You~

Greetings,

Today I invite you to join me in a prayer based on Psalm 139:

Dear Lord,

You know everything about me.  You know what I am thinking. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say before I say it. Help me think peaceful thoughts, help me do good things, and help me say only things that are helpful.  Praise You because every single thought You have about me is precious!

Thank You that You go before me, and You also follow me. Thank You for placing Your hand of blessing on my head and the heads of those I love. Thank You that I can never escape from Your presence.  No matter where I'm at Your hand will guide me and Your strength will support me.

You made me in my mother's womb, and I am wonderfully complex. Your workmanship is marvelous.  I ask You now, since You Yourself made me , to heal any area of my body that is not working properly. You have had Your eye on me since before I was born, and You know exactly what I need.  Thank You!

You know my heart too  -  that sometimes I have anxious thoughts.  Replace those thoughts with thoughts of You and Your strength and power. Forgive me if I have offended You in any way.  Lead me along the path of everlasting life.  In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Open My Eyes

Psalm 119:18 "Open my eyes so I can see all the wonderful things in Your teachings" (Easy-to-Read Version).

Greetings,

On January 9, 2017, Blue Bear, my daughter's dog child, gave birth to a litter of seven perfectly- formed and unbearably-cute puppies, and we have all been looking forward to each important milestone. Right now, at the two-week mark, they have started opening their eyes, and it's heart-melting to behold.

Yesterday, I held Coco, the smallest one in the group, really close to my face and laughed as she struggled to figure out what she was staring at.  She is still learning to focus, and her vision will get better and better, but I know Coco thinks I am precious!

As Christians it's important that our eyes are opened as well...to God's wonderful truths.  Almost eight years ago I was struggling with a decision one of my children made.  It was a difficult time for me because I really wanted this particular offspring of mine to have a change of heart.  As I was mumbling hurried and nervous prayers to God asking for a breakthrough, in the middle of an outlet mall no less, my eyes were suddenly opened to a new application for a wonderful passage in God's Word.

In John 14:6 Jesus says, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life."  Right there in the mall it's as though I clearly saw for the first time that Jesus would teach my child the way to go, He would reveal all the truth about certain circumstances so a wise decision could be made, and He would also show my baby how to live.  IT WAS A WONDERFUL AND DEFINING MOMENT FOR ME!

Suddenly, the pressure was off.  No need to nag, cajole, beg, discuss, interject, preach, or pester my child any longer.  I could focus all that energy on prayer and let Jesus do His thing. I often thank God for opening my eyes to that truth. Another truth is that He wants to do same for you.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I need an eye-opening revelation from You today.  I need the power of Your Word as I pray for myself and my family.  I always want to make the best choices, and I want my kids to do the same.  You know the particular situation/struggle I m facing today.  Open my eyes and theirs to see all the wonderful things in Your teachings. AMEN!   

Beautiful Feet!

Tuesday greetings!

The last time I had a pedicure was right before Christmas.  It’s about time for some nail clipping, cuticle cutting, and fresh nail polish.  Essie Marshmallow, please! At this point I am steeling myself for the professional-grade sander my nail lady will whip out because I know it's going to tickle like crazy.  And yet, dear people, I can still have beautiful feet!  

Romans 10:15 "…How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

That’s right!  Whenever you or I get up and go to encourage someone with the good news of God’s forgiveness, blessings, eternal salvation, joy, love, hope, provision, faith, peace, healing, and/or protection, that makes our feet – pedicured or not – beautiful.

Notice how this verse does not say, “How beautiful are the lips of those who bring good news.”  Sometimes, we need to get up and go and make a person-to-person connection.   A phone call or a text might not be enough.  I have a buddy who twice, on the day before each of my children were to be married, showed up at the venue and prayed over every detail of the celebration. What a blessing. My total focus at that moment was not on how her feet literally looked as much as how completely wonderful and thoughtful she was for showing up. She took the time to invite God's goodness and peace at a time I needed it the most!

May all our feet be “beautiful” on a regular basis.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for the beautiful feet of those who have reached out to us in the past.  Bless them for their encouraging words, and bless us as we get up and go encourage others.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~

The Best Seat Ever

Greetings,

Any sports fanatic knows that floor seats are the best seats in the house.  My former boss, a Miami Heat season ticket holder, often commented that sitting so close to the team meant you were in the "sweat zone," meaning it was very likely that as a player ran by, some of it would splash on you.  Oh the thrill! I don't think I would be as excited at the prospect, but I can see how being near the action might be cool.

Speaking of cool, you and I can do one better than floor seats.

Ephesians 2:6 God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms."

We who believe in Jesus have been raised up from death unto life and share His heavenly position.  

Even though the time will come when the perfection and glory of heaven will be ours completely, we are blessed with a mighty spiritual connection with our Lord right now.  When we pray we are right alongside Christ as He pleads before God (Romans 8:34).  Maybe you have doubted whether God hears you or not, but without a doubt, Christ has God's full attention.  If we are right next to Him, then you better believe our prayers are making a difference here on earth too. POWERFUL!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for the best seat ever.  It is amazing to think that as we pray, we are so near to Christ and YOU ARE LISTENING! Thank You for all the answers You have for us.  In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Round-the-Clock Vigil

Greetings,

A week ago yesterday my daughter's child, a dog named Blue,  had her beautiful puppies, and we are all crazy about them. I have been visiting her more than usual  -  I assure you my son-in-law enjoys my company  - and later today I will be puppy sitting.  Even so, their first week of life was exhausting.  It was a round-the-clock vigil making sure mom and babies were fed, hydrated, warm, and comfortable. Rachel and her husband, Emilio, have been true warriors barely sleeping more than a couple hours at night.  As she puts it, "When any puppy whimpers, no matter how quietly, I hear it, and I get up."  

God understands this profoundly.  And today, as we pray right out of the Bible from Psalm 121, let's be grateful,  that unlike Rachel, Emilio, and the rest of us, God has perfect execution. He keeps a round-the-clock vigil over our lives, but He never takes a break.  

 "My helps comes from You, Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. You will not let me fall, and You, my Guardian, will not fall asleep. Indeed, You never rest or sleep. You are my shade, and the sun will not beat down on me during the day nor will the moon at night. You guard me from every evil.  You guard my life.  You guard me as I come and go, now and forever." AMEN. 

Click on this link for a little video: https://youtu.be/y5J0qexme5o

Guard the Good Deposit

Greetings,

One of the first jobs Jorge had early in our marriage was at Radio Shack.  He was the manager at one located on 8th Street and 61st Ave in Miami, and although that location has since closed, a lesson we learned while he worked there remains.

Radio Shack had a strict, no exceptions, no- matter-what-policy that the daily currency intake, whether cash, credit card slips, or checks had to be deposited by the end of the business day.  Jorge was an excellent and hard-working manager, which is why it was so BRUTAL when an employee failed to make the deposit on a Saturday night, and JORGE WAS FIRED!

It was Jorge's day off, and this typically responsible gentleman, who had deposited countless times before, simply forgot that he had left it on top of the desk in the backroom.  Jorge raced to get it in the drop box early Sunday after the error was discovered, but it was too late.  Three days later the call was made, the decision handed down, and we were devastated.

Seems so unfair, but Radio Shack took their deposits seriously.  And we all need to take one particular deposit seriously as well  -  it's a matter of life and death.

2 Timothy 1:14 "Guard the Good Deposit that was entrusted to you..."

The Good Deposit is the Truth, the Treasure, and the Good News, Who is Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen! is the only word I can write after that...

We have been given a charge: We must proactively protect Him Who has been so graciously given.  We must nurture our relationship with Christ because so many other distractions, many of which are worthless and life-sucking, are competing for our attention. And we guard this most valuable and precious deposit within our souls by praying, worshipping, and trusting Him  -  by reading the Bible and applying its promises to our lives. 

If we leave our Lord as an afterthought on a desk somewhere it won't take long to forget about Him. And when we finally realize what we have done, all the peace we have forfeited, all the wisdom we have lost, all the joy we have deprived ourselves of, all the blessings we have missed, all the help we could have had, all the goodness we could have filled up on, when we rush back to Him to make things right, He, unlike Radio Shack, will be ready and forgiving. Remember, however, we won't  miss out on any of it if we guard the Deposit .

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for giving Yourself to us.  Thank You for entrusting Yourself to us. We receive You, and we value You.  We do not want to miss out on any of Your blessings.  We need You. Fill us today and everyday with Your goodness.  In Jesus' name, AMEN.

How Good it Is!

Genesis 1:25 "God made each kind of the earth's animals and saw how good it was."

Greetings!

Yesterday, starting at approximately 4:29 PM, Blue Bear Urgell, my daughter's dog child, delivered her first puppy.  All through the evening she gave birth until finally at about 2:30 AM,  the last and final puppy   -  number seven  -  entered the world.  I have seen so many pictures, and it is cuteness overload! This morning all humans and puppies were resting comfortably, and I agree with God's Word above: His creation [of dogs] is good!

It's good because it nourishes our faith. Certainly if God can place elephants and ants and everything in between on this planet, then He has the power and the ability to help us with our problems. 

It's good because His mind-boggling creation sustains life and nourishes our bodies.

It's good because receiving love from a pet melts away the day's stresses and heals our hearts.

It's good because every single thing that God does, in one way or another, is for our benefit. 

If you have a pet, thank God today for that blessing.  And even if you do not  -  maybe you are not a pet person  -  thank Him anyway for making the earth's animals.  One of my husband's aunts has had a pig valve in her heart for over six years. Incredible!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You made the animals, every one of them down  to the last detail, and we are in awe!  It's amazing to think of the complexity of cows, monkeys, alligators, cougars, rabbits, horses AND SO MUCH MORE...Thank You that You are willing to use Your creative power to help us when we need it. And thank You for providing for our nutrition; we ask for health in our bodies for 2017.  We also thank You for making dogs when You were speaking life into our universe.  They bring so much happiness and companionship.  You are a good God Who does good things for Your children. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

There is a Right Time

Happy New Year,

This past Monday Rayray invited me over to her house for breakfast and to help out with a very special photo shoot.  Her dog, or allow me to correct that statement, her daughter, Blue Bear, is pregnant and about to give birth.  My amazing daughter-in-law, Lis, who until now was mostly in the business of photographing humans, agreed to this wackiness.  

For over two hours Blue Bear was posed in front of flowers hanging from a wood fence, placed in a papasan chair, and/or laid on a throw surrounded by tea lights, cushions, and vases in an effort to capture this special season in her life.  Blue's  husband, Tucker, wandered in and out several times, and as much as Rayray tried, she could not get him to lovingly place his paw on Blue's swollen belly.  I also lost track of how many times Lis walked up to Blue then softly tiptoed backward while trying to keep Blue's eyes on the camera only for Blue to waddle away.  It really was a supreme effort, and I must admit it was fabulous and about the cutest thing I have ever seen! 

When it was all over, Rayray exhaled, turned to me, and said, "Okay! Now I wish the puppies would hurry up and be born already." 

What? Literally less than a week left, but I get it.  For the past few weeks she and Emilio have been preparing.  Towels, syringes, goat's milk, blankets, a whelping pool, puppy toys, vet appointments...

Everyone is ready and waiting, but...

Ecclesiastes 8:6 "There is a right time and way for everything."

God made it so that the right time for Blue is in the next couple of days.  Any sooner would not be healthy, nor any later. 

This truth applies to us as well. Many of us are ready and waiting right now for some much-needed answers, but God always does things at the right time. 

Let's tell Him we trust His timing.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We are waiting for answers from You, and as far as we are concerned, we are ready today.  Even so, we apply the truth of Your Word to our circumstances and declare that we want our answers at the right time  -  not our time, but Your time.  Keep us strong, encouraged, and faithful as we wait for the very best from You. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Our Year of the Answers

Acts 3:2-8

Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.  He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and PRAISING GOD.”

Happy New Year from me and Hershey Pie,

Can any of you relate to the lame man in the verse above?  His problem had dragged on year after long miserable year. But as soon as he received his healing he went straight into the temple courts praising God!  He did not complain that his healing had taken a lifetime to arrive.  He did not question why he suffered so long.  He did not get angry he had spent so much of his life as a beggar, depending on others for every thing. No! Instead, he did what we all should do when our answer comes: HE PRAISED GOD!

When he was taken by the hand, helped up, and made strong, he, first and foremost, praised God.  That’s not to say he didn’t have questions.  All of us want to know, “Why?”  Sometimes, however, it is better to go with the flow of the blessing that has finally happened and just praise God.  It is better to forget the past and enjoy the new and good thing.  Let's pray for 2017 to be our year of the answers!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Today we enter into Your temple gate called BEAUTIFUL! We are so happy to be here because it is in Your presence where healing takes place. Take us by the hand and help us get up in 2017! We need health, joy, peace, provision, strength, faith, and trust in this New Year and beyond. We praise You. Thank You for Your goodness in our lives.  In Jesus’ name, Amen!