Saturday, November 29, 2008

Ever-Grateful!

Blessings on you.
So much to be thankful for. Even when it seems like we are giving thanks for "the same old things...," God feels otherwise. He desires to hear from you. He loves to listen to you!
If you were God, would you not rather hear your people thanking you for the things they have, or constantly hear them ask for what they don't have?
It is similar to that lady I knew at the first church I went to. She was ashamed of her testimony because it did not involve anything "dramatic!" She was embarrased because all she could say is that she had been saved for as long as she remembered.
WHAT A TESTIMONY! I would certainly be thankful for such a testimony! It would have spared me much painful memories!
Whatever you have in this life, (or do not have!) one thing each of us have are reasons to be grateful. And Father God is desiring greatly to hear You thank Him for all that you have!


Grateful and over and over...
thankful again and again!
Not just a day or a season,
not just a meal now and then...
But gratitude is a decision,
gratitude, it is a 'thing;'
gratitude must be directed
to God--THE Creator and King!
Jesus, mine only Provider,
sufficing, whatever betide.
He is without my supplying,
He is provision inside!
The scope of his infinite giving,
it is eternity-wide!
Jesus, eternally living,
Jesus, the once-crucified!

Grateful and over and over...
Jesus and ever and ever:
He is my Lord and my Savior
nothing and no one to sever!
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Monday, November 24, 2008

Seen & Not

What an ordained "season!"
Is that all that Thanksgiving is to you?
I find reasons and causes each day to be thankful. It is impossible to contain it to a 'seasonal' thing!

Thanksgiving in the sunlight,
and thankful for so much.
Everywhere the vision goes,
so evident, His touch!
The darker of the spectrum...
the brightest of the gold...
all beneath the shades of blue
infinity to hold!

Thanksgiving where do celebrate
the living of the land.
He breathes upon the forest and
He combs it with His hand...
He colors branches one-by-one,
though oh so very brief--
to orchestrate the season, there
be not another chief!

Thanksgiving, and so thankful for
the beauty, seen and not.
A song of gratitude, but all
of living's surely got!
Let everything that has a pulse
sing out "HE IS ALIVE!"
On wings of grateful praises, He
is always to arrive!
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Sunday, November 23, 2008

He did it again...AGAIN!

God is so good.
Just when you think you might know what is going to happen or how a need will be met, He meets the need in a way that is undeniably HIS way!
We were invited to a house after church today. We had lunch and then headed to the meeting. It was a small gathering where a lady was selling a few skin-care products. As we left, she asked us to wait while she went to get something. She returned with two grocery bags containing EVERYTHING needed for a Thanksgiving dinner!
If there is one thing that I am learning, it is to expect Him to meet the needs, (and wants!) but to not limit Him on how the need will be met! You have heard it before: "His ways are not our ways..." The Truth holds. For His ways are better, greater, more complete, more satisfying than anything I might devise!

"Heavenly Father, You are so good to us!
Thank You for providing.
Please forgive me for limiting myself by putting You in a box.
Thank You for being so big that You break out of such boxes and bless us anyway!
Father, there is none like You!
Happy Thanksgiving, Father!
In JESUS' Name,
Amen"

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving--just a holiday?
No! It must be a state of life!
There is so much to be thankful for!
Thanksgiving is even more than mere 'attitude.'
It must be deeper than 'feeling.'
Thanksgiving is a truth that is present beyond vision or feeling.
It is more than just a time of year. Again, it MUST be a state of life.


Thanksgiving, and thankful once more.
All things He comes to restore!
Not ever shall I know a lack:
whatever life takes, He gives back!


Thanksgiving, and thankful again.
I am most blessed amongst men!
He causes my life to behold
a reason for thanks to unfold!


Thanksgiving, and thankful always.
In all is there cause to give praise
as life, it is far more than "seen,"
Thanksgiving--so much does it mean!


Live Thanksgiving! As you learn to give thanks even through the most dire times and events, it will be easier to see beyond them at the 'bigger picture,' and those same times and events will have greater meaning.
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Thursday, November 20, 2008

"THINGS?"

Do you lack? Are you sure?
How vital are those 'things' that you feel you have lack of?
The Word of God assures us that He shall supply us with all that we need according to the abundance of His Son Jesus.
I need to spend more time noticing the 'things' that He provides without my even asking. Most of the time, those blessings are 'things' which I do not even know how to ask for!

Beautiful creation
vision to rejoice
glorious, all living,
harmonious of voice!
So great, our God, Creator,
to share with even man--
how fortunate the chosen few
to recognize His plan!
So wealthy those confessing Him
as Savior and as Lord;
recognition of His works
is constantly restored!

"Beautiful Creator,
the very heart to sing
a song celebration of
the new life that You bring!
The glory of Your holiness,
another song alive!
We sing with expectation as
You cause us to arrive!

The splendor of Your glory,
seen by those who see.
So very tempting be the glimpses
of Your majesty!
Only causing us to yearn
for that eternity
where the fullness of Your grace
has great sufficiency!"

Can you see it?
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Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Life in Season

Naked, now, the branches reaching out...
vestiges remaining sing and shout!
all of living basking in the rays
harmonizing in the perfect praise!
With autumn tide and winter shaking hands,
living, for the moment, still it stands.
Seasons, oh so long ago ordained,
For a fleeting moment, are contained!

Life, so very alive.
Though many dare argue the dying of such, life is alive to those expecting to see life! It all depends on what are you looking for!
Look for life. Decide to see that life wherever you look. God will never disappoint you!
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Saturday, November 15, 2008

Veteran's Day, 2008

Just because the battle is afar,
Just because another rank you are...
regardless if you're active or reserve,
our respect and honor you deserve!
You've done what many of us could not do.
One day, alone, is not enough for you!

You have done what most of us would not--
thus, our admiration you have got!

Every branch of service...
every class or rank...
God Most High protecting,
God Most High we thank!
Your bravery outshining
emotions that are real;
our desire be that our
most heartfelt thanks you feel!
And that you be rewarded on
this day and every day
with words and deeds that,
deep appreciation, would convey!
Great is your reward, beyond
each worldly accolade
for your part assuring that
our liberty is made!
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Saturday, November 8, 2008

Labor or Laughter?

For every leaf that I touch with the broom,
seven more the landscape would exhume!
Every time the floor I clearly see,
the breezes come along and laugh at me!

The rituals of autumn,
sentinels aflame;
to many it is labor,
to others, it’s a game!
I must observe the latter
lest labors all increase;
I must observe the whimsical
so I can savor peace!

What a blessing it is to recognize the signs of the season. Each of them, however, come with responsibility.
Something very painful happened here years ago. The man that we bought our property from became ill. In turn, he and his wife sold their property next door. It had six large, beautiful trees on it. One of the first things that the new owner did was take a backhoe and knock those lovely trees down! When I asked him why, his only response was “I hate raking leaves!”
God help us!
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Friday, November 7, 2008

Rue

Oh Father, You give and give and give!
You are so generous.
However, I have been taking faster than You have been giving, therefore, I am in debt.
Please forgive me.
Please forgive my selfishness.
Your Word is rife with warnings and admonitions against being in this place.
I'm sorry.
Can You help me?
Do I even have the right to ask for Your help?
You gave me plenty of warning.
My loved ones gave me plenty of warnings.
I was having too much fun to heed those warnings.
Now here I am, Father.
Now what?

In JESUS' Name,
Amen

Lifejoy!

The joy, the gifts, the wonder of God…too much to be contained or even known fully in this life! When we get to Heaven, does that mean that we will possess ALL knowledge, therefore we will not learn anything else about the wonder of Him?

Not in this life alone, the joy,
the joy of all You are;
Your jubilation rings throughout
the heavens from each star!
Creation even echoes unto
You in life alive!
Oh, Oh, that sweet plateau of praise—
will ever we arrive?

The mountains, in Your vigor, stand,
the hills, they skip about;
the seas resound unto the coastlands
with a constant shout!
Those upon the wing, they carry
joy in each direction!
The adoration of You so
becomes a sweet infection!

The joy of everything You are—
eternal…settled…true…
I celebrate the sacrifices
given me by You!
I utilize obedience,
the better of the two—
better to behold the gifts
endowed of only You!
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Thursday, November 6, 2008

It is known

I promise you that a lot of folks echoed this poem the other night. It was election night here in the United States.
Regardless who is voted into office, there WILL BE a good number of people disappointed.
The key to overcome this is to realize that God is THE ONE that appoints leaders and puts them into place, according to His Word. Further, we are COMMANDED by that same Word to pray for those in office, even if we do not agree with them.
This poem was written three months ago, and I find myself coming across it today to put into file. Coincidence? NEVER!!

Again, the end of day;
success—all HIS way!
What I declare the same,
to Him might be a shame!
The day and each event
appear now Heaven-sent!
According to most sight,
the enemy took delight.
But greater are God’s ways,
and He receives all praise
now, as I reflect,
and when things intersect.
Things inside the day
are constant on The Way,
and He retains control—
the Savior of my soul!

The end of day is here,
and Jesus yet is near.
The Truth, the Life, the Way—
forever will He stay!

Life goes on. And if you are one of those desiring to live according to His will, though life may shake you, nothing will bring you down.

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Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Seeing Sight

“Good morning, my Heavenly Father!
Oh, what beautiful life You have created today!
Again, I ask that You would bless me with Your vision as I behold today’s creation. For only if I look with Your eyes will I receive all that You have for me today!

Again to see this living with Your sight...
to look upon another without blight…
to behold Your creation without fetter—
oh, but life would then be so much better!

The sight that is before me—
I will not complain.
If I would look for YOU therein,
its beauty be my gain!
To be thankful for the same
would be Your sovereign will;
therefore, my God and Father, come,
Your everyness instill!

In JESUS’ Name,
Amen”
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MORNING SURE

How can I continue to boast, brag and revel in the creativity of God when my brother cannot even see it? Should I feel so guilty that I let the quill of my vision run dry, or shall I continue to hone this gift in such a way that even those without sight can ‘see’ what they hear from this page?

Morning unmistakable—
so beautiful, so new!
Fauna and the flora being
nourished by the dew…
God Himself to whisper softly
to the many trees:
leaves to shiver at His breathing,
cloaked as ‘gentle breeze.’

Morning unmistakable—
life, and so abundant!
With the Maker of the morning
nothing is redundant!
Everything is made afresh
when He is recognized;
for only in His fulness is
completeness realized!

Morning unmistakable;
God—the very same!
Everything about creation
glorifies His name!
Behold the evidences of him,
even as you rise—
evidence abounding in
the earth and in the skies!

Make a point to notice Him—it will affect your entire day…even if you only ‘see’ it amongst these lines or ‘hear’ it in these verses!
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Valuables

“Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Old words, powerful words, and still alive today! What is valuable to you?

Precious metals have no worth
when I look in Your face.
You are more beautiful than any
gemstone in this place.
Your worth only greatens and
due nothing of this life!
The glories of Your majesty
are stellar-most and rife!

‘Precious’ only then applies
to You and Your great love.
All other be destroyed as we
are gathered up above!
So precious, then, eternity
in adoration of
the Father, Son and Holy Spirit—
consummate of love!

Less important, then, the mansion
on the other side…
value then to know expansion,
even human-wide!
No class or caste distracting, only
candid adoration
eternally unto the One
providing our salvation!
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Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Flexible

"All things work together for good for them that love God."
Such was proven yet again this morning. Vicki's car needed repair. In order to get it to the shop, she drove our truck home so that we could drop it off. To do that, we had to arrange for someone to pick us up at the shop. THAT person is also the one who drives me to Promise Keepers each Tuesday morning. THIS Tuesday morning being Election Day, he also offered to take us so we could vote. So, to save one trip, Debby was going to sit in the car for the hour of our MEN'S prayer meeting. Several of the men saw that Debby was there, and they were going to have no part of her waiting in the car!
So this morning, our MEN'S prayer meeting was not, but God was there in just as much power, wonder and glory as He is at all times! I am so grateful that HIS meetings are not so rigid that they cannot be adjusted to include the opposite sex.
If you are in the Untied States and reading this, GET OUT AND CAST YOUR VOTE!! God has protected our right to do this for over 200 years. It is not only a duty, it is a privilege that most of the world does not have.

In HIS Service,
Jim

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Significance?

God knows everything I have need of.
He was aware of those needs long before I was.
What I find even more incredible: He is also keenly aware of my "wants."
Have you found this yet?
He is perfectly aware of all that you require, but He also knows what you like and enjoy. Even the most 'insignificant' things in your life are significant to Him--that's how much He loves you!
Let Him love you that much!
He knows your hobbies, and if you keep them in perspective, He will enjoy them with you and bless you!
Try Him and see.

All the Day...

The busyness of life.
What about yours? Do you have time?
Is your day so busy that you cannot but converse with God? Yes, it is wonderful to set aside that awesome time to be alone with Him, but there is more! God is right there beside you in everything you do! All you have to do is acknowledge Him!
He provided that work that You are doing. He has created those people that you are doing business with. He made that sight that you are looking at by hand! Yes, even that mountain that you must climb was placed there by Him.
Talk to Him.
Invite Him to ascend that mountain with you.
Ask him to help you communicate with those people.
Give Him every part of your day. Your BUSY day...

All of everything for Him
Who died once and for all!
The Same, He gives His everything
to any who would call.
He is worth all time, all money
everyone possesses
because He comes into the heart,
restores and wholly blesses!

All of everything for Father,
Son and Holy Spirit!
The generation of the heart,
oh, He deserves to hear it!
Honors He the yearning and
the produce of the same;
honor Him returning
accolades unto His Name!

All of everything for Jesus--
Bishop of the Soul!
He alone is capable
of ransoming in whole!
Doing all that man could not,
He is the Only Way!
Time diminished as approaches,
oh, that Happy Day!
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