Him. I suggest to you that children are not to be considered the least, but great little blessings and in ministering to them, it blesses our Dad! Please consider who the children around you are that you can help to experience the love of Jesus. We were all children at one time and in fact, in our Daddy’s eyes, we still are His kids and He desires to take us each into His arms, put His hands upon us and bless us. Dear child of God, what is keeping you from being close to Him? I pray with you that any hindrances will be removed so that you can experience His great love for you and “child-like faith.” Oh, I just love it when my Daddy holds me and content in that, that’s all for now from this kid. Much love to ya!
Mk 10:13-16; 1 Jn 3:1-2, 10; 1 Sa 12:23; 1 Pe 5:7; Ac 16:30-31; Jn 3:16; Ja 2:1; Eph 4:15-16, 5:1; and Pr 11:25