tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56755600223421594462024-03-16T12:01:57.855-05:00CAFE POWDER ROOM. . .an extension of the Orange Moon CafeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger967125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675560022342159446.post-50961256835786046462023-11-15T15:59:00.000-06:002023-11-15T15:59:31.038-06:00The Leader<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Three years ago, before we got our beagle, Ellie, I began studying dog training. I read that dogs don’t want to be the “boss,” even though it may seem so at times. Dogs desire someone to be the leader, the protector, and the provider for the “pack.” However, if no one steps up to the job, our dog will act as the pack leader.</span></span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-76f1f158-7fff-e8ed-e4aa-3bab65b2b649"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HOk8ahmvbEKTjy0NkABZSY2htWvWWUFGTNmjpWHIXdIUwQy0CcAWWugBrlaLEIqdveejfNz3BLicIJ9R4EjIrFLNqNpMGciFXurkDNBfqj5qqosO5vcpYLleTKp9uT3hP-EkvVUjGlJZDF9byeJOW6OhwY71CFt_yew1yaDGyUSpjQYdJTIse_bBbQ8e/s4128/20131128_102628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="2322" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HOk8ahmvbEKTjy0NkABZSY2htWvWWUFGTNmjpWHIXdIUwQy0CcAWWugBrlaLEIqdveejfNz3BLicIJ9R4EjIrFLNqNpMGciFXurkDNBfqj5qqosO5vcpYLleTKp9uT3hP-EkvVUjGlJZDF9byeJOW6OhwY71CFt_yew1yaDGyUSpjQYdJTIse_bBbQ8e/s320/20131128_102628.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Humans, like dogs, seek a leader. We want someone to show us the way we should go. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">During our first trip to New York, we clearly needed to know more about the layout of the city, especially the subway system. (If you haven't been to </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">New York City, there are a bunch of subway lines, each designated with a different color. The subway map looked like a whole box of crayons!) After that, our oldest daughter took it upon herself to memorize not only all the subway lines but also the layout of the avenues and streets. When we returned to New York three years later for Thanksgiving, she was our leader. She knew what she needed to know to guide us, we </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">knew</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> she knew and she knew that we knew. It worked out well. I particularly remember the seven of us walking to the spot to watch the Macy's parade. In a sea of people, we were each simply following our daughter. She was wearing a white wool cap, so I knew if I just kept that white hat in my sights, I wouldn't get lost.</span></div></span><p></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We all just need, and want, a leader.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Thankfully, for those of us who have trusted in the Lord Jesus, we have the most perfect of leaders. We have a leader who is not only completely capable of leading but abundantly desirous of leading as well. He knows the way because He has been there before. He created the land upon which the roads rest. He made the sun which illuminates the way. </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It is His creation</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, and He promises to lead and guide us through it. But He will not force us. We must desire His leading, much like our little dog Ellie desires us to lead her. Our heart’s prayer must be that of the psalmist…</span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">“Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies; </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">make Thy way straight before my face,” (Psalm 5:8.)</span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">“...for Thou, Lord, only makest me to dwell in safety,” (Psalm 4:8.)</span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When we turn our hearts to Him as our guide, He will perfectly fulfill His role. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">There is no other who can do so.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">“Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">(Isaiah 45:22)</span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">(John 10:27.)</span></span></p><br /></span>Frannie Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575910849731728452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675560022342159446.post-91472329345272908752023-11-10T09:03:00.000-06:002023-11-10T09:03:07.017-06:00Stand Still<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In the 20th chapter of 2 Chronicles,, the story is told of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, who was a good king and had “riches and honor in abundance,” (2 Chronicles 18:1). Several nations decided to league together to “come against Jehoshaphat to battle.”</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1d5b0161-7fff-1f75-feef-09c92c78678d"><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span>When Jehoshaphat heard this, he was tempted and feared, but he did the best thing he could do, he “set himself to seek the Lord,” (v.3). He also called all the people of Judah to ask help of the Lord and the people did as he requested. They came together to fast and pray.</span></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><br /></span></span></p></span><span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span>As all Judah, </span></span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">men, women, and children,</span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> stood together before the Lord, the Spirit of the Lord came upon one of the Levites and he proclaimed:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><i> “Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou King Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, ‘Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; <b>for the battle is not yours, but God’s,' </b>” (2 Chronicles 20:15). </i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><i> </i></span></span></p></span><span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span>He went on to say, <i>“Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.”</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><i><br /></i></span></span></p></span><span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span>In the morning, when they went out to face their enemies, King Jehoshaphat appointed singers unto the Lord to praise the “<i>beauty of holiness</i>” as they went out before the army. As they went they said, “<i>Praise the Lord; for His mercy endureth forever.”</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><br /></span></span></p></span><span><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span>King Jehoshaphat and the children of Israel chose to do what the Lord had told them to do. They chose to trust Him to fight for them. They depended upon His strength and not their own. <i>"F</i></span></span><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">or the battle is not yours, but God’s.” </i><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">So what was the outcome of that battle?</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><br /></span></span></div></span><span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><i>“And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten," (2 Chronicles 20:22). </i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">The three enemies began to fight against each other until all were dead and “none escaped.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><br /></span></span></p></span><span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span>In our own lives, doesn’t it seem like we are often surrounded by the armies of our enemies? Sometimes we feel as though we are being attacked on several different fronts at the same time. We may feel as if we don’t know what to do. In those moments, let us remember the experience of King Jehoshaphat and make the same choices he did. Let us set ourselves to seek the Lord. Let us follow the wise counsel of His Word and stand still and “<i>see the salvation of the Lord.</i>” </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span>The battles we face are not ours, they belong to the Captain of our salvation. His is the victory because He has already fought the battle and vanquished the foe. He died on Calvary for our sins, after living a sinless life Himself. Then He arose victorious from the grave, securely the victory over the enemy who was set upon destroying Him and now seeks to destroy us. By trusting in Him as our Saviour and Lord, we claim HIS victory in every battle. There is no enemy who can conquer our Lord.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><br /></span></span></p></span><span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span>Every moment, our Lord gently whispers to us the same thing He said to the disciples, <i>“Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid,” (</i>Matthew 14:27). When we are tempted to fear, let us remember His words and take heart, the battle is not our's, it is the Lord's.</span></span></p></span></span><span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>“Through Thee will we push down our enemies: </i></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>through Thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. </i></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. </i></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>But Thou hast saved us from our enemies, </i></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>and hast put them to shame that hated us. </i></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>In God we boast all the day long, </i></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>a</i></b></span></span><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i>nd praise Thy name for ever. </i></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Selah.”</i></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Psalm 44: 5-8</i></b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>“Now thanks be unto God, </i></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.”</i></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2 Corinthians 2:14</i></b></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span>Frannie Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575910849731728452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675560022342159446.post-8619778801585084202023-10-27T10:46:00.000-05:002023-10-27T10:46:18.892-05:00Absolutely No Idea<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYaI6TyXE5Z4F4eJ8HFFvvV7LHHkl8L7As2-6-9e61nCR0ipy2pVXXOyDa2KtaPiOS8ivLOtp22GoVpsFVD-L2ceoBbmI7tY0jX-n5dhEbofFMOp7wA-2IIaqt4shq7B-HUUr6zrAVAvyFSeY6VEps8N1gyxt1jSRhjhLfiJN60pSLzwyYkv1N_N0isWf/s4032/20221209_185251.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img alt="Dog on a couch" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYaI6TyXE5Z4F4eJ8HFFvvV7LHHkl8L7As2-6-9e61nCR0ipy2pVXXOyDa2KtaPiOS8ivLOtp22GoVpsFVD-L2ceoBbmI7tY0jX-n5dhEbofFMOp7wA-2IIaqt4shq7B-HUUr6zrAVAvyFSeY6VEps8N1gyxt1jSRhjhLfiJN60pSLzwyYkv1N_N0isWf/w151-h200/20221209_185251.jpg" title="Ellie on the couch" width="151" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This morning I was straightening the house. Our sweet beagle, Ellie, was resting on the couch, waiting for our walk. As I walked past her, I couldn't resist stroking her head and running my fingers across her velvety ears. I told her, "You have no idea how very much you are loved."</span></div><div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">That is true. She is loved not only by me and my husband but by all of our family. Our best friends love her, too. People we pass on the street during our walks ask to pet her. The ladies at the coffee shop we visit have Ellie's pupcup ready before they make our coffee! She loves, and she is loved.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">But immediately after speaking those words to Ellie, I thought how very true that is of myself. I have absolutely no idea how much I am loved. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I know my friends love me; they are effusive in their expression of love. I know Ellie loves me; she follows me around the house, wanting to be in the same room with me. (This may be because she hopes to get a tidbit of food I have, or maybe -if she's really lucky- a sip of my coffee.) I know my family loves me, too; they clearly show that in so many ways. I would have to be blind and deaf not to know my husband loves me. It is the goal of his life with me to cause me to know that truth.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">But that wasn't the thought that came to my mind. The thought was, "You have absolutely no idea how much the Lord loves you."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It brings tears to my eyes just writing the words. Our Lord loves us so much that He gave that which was most precious to Him, His dear Son, so we might be redeemed. He has prepared a life for us beyond this mortal realm so wondrous the Scriptures say of it,</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>"But as it is written, '<span class="criteria" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Eye</span> <span class="criteria" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">hath</span> <span class="criteria" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">not</span> <span class="criteria" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">seen</span>, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God <span class="criteria" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">hath</span> prepared for them that love him,' " </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>1 Corinthians 2:9.</i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If I began to list all the things in my life that are proofs of God's love, I could not finish before I take my last breath. Yet, there are so many more that I never even knew. Ways He orchestrated things so that I was in the right place at the right time. Ways He provided and protected me of which I was unaware. Choices He led me to make that were to bring untold blessings, such as introducing myself to a handsome young man in Sunday School forty-seven years ago. Or deciding at the last minute not to major in Journalism but to go into Nursing. Or having the "pick of the liter" and picking the most wonderful beagle puppy of all.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We will have doubts about many things in our lives, but the fact that God loves us more than we will ever know should not be one of them. As Glen wrote in the lyrics of one of our songs, "Let it rule your hearts and set your spirits free." God loves us. It is as simple and glorious and complex as that. All we have to do is believe it.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i style="background-color: white;">"Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, <br /></i></b></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i style="background-color: white;">shall be able to separate us from the <span class="criteria" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">love</span> <span class="criteria" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">of</span> <span class="criteria" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">God</span>, <br /></i></b></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i style="background-color: white;">which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."<br /></i></b></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i style="background-color: white;">Romans 8:39</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i style="background-color: white;"><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i style="background-color: white;">"For <span class="criteria" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">God</span> so <span class="criteria" id="yui-gen24" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">loved</span> the world, </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i style="background-color: white;">that he gave his only begotten Son, </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i style="background-color: white;">that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i style="background-color: white;">but have everlasting life."<br /></i></b></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i style="background-color: white;">John 3:16</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i style="background-color: white;"><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: #01103a;"><i>"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: #01103a;"><i>that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: #01103a;"><i>may be able to comprehend with all saints </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: #01103a;"><i>what <span style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">is</span> the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: #01103a;"><i>And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: #01103a;"><i>that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God."</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: #01103a;"><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: #01103a;"><i>Ephesians 3:17-19</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i style="background-color: white;"><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i style="background-color: white;"><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i style="background-color: white;"><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="background-color: white;">"The grace <span class="criteria" id="yui-gen37" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">of</span> the Lord Jesus Christ, </span></b></span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="background-color: white;">and the <span class="criteria" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">love</span> <span class="criteria" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">of</span> <span class="criteria" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">God</span>, <br /></span></b></span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="background-color: white;">and the communion <span class="criteria" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">of</span> the Holy Ghost, <br /></span></b></span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">be</span> with you all. Amen."<br /></span></b></span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><a class="ftnt" id="ftntv_1091014_1" rel="footnotes" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: lowercase; vertical-align: text-top;">2 Corinthians</a><a class="ftnt" rel="footnotes" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: lowercase; vertical-align: text-top;"> 13:14</a></span></b></span></span></div></div>Frannie Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575910849731728452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675560022342159446.post-65023230007064830322023-10-26T17:27:00.000-05:002023-10-26T17:27:01.685-05:00A Bed on Wheels<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> <span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Children have a way of finding joy in little, unexpected things. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOkwVOLFEgjVIsmjAIKgxVN6O9IXYE3COb6X8hTCiJTnLY8MqaNGmUbMxamrSADjmZud6lDTrb8jBUJ-tE3RSHf85mGZh-cFtsoCC-zVlCCp8MdNSZ5i0JUXkLeR1f4PdU4dQ73C8T1Nx4f5qBbWc0oei2ur_R4MmATaboDNe6NYCMs_wEodDK6FYiz7P/s4032/20231018_121414.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOkwVOLFEgjVIsmjAIKgxVN6O9IXYE3COb6X8hTCiJTnLY8MqaNGmUbMxamrSADjmZud6lDTrb8jBUJ-tE3RSHf85mGZh-cFtsoCC-zVlCCp8MdNSZ5i0JUXkLeR1f4PdU4dQ73C8T1Nx4f5qBbWc0oei2ur_R4MmATaboDNe6NYCMs_wEodDK6FYiz7P/w200-h150/20231018_121414.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Once, I was walking with our youngest grandchildren, then four and six, and they noticed some pretty leaves on the ground. They both picked one up. Then my granddaughter, Evelyn, had the idea to collect leaves to give to her mother as a gift. Her brother joined in, and soon they both had a little brown bag of leaves for their Mom. They were so proud of their gifts and so happy with the little leaves. These little things that most adults would pass by without notice enthralled them. This affected me, and sometimes, when we are out on our walks, I will find things along the way - a pretty flower or an interesting stick- and I’ll think, “I want to keep that to show the grandchildren when they come.” For children, contentment comes so easily.</span><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcE8BGjTE-h7P6ZytuEgaC3ijGlTGi-bcZSBzslBo3acv0x62s9f-mhhGZ9rT61J4libRyDtG_m7F3g_2OwCT2C8zNMbDKD6i0Eg4VNr0ZrfyJyeAA8DTU1vctG0BBUOhejqSi4FYGwcfWOMcz-5wYVmOrz7XgnpZsR07V73CZExcO3r-idM_9ZRjXj1B/s480/IMG_4632.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcE8BGjTE-h7P6ZytuEgaC3ijGlTGi-bcZSBzslBo3acv0x62s9f-mhhGZ9rT61J4libRyDtG_m7F3g_2OwCT2C8zNMbDKD6i0Eg4VNr0ZrfyJyeAA8DTU1vctG0BBUOhejqSi4FYGwcfWOMcz-5wYVmOrz7XgnpZsR07V73CZExcO3r-idM_9ZRjXj1B/w240-h320/IMG_4632.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lila in her "bed with wheels"</td></tr></tbody></table><span id="docs-internal-guid-37f3cf5d-7fff-6b3a-a442-fc2a53961d5e"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This is how it was with Lila, the six-year-old daughter of a dear friend, who recently had her tonsils removed. Prior to the surgery, she told her mother she was excited about being pushed in a “bed on wheels.” While she was also excited about all the ice cream she could eat, I think she was more excited about the bed.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Would that we would </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space-collapse: preserve;">be as contented as little children. But for us, it is a conscious choice of faith. The Scriptures are full of admonitions for us to "be content."</span></span></p><div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span><p></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><i>"And having food and raiment let us be therewith content," 1 Tim 6:8.</i></b></span></p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #01103a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"Let your</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #01103a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> conversation </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #01103a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">be</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #01103a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> without covetousness; </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #01103a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">and be</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #01103a; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, 'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,' Hebrews 13:5."</span></span></i></b></p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">If the Lord promises to never leave us - and He has - then we have the very best we can ever have; we have HIM. That is even better than being pushed around in a bed with wheels or eating ice cream to our heart's content. There is nothing more we need in our hearts or our lives.</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Or, as I like to say, </span></p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i>Trust in the Lord always, for having Him, we have all.</i></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #e9eef1; color: #01103a; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></div>Frannie Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575910849731728452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675560022342159446.post-52876147841517799902023-10-12T06:00:00.001-05:002023-10-12T06:00:00.144-05:00Hair in the Brush - Revised<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"> This post was originally written on September 9, 2008. We are revising it here today.</span></p><p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Hair in The Brush </b> </span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-bcf6a17f-7fff-5b5f-9339-41ee99a013d5"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> The other day, after brushing my hair, I noticed how much hair was stuck in my brush. The verse came to mind, “...<i> the very hairs of your head are all numbered. (Matthew 10:30)”</i> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">As I looked at the rather substantial amount of hair in the brush I wondered just how many hairs were there. I couldn’t begin to guess and I certainly didn’t want to take the time or effort to count them. But of course, the Lord knew the answer at that moment, as He does in every moment. The number is constantly changing, because I am one of those people who constantly loses hair throughout the day. I am not sure who leaves more hair on the floor, me or our dog Ellie.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Then I wondered, <i>why</i> does the Lord number the hairs on our heads? It couldn’t be just for punctilious knowledge. (Okay, I confess, "punctilious" is one of my favorite words, but I hardly ever get to use it, so I had to throw it in there when I could.) There has to be a reason why He numbers our hairs, after all, as the human body goes, hairs are just about the most inconsequential things we have. It’s one of the things in our body we can lose and still function well. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">There is an obvious reason why He numbers them and that is because He loves us. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I love our beagle Ellie and I know all about her body. I am the one to bathe her, to brush her teeth, and to trim her paws. I know the size and location of that little lump she has by her right foreleg (the one the vet says is okay, but just keep an eye on it to make sure it isn’t growing.) Why do I know all that? Because I love her and I take care of her.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">But there is something else about God numbering our hairs. He doesn’t just number the hairs on our heads, He numbers our skin cells, too. And our cardiac cells, and our nerve cells, our white blood cells …every cell in our bodies. At this very moment, He knows which cardiac cells are contracting in sync and which are resting. He knows our blood sugar, our cholesterol, our blood pressure. He knows all this - and so much more- for every single human alive. Not only that, but He knows those things for every animal, every insect, every reptile, and every living creature. He knows the plants, too. He knows every atom in every part of His creation. Why? Precisely because we are His creation and He keeps that creation upheld His power. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This is not an objective, scientific, detached knowing. It is like my knowing of Ellie, only so much greater. It is an intimate, loving caring knowing. It is the knowing of a tender Father who knows and cares for His child and seeks the best in that child’s life. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In every moment, every second, He knows minute changes in our bodies that we will never know. At the same time, He is working in us to do and to will of His good pleasure spiritually. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">He knows the path upon which we walk and the feet with which we walk it. He knows which steps bring pain and which paths fill us with joy. Like a little child, who instinctively lifts their little hand up to their parent, may we have the wisdom to know how much we also need to be led and to trust the One who knows us much more than wwe can ever know ourselves.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"Casting all your care upon Him; for He </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">careth</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> for you."</span></i></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>I Peter 5:7</i></b></span></span></p><div><span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span>Frannie Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575910849731728452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675560022342159446.post-87460272242564044102023-10-11T13:22:00.005-05:002023-10-11T13:22:42.458-05:00Pray<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"> "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem"</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Psalm 122:6</span></p>Frannie Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575910849731728452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675560022342159446.post-91489497927325095872023-10-06T11:59:00.000-05:002023-10-06T11:59:39.171-05:00The Tree I Couldn't See<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYDKaAxLGskBruLHR2UMOuIq44xmZzExoZhu81YJmGbHFfmMC0EtLPt8801CEaoZreofJ-gh8mGe26ATBdMhX8oHVJHn3O8R07fIl32o2mzxYhoMoMWDkqPJ_Szll_ob_PWn5bwtkML4Dt-MnER2xjjrINSYi1UkC4wX1HPm4q4ZTtjFXgSMeQabRmROw/s4032/20231005_151725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYDKaAxLGskBruLHR2UMOuIq44xmZzExoZhu81YJmGbHFfmMC0EtLPt8801CEaoZreofJ-gh8mGe26ATBdMhX8oHVJHn3O8R07fIl32o2mzxYhoMoMWDkqPJ_Szll_ob_PWn5bwtkML4Dt-MnER2xjjrINSYi1UkC4wX1HPm4q4ZTtjFXgSMeQabRmROw/w150-h200/20231005_151725.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>During a recent walk with Ellie in our neighborhood, my mind wandered as she explored her surroundings with that beagle nose of hers. Suddenly, I came across some small golden flowers on the sidewalk, which I didn't recognize. When I looked to find their source, I could only see the intertwined branches of cedar, pine, and oak trees. It wasn't until we had walked a distance away and I turned back toward home that I saw the tree responsible for producing those lovely blossoms. When I had looked before, I was just too close to see the tree.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONsunmJcd41iWtPy3R156kt1PdqflohZVyS5s0e6jsCeotCqhNss4btP5MN9wZ7lr65W8t4NTcOZH4Vhi3ARjqWZACrMieq6sS8M3JyWnnkTGakD3SDBFGomWxCZgT0kL0QowPczwYfW5bHfz5SsWsEgLn1Eq_BMs860aKacShPlfPwu8Uny73IxTmaYn/s4032/20231005_172307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONsunmJcd41iWtPy3R156kt1PdqflohZVyS5s0e6jsCeotCqhNss4btP5MN9wZ7lr65W8t4NTcOZH4Vhi3ARjqWZACrMieq6sS8M3JyWnnkTGakD3SDBFGomWxCZgT0kL0QowPczwYfW5bHfz5SsWsEgLn1Eq_BMs860aKacShPlfPwu8Uny73IxTmaYn/w150-h200/20231005_172307.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>The tree had magnificent green leaves and was decorated with countless small, golden flowers. It was hard to believe that I had never seen this tree before, even though I had lived on this street for over three decades.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The tree reminded me of ourselves in our Christian lives. The Lord is working in us every minute, every second to conform us <i>"</i></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>to the image of His Son,</i>" whether we know it or not. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We may not be able to see the fruits of His working in us today, but one day we will. He will have completed His work and our earthly bodies, which now bear the strains of corruption, shall "<i>put on incorruption</i>" (1 Corinthians 15:54). All things shall be new, including us.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><b>"But as it is written, 'Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.' " </b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><b>1 Corinthians 2:9</b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When we read that verse I often think of heaven, the beauties, the wonders, the glories we will behold. All that is true, but there is something so much more. We can not imagine what the Lord has prepared in us. <i>IN us. </i> He is using everything in our lives to conform us to "<i>His dear Son."</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>"But we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is," (1 John 3:2.)</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> I may not know all this verse means, but I understand the phrase </span><i style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"we shall be like Him."</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> We will have been conformed to His image. We shall never again know pain, suffering, or weakness. Our desire, our joy will always be to do that which pleases Him. As Glen and I have often said, our greatest days are ahead!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f8f8da; color: #01103a; font-family: arial, helvetica, "sans serif"; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p>Frannie Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575910849731728452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675560022342159446.post-25227308761838137192023-10-05T06:00:00.001-05:002023-10-05T06:00:00.216-05:00His Way is Perfect, Revisited<p style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Month. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">According to the March of Dimes, 10 -20% of women who know they are pregnant will have a pregnancy loss. Eighty percent of those will occur before the 12th week of pregnancy. Yet, it is rarely talked about, even among women. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> It was 35 years ago on this date we had our miscarriage.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyd0lSlMe7fCitmfwwZE4WvAwFkGCx_i0x_AgzjZyf9NvMoG_HE00Di8PD61AbtlR2M9vCEa80HcGLrXWwscnQC82o0unjXcuBp1h5zA_YfQ2cno8kq9KxQZOefD20yCe_9EdpdqYsY9dcH61o1n4nHQWDKybmijEm80IUM4Xi6jUp87xT44tIF3gpk2M5/s2000/20231004_142028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1220" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyd0lSlMe7fCitmfwwZE4WvAwFkGCx_i0x_AgzjZyf9NvMoG_HE00Di8PD61AbtlR2M9vCEa80HcGLrXWwscnQC82o0unjXcuBp1h5zA_YfQ2cno8kq9KxQZOefD20yCe_9EdpdqYsY9dcH61o1n4nHQWDKybmijEm80IUM4Xi6jUp87xT44tIF3gpk2M5/w122-h200/20231004_142028.jpg" width="122" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Sometimes it feels odd to me when this date rolls around and only my husband, myself, and my good friend remember the significance. This was such a monumental day in our lives, and yet it is only commemorated by a small heart and a sad face on my calendar. Stored away, I have the cards sent to me after my miscarriage. Occasionally I take them out and look at them. One might think that after 35 years the pain would have diminished, but even as I type this I have tears in my eyes.</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Why don't women talk about having had a miscarriage? </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I was surprised at how many women I worked with admitted they had miscarried because they had never spoken of it before. Women who experience any type of pregnancy and/or infant loss need to feel free to speak of their experience. They need to be supported and given every opportunity to thoroughly heal.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">If you know someone experiencing a pregnancy or infant loss, one of the best gifts you can give them is to let them tell their story. Don't interrupt, and don't try to offer platitudes that sound good, but really don't help at all. <i>Just listen.</i> Let them talk as long as they need to. They will get few opportunities to do so.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I repost this story every couple of years. Here is our story.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">October 5th never passes without me reliving the heartbreak of that day, often without speaking about it to anyone. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It was my third pregnancy. I had a positive pregnancy test, but my doctor was out of town for a couple weeks and the woman at the office told me it was okay to wait to see the doctor since I worked every day with OB-GYNs, "in case something happened." My other pregnancies had gone so well, that I thought the chances of that "something" actually happening were quite remote.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Then one night at work I started bleeding. Just a little, but enough to be concerning. I spoke to one of the female residents (who would later become my OB-GYN) and she advised me to go to the office after work and be evaluated.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Glen went with me and we were both quiet on the way. I kept telling myself it was not serious and everything would be okay. That was until I looked up at the ultrasound screen. I had seen enough fetal ultrasounds to know it was definitely NOT going to be okay.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The pregnancy was over.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Driving away from the office, I glanced through my tears at Glen and saw tears running down his face as well. His heart was broken just as much as mine. He offered to take me to see my Daddy, who was often a source of comfort for me, but I remember saying, "No, I want to see my <i>Momma</i>."</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Once I reached my mother's office, she knew by my face there was a problem. When I told her, she took me in her arms and hugged me for a long time, and for a moment I felt like a child again.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">But I had my own children to care for and I was concerned about how they were going to respond to the news. But actually, at eight and six, they were more distraught over their pet goldfish, Henry, dying the same day, than the loss of a baby they had never seen. They were sympathetic, though.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">One day I was sitting on the couch, and our son Noah came up to me and asked, "Momma, are you sad about the baby?" That tells you everything to know about his tender heart.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">All I have to remind me of that baby, which we were sure would have been a boy, are some congratulatory cards we received, the subsequent cards of condolences, and a picture Noah had drawn of the baby inside of me. And of course, the pain in our hearts.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">But the Scriptures promise of God that He <i>"healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." (Psalm 147:3.) </i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If that pregnancy had continued, we would have loved the child with all our hearts. He would have been as special to us as Marie and Noah. But he would have been the last. We never planned to have more than three and there definitely would not have been a fourth.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="693" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vigCPDjNVtN_W-9NN94VvkSETVOjBV7B41Nxae8zXdRB5zRDhUoe6UggdygMpXH3HuImhXmYMVzr8e6a54ryUV5YEu5iBoerRS1W8gQtlW0S-TxvFXTTs6IILJ74Li47lH6hCuJW4uYB/s320/IMG_20180726_101342_978.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emmie as a toddler</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">That would mean there would have been no Emmie Rose. The thought of</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> that brings tears to my eyes...my l</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">ife with no Emmie. </span></span></p><div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Born three years after our miscarriage, Emmie was a joy to all four of us. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Her siblings were incredibly involved during the pregnancy and adored their baby sister after she arrived. Noah was so enthralled with her on the day of her birth, that he refused to leave the room. Even food could not tempt him away. He was going to stay with his baby sister.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Emmie did not replace our other baby, but his loss made us appreciate her even more. In bringing Emmie into our lives, the Lord did a marvelous work of redemption, restoration, and healing.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We often don't understand how God works in our lives, how or why He allows some things to happen and other things to not happen. I suspect there are things we will never fully understand. But there is one thing we can know for sure, <i>"as for God, His way is perfect." (Psalm 18:30.) </i> I could have never predicted the pain and misery of October 5, 1988, would be followed with such joy on July 26, 1991, but it was. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Romans 8:28</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">All Things Work Together for Good</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">words and music by Glen Davis</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">All things work together for good,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">in the hearts and lives of those who love the Lord.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The pleasures and the pains,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">the sunlight and the rains,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">All things work together for good,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">all things work together for good.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">An unseen Hand weaves all the threads,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">a heart of grace works for our best.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To make us like His Son,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He leaves nothing undone,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">All things work together for good,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">all things work together for good.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For good, for good.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">All things work together for good.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HKqVeOv1sOwY5N8Oe8IJS6vLt-1WKUjy/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Click here to listen to "All Things Work Together for Good"</a><br /></span></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Frannie Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575910849731728452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675560022342159446.post-66619408992081023892023-09-27T09:31:00.000-05:002023-09-27T09:31:23.837-05:00The Little Violets<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnmfazMD1QIsXyMJsEE3t3hhiIJWjHCF5RSmry5ksKr3xvzd9hTeBbCep3iLKs0zcrcqZbmFV-CmLkY7i9g67B8qHn10hp1KJ0x7lqsW11PeTLCi_clJvem6Qb9wz4__wQ8WQDuyHRya7L2wLIHFpcEkTxMVZxbc949D0uSewtwK8ZpQ-cqZG_gbrHfxJ/s4160/20230827_095627.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnmfazMD1QIsXyMJsEE3t3hhiIJWjHCF5RSmry5ksKr3xvzd9hTeBbCep3iLKs0zcrcqZbmFV-CmLkY7i9g67B8qHn10hp1KJ0x7lqsW11PeTLCi_clJvem6Qb9wz4__wQ8WQDuyHRya7L2wLIHFpcEkTxMVZxbc949D0uSewtwK8ZpQ-cqZG_gbrHfxJ/w150-h200/20230827_095627.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">As a present on Mother’s Day, my youngest granddaughter, Evelyn, gave me some violets. The tiny pink blossoms perfectly matched the pink container in which they grew.</span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-d512182e-7fff-4616-f31e-6fcc77a71c2e"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 24pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">At first, I put them in the room where I tend to write. It wasn’t long before I realized they needed something I wasn’t giving them. I researched violet care and found they preferred diffused eastern light. I had them facing a western window with almost direct sun. The only place I could find that perfectly matched what they liked best was my bathroom window. So, I moved them to that window sill. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 24pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Every morning they greet me with their pretty pink blossoms. However, they did not do as well there as I expected. Then I realized they were missing something. They needed to be fed! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 24pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I purchased some violet food and began to feed them every two weeks according to the package directions. For my tiny violets, the violet food is 1/4 a teaspoon in a quart of water. They get about a tablespoon in their container twice a month. That one bottle of violet food will last me forever!</span></p><div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br />But the tiny bit of food has made a tremendous difference in the violets. Before they would have one or two blooms, now they have an abundance of pink faces looking up at me each morning. </span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 24pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7qkdfvDXq0NX3k3PZ4Za3-aw81uM3XnP5PuenfrZKO9sxFSenaKdHRN1P3oLTBRqSMrY4ThE4_4A36SWblcjetIeQyZ1ilKjbdU2rYDT4-eo51zP8rdzanv0t9MJGXs_fiBBjCn6bvmVZKyXKgVzSQSQk2DxXMzY8E3dLTGlygCnlduWZKKGer7nihdo/s1024/IMG_2312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Four-year-old girl" border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7qkdfvDXq0NX3k3PZ4Za3-aw81uM3XnP5PuenfrZKO9sxFSenaKdHRN1P3oLTBRqSMrY4ThE4_4A36SWblcjetIeQyZ1ilKjbdU2rYDT4-eo51zP8rdzanv0t9MJGXs_fiBBjCn6bvmVZKyXKgVzSQSQk2DxXMzY8E3dLTGlygCnlduWZKKGer7nihdo/w150-h200/IMG_2312.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evelyn</td></tr></tbody></table><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br />The simple sight brings me joy. That joy is compounded when I think of my four-year-old granddaughter telling her mother that she wanted to give me these for Mother’s Day.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 24pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A tiny bit of food made a big difference. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 24pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We all need food as well. Not just physical food, but spiritual food. I once heard a gentleman say, “Read the Bible every day, even if it is only one verse.” Many may not feel they have the time or opportunity to read large passages of Scripture each day. But perhaps we can read one chapter or even one verse.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 24pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">
If we cannot stop to read the Bible at this moment, let us think of the verses that are most likely stored away in our memory and recite them to ourselves. That tiny bit of the Lord’s Word would be like the tiny bit of food my violets are thriving upon. The Scriptures have many themes of small things leading to big things, such as the tiny mustard seed, which the Lord described as <i>"the least of all seeds,"</i> growing into <i>"the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof," (Matthew 13:31, 32.)</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 24pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Let us then set apart a few minutes each day to read and to think about God’s word, to remember it in our hearts, even if it is just a verse or two. And like my tiny violets, let us turn our faces to our Lord and Creator.</span></p><br /><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 24pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“When Thou saidst</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, Seek ye my face;<br /></span></i></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><i>my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.” <br /></i></b></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><i>Psalm 27:8</i></b></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 24pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 320px; overflow: hidden; width: 267px;"><img height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/F_u-OOzayRBHgSDCsmHqDYF1NHk86Op485MbVVNnueFJ2I4fUmNpmSjjlLI9CSexhI7Bf-XyokGVjA6WzsCbd5P9qiRzilWO0liGt7qOPdhj4660QMMKtY9f_-c4egEehz4IvHxnmhm9Twxf5v3JNok" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="267" /></span></span></p><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Frannie Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575910849731728452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675560022342159446.post-77857829168815604402023-09-18T06:00:00.009-05:002023-09-18T15:27:57.683-05:00Starry Night, or Morning, Rather<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The other morning I was walking our dog, Ellie, before sunrise.* As I glanced upward, I was surprised by the perfectly clear sky. The moon, an orange sliver of a crescent, was just beginning to smile at us through the trees. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I marveled at the beauty of the stars in the eastern sky and of Venus, shining like a diamond. I counted seventeen stars that were visible to me. I know by education and experience that what I saw was just a tiny, tiny fraction of the stars actually in the sky. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Several years ago when we traveled to Arkansas to visit our friend, Jay, we saw the most beautiful display of stars I have ever seen in my life. (You can read about that trip <a href="http://www.cafepowderroom.com/2010/12/shooting-star.html" target="_blank">here</a>.) The sky was so full it almost looked textural, like a knitted cap.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">As Ellie sniffed around, I contemplated the magnitude of the creation in which our Lord has placed us. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Every time man thinks he has come to the "edge of the universe" some advanced telescope shows us there is so much more the be discovered and explored. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">It was then the thought came to me. If our Lord's creation is so incredibly beautiful and vast, how much more so must <i>He</i> be!</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> There is no end to His love, no limit to His grace, no expiration on His goodness, because <i>He Himself</i> is limitless. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The Scriptures tell us this is true.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>"<span style="color: #01103a;">Great</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> </span><span style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">is</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> our Lord,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> and of great</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> power:</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> His understanding</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> </span><span style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">is</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> infinite." Psalm 147:5</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>"<span style="color: #01103a;">Hast thou not known?</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> hast thou not heard,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> </span><span style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">that</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> the everlasting</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> God,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> the LORD,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> the Creator</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> of the ends</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> of the earth,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> fainteth</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> not, neither is weary?</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> </span><span style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">there is</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> no searching</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> of His understanding." Isaiah 40:28</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: #01103a;">"</span><span style="color: #01103a;">For My thoughts</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> </span><span style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">are</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> not your thoughts,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> neither </span><span style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">are</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> your ways</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> My ways,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> saith</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> the LORD. </span><span style="color: #01103a;">For </span><span style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">as</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> the heavens</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> are higher</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> than the earth,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> so are My ways</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> higher</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> than your ways,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> and My thoughts</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8,9</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: #01103a;">"</span><span style="color: #01103a;">But who is able</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> to build</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> Him an house,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> seeing the heaven</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> and heaven</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> of heavens</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> cannot contain</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> Him? " 2 Chronicles 2:6</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: #01103a;">"</span><span style="color: #01103a;">Thine, O LORD,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> </span><span style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">is</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> the greatness,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> and the power,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> and the glory,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> and the victory,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> and the majesty:</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> for all </span><span style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">that is</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> in the heaven</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> and in the earth</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> </span><span style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">is Thine</span><span style="color: #01103a;">; Thine </span><span id="yui-gen28" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">is</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> the kingdom,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> O LORD,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> and Thou art exalted</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> as head</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> above all." 1 Chronicles 29:11</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #e9eef1; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The next time we think we know all there is to know about God, first, let us fall to our knees and ask forgiveness for our pride and audacity. Then let us remind ourselves we will forever be learning more and more about our blessed Lord. There will be no end to the glorious discoveries as there is no end to Him. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Montserrat, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Shoreless Ocean, who can sound Thee?</span></span></div><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span face="Montserrat, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Thine own eternity is round Thee,</div></span><span face="Montserrat, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Majesty divine!</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Frederick W. Faber)</div></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">*It has been so hot along the Gulf Coast recently, that we must get up very early to walk so that we don't overheat Ellie, or ourselves!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #e9eef1; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Frannie Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575910849731728452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675560022342159446.post-78963912288325370452023-09-13T11:07:00.001-05:002023-09-13T11:07:00.146-05:00Wherewith We Ourselves Are Comforted<div style="text-align: center;"><i> <b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: center;"> "Blessed be God, even the Father of mercies, </b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>and the God of all comfort; </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2 Corinthians 1: 3,4.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I write this, we are having a thunderstorm, and our little dog, Ellie is snuggled close beside me. When the thunder and lightning frighten her, I love to have her climb up on my lap. I usually wrap a blanket around her so she will know she is safe and protected. I love comforting her because I love her. </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">How much more does our God, whom the Scriptures refer to as <i>"the God of all comfort," </i>love to comfort us? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">There are frequent verses in the Bible referring to God's comfort to His children. The Lord Jesus comforted so many. He comforted the woman who had a blood disease for twelve years as He healed her (Matthew 9:22). He comforted the blind man as He gave him sight, (Mark 10:49, 50). He comforted Mary and Martha before He brought their brother Lazarus forth from the grave, (John 11:19). How many more examples of His great comfort were there that were not recorded in Scripture? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">If we have an earnest desire to comfort our children, even our dogs, how much more does our Lord desire to comfort us? He so wants us to know His peace, His provision, His joy, His comfort, His love, His understanding. Mainly, He wants us to know <i>Him. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In our moments of pain and sorrow, perplexity and trouble, let us look first to the <i>"God of all comfort"</i> that we may know Him as the source of all we need. If and when the solution for the things that trouble us becomes evident, let us then look to our Lord as the hand that provided, that healed, that protected, that was all we needed Him to be in every situation. Then, our Lord desires us to take that comfort, "<i>wherewith we ourselves are comforted,</i>" and share it with others. He wants us to be the human vehicle of His heavenly and eternal comfort to our world. We can comfort others because we have been comforted by Him. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Let us choose to take every opportunity to spread His comfort throughout our world and to be the hands and feet of His abundant supply to His children.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Sing, O heavens; and be joyful O earth; </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>and break forth into singing, O mountains: </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>for the Lord hath comforted His people, </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>and will have mercy upon His afflicted." </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Isaiah 49:13</i></b></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>"...Christ is all, and in all." </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Colossians 3:11</i></b></span></div><p><br /></p>Frannie Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575910849731728452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675560022342159446.post-52776900108868932282023-09-12T08:00:00.002-05:002023-09-12T08:00:00.156-05:00Stormy Winds<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The events of this date in 1979 are etched on my memory and emotions. </span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> Glen and I had only been married nine months and had no television then. While I worked the night before I first heard of the Category 4 hurricane heading for Mobile, Alabama. <i>Hurricane Frederic.</i> I will never forget that name. </span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Leaving work that morning, I headed east toward our tiny apartment. The sun was just coming up and the sky was bright red. Immediately, I thought of the poem, </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>"Red sky at morning, sailor take warning. Red sky at night, sailor's delight." </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I am sure I had heard this from my father who had worked at sea since he was 14. But it is also in Scripture: </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> "He answered and said unto them, '<i>When it is evening, ye say, it will be fair weather for the sky is red. And in the morning, it will be foul weather today: for the sky is red and lowring,</i>" (Matthew 16:2,3)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When I arrived home I told Glen about the hurricane. Both of us, living apart from our parents for the first time, knew little of hurricane preparedness as we do now. Glen, still in college, went off to his classes and I laid down for a nap. When he came home we did what little we could do to prepare in our tiny apartment. (It was actually the back rooms of a house and about 400 square feet.) We put things that were most special to us up high, had dinner, and went to stay with family to weather out the storm.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Before that night, I had always enjoyed the sound of the wind. But this wind was different. It was a relentless, howling, screeching sound. The darkness compounded the frightening aspect of the wind, as it is the usual practice for the power company to turn off power so downed power lines did not cause fires or danger to anyone encountering them.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We had a small battery radio and listened to the newscasters during the storm. They were reporting that common landmarks near us "no longer existed." One of these was about a half mile from my parent's house where we were. I felt certain we were going to die. I'm pretty sure I wasn't the only one praying a lot that night.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">But morning came and the storm had gone. Trees were down everywhere. The apartment building behind my parent's house lost part of its tar and pebble roof in the storm. All the windshields on our cars looked like they had been in machine-gun fire. The eastern-facing windows of my parent's home fared the same.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We walked to our apartment and it was as if the storm had totally passed that house by. Nothing was moved, nothing out of place. Then we walked to the church where Glen and my mother worked, Along the way we passed multiple huge old oak trees upended, and houses crushed under fallen trees. All the tall pine trees on a lot near my parent's house were broken in half like matchsticks. The devastation was everywhere.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Then the community came together. Everyone with freezers began cooking the food they had stored and sharing it with their neighbors. Those with chainsaws, and the skill to use them, cut trees off the properties of others. Trucks of ice and water came from other areas of the country, from people who could not be thanked because we did not know who they were.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The most welcomed sight was the orange trucks of the tree companies who came from every direction to help remove the massive downed oaks and the white trucks of power companies from other states who came to restore our power. Two weeks after Frederic hit, we were outside with our neighbors when the power came on - thanks to these wonderful people- and we all clapped and cheered. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Eventually, fallen trees were removed, windshields replaced, and homes rebuilt. The important thing was we did not die. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">And I learned a great lesson. God takes care of His children. He may lead us to go through some difficult things and to walk some very hard paths, but we will not walk alone. He will be with us every step of the way giving us guidance, strength, comfort, encouragement, and mostly, His love.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #01103a;">"The LORD</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> </span><span style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">is</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> my rock,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> and my fortress,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> and my deliverer;</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> </span></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #01103a;">my God,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> my strength,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> in whom I will trust;</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> </span></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #01103a;">my buckler,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> and the horn</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> of my salvation,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> </span><span id="yui-gen24" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">and</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> my high tower."</span></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a;"><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Psalm 18:2</span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a;"><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #01103a; text-align: start;">"For thou hast been a shelter</span><span style="color: #01103a; text-align: start;"> for me, </span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">and</span><span style="color: #01103a; text-align: start;"> a strong</span><span style="color: #01103a; text-align: start;"> tower</span><span style="color: #01103a; text-align: start;"> from</span><span style="color: #01103a; text-align: start;"> the enemy."</span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Psalm 61:3</i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #01103a; text-align: start;">"Fire,</span><span style="color: #01103a; text-align: start;"> and hail;</span><span style="color: #01103a; text-align: start;"> snow,</span><span style="color: #01103a; text-align: start;"> and vapour;</span><span style="color: #01103a; text-align: start;"> </span></span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span class="criteria" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">stormy</span><span style="color: #01103a; text-align: start;"> wind</span><span style="color: #01103a; text-align: start;"> fulfilling</span><span style="color: #01103a; text-align: start;"> His word,"</span></span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a; text-align: start;"><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Psalm 148:8</span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div>Frannie Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575910849731728452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675560022342159446.post-51190106521477270882023-09-03T10:40:00.033-05:002023-09-03T10:40:00.137-05:00The Lord is With Us<p> God promised Moses that He would deliver the children of Israel from the hand of the Eyptians and bring them unto a "<i>land flowing with milk and honey." </i></p><p>When children of Israel came to that land, twelve representatives of Israel were sent to spy in the promised land. They found a land which was "exceeding good land." And indeed it was a land in which "<i>floweth with milk and honey."</i> </p><p>Two of the twelve were ready to possess the land, Caleb and Joshua, even though the inhabitants of the land appeared stronger than the Israelites. Ten of the men only saw "the giants" as they described them.</p><p>The ten were able to cause the hearts of the children of Israel to despair and to murmur against the Lord for bringing them to that place. According to the Scriptures, they cried and wept that night.</p><p>Then Caleb spoke to the people:</p><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>"If the Lord delight in us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it us; </b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>a land which floweth with milk and honey. </b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; </b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, </b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>and THE LORD IS WITH US: FEAR THEM NOT." </b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>(emphasis added) Numbers 14:9</b></i></div><p><i>"The Lord is with us: fear them not." </i> This is all we need to say. Even more for us, than for Caleb, the Lord is <i>in</i> us. What have we to fear? There is nothing we can gaze upon, no giants in our land, that is greater than our Lord. Our Lord loves to protect, to provide for and to commune with His children.</p><p>We would do anything to protect our children. Even after they become adults, we still have that desire, that urge to protect them and keep them from harm. Why do we doubt our Lord's desire to protect <i>His</i> children? Especially when we consider the price to purchase His "dear children" (Ephesians 5:1) was His Son's life.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." Hebrews 2:10</i></b></p><p style="text-align: left;">So any time, every time, we are tempted to fear let choose instead to look to the "Captain" of our salvation and say with Caleb, "The Lord is with us: fear them not."</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBZ0IJkpkWZSRnRZa-Ifo5cAGqAUCwnxjubXCQy4Q0LfrytKzl--xFPV5RcCGnvp-YI15r0dSx3xp8rqzF8n2EBvpBXEp-EQlxmXimafZSxaqVF1uX-5B5AltVVQOeZihFvhckReGW7ZiWzyvQbMnLTFjGkRIJddRGNUVyi0XRRgOw_zgFY66a6zR-99V/s808/607_I-will-answer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="607" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBZ0IJkpkWZSRnRZa-Ifo5cAGqAUCwnxjubXCQy4Q0LfrytKzl--xFPV5RcCGnvp-YI15r0dSx3xp8rqzF8n2EBvpBXEp-EQlxmXimafZSxaqVF1uX-5B5AltVVQOeZihFvhckReGW7ZiWzyvQbMnLTFjGkRIJddRGNUVyi0XRRgOw_zgFY66a6zR-99V/s320/607_I-will-answer.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Frannie Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575910849731728452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675560022342159446.post-19473174212384908962023-09-02T10:40:00.001-05:002023-09-02T10:40:46.211-05:00O Give Thanks Unto the Lord<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizenDhpEFCioPv72j8vUrTASSAfEYUgfL_FKKYAbzRwCCSC5DJG_ppYEtYjLFhH-wrkpwQ7OAbuGAYkx6vhBDZQnJ5yw8Pa2rvLJlVaFDz7tX1qphvgqZ2Nbu2jwzt9yQN70Bm81QFR85mVD4Rge-leyjllNVxwTuJlUu8i_pdv4LTM2a31l-Ni2gZ2huQ/s2832/O%20Give%20Thanks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2832" data-original-width="2128" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizenDhpEFCioPv72j8vUrTASSAfEYUgfL_FKKYAbzRwCCSC5DJG_ppYEtYjLFhH-wrkpwQ7OAbuGAYkx6vhBDZQnJ5yw8Pa2rvLJlVaFDz7tX1qphvgqZ2Nbu2jwzt9yQN70Bm81QFR85mVD4Rge-leyjllNVxwTuJlUu8i_pdv4LTM2a31l-Ni2gZ2huQ/w480-h640/O%20Give%20Thanks.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Frannie Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575910849731728452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675560022342159446.post-49353449529944230712023-09-01T11:59:00.000-05:002023-09-01T11:59:04.736-05:00Looking in the Wrong Place<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIc633GDqMLDRtozAFvzARQMbuuGBRnZrATjZKKttdPDPziagWrnElqtWBdfdfcHoM1VXFgfLW_SRxynAt_YZBNuPJF_-Ea3GbG0vbahgirBO60fEoGKTNsRaY9oh3EVaQoPCMsbaTVUzlsHIy8qwuD_c25BJ9yK7KmDr2Bo-_bHkny--xIq3gZAUbC6pS/s640/IMG_4675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIc633GDqMLDRtozAFvzARQMbuuGBRnZrATjZKKttdPDPziagWrnElqtWBdfdfcHoM1VXFgfLW_SRxynAt_YZBNuPJF_-Ea3GbG0vbahgirBO60fEoGKTNsRaY9oh3EVaQoPCMsbaTVUzlsHIy8qwuD_c25BJ9yK7KmDr2Bo-_bHkny--xIq3gZAUbC6pS/w200-h150/IMG_4675.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bryan, Me and Glen</td></tr></tbody></table> Last week we visited our dear friends in Georgia, Bryan and Peggy. <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">As is our habit when we are with them, we went on a hike. Going with us was our beagle, Ellie, and Bryan and Peggy's labrador retriever, Remi. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It was a pleasant hike, winding around a lake. While it was not a difficult hike, there were a couple places with some slight elevation changes. Peggy and Remi were first along the trail and then me and Ellie, while Bryan and Glen brought up the rear. All the time Ellie was straining at her leash to catch up with her friend, Remi.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This is when it happened. More quickly than I could even realize my feet were pulled out from under me. One leg bent backward, one foot slid forward and I fell hard on my hip and arm. Apart from some loss of skin, nothing was hurt, except for my pride, of course. It seems it has become customary for me to fall at some point during a visit to Bryan and Peggy's. Sometimes I just want to demonstrate to them that I do have excellent balance!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I fell because of two things. First, Ellie was pulling hard against me. But mostly, my eyes were on Ellie instead of on the trail. I have been a hiker long enough to know where I should be looking.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The incident made me think, though, that I fell because my eyes were on the wrong thing. How many times in my Christian life has it been like that? I had a fall because I was my eyes were on something, anything, other than the Lord Jesus. How easy it is in the world today to let other influences take our gaze away from Him. The news blares at us, "Be afraid! Be very afraid!" It seems like wherever we turn our attention apart from the Lord, we are cautioned, warned, and admonished that our life is going to be miserable.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If we did not know and trust the Lord, that may well be the life we experience. But if we know and trust the Lord, we can know peace and joy and love and contentment in any - <i>in every</i>- situation. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">While in Philippi, Paul and Silas were whipped, thrown into the innermost part of a prison, and their feet secured in stocks. Beaten, bruised, and wrongly accused, the Scriptures tell us this about Paul and Silas:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>and the prisoners heard them," Acts 16:25.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The praying I totally understand. But they "sang praises unto God" as well. Singing praises comes from a heart of love and joy. They did not have this in and of themselves, it was the Spirit of God who lived inside of them that gave them a song. And He will give one to us as well. We just need to keep our eye on the right thing. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">As we look beyond our circumstances, beyond our world, beyond the enemy who seeks to destroy us, to the One who loved us enough to die for us, our hearts will be kept in peace.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #01103a;">"Looking</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> unto</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> Jesus</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> the Author</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> and</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> Finisher</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> of </span><span style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">our</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> faith;</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> </span></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #01103a;">who</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> for</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> the joy</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> that was set before</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> Him</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> endured</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> the cross,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> </span></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #01103a;">despising</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> the shame,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> </span></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #01103a;">and</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> is set down</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> at</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> the right hand</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> of the throne</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> of God.</span></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #01103a;">For</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> consider</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> Him that endured</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> such</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> contradiction</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> of</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> sinners</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> against</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> himself,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> </span></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #01103a;">l</span></span></i></b><b><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #01103a;">est</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> ye be wearied</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> and faint</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> in your</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> minds."</span></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #01103a;">Hebrews 12: 2,3</span></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Frannie Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575910849731728452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675560022342159446.post-87967039326612123782023-08-07T16:25:00.001-05:002023-08-07T16:32:20.831-05:00Tears of Sadness, of Joy<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBeO3qUBYVM7UZiHNBAPj-k9JinVB2HW-ulmxTf91Yn7W6GXlg5oiAQRSdbuYD84nknkL7N1WbVUOCg97aikgDzAjJA3AzZ0w2_MFvImWOvT2RLsD_8ZvrDOJ4ja1Nixqa_iDDzanZfdkAL-nC-kjKVpE6OPWr58sMwGGfgcU6Z8vEYaiOTVJokurD0G0/s800/IMG_7396(1).jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="Two women saying goodbye" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBeO3qUBYVM7UZiHNBAPj-k9JinVB2HW-ulmxTf91Yn7W6GXlg5oiAQRSdbuYD84nknkL7N1WbVUOCg97aikgDzAjJA3AzZ0w2_MFvImWOvT2RLsD_8ZvrDOJ4ja1Nixqa_iDDzanZfdkAL-nC-kjKVpE6OPWr58sMwGGfgcU6Z8vEYaiOTVJokurD0G0/w228-h304/IMG_7396(1).jpg" width="228" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Saying Goodbye</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"> Today, Glen and I have had some difficult tasks to accomplish. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A ministry we have loved for twelve years has come to an end. Another one, which we have wanted to be able to add to our schedule will be taking its place. We have had to tell people we love dearly we will no longer be with them.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Leaving a place is rarely easy, but in this case, it is very sad. We have come to love the people in this congregation. They are thoughtful, kind, caring, and loving individuals. As a body of believers, they are unparalleled. The thought of rarely seeing them again breaks my heart. Glen and I have shed many tears over this and I don't suspect we are finished crying yet.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Now, you are probably thinking to yourself, "Frannie, in this day and time, everyone can keep in touch as much as they want." Yes, that is true. But I have been separated from work friends well enough to know that it rarely happens that way. Without shared experiences, it is harder to connect with each other.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I am reminded of the tender story in Acts when the Apostle Paul is leaving Ephesus. He had just prayed for these believers and the Scriptures tell us,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>"And they wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they </i><i>should see his face no more," Acts20:37,38.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Today I can truly feel how those Ephesians felt. But, just as Paul felt called to go somewhere else, so do we. Thankfully though, for we who believe, there is coming a day. There is coming a <i>great</i> day.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18</i></span></blockquote></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Several months ago a well-loved nursing colleague of mine passed away unexpectedly. She and I had both worked in our unit for over thirty years. The day of her funeral was a day of reunions. I saw nurses I had not seen literally in decades, some of whom I loved dearly. I would not have finished hugging one, before another would catch my eye and I would be hugging her. We all cried for the passing of our dear friend, but we also joyed in our reunions. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This is what we have ahead of us. As believers we will have all eternity together. That moment, when we are all joined together to meet our Lord will be one of great reunion with each other. Then, the most blessed moment of all, when we see our Lord for the first time. We will likely all shed tears of joy, and we will all share this glorious moment together! Think of how we will talk of it among ourselves for eons to come.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Eternity. . .the joys, the laughter, the love we have shared in this life will be but a sad memory compared to the glory of living together with our Lord. Oh, what days we will have! What a glorious eternity we will have! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our best days are ahead!</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><br /></p>Frannie Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575910849731728452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675560022342159446.post-41722957908476108542023-08-01T10:10:00.000-05:002023-08-01T10:10:05.589-05:00"We Got This!<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyd6aQRqaH4di1_iwYEHQ_FXSAgwfKe5veinV1_xBI41FyWJrJZRumOL5vMS8nFwJJlzco3Ty0Ys_9wiT-DpTPGl_3BFYdDBkYZQNNAeidoMe2j1MF_B22YPPT-fbHA6vsqdUpD21YFaWZ0mRfGo_S7bbVAYER1F8oh1AHkyLyiiMKDqbQMXJaMgS46PdB/s4032/20230801_100600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Exercise Equipment" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyd6aQRqaH4di1_iwYEHQ_FXSAgwfKe5veinV1_xBI41FyWJrJZRumOL5vMS8nFwJJlzco3Ty0Ys_9wiT-DpTPGl_3BFYdDBkYZQNNAeidoMe2j1MF_B22YPPT-fbHA6vsqdUpD21YFaWZ0mRfGo_S7bbVAYER1F8oh1AHkyLyiiMKDqbQMXJaMgS46PdB/w200-h150/20230801_100600.jpg" title="Exercise Equipment" width="200" /></a></div>Since I (mostly) retired in September, I have been able to be more consistent with an exercise regimen. For my workouts, I used an app with online trainers. The trainers can't see me, but they talk as if they can.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Many of you who at one time or another have had exercise instructors know how they talk when they are trying to rally you to continue. "You can do this!" is one of the more positive phrases you might hear. Some instructors however will be almost bullying, "Don't you dare quit now!" </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Yesterday, the instructor said something I found very encouraging. Toward the end of a fairly difficult arm workout, when the muscles had been fully worked and were tired, he said, "We can do this. I know your muscles are burning, and mine are too, but we can work through any burn. We got this!"</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">"We." </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">That makes a big difference, doesn't it? By using that word he not only gave encouragement but also the feeling there was someone along with in the suffering.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">My mother died 26 years ago today. She had cancer, and we knew the direction in which things were heading. It was a very difficult time. While we knew <i>what</i> was going to happen, we didn't know when or how, and that added to the stress of the situation. Also, my father had died four months before, so it was grief upon grief. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It was especially difficult to go to work in Labor and Delivery where everyone was so happy. I was truly happy for the families I cared for, and I tried to be happy <i>with</i> them, but my heart was often too heavy to truly share in their joy. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I received strength from knowing I was not alone. While I could not hear the Lord speaking to me audibly, if I could have, I believe He would have been encouraging me like the fitness instructor, "Frannie, we can do this." "We." I may not have heard the words, but I certainly felt them in my spirit. He was there, with me, strengthening, encouraging, comforting, and loving me with each step.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">For His children, He will <i>always</i> be there. There will never be a day when He is not loving us, encouraging us, and comforting us. He will be for us all we need in every moment if we trust Him to be so. He loves us so very much more than we can ever begin to realize.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">"I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."</span></i></b></div></span><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Hebrews 13:5</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">"I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."</span></i></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Matthew 28:20</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">"I have loved thee with an everlasting love."</span></i></b></div></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Jeremiah 31:3</span></i></b></div></span></i></b></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Frannie Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575910849731728452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675560022342159446.post-60092546556190627982023-07-18T12:37:00.000-05:002023-07-18T12:37:46.383-05:00In the Shadow<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDMeMw3rF_16NGCQFjEo7k8X7guSv1Bk4M6mVQRlsh9-75APSGBIIZa6hjvZBn_iWqKsZ0khP_K7_pxcymC0Vq5W5ckAo_ex8JpRIlETAgnXL-ipPlN04kBYrBiushf6Le8Pg_OYYVlRV7bAvfD68LNGXm9a7Zn5eQw0indluuIaSsNEJKTeefw519G3O/s2048/IMG_1235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beagle" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDMeMw3rF_16NGCQFjEo7k8X7guSv1Bk4M6mVQRlsh9-75APSGBIIZa6hjvZBn_iWqKsZ0khP_K7_pxcymC0Vq5W5ckAo_ex8JpRIlETAgnXL-ipPlN04kBYrBiushf6Le8Pg_OYYVlRV7bAvfD68LNGXm9a7Zn5eQw0indluuIaSsNEJKTeefw519G3O/w240-h320/IMG_1235.jpg" title="Ellie" width="240" /></a></div>Every day (except Sundays) we try to take a long walk. We enjoy having our three-year-old beagle, Ellie, along with us. She thoroughly enjoys these walks, sniffing and snuffling most of the way. During the summer months (which in our area begins mid-April and continues until mid-October) we must be cautious she doesn't get too hot. We give her water frequently and try to opt for routes with abundant shade. </span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">One thing I try to do on the sunny stretches is to keep her in front of me. Beagles were bred to be ahead of the hunter and she seems to prefer this. The reason I do it, though, is so I can position myself between her and the sun. I try to keep her in my shadow. Since she doesn't know where my shadow is, she sometimes steps outside of that which is protecting her from direct sunlight. Immediately, I readjust so she is once again in my shadow. This happens numerous times during our walk. I never tire of adjusting my steps, because I love her and I'm glad to protect her. Often when I am moving so my shadow falls over her, I think of this verse:</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i><span style="color: #01103a;">Keep</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> me as the apple</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> of the eye,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> hide</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> me under the </span><span class="criteria" id="yui-gen33" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">shadow</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> of Thy wings, Psalm 17:8</span></i></b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i><span style="color: #01103a;"><br /></span></i></b></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #01103a; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">The Scriptures are full of references to us being under the shadow of His wings, or shadowed in safety by our Lord.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #01103a; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i><span style="color: #01103a;">How excellent</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> </span><span style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">is</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> Thy lovingkindness,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> O God!</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> therefore the children</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> of men</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> put their trust</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> under the </span><span class="criteria" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">shadow</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> of Thy wings. Psalm 36:7</span></i></b></span></span></p><p><b style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #01103a;">Because Thou hast been my help,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> therefore in the </span><span class="criteria" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">shadow</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> of Thy wings</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> will I rejoice. Psalm 63:7</span></span></i></b></p><p><b style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #01103a;">For Thou hast been a strength</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> to the poor,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> a strength</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> to the needy</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> in his distress,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> a refuge</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> from the storm,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> a </span><span class="criteria" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">shadow</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> from the heat,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> when the blast</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> of the terrible ones</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> </span><span style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">is</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> as a storm</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> </span><span style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #01103a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">against</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> the wall. Isaiah 25:4</span></span></i></b></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">How often have we, like Ellie, unknowingly tried to walk out of the shadow of our Lord? And unbeknownst to us, He quickly adjusts to keep us in that shadow. His heart is ever to care for us.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> In Him we are safe, we are protected, we are loved. As the Psalmists tell us, His lovingkindness to us is excellent. He is our Help, our Strength and we can always put our trust "<i>under the shadow of Thy wings</i>."</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #01103a;">"</span><span style="color: #01103a;">Lord,</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> Thou hast been our </span><span class="criteria" id="yui-gen36" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">dwelling</span> <span class="criteria" id="yui-gen37" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">place</span> <span style="color: #01103a;">in all</span><span style="color: #01103a;"> generations."</span></span></i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #01103a;">Psalm 90:1</span></span></i></b></p>Frannie Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575910849731728452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675560022342159446.post-72544611494989634642023-05-02T06:00:00.005-05:002023-05-02T06:00:00.172-05:00The Trampled Lilies<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0_zD9BS5BUMx2Eyw56tLoMulGPpcA6mBiVP6fAXDgM3DPasAIzch4JEImSTQnfRvAJZ40cWHdeKsEpBdm0V8dZ3TVVppaKhZtKG6F7zXmj7W78axUu1jKv6pHqQPuASU0cb2ExlmnObyUAJJ5WkgPUDxTlsJzG9uoKfJtI9kbPidmsKqZsxxnEXapQ/s4032/20220614_142319.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0_zD9BS5BUMx2Eyw56tLoMulGPpcA6mBiVP6fAXDgM3DPasAIzch4JEImSTQnfRvAJZ40cWHdeKsEpBdm0V8dZ3TVVppaKhZtKG6F7zXmj7W78axUu1jKv6pHqQPuASU0cb2ExlmnObyUAJJ5WkgPUDxTlsJzG9uoKfJtI9kbPidmsKqZsxxnEXapQ/w223-h297/20220614_142319.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our calla lilies</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I love Spring.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I love the bright green of the new leaves on the trees, the blue of the skies and the flowers coming up and pushing their pretty faces to the sun. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Every day our dog Ellie and I review the flowers in the garden to see what is blooming, what is not (and why not?) and to see which plant the neighborhood cat has used as a bed this time. Last night she slept on a group of calla lilies which were young enough to have their stalks snapped in two.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I don't remember when the cat first arrived, but as long as I have had flowers in this bed, she has been thinking I literally mean <i>bed</i>. She has squashed all manner of flowers and each year I try some new trick to keep her from doing it. Ellie even tries to chase her away when she sees her outside, but the cat always comes back.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I realize the cat isn't maliciously trying to destroy my flowers. She is a cat that has no home and seeks what comfort she can. I feel sorry for her. After all, the lilies will come back up next year.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We all have people who come into our lives and in some way irritate, aggravate, annoy or disturb us. Perhaps they harm something we care for. Maybe they simply pose an inconvenience to us. Regardless of their intent, it will be a great temptation to give in to those initial feelings of resentment, irritation and disturbance. But those negatives present us with a great choice. <i>A choice of faith</i>. Will we believe that those feelings are the essence of who we are, or are we those who, by faith in the Lord Jesus, have His Holy Spirit abiding within us? The choice is ours and how we choose will determine how we respond.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">But how we choose does not just affect us, it can also affect the person causing the disturbance in our lives. An act of undeserved mercy toward a person can often point them in the direction of the King of Mercy in a way all the sermons on the earth cannot. That one act of kindness may soften a hardened heart more than anything else.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I used to have a sign in my Dining Room that read,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">"<i>Only God and people are eternal. Everything else is just stuff." <br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">What is the most important things in our interactions with others? First of all, knowing the Lord is at work in every moment of every person's life, drawing them closer to Himself. Secondly, that we are called to "<i>walk as He walked</i>" in love and kindness to others. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Everything else is just stuff...including calla lilies.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">"He that saith he abideth in Him </span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked."</span></b></i></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I John 2:6</span></b></i></div></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><b>"And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour."</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><b>Ephesians 5:2</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br /></p>Frannie Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575910849731728452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675560022342159446.post-69639834929112882272023-05-01T06:00:00.036-05:002023-05-01T06:00:00.138-05:00What a Glorious Day!<div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpsr5MjQD8R6oYqZ5t4NxBuHf0sfsahCK4YOn2QD2dU4INIdC3pXxykBAId1bz3lZM8lyUWZx1T2qs8-Vd3NHvQCKvpT2lYbqMF8e5Um0o1UteOdKXOp5IGZ4bRLpSox25aH4EL0ABQy9sCCdXEHJ0IcZoGS0j6FwVbCMtYoa505kc1feBF_3OKbKHA/s1280/20200510_080635.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpsr5MjQD8R6oYqZ5t4NxBuHf0sfsahCK4YOn2QD2dU4INIdC3pXxykBAId1bz3lZM8lyUWZx1T2qs8-Vd3NHvQCKvpT2lYbqMF8e5Um0o1UteOdKXOp5IGZ4bRLpSox25aH4EL0ABQy9sCCdXEHJ0IcZoGS0j6FwVbCMtYoa505kc1feBF_3OKbKHA/w320-h240/20200510_080635.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Baby Ellie</span><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> Three years ago today we drove 172 miles to Livingston, LA to pick up our new beagle, Ellie. Our previous beagle, Sparrow, had passed away three months before and our grieving hearts longed for a sweet bundle of beagle to love.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiay_nrorVZLckAw54icVVVBZY4vDZzl0NS5gx-hUJVogfCSM17akeLnkeKt66cS44hLwsDprmKh0dBVFyI9VnVTvzOv_16LRjEFffqVkVgvGkGIaNBqv2dP6ABt8bSNQehe6JzBwUgavXxQBFdEcD9qdltxaYwZhF-zcCzdEkKzbb5zpyaeUX5AZnV1w/s1280/20200501_102917_1588354807876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiay_nrorVZLckAw54icVVVBZY4vDZzl0NS5gx-hUJVogfCSM17akeLnkeKt66cS44hLwsDprmKh0dBVFyI9VnVTvzOv_16LRjEFffqVkVgvGkGIaNBqv2dP6ABt8bSNQehe6JzBwUgavXxQBFdEcD9qdltxaYwZhF-zcCzdEkKzbb5zpyaeUX5AZnV1w/w113-h200/20200501_102917_1588354807876.jpg" width="113" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> We were so excited during the drive. We had seen photos and videos of Ellie, but now we would see her face to face, and bring her home with us, too. Before we knew it, we were pulling into Mrs. Lisa and Mr. Jeff's driveway.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Mrs. Lisa opened the door where a mass of little beagles were sleeping on the floor. She picked up Ellie and my heart just melted. She was only 3 1/2 pounds of soft, sweet smelling puppy. We took turns loving her while Mrs. Lisa clipped her nails, gave us food for the week (to help her transition to the food we would be giving her) and explained her registration papers to us. Then we went outside to leave. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><br />Mrs. Lisa asked to see her one more time. She lifted Ellie to her face and prayed </span>she would minister love and joy to everyone she met. What a sweet blessing for Mrs. Lisa to pray over her! She gave her a final kiss and cuddle and we were on our way, the new member of the family asleep in my lap in the back seat. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0u-GfJbWr-MPNxyDixV4ec1Dv1dxWj3KmMQlJB7-CLnv6UzAalMbQ4I4oK09huq6-cc3Z6dSkHEeH1P_Nn112emMS9QoSBaCrRKYV0ARfKuhI7w2-ndswFdUKjxYhtrW195it2YtwnNKEY4FMhBRHdTcNnCo_gi2VWubUnBSDsnEH7TGFvViB3x5lA/s1280/20200609_124818_1594759834367.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="1280" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0u-GfJbWr-MPNxyDixV4ec1Dv1dxWj3KmMQlJB7-CLnv6UzAalMbQ4I4oK09huq6-cc3Z6dSkHEeH1P_Nn112emMS9QoSBaCrRKYV0ARfKuhI7w2-ndswFdUKjxYhtrW195it2YtwnNKEY4FMhBRHdTcNnCo_gi2VWubUnBSDsnEH7TGFvViB3x5lA/w200-h183/20200609_124818_1594759834367.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>It was the first of many wonderful days and a wonderful relationship. Ellie has grown into a sweet, loving dog, even though we still call her a puppy. She has been more than we could have ever hoped for. And no, she is not spoiled, she is </span><i>greatly loved</i><span>. I often think of how Mrs. Lisa's words have come true. Ellie is a blessing, a source of love and joy to so many, the least of all the two of us. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Thinking of our trip to Louisiana that day, reminds me of another day. A day we will meet someone we have been wanting to see in person for some time. The Scriptures tell us of that day, </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a;">"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a;">with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #01103a;">and the dead in Christ shall rise first:</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #01103a;"> Then we which are alive and remain </span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #01103a;">shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, </span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #01103a;">to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." </span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #01103a;">(1 Thessalonians 4:17, 18)</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #01103a;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #01103a;">One day we shall meet our Lord face to face. Oh what a glorious day <i>that</i> will be! Our greatest moment on this earth will grow dim and dark when compared to seeing our Lord, our Maker, our Sustainer, our Strength and our Friend, for the very first time. What a glorious day, indeed! We can only echo the Apostle John, </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #01103a;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><b><i>"Even so, come, Lord Jesus."</i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><b><i>Revelation 22:20</i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span class="criteria" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-image: initial; border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #9e0b0f; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #01103a;"><br /></span></span></div></span></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiByGarL8bRqPFdORX9nLXIDm4qlsYToOeyEUZ45tO9LPT_wU7yYGhyauRagAsUAz8GY4voMNchK_g8y1h4B3pfWY0KNSOO8Gv7QVphN0GingDqE4homPbKce3LD2Otjz33GYbh94IZ55eLDZcFcWWWWAeVmU2Bx9R5NCExGaFQi6jG2h3UZ3p4DpHpAw/s1280/Jhvcd.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="767" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiByGarL8bRqPFdORX9nLXIDm4qlsYToOeyEUZ45tO9LPT_wU7yYGhyauRagAsUAz8GY4voMNchK_g8y1h4B3pfWY0KNSOO8Gv7QVphN0GingDqE4homPbKce3LD2Otjz33GYbh94IZ55eLDZcFcWWWWAeVmU2Bx9R5NCExGaFQi6jG2h3UZ3p4DpHpAw/s320/Jhvcd.jpg" width="192" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Ellie Jean Louise Davis</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>What a Day That Will Be</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">by Jim Hill</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #797b7a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 40px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #797b7a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 40px; text-align: start;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">There is coming a day,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When no heart aches shall come,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">No more clouds in the sky,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">No more tears to dim the eye,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">All is peace forever more,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">On that happy golden shore,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">What a day, glorious day that will be.</span></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #797b7a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 40px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #797b7a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 40px; text-align: start;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">What a day that will be,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When my Jesus I shall see,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">And I look upon His face,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The One who saved me by His grace;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When He takes me by the hand,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">And leads me through the Promised Land,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">What a day, glorious day that will be.</span></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #797b7a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 40px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #797b7a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 40px; text-align: start;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">There’ll be no sorrow there,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">No more burdens to bear,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">No more sickness, no pain,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">No more parting over there;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">And forever I will be,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">With the One who died for me,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">What a day, glorious day that will be.</span></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #797b7a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 40px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #797b7a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 40px; text-align: start;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">What a day that will be,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When my Jesus I shall see,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">And I look upon His face,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The One who saved me by His grace;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When He takes me by the hand,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">And leads me through the Promised Land,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">What a day, glorious day that will be.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/hMvVsGVqJ84" width="480"></iframe></span>Frannie Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575910849731728452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675560022342159446.post-21810860674260917192023-04-28T06:00:00.008-05:002023-04-28T06:00:00.151-05:00God's Cup of Coffee<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0Btv-NlYDicd2pDj8se4LEAvqvnsdFxQrhRRx4TlbvEtl4PezJiMcVafX1JyGu_2ufDUkDtuQRyWE8bxxSFNqUbEdl60NbN9KKgWCikgtuvDtCZmJ7gRxFEyVJShwPwcabUgGtjVovwBB3uXrnUz90CvJzF03l0dfHCECEfyM_dIX0Zd_QZe-QpViA/s4032/20230427_143737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0Btv-NlYDicd2pDj8se4LEAvqvnsdFxQrhRRx4TlbvEtl4PezJiMcVafX1JyGu_2ufDUkDtuQRyWE8bxxSFNqUbEdl60NbN9KKgWCikgtuvDtCZmJ7gRxFEyVJShwPwcabUgGtjVovwBB3uXrnUz90CvJzF03l0dfHCECEfyM_dIX0Zd_QZe-QpViA/s320/20230427_143737.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">I love coffee.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I love the smell of it. I love the warmth of the cup as I hold it in my hand. I love the wispy steam that wafts up to my nose. I love to hold my coffee cup and just reflect upon the day ahead, or the one that just ended, but mostly upon how faithful the Lord has been throughout my life.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When our oldest two grandchildren were young, they stayed with us every other weekend for several months. I learned to use a cup of coffee in order to have a moment or two to myself. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you are a mother, you know how incessant a child's conversation can be...even through the bathroom door. So I told Jack and Emma that if Grannie Frannie was holding a cup of coffee they could not disturb me, even to speak to me, unless it was a real emergency.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Jackson was about five at the time and he would tiptoe up to where I was sitting and silently peak into my cup. If there was coffee in it (and I made sure there was until I was ready to get up) he would quietly tiptoe out. He never once spoke to me during all those cups of coffee. His sister Emma, who was younger, never even braved it. Instead, she let Jackson do all the work.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Remembering this, I was instantly thankful that our Lord never has a cup of coffee in His hands. There is no moment we come to Him that He is not already watching and listening for us to direct our thoughts toward Him. He delights in our attention. If we could ever fathom how great, how complete and how continual His love for us truly is, it would break our hearts that we turn our attention to Him as little as we do.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">"...the prayer of the upright is His delight."</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Proverbs 15:8</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">"Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, </span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them."</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Hebrews 7:25</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">"And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; </span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Isaiah 66:4</span></i></b></div><br /><p></p>Frannie Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575910849731728452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675560022342159446.post-40159982129165099962023-04-27T06:00:00.000-05:002023-04-27T06:00:00.143-05:00A Shelter in the Time of Storm<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXw0V4J6rog8HUS5EqIANhhT8qCRGdS65jBzpPzeEGpLVDkqZiNfgodPTgxbEUp15crwPKOdJ0W2Jc2lRAlTh_e61yz7_E5kCWXiXW2aglEHDkrze-8Kh2m31tze68Jnp1Y8L-iTZnBs4qp_Yay_y7hgJMLEBgLp2govdXKvEIgs6pRX4oqco5PCWGEg/s4032/20230425_220541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXw0V4J6rog8HUS5EqIANhhT8qCRGdS65jBzpPzeEGpLVDkqZiNfgodPTgxbEUp15crwPKOdJ0W2Jc2lRAlTh_e61yz7_E5kCWXiXW2aglEHDkrze-8Kh2m31tze68Jnp1Y8L-iTZnBs4qp_Yay_y7hgJMLEBgLp2govdXKvEIgs6pRX4oqco5PCWGEg/w150-h200/20230425_220541.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Fan</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> We both like to sleep to the sound (and feel) of a fan. A very large and very loud fan. So when the power went out at 3am, I was immediately awake. It only took a moment for me to realize it wasn't only the loss of the fan which had woken me. There was also an unexpected sound, the sound of hail pelting our windows. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> My first impulse during a severe thunderstorm is to pull up the radar and see exactly what is over us, when it will pass and what will come in the near future. My next is to try my best to be ready for whatever comes. I get Ellie's leash which I know will be helpful if we have to move to the hall - the "safe place" in our home. I make sure I have my shoes on and my wallet is nearby. I know none of these things would be of any help if a tornado were to cross our house, but I have always been the one to try to be prepared.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We actually have some experience with tornadoes near our house. About a decade ago, two tornadoes passed close to our house within a week of each other, the second coming on Christmas day. As it turns out, one was about a mile east of us and one a mile west of us. While both caused severe damage to parts of our town, we were untouched.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9dE0Q0H4F1KPIcSsUnKx2szZ_ZXDTubw7dbOpSwe9WmNlLQFReyj0AaDxY8nRD63LyT1Que8lRHtZ5dxr5nOOBtnsi7yX1XcXsbh1xHaBeiHDROcR12rShkS-651tlNVgk_ki0kUywOznhFASFPzznnzwW-vJKZK2oacorG7rKvMzAECD1bhSTONKQ/s2086/satellite-image-of-hurricane-katrina-nearing-new-orleans-louisiana.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2086" data-original-width="2062" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9dE0Q0H4F1KPIcSsUnKx2szZ_ZXDTubw7dbOpSwe9WmNlLQFReyj0AaDxY8nRD63LyT1Que8lRHtZ5dxr5nOOBtnsi7yX1XcXsbh1xHaBeiHDROcR12rShkS-651tlNVgk_ki0kUywOznhFASFPzznnzwW-vJKZK2oacorG7rKvMzAECD1bhSTONKQ/w198-h200/satellite-image-of-hurricane-katrina-nearing-new-orleans-louisiana.jpg" width="198" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">That wasn't true the day Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast. Although her landfall was 209 miles from our house, tornadoes were spun from her wide storm which affected most states in the area. One such tornado tore in half a huge oak tree in our backyard and discarded it on our roof. You could actually step out our front door and hold oak branches. All of the roof was covered except the six foot section over our carport. We were inside at the time, but the existence of what the tree men told us was 15 tons (yes, tons) of tree on our roof was a surprise to us. The only damage our house incurred were four small tears in our roof where branches had punctured through. We were and felt, very blessed. The experience gave us a new appreciation for the hymn by Vernon J. Charlesworth, "A Shelter in the Time of Storm:"</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>The Lord's our rock, in Him we hide, a shelter in the time of storm,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>Secure whatever ill betide, a shelter in the time of storm.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>O Jesus is a rock in a weary land, a weary land, a weary land;</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>O Jesus is a rock in a weary land, a shelter in the time of storm.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>The raging storms may round us beat, a shelter in the time of storm,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>We'll never leave our safe Retreat, a shelter in the time of storm.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>O Jesus is a rock in a weary land, a weary land, a weary land;</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>O Jesus is a rock in a weary land, a shelter in the time of storm.</i></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>O Rock divine, O refuge dear, a shelter in the time of storm,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>Be Thou our Helper, ever near, a shelter in the time of storm.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>O Jesus is a rock in a weary land, a weary land, a weary land;</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>O Jesus is a rock in a weary land, a shelter in the time of storm.</i></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><ol style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><li class="first" style="list-style-type: none; margin-top: 0px;"><p></p></li></ol><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><ol style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li style="list-style-type: none; margin-top: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">All of us will have times in our lives when the storm howls, the wind blows, and we know we need a "safe Retreat." For those of us who have trusted in the Lord Jesus, He is that Rock, He is that safety, He is that sure defense. For those who have not yet trusted in Him, it is not too late. He waits even this minute to shelter you under His wings as a hen does her chicks. Turn to Him and He will never fail you. He will never disappoint you and He will never let you go.</span></li></ol><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><b>"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: </b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><b>for Thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety."</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><b>Psalms 4:8</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><b>"The name of the Lord is a strong tower: </b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><b>the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><b>Proverbs 18:10</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><b>"The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer." </b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><b>2 Samuel 22:3</b></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><p></p></div>Frannie Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575910849731728452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675560022342159446.post-61161776806267633702023-04-26T06:00:00.001-05:002023-04-26T06:00:00.142-05:00"Us"<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RQc30PvayoF1pQrGQFFD6gLUgIbsYj4VAH6YQa7jADjkwYMmbAiYdPtHzao8mKA5TSPyCp-vEP8CHDK3U7NsWig_lxPkIE9XTkoZh9Umq_Kww6xIqibGgpv_3Fd5s_1LWcvYm8X52OzvK8bmACdp_IlwIcUiObwjmOMQGySwTDOaom3vzOwA3joAxg/s4032/20230423_205632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RQc30PvayoF1pQrGQFFD6gLUgIbsYj4VAH6YQa7jADjkwYMmbAiYdPtHzao8mKA5TSPyCp-vEP8CHDK3U7NsWig_lxPkIE9XTkoZh9Umq_Kww6xIqibGgpv_3Fd5s_1LWcvYm8X52OzvK8bmACdp_IlwIcUiObwjmOMQGySwTDOaom3vzOwA3joAxg/w150-h200/20230423_205632.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>In our den we have a pillow that has mine and Glen's name, the names of all three of our children and our daughter-in-law and the names of all four of our grandchildren. <div><br /></div><div>I ordered it online and when it arrived, I was very surprised at how thin the material was. Our youngest grandchildren, Ewan (age 6) and Evelyn (age 4) love to play with the throw pillows in our den. Once, when they were spending the weekend with us, they were occupied in this play and I noticed them throwing and falling on the "Davis" pillow. I told them to be very careful with that pillow. My exhortation was simply because I didn't know if the pillow could withstand their play. But Ewan inferred a different reason.<p></p><p>Last week, the children were once again playing with the pillows, but this time when Evelyn picked up the "Davis" pillow, Ewan very seriously interrupted her.<br /></p><p>"Evelyn, be careful with that pillow," he cautioned, "it is very special to us."</p><p>It was one of those moments when the adult has to turn away so the child doesn't see their smile. The part that tickled me the most was the <i>"to us."</i> He didn't say it was special to Grannie Frannie or to Granddaddy, but to "us." His authoritative tone made the statement seem even more important.</p><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">He is indeed part of "us". He is a part of the Davis family and he knows it. I see the traits of his father, brother and Grandfather in him every time we are together. Even at age six, he has shown a great respect for family and he loves to have his family all together. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Just as Ewan was born into our family, when we put our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus, we become God's son or daughter. We become a part of the family of God. Even more than that, the Holy Spirit comes to indwell our hearts. We will forever be a part of that "us." The Bible tells us that <i>"...ye are the temple of the Living God; as God hath said, 'I will dwell in them, and walk in them: and I will be their God, and they shall be my people,' " (2 Corinthians 6:16.)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Wherever we go, whatever we do, we do not do it simply as "me," but as "us," our spirit joined to the Holy Spirit. He is with us and <i>within</i> us so that we can face whatever comes to us, not in our power and strength alone, but with His power and strength as well. We are and will forever be a "we." </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Of what do we then have to fear?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Now have we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God, </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God."</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>1 Corinthians 2:12</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><p></p></div>Frannie Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575910849731728452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675560022342159446.post-39268388743856386082023-04-25T15:51:00.001-05:002023-04-25T15:51:00.149-05:00Common Meter<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In poetry or music, Common Meter is a poetic meter consisting of four lines that alternate between iambic tetrameter and iambic trimeter. These ones consist of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. Perhaps the most commonly known example is the song "Amazing Grace."</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">That saved a wretch like me!<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">I once was lost but now am found,<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Was blind, but now I see.</span></span></i></div><p><span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The interesting thing about the meter in songs is that for any songs in the same meter, the words and melodies can easily be interchanged.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Think of the tune to "Amazing Grace," but sing the words of "Joy to the World"...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">Joy to the world, the Lord is come</span><br aria-hidden="true" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;" /><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">Let Earth receive her King</span><br aria-hidden="true" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;" /><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">Let every heart prepare Him room</span><br aria-hidden="true" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;" /><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">And Heaven and nature sing.</span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Or think of the tune to "Amazing Grace," but the words of "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing":</span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>O for a thousand tongues to sing</i></span><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>my great Redeemer's praise</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>The glories of my God and King,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>the triumphs of His grace!</i></span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Unless you think this is limited to hymns, try the tune of "Amazing Grace" and these lyrics:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale,</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: center;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">A tale of a fateful trip</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: center;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">That started from this tropic port</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: center;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">Aboard this tiny ship.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">(The theme song to the television show, "Gilligan's Island.")</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">The point of this is not a music lesson, but rather a lesson in finding that which is common between us.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It seems so often in this day and time people seem to focus upon the areas where they disagree. However, when we emphasize that upon which we agree instead of that upon which we disagree, we will find we have so much to agree upon, especially when conversing with fellow believers.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Even with those who do not trust in the Lord Jesus surely we can find some point of agreement. We should always begin by concentrating on that which we have in common.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The point should never be to win an argument or to feel like we have convinced the other person that our way is superior, but to <i>enter into a relationship</i> with that person. Relationships require mutual respect and sharing, giving and taking. This cannot be done if we are intent upon winning an argument. While we cannot agree with what is in opposition to the character and nature of God, there is no place for a disregard for others, regardless of their beliefs. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">There is not a person on this earth who cannot truthfully sing "Jesus Loves Me," for He loves everyone. </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">Each person we encounter is a person for whom the Lord Jesus Christ died. If our Lord loves everyone and desires everyone to know Him in spirit and truth, how much more should we, as His children, show them respect and love?</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">So perhaps they do not want to sing the same words to the song as we do, let us concentrate on the common meter of the music. Perhaps in time, we will learn to sing in unison the same song.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><b><i>"If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably </i></b></span><b style="text-align: center;"><i>with all men." </i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b style="text-align: center;"><i>R</i></b><b style="text-align: center;"><i>omans 12:17</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p></div>Frannie Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575910849731728452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5675560022342159446.post-47083696651191440852023-04-24T06:00:00.002-05:002023-04-25T13:17:04.311-05:00Two Little Birds<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevZO2pAU6gqt-C3q4zLuCS-5MU-JLcULNRWM5iPLs2ZIItpdKvkhx5dkLOQDXk3UqhguV0JS073Hr1nqYjkw_kKuwbNi_mWo_bl_dFn2YdmN4Vqk3RrW_beTKx5nPYmOPfgah47Iwf3MK9FD22cGfIJwxmgXNMw_koMbRGf41hcWPVozuKhk1TiXOUA/s2944/20221026_111941.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevZO2pAU6gqt-C3q4zLuCS-5MU-JLcULNRWM5iPLs2ZIItpdKvkhx5dkLOQDXk3UqhguV0JS073Hr1nqYjkw_kKuwbNi_mWo_bl_dFn2YdmN4Vqk3RrW_beTKx5nPYmOPfgah47Iwf3MK9FD22cGfIJwxmgXNMw_koMbRGf41hcWPVozuKhk1TiXOUA/w150-h200/20221026_111941.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>The other afternoon I was walking our beagle, Ellie, at a local schoolyard near some bushes and brush. I heard sounds coming from the brush and immediately my mind conjured up some large menacing dog, an irate person or even a huge black bear. <div><br /></div><div>Now, there are no black bears in our area, but I have a history of imagining such things from when we have been backpacking. At night, when nestled to sleep with nothing between us and the forest except a thin nylon tent, any sound from the woods becomes, in my imagination, a nine-foot, hungry black bear just waiting to gobble us up. Just as there are no black bears in our area, along the Appalachian Trail where we have backpacked, bears are not waiting in the woods to eat hikers. In fact, the bears are usually more frightened of the hikers than the hikers are of them. Still, at night in the tent, I have to remind myself that the sound I am certain was caused by a black bear was probably made by a bird. This was the case in the schoolyard that day. As I focused my eyes on the bushes, out hopped two little birds - not nearly nine feet tall - and obviously the source of the sounds I had heard.<p>But isn't that just like fear, to make us think something tiny and small is large and dangerous and set upon our destruction? Our fears always escalate if we give into them. The more we concentrate on them the more they grow and grow and become something that no one could overcome. Unless that person trusts in the Lord Jesus Christ.</p><p>The Bible clearly tells us, <i>"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).</i></p><p>The Lord Jesus frequently encouraged His disciples to "be not afraid," and His Spirit within us does the same. We must make a choice, will we listen to the fear or to our Lord? Fear yells and shouts. The Holy Spirit speaks with a still, small voice. Fear invokes feelings of anxiety and sometimes even panic. The Holy Spirit is called "The Comforter." He is the source of all peace, comfort and joy.</p><p>In those moments of our lives where we imagine the black bears in the bushes, let us choose, by faith, to listen to the still, small voice of the One who loved us so much He willingly died for us. Let us choose the One called the Prince of Peace. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, 'Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.' " </i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Matthew 14:27</i></b></p></div>Frannie Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575910849731728452noreply@blogger.com0