Attitude can make a difference as we age....

 Jan. 24, 2021

Staying Young All Your Life  

(The following ideas are from the In Touch Ministries Daily Devotional 1-23-2021)

I was sooooo excited to listen to Charles Stanley's daily devotional this week about our attitude making a difference in our aging process.  Gail and I don't feel old (we may look that way!) but we feel good, love our lives, and are anxious to be used by God.  The following are ideas from the devotional that were a great encouragement to me.

1.  Keep learning - 

• gaining knowledge of Scripture should be first on our list
• also read up on things that interest you, take on new projects, learn to use technology

2.  Keep laboring - keep walking with God

• look for opportunities to serve Him through the church or other ministries
• be available
• continue to serve others

3.  Pray 

• you may find you have a little more time on your hands now so use that time to pray for your spouse, family, church, town, state, and nation

Our lives are not our own.  They have been bought with a great price by Jesus.  May we keep surrendered to him and keep serving Him. 

If God has blessed you with many years, bless Him with your service.  They are many needs out there.  Find them and give of your time, talents, and energy.  God wants to use you all of your days, so be sure to stay young at heart as long as you can to be able to serve HIM!

Words of encouragement for those with heavy hearts.....

 

January 21, 2021

Our hearts are heavy today as we think of the next four years with a liberal government making new laws that are against the Word of God.

Here are words of encouragement from Charles Stanley’s daily devotional today.  His thoughts helped me. I hope they are an encouragement to you.

Jude 1:24 – 25

•        there will be times when, no matter how hard we try, we fail
•        how do we succeed when the odds are against us?
•         for believers the answer is to live with the knowledge that God works despite our weaknesses
•         God is sovereign and in control
•         in Genesis 18 we see that Sarah doubted God when he prophesied the birth of her son

o   within a year Sarah gave birth to her baby Isaac

o   she saw God was able to do miracles

•         in Exodus 3 we see that Moses was scared when God told him to go to Pharaoh and ask that the Hebrew slaves be released

o   those slaves were released in a miraculous way – God was able

•         on our own we can do nothing – John 15:5
•         but with God we can have access to his power that is beyond our comprehension – 1 Chronicles 29:12

·       Today…. And tomorrow….. When you are overcome with the burdens of life: trust God who can carry your heavy load

 

Matthew 11:28 – 30

Come to me, all who labor and are and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

A shift in our government - how do we respond?

Jan. 19, 2021

 I recently listened to a message from Dr. Robert Jeffress who is the pastor at First Baptist Church in Dallas, Tx.  He greatly encouraged me and I’d like to pass on to you the notes I took from his message.   His talk was titled: How do we respond to President Biden.

1.  God’s sovereignty hasn’t changed

• Ps. 103:19; Ps. 115:53; Job 42:2; Eph. 1:11

• God is in charge of everything

• God has one will and plan - causes everything that happens in the world and our lives to go with His plan

• His plan includes everything - including elections

• Dan. 2:21 - God establishes kings and removes them - is in control

• Rm. 13:1,2 - obey government- it is established by God - is sometimes an evil gov’t but nonetheless is established by God

• Acts 2:23 - Jesus’ death was part of predetermined plan carried out by Godless officials

• Sometimes God uses evil human gov’t to carry out His purpose

• Nothing happens outside of God’s sovereign plan

• God can use wrong things people do to carry out His will

• Bible says to obey our authorities - to resist them is to resist God

• Jesus said to pay taxes to Caesar - render to him what is his

• Paul said to be in subjection to the officials

• Acts 29 - obey God rather than man applies only if you are asked to do wrong

• Biden administration supports abortion - that is not a reason for us to disobey - we can push back against it but must obey gov’t

• I Tim. 2:1-3 - We are to pray for our leaders - pray for them and pray we may be able to live quiet lives

2.  Balance the sovereignty of God with God’s love for you

• God’s love hasn’t changed

• We have lots of worries about the future but God’s plan for your life hasn’t changed - God is love

• Ps. 103:8; Ps. 107:1; I Jn. 4:8; Jn. 10:28,29

• We have a loving God who is watching out for us and has a plan for us.

• Rom. 8:31,32 Doesn’t promise we won’t have trouble but we are not alone - God is for us

• Our Father in heaven is behind us - nothing to fear

• Everything is for our good - God is for you.

• Nothing can come into our lives that hasn’t been sifted by the love of God, the plan of God, the wisdom of God

• What ever comes to us has come for our good

3.  God’s promise of Christ’s return has not changed

• No man knows the day or hour but it will come

• It will be the time for Christ to return to take control

• Everything is in God’s time - election won’t matter

• Bad news:  Things will get rocky

• II Tim. 3:1 - there will be terrible times in the last days -people will cast off moral restraint(we’re seeing this now: same sex marriage, unrestricted abortion )

• 3 stages of moral revolution

1.  Things celebrated are now condemned(i.e. Marriage between man and woman)

2.  Things condemned are now celebrated (i.e. Same sex marriages) 

3.   Those who won’t celebrate are now condemned by society (Churches who won’t celebrate immorality will be persecuted and pressed to change, will have a bullseye on their backs)

• We will see in these next few years free speech being sensored, abortions allowed for any reason, immoral marriages celebrated, gender identify magnified,

• Good news: need not fear - push against evil - be hopeful- the terrible times will be temporary- God’s kingdom is coming - Jesus will return

IV.   God’s mission for the church hasn’t changed

• Mt. 28:19-20 - We are to go make disciples 

• Focus our time, energy, money on leading people to Christ and then disciple them

• Many see themselves as if they were on a cruise ship leisurely headed to heaven….in truth we are on a battleship or a search and rescue mission looking for those we can show salvation to AND we are going into choppy water but have no fear for Jesus is in control

• Matt. 16:18 - the gates of hell can’t come against the church (neither will an election)

• Don’t fear - trust your life in Christ - Jesus has paid your sin debt - receive His forgiveness - trust in Jesus - accept His salvation - follow Him!!

Where can you turn up the Light in your life?

 Dec. 7, 2020

It is that ever so special time of the year!! So exciting and wonderful!!

This year I've so enjoyed this little grouping of nativity scenes that are precious gifts we've been given over the years.  I keep the lights on even in the day as I work around the house as they give me a joy and peace and a connection with the baby, the Christ child.

Usually we are gone in early December to the NFR.  This year we decided not to go and to stay home.  I was really excited to be home.  I had grand ideas of having lots of friends over to eat, visit, and fellowship.  Covid has reared it's ugly head again and it looks like fellowship will not happen.  So now what?

My devotions this morning raised some questions for me to think about.....

     Where can you turn up the light in your life?

     What opportunities is God giving you this Christmas season to be available for Him?

Looks like it might be a 'different' season this year.  So what can I do, what can you do, to make it glorifying to Christ.  May we seek HIM to see how we can serve HIM this Christmas season!!

May you feel, experience and live out the love of Christ this Christmas! My love to you.....Millie

Prepared for battle.....

 Nov. 23, 2020

I had to come back today and reread my own blog to give me courage and strength today!!! 

I listened to Jay Sekulow on the radio this morning.  He said what I know - that our country is in a big battle.  WE ARE IN THE BATTLE NOW!!!!!   He said we are to be prepared for battle and always to be ready. That is what I said yesterday. 

Then today I read in 2 Cor. 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.  I also read in Psalm 149:6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands. 

Yes - we are in the battle today!  It is a battle for our freedom and well-being, for our children and their children's future.

We must prayer hard for our country, our leadership, for repentance for our sins, for revival for us all, for salvation for our family, friends, and fellow Americans. Pray that if there is cheating and evil, that it can be made know and stopped.  Pray for righteousness! 

Lord God - we know we are in a battle for righteousness.  We know there are many that are against You and Your standards and values.  Please come to help us!  The battle is Yours!! Come to our rescue!  May Your Holy Name be glorified!! Amen!

Spiritual slant on 'look good - feel good - do good"

 Nov. 22, 2020

In April when I first started this blog I wrote an article about getting up and getting dressed first thing.  It was about being ready for your day.  I stated that when you get dressed and look good you are more likely to get things accomplished.

Today I want to apply this to our spiritual walk.  We must get up in the morning and get ready spiritually.  It is ever so sweet to be able to spend time with our Lord in His Word.  We need this to be ready for the battle that each day brings.  

There are many 'good' things the Lord has for us to do each day.  Most of you reading this are spending the majority of your time taking care of your spouses or children and that is what God has for you.  I am so thankful to be able to do so many positive things for God.  

BUT we must be aware there is a battle going on around us to take us down, to make us fail or fall, or to give up, or to get sidetracked.  There are enemies all around us wanting us to fail. Eph. 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

I'm saying go into the day with one hand working and your sword in the other hand.  That is what the Israelite men had to do when they were rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 4:15 When our enemies heard that it was known to us aand that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. 16 From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and bcoats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, 17 who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. 18 And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built.

We have the victory through Christ.  Pv. 21:31b the victory belongs to the LORD. The first part in winning the battle is remembering we are IN THE BATTLE. It is a fact of life.  It is not our choice but it is where we live. 

SO get up and dressed and be ready for it.  Work with all your might to accomplish what God has for you to do BUT also fight against evil with all your might. Be prepared!!

How to get petunias to come back year after year.....

 Nov. 12, 2020

For those of you who love gardening and hate to pay for plants each spring I have an idea for you.

For years now I have had petunias come back each year.  

In the fall I put my flower pots 'to bed' for the winter.  That means I don't pull the old dead flowers out, rather I bend them over in the pot.  This gives the old flowers time to drop their seed into the pot and it keeps the soil covered for the winter so the winter doesn't blow the seeds and dirt away.  

I leave the pots this way until about April.  Then I gently removed the old debris without digging up much of the soil. Sometimes I add a little more potting soil if the pot needs it.  And yes I use the soil for several years before replacing it and I fertilize them several times a summer.  As the weather warms I begin watering the pots about once a week.  Soon, as the weather warms, you'll see little petunias begin sprouting.  They will come up thick and you may thin them out and transplant them to another area.  I find that these petunias are more stringy and gangly as they grow than ones I buy at the store each season.  Several times during the summer then I trim them back to shorten them up and they come right back blooming again.  The picture below shows petunias that came back from seed the prior year in a flower garden.  I did the same thing with the flower garden as I do with my pots.  Have fun gardening!