In the Palm Of Your Hands

Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;

your walls are ever before Me. Isaiah 49:16

Please pick us up and hold us in the palm of Your mighty hands.
Please keep us safe.

Direct us where You want us to go.
Speak to us, open our ears so we listen for You and to You.
Open our eyes so we see You.

Soften our hearts so we want to do Your will.

Please make us Your children.

Help us to see what You see.
Help us to do what You want.
Help us to value what You value.

Forgive us when we stray.
Help us to see what we did wrong, to ask for forgiveness and to seek the way back to You.

Please help us when we stray over and over again.
We are so weak
Thank you so much that You are almighty and are able to help us.

We desperately need You, especially right now.
Or we are lost.

We are like little birds who fell out of the nest.
We need to go back.
But we cannot do it on our own.

Please pick us up and hold us forever
And we will be safe and will be home.

In the palm of Your loving hands.

Amen.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. 

Matthew 10:29

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 

Matthew 6:26 

These are difficult, scary times to be alive.  
There is only One who knows how to manage these times and His loving hands are out stretched just waiting for us to reach out and take them.  He will then guide us through these tumultuous times. 

 

These pictures of flowers were taken 

at Montrose Conference Center in Montrose, PA

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" Matthew 6:28-33

Blessings on you dear friend.

May you feel the peace that passes all understanding that can only come from our Father.

Please pray for this world and all the turmoil in it and all the problems.  Satan is working overtime.

God and His angels 

are also working overtime.

Satan is no match for our Father.

Remember, Satan has already 

lost the battle.

We just have to keep fighting 

the good fight.

Until next time,

remember

God is always on your side.

God is waiting for us now and at the end of our time here on earth.

Eternity will be magnificent if we choose to go with Him.  

What Was It Like?

What was it like to carry that person 
   inside her?

Did she worry if she tripped and fell?

Did she wonder if He was active enough 
   or too active?

What was it like to ride that donkey 
   to Bethlehem when every bone, 
   every muscle screamed to lie down 
   and rest?

What was it like to find out 
   that the only place she could deliver 
   the Son of God was a dirty stable 
   and her only midwife 
   was her new husband?

Did Joseph know how to help?

Did she have all the baby things 
   that she needed?

Did she wonder and worry 
   if she was doing everything right 
   as most new parents often do?

I remember watching my new son 
   while he slept and sometimes 
   touching him just enough 
   to get him to move a bit, 
   needing the reassurance that he was ok.

Did Mary ever do that?

What was it like to take her newborn son       to the temple, being able to afford 
   the least expensive offering 
   only to hear from Simeon, 
   the ancient holyman?

And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be      opposed— and a sword will pierce    even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:34-35

What was it like raise this Child?

To nurse Him from her body and hope 
   she is feeding Him well enough? 

Did she pick Him up when He fell, 
   did He cry when He got hurt, 
   did she kiss the boo boos 
   of God’s little Boy?

Did she have to correct Him 
   and teach Him or did He know?

Did she teach Him about God?

How did He get along with His siblings?

With other kids?

What was it like to carry in her heart 
   the most awesome burden 
   that any mother ever carried 
   knowing that God trusted her 
   with His only Son?

What was it like?

*************************

God gave me an inquiring mind and I think about things.  I'm a mom and I got thinking about Mary and what it might have been like to have and care for God's little Boy.  The Bible doesn't tell us so we have to fill in the blanks with our imagination.  What do you think it was like?  If you are a parent, you probably have some idea but may wonder if it really like that.  Someday we can ask Mary when we go to heaven.  

In the meantime, pray for everyone.

Pray for the world, for all the leaders,

for all the people, for the victims, for the essential workers and medical providers who put their lives on the line for all of us during this pandemic.

Wear your masks, social distance, wash your hands.

Love everyone you meet, try to do every kindness you can.  We are living in a hurting, fallen world that needs all the love and kindness it can get.

And know that Our Father loves you dearly. 

He holds us in the palm of His loving hands and will help us through these black times.

May God bless you greatly, dear friend.

But the Greatest of These is Love

                    As the sun shines through the clouds 
                             and reveals the beauty 
                            that only God can create, 
         His love is shining through the COVID clouds of life 
                            and revealing His love.  
             You can see His love in the eyes of those 
             who are sacrificing to take care of others.  
             So many people have stepped up to help.  
                          There are so many heroes.  
                     "Greater love has no one than this: 
            to lay down one's life for one's friends."  John 15:13

There is no greater calling than to love.
We love because God first loved us.
We are living in a time of great change.
So much is unknown.
The rug was pulled out from under us.

This COVID has totally changed our lives.
It may never be the same in my lifetime.

Everything is in God’s hands.
It always was.
We just had the illusion 
that we were in control.
There is no longer that illusion.

However, we do have control 
of how we conduct ourselves.
We can choose how we behave. 

We can choose positive.
We can choose negative.
God wins or Satan wins.
It is really that simple.

We can choose to be courteous and loving.
Or not.

We need to think about our choices because they will have eternal consequences for us.

Our choices also have immediate consequences for those around us.
Our choices matter so much to others and to God.

Think about each choice and each action as though it were your last and what legacy you would wish to leave. 

Choose love.

“If I speak in the tongues of men 
or of angels, but do not have love, 
I am only a resounding gong 
or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy 
and can fathom all mysteries 
and all knowledge, 
and if I have a faith 
that can move mountains, 
but do not have love, 
I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor 
and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, 
but do not have love, 
I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. 
It does not envy, it does not boast, 
it is not proud.

It does not dishonor others, 
it is not self-seeking, 
it is not easily angered, 
it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil 
but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 
1Corrinthians 13: 1-8, 13


I know this is a very long quotation, 
but I really love it 
and it completes this piece. 
I loved it 
long before I started my walk with God. 
It has always touched my heart. 
I pray it touches your heart too. 
Nothing is more important than love. Especially in this COVID time.

                           Spring is here 
       along with the beautiful sunsets that I love.
                 The Canada geese are back.  
               It is a time of renewal and hope.
                   I hear the peepers at night.  
                I hear the birds singing all day.  
             They don't know it is COVID time.  
              They only know it is springtime 
             and time to rejoice in being alive.  
                     And they do rejoice, 
                 giving glory to the Maker 
             who loves them and loves us.  
       "This is the day the Lord has made, 
           let us rejoice and be glad in it."  
                     Psalm 118:24

        There was a very red moon in the wee hours 
              of the morning about 3 weeks ago.  
             I had never seen one so deep a red.  
                   It appeared even redder 
            than the camera's eye captured. 
                          Is this an omen?
              Or just a beautiful phenomenon?
     Is God saying that His heart is bleeding for us 
        and for what is happening in the world?

            New grass and tiny leaves on the trees 
           greet us as we stop by the bend in the river 
       on the Potsdam Norwood Road near Norwood, NY.  
            I love the "veils" of new leaves on the trees 
                that almost hide the sky in spring.  
      God is speaking His language of love and of hope.  
                We only have to look and listen 
   and wait expectantly for what He has in store for us. 
                  God is love and God loves us!!! 



Blessings on you dear friend.
I pray you have enough to eat, 
a roof over your head 
and whatever you need to live.

I pray you can feel the love of our Father who is always close to you, 
watching over you 
and caring about everything about you.

I pray you and yours are healthy and safe and stay that way.

If you have suffered tragedy, 
if you lost your job 
and are struggling,
I grieve with you 
and know our Father is sitting beside you and grieving too. 
Our Father weeps when we weep. 
Only He can help us through this time.

Regardless of what the world says, 
God brings JOY in the morning!!

And there will be JOY again in your life!!

                These are my grandsons: 
             Mark, Luke and Kodda
               God is my first JOY.
     My grand babies are a close second.

You Just Don’t Know

                        T


You just don’t know when or how what you say or do affects someone.

You just don’t know when you may have made someone’s day with a smile or a compliment.

You just don’t know how being positive around negative people can change a situation or even a life.

You just don’t know how the little things that you do without thinking can affect people.

People are watching.

People are waiting to see what you will do.

People are thirsty for something good.

People will gravitate to the negative but soak up the positive which feeds their souls.

You just don’t know when a word said today will influence someone’s life years in the future.

You just don’t know but the angels are also watching and cheering for you to do the good things.

The demons are also watching and cheering for you to make the choices that Satan wants. You know, the negative, sinful choices.

You have free will, so you get to make that decision.

You need to know that it will follow you for eternity so choose well, my friend.

Each word, each deed matters and you just never know how much.

But now you know so think carefully and make each choice count.

Otherwise, you just don’t know…….


Blessings on you dear friend.
I pray for your safety during this most difficult of times.  I pray that this different season of our lives bring you a chance to grow in your faith.  We can only rely on God.  He alone is our rock and refuge.

Are You Hopeless or Hopeful?

            I discovered this beautiful petunia growing out of the asphalt in front of a restaurant in Waddington, NY.  It didn't worry about where it was growing.  It just bloomed for all it is worth and gives glory to God in the process.  We need to bloom with all that is in us in spite of our circumstances and God will bless us.

Lately I’ve been moping a lot. It’s been difficult to focus and get much of anything done. We are confined to the house most of the time due to this coronavirus and it’s pretty scary.

I think I’ve been a little depressed. I know I’m not supposed to worry but I really think I was worrying a lot about family, friends, shortages, the economy, the country, the world. The poor, the helpless, the little children, the elderly. And the list goes on.

Yesterday I put a name on my feelings and decided to tackle them head on. I will make To Do Lists and cross off stuff as I get it done. I will listen to upbeat music, especially good worship music. I will read the Bible more and pray more. I will watch movies with happy endings and limit how much I watch updates on the virus.

This mess is in God’s hands. He is so much stronger than this or anything Satan can dish out. And I do think Satan played a part in this virus. It’s tearing apart the country and the world. Satan is laughing and rejoicing at our problems and our terror.

We can fight back. We can go to God and acknowledge our powerlessness and ask for His help. God is in control and always has been. I don’t know why this pandemic is happening, but God knows, and I trust Him. We can always trust our Father.

I know that my Father loves me and you dearly. I know that He does all things to help us (in the long run) and not to hurt us. Jeremiah 29:11.

In life we go through many trials and this is one of them. We are being tested and tried to bring out the good in us. 

A diamond is found in the ground bound to lesser rock. That lesser rock must be cut away. A diamond in the rough is not pretty. It must be cut by a master cutter to show its facets and beauty. All of this cutting would have to be very painful to the diamond – if it had feelings. 

We are being cut and prodded to try to remove things that do not form our eternal souls in the image and likeness of God. If we cooperate, and it’s not easy, we will shine with the beauty that is God and give glory to Him in the process. We will enjoy God’s company in paradise as reward for our cooperation.

If we do not cooperate, we will still be cut and prodded but will end up distorted and our souls will not enjoy the company of our Father for eternity. That will not be a happy ending.

Right now, all extra activity is cut out of our lives. We must get back to basics and back to God. 2Chronicles 7:14 says “ if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 

God is calling us to return to Him. In Him there is HOPE.

God said “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 He’s not going to forsake us now. He’s just waiting for us to turn to Him and ask for His help.

Outside the ground is bare. The grass is dull green and brown. It looks lifeless. However, in my garden, there are shoots poking out of the ground with the promise of new life,

Somewhere there is hope in this crisis. There are stories of people helping people. Strangers helping strangers. 

There is a shortage of some medical supplies. I found a pattern to make face masks that maybe our hospital can use to protect our medical staff. I sew so I think I can do this. I called our local hospital but since today is Sunday, I must call back tomorrow and speak with Infection Control to see if they can use the masks. A friend told me her daughter in law is making the masks for her local hospital. Businesses are donating supplies to hospitals.  Schools are taking meals to kids who might go hungry otherwise.  There are certainly negative things that are happening but there are so many stories of people reaching out to help those in need.  

And that makes me very hopeful.

How about you??

   The ground may be brown and dull but when the        Son shines  on us, it makes us sparkle like the          sunshine on the water. 
                 He gives us HOPE and JOY.

I have never lived through a pandemic before and sometimes really don't know what to do.  Am I staying far enough away from other people?  Am I washing my hands and whatever I bring in my house enough?  Am I being careful enough?  Only God knows and only God can get us through.  I pray we all do enough to protect ourselves and our families and those who are vulnerable who cannot help themselves.  And leave the rest to God.  He really is in control and He will get us through this.

Blessings on all of you, dear friends.  

      I took this picture after an ice storm 
             in February, 2016.
     The sun shining on the ice covered trees 
      is quite beautiful despite the danger and                   devastation that an ice storm can cause.
   God makes all things beautiful in their time.
                  He will bring beauty 
       out of the ugliness of this pandemic.
               Just as He brought beauty
       out of the ugliness of His Son's crucifixion.