Today’s thought – Clean Your Plate

june2912pickingVeggies

Good Morning

John 21:12
Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine.
And none of the disciples durst ask him,
Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.

Last night during family devotions,
I called my daughters to the table and
set a plate in front of each.
In the center of the table
I placed a collection of food:
some fruit,
some raw vegetables,
and some Oreo cookies.
“every day,” I explained,
“God prepares for us a plate of experiences.
What kind of plate do you most enjoy?”

The answer was easy.
Sara put three cookies on her plate.
Some days are like that, aren’t they?
Some days are “three-cookie days.”
Many are not.
Sometimes our plate has nothing but vegetables–
twenty-four hours of celery, carrots, and squash.
Apparently God knows we need some strength,
and though the portion may be hard to swallow,
isn’t it for our own good?
Most days, however. have a bit of it all . . .

The next time your plate has more broccoli than apple pie,
remember who prepared the meal.
And the next time your plate
has a portion you find hard to swallow,
talk to God about it.
Jesus did.
The Great House of God – Max Lucado

Matthew 26:39
And he went a little farther,
and fell on his face,
and prayed, saying,
O my Father, if it be possible,
let this cup pass from me:
nevertheless not as I will,
but as thou wilt.

Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on October 31, 2014 at 10:08 am  Leave a Comment  
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Today’s thought – Dear Soul, Be Still

last leaf 11-21-11 003Last Leaf

Good Afternoon

 

Ezekiel 1:24-26
And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings,
like the noise of great waters,
as the voice of the Almighty,
the voice of speech,
as the noise of an host:
when they stood, they let down their wings.
And there was a voice from the firmament
that was over their heads,
when they stood,
and had let down their wings.
And above the firmament
that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne,
as the appearance of a sapphire stone:
and upon the likeness of the throne
was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.

(Doesn’t this read like poetry?)

What is the letting down of the wings?
People so often say,
“How do you get the voice of the Lord?”
Here is the secret.
They heard the voice when they stood and let down their wings.

Be still! Just now be still!
Something thy soul hath never heard,
Something unknown to any song of bird,
Something unknown to any wind, or wave, or star,
A message from the Fatherland afar,
That with sweet joy the homesick soul shall thrill,
Cometh to thee if thou cast but be still.

Be still! Just now be still!
There comes a presence very mind and sweet;
White are the sandals of His noiseless feet.
It is the Comforter whom Jesus sent
To teach thee what the words He uttered meant,
The willing, waiting spirit, He doth fill.
If thou would’st hear His message,
Dear soul, be still!
Unknown

Be still . . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on October 30, 2014 at 1:37 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Today’s thought – The Far-Reaching River of Life

thanksgiving12 - burneyfalls 009“There is a river that flows from God above . . .”

Good Afternnon

He who believes in Me . . . out of his heart will flow rivers of living water —John 7:38

A river reaches places which its source never knows.
And Jesus said that, if we have received His fullness,
“rivers of living water” will flow out of us,
reaching in blessing even “to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8)
regardless of how small the visible effects of our lives may
appear to be. We have nothing to do with the outflow—
“This is the work of God, that you believe. . .” (John 6:29).
God rarely allows a person to see how great a blessing he is to others.

A river is victoriously persistent, overcoming all barriers.
For a while it goes steadily on its course,
but then comes to an obstacle.
And for a while it is blocked,
yet it soon makes a pathway around the obstacle.
Or a river will drop out of sight for miles,
only later to emerge again
even broader and greater than ever.
Do you see God using the lives of others,
but an obstacle has come into your life
and you do not seem to be of any use to God?
Then keep paying attention to the Source,
and God will either take you
around the obstacle or remove it.
The river of the Spirit of God overcomes all obstacles.
Never focus your eyes on the obstacle or the difficulty.
The obstacle will be a matter of total indifference
to the river that will flow steadily through you if you will
simply remember to stay focused on the Source.
Never allow anything to come between you and Jesus Christ—
not emotion nor experience—
nothing must keep you from the one great sovereign Source.

Think of the healing and far-reaching rivers developing
and nourishing themselves in our souls!
God has been opening up wonderful truths to our minds,
and every point He has opened up is another indication
of the wider power of the river that He will flow through us.
If you believe in Jesus,
you will find that God has developed and nourished
in you mighty, rushing rivers of blessing for others.
My Utmost for His Highest – Oswald Chambers

Let the River flow . . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on October 29, 2014 at 12:45 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Today’s thought – They are HIS Billows

may25 009The Billows never cease to roll . . .

Good Morning

Psalm 42:7
All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

They are HIS billows whether they go o’re us,
Hiding His face in smothering spray and foam;
Or smooth and sparkling, spread a path before us,
And to our haven bear us safely home.

They are HIS billows, whether for our succor
He walks across them, stilling all our fear;
Or to our cry there comes no aid nor answer,
And in the lonely silence none is near.

They are HIS billows, whether we are toiling
Through tempest-driven waves that never cease,
While deep to deep with clamor loud is calling;
Or at HIs word they hush themselves in peace.

They are HIS billows, whether He divides them,
Making us walk dryshod where seas had flowed;
Or lets tumultuous breakers surge about us,
Rushing unchecked across our only road.

They are HIS billows, and He brings us through them;
So He has promised, so H\His love will do.
Keeping and leading, guiding and upholding,
To His sure harbor, He will bring us through.
~~ Annie Johnson Flint

Psalm 107:25-31
For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind,
which lifteth up the waves thereof.
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths:
their soul is melted because of trouble.
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man,
and are at their wit’s end.
Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble,
and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
He maketh the storm a calm,
so that the waves thereof are still.
Then are they glad because they be quiet;
so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness,
and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Trust HIM in HIS billows . . . Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on October 28, 2014 at 10:14 am  Leave a Comment  
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Are Cats Lazy? You Betcha!

“Are cats lazy?
Well, more power to them if they are.
Which one of us has not entertained the dream of
doing just as he likes,
when and how he likes, and as much as he likes?”
~Fernand Mery

Liz: There’s nothing wrong with Garfield. He’s just a happy, fat, lazy cat.
Garfield: No need for a second opinion.

Cats sleep
Anywhere,
Any table,
Any chair,
Top of piano,
Window-ledge,
In the midle,
On the edge,
Open drawer,
Empty shoe,
Anybody’s
Lap will do,
Fitted in a
Cardboard box,
In the cupboard
With your frocks-
Anywhere!
They don’t care!
Cats sleep
Anywhere
– – – Eleanor Farjeon

Most beds sleep up to six cats. Ten cats without the owner.
– – – Stephen Baker

If a dog jumps in your lap, it is because he is fond of you; but if a cat does the same thing, it is because your lap is warmer.
– – – Alfred North Whitehead

Have you hugged your Cat(s) today?

from July13, 2012, I still enjoy my cats!

Published in: on October 27, 2014 at 1:14 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Today’s thought – ‘Cushion of the Sea’

may25 005

Good Morning

Philippians 4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

There is what is called the “cushion of the sea.”
Down beneath the surface that is agitated by storms,
and driven about with winds,
there is a part of the sea that is never stirred.

When we dredge the bottom
and bring up the remains of animal and vegetable life
we find that they give evidence
of not having been disturbed in the least,
for hundreds and thousands of years.

The peace of God is that eternal calm which,
like the cushion of the sea,
lies far too deep down to be reached
by any external trouble and disturbance;
and he who enters into the presence of God,
becomes partaker of that undisturbed and undisturbable calm.
~~Cr. A. T. Pierson

Philippians 4:4-7 Amplified Bible
Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice! Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit). The Lord is near [He is coming soon]. Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Sink into God’s presence . . . Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on October 24, 2014 at 11:10 am  Leave a Comment  
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Today’s thought – Our View of God

may25 017God knows even in the nighttime.

Good Morning

Psalm 138:7-8
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me:
thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies,
and thy right hand shall save me.
The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me:
thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever:
forsake not the works of thine own hands.

There is a window in your heart
through which you can see God.
Once upon a time that window was clear.
Your view of God was crisp.
You could see God as vividly
as you could see a gentle valley or hillside.

Then, suddenly, the window cracked.
A pebble broke the window.
A pebble of pain.

And suddenly God was not so easy to see.
The view that had been so crisp had changed.

You were puzzled.
God wouldn’t allow something like this to happen,
would He?

When you can’t see Him, trust Him . . .
Jesus is closer than you’ve ever dreamed.
In the Eye of the Storm, Max Lucado

Trust Him . . . Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie.

Published in: on October 23, 2014 at 11:33 am  Leave a Comment  
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Today’s thought – Impulsiveness or Discipleship?

nove trees 002
Good Morning

from My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith . . .” Jude 20

There was nothing of the nature of impulse
or thoughtless action about Our Lord,
but only a calm strength that never got into panic.
Most of us develop our Christianity
along the lines of our own nature,
not along the lines of God’s nature.
Impulsiveness is a trait of the natural life,
but Our Lord always ignores it,
because it hinders the development of the life of a disciple.
Watch how the Spirit of God
gives a sense of restraint to impulsiveness,
suddenly bringing us a feeling of self-conscious foolishness
which makes us instantly want to vindicate ourselves.
Impulsiveness is all right in a child,
but it is disastrous in a man or woman;
an impulsive adult is always a spoiled person.
Impulsiveness needs to be trained into intuition by discipline.

Discipleship is built entirely on the supernatural grace of God.
Walking on the water is easy to someone with impulsive boldness,
but walking on dry land as a disciple of Jesus Christ
is something altogether different.
Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus,
but he “followed Him at a distance” on dry land (Mark 14:54).
We do not need the grace of God to withstand crises,
human nature and pride are sufficient
for us to face the stress and strain magnificently.
But it does require the supernatural grace of God
to live twenty-four hours of every day as a saint,
going through drudgery,
and living an ordinary, unnoticed, ignored existence
as a disciple of Jesus.
It is ingrained in us
that we have to do exceptional things for God;
but we do not.
We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life,
and holy on the ordinary streets,
among ordinary people,
and this is not learned in five minutes.

Be exceptional . . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on October 22, 2014 at 4:35 am  Leave a Comment  
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Today’s thought – All I Need

nove 2 002Rose hips

Good Morning

Philippians 4:19
But my God shall supply all your need
according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

All believers,
according to the will of God concerning them in Christ Jesus,
may cast, and ought to cast,
all their need upon Him who careth for them,
and need not be anxiously concerned about anything.

My Lord is not limited;
He can again supply.
How truly is it that every one
who rests alone upon the Lord Jesus for salvation,
has in the living God a father,
to whom he may fully un-bosom himself
concerning the most minute affairs of his life,
and concerning everything that lies upon his heart!

Do you know the living God?
Is He, in Jesus, your Father?
Be assured that Christianity is something more than
forms and creeds and ceremonies;
there is life, and power, and reality, in our holy faith.
~~~George Mueller

Philippians 4:19 Amplified Bible
And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Trust God for your day . . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on October 21, 2014 at 10:11 am  Leave a Comment  
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Today’s thought – Live by Loving

grma flowerFlowers from Velma Crain’s (the Farmer’s mother) memorial service –
the center arrangement is from starts from her own garden!

Good Morning

Colossians 2:2-3
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Everything becomes possible to those who love.
The commands of the Lord are no longer grievous,
for the soul that loves is gifted by that love with fresh energies;
it discovers in itself unsuspected possibilities,
and is supplied with ever-flowing currents of new vigor.
We shall be enabled to do so much if only we love.
We live by loving,
and the more we love the more we live;
and, therefore, when life feels dull
and the spirits are low,
turn and love God,
love your neighbor,
and you will be healed of your wound.
Love Christ, the dear Master;
look at His face,
listen to His words,
and love will waken
and you will do all things through Christ who strengtheneth you.
~~~Henry Scott Holland

Love Christ . . . Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on October 20, 2014 at 11:37 am  Leave a Comment  
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Today’s Thought – . . .It is even a vapor

mom away day 2 064

Good Morning

James 4:13-14
Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Every day is a little life;
and our whole life is but a day repeated:
whence it is that old Jacob numbers his life by days;
and Moses desires to be taught this point of holy arithmetic–
to number not his years, but his days.
Those, therefore, that dare lose a day are dangerously prodigal;
those that dare misspend it desperate. ~~~ Bishop Hall

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalm 90:12

Count well . . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on October 7, 2014 at 11:29 am  Leave a Comment  
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