The Written Word

The Written Word

Yesterday I was in Barnes and Noble with my granddaughter. It was a refreshing experience. Yes, there were electronic "books" everywhere.........getting with the times.
But there were thousands of the "old fashion" paper edition of books. In the coffee shop there were young and old on their ipads and laptops. But there were many as well sitting on the comfortable sofas...just lost in the world of the book they held in their hands.
This morning I picked up my precious, worn, well marked Bible. I enjoy the "electronic age" as well as any "grandma" can, I suppose. I love having the many translations at my fingertips in stead of having to dig through countless books.
Just the other morning I was sitting on my deck reading when I wished I could read a certain passage in a few other translations. However, I didn't want to interpret my devotions to come inside and look it up on my laptop. Suddenly I remembered that I had my beloved Bible Gateway program on my phone. I slipped it from my pocket and there it all was.

But this morning, as I read, prayed, and sung my way through several of the Psalms......I was keenly aware of how very precious this old book is to me. Notations of days gone by marked as though a journal, reminded of and reinforced the power, comfort, and endurance of His Word.
Oh, I know there is actually no sacredness in these paper pages. But to me, when I picked up this book, it become hallowed in my hands.
Although down through the countless ages, many have tried to stamp it out, burn it up, defame it, deny it, scorn it...it has stood the test of time.
Today, my internet service or phone service may suddenly fail me. But today, I hold this sacred book in my hands!
Thank God for His Precious Word!!

Cutting Back....

Cutting Back.......

I sat in my walker by my beautiful flower pots.  I drank in the beauty and reflected.  My pansies, planted last summer had taken on a burst of new life......brilliantly coloring my front yard.
But since this was their second summer they had grown tall and spindly. Yes, the blooms were still as magnificent...but I knew they were struggling.
I knew what I needed to do,but it seemed almost painful to me. No, no......I just can't sacrifice these present blooms.
But knowing that new freshness of growth would create healthier blooms that would endure a new summer's heat.......I determined to do what was necessary.
So gently I broke a few of them off their tall unsightly stems........waiting for another day to do a few more.
For now the brave little flowers grace my table. For now I'll watch and wait for the fruit of such pruning

.
As I had studied the situation, I was reminded how my kind Gardener, in His infinite wisdom and love knows that I, too, often need such "cutting back." Sometimes it's , oh, so unpleasant, yes....even painful.
But looking back, I  know it was indeed profitable and fitting.
Today, Lord, I yield to your embrace or purging.......... Thou, Oh, Lord, knowest me!!

This Day

Morning comes early for me today.....

The night seemed so long. Thank goodnesses the coffee comes on automatically!

When Hubby comes out and speaks to me, I just wave at him, at least as well as my "locked up" fingers will let me. I finally move to the deck where the dawning beauty flows over me like a gentle balm..........cool, soothing, inspiring.....easing me into His Presence and another day.

Hubs joins me after a bit and we drink deeply together from The Fountain.
He begins our prayer time with, "Father, you've told us to come boldly before you....but I don't feel bold this morning...."

I immediately get a picture image of how I feel in this moment......  I see myself crawling, pulling myself with bloody nails....weakly inching my way closer and closer to the foot of the cross.

Maybe that's too graphic for you, maybe you've never been there...  Totally used up, totally dependent, needy, oh, so needy.

But I feel a gentle hand lift me and pull me to The Throne.  Ahh.... I'm here, Lord, it's me..... He calls me by name!

Only He can say my name with such a passion, such understanding, such endearment.  I feel His strength, His renewal, His Promises encompassing me....

"With confidence I now draw nigh..
 With confidence I now draw nigh..
 And Father, Abba, Father cry!"

Our voices sounded tired this morning.......  but prayers are not measured in decibels.........but in confidence, in faith.... in Him to whom we pray!

Thank, you Father, this morning for being just that, OUR FATHER!  We rest today in all the privileges and blessings that being your child brings to us!!

Mother"s Day

Happy Mother's Day

My dear Mother dearly loved campmeeting. This was taken where we lived at Carolina Christian Camp.

Mama was saved in the 1950's and immediately got her little family into church. Me, far right.

Mama's last time to attend church at her Grandchildren's dedication. What a journey of faith she took her family on!

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In My Hand No Price I Bring, Simply to Thy Cross I Cling

In My Hand No Price I Bring, Simply to Thou Cross I Cling           5 01 13

I read the beautiful chapter four of Romans this morning, in which Paul discusses the rite of circumcision as means of righteousness. Here Paul, in the early days of the church is endeavoring to reconcile the Jewish/Gentile conflict.

We of the Holiness persuasion love to talk of the traditions of our Fathers. I, indeed, am thankful for my Godly heritage and treasure this gift. But we all know that The Tradition of Our Fathers, as referred to in The Word must always be Biblically based. Oh, boy, oh, boy...NOW I'VE GOT YOUR ATTENTION, don't I...ha ha

The entire fourth chapter makes the point that Abraham was called and obeyed BEFORE his circumcision  Thus FAITH/OBEDIENCE preceded the ritual of circumcision.

Verse three begins with these words: For what saith the Scripture? That's the # 1 question, isn't it?

Abraham had a heart to follow God as well as a heart to obey Him totally.
So what do I do to follow God totally?  I must search The Scriptures as the Berean church did, as they compared The Scriptures with the teachings of the early church, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I have a great deal of respect for ministers and their position. Thank God for them, we need them.  Shepherds are vitally important to The Church. But The Word must always be my "plumb line." Churches change, people change, culture changes.  God never changes.

Yes, I know we must live in the 21st Century. We can't "bury our heads in the sand" and pretend that technology and so forth doesn't exist. We must apply Biblical principles to this age, this time, this era. It amazes me that folks can live totally opposed to The Word and yet profess to know God. I'm not referring to necessarily denominational "'differences" but God's Word.

But remember, that Abraham's faith produced a Godly life style as well as a relationship with God.

Thus the devotionals books that I wrote, my modest dress, my church attendance, etc. cannot produce righteousness.  However, my love for Christ, my desire to gaze upon Him, my love for His Word, my love for people WILL make a difference in how I live and the image that I display to the world.

May Jesus live in me, love through me, flow though all I do and say!

"In my hand no price I bring......simply to Thy cross I cling!"""