Category: Devotions

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Scribbles

Lila loves to get my ink pens and scribble. Her scribbles are beautiful to me. They are precious pieces of art, because I just love her so much and anything she does is special.

I have kept so many of my children’s scribbles, pieces of art work and flowers (and weeds) that they handed me with love. These things are so precious to me because they were given with a pure heart – “Mommy, look what I drew!” I still have flowers pressed in books from 25 years ago.

I wonder if God feels the same when we give him our heart and our limited talents and abilities? I hope so. We may feel our lives are just a scribble, but I think he sees a masterpiece. He sees what we can be.

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Chipped Plates

This is one of those blessings that you have to go all around the circle and as you’re coming back around, you realize that you can be thankful for it.
I registered for Wedgwood, Queen’s Shape everyday dishes when we got engaged.  I received about 12 place settings.  We don’t use them every single day, but I do bring them out quite a bit. I like using the salad plates for our breakfast because they’re the perfect size.
Yesterday, as I was washing the ones we had just used, I noticed that every single one of them has a nasty chip on the side.  I am assuming that these chips came from slinging them around too hard when they were being washed.  I also noticed that one of my big serving platters has a crack almost all the way across.  Now, I’m not placing blame on anyone here, but some people in the family wash dishes like it’s a race at the speedway – slinging them here and there, smacking them on the faucet and throwing them into the dishwasher.
How in the world can this be a blessing?
I’m thankful for:
~ the nice plates, chips and all ~
~ food to serve on them ~
~ a husband and children to wash them ~
~ a family to sit around the table and eat from them ~
This is a thought that could just keep on rolling along.  I could talk about how I am not the same glossy plate that I was 22 years ago and how I’ve gotten chipped up along the way, but that all those chips mean I’ve lived a good life and have had tons of battles and blessings, but I’ll save that thought for another time!
Blessings to you today!
Posted on

Chipped Plates

This is one of those blessings that you have to go all around the circle and as you’re coming back around, you realize that you can be thankful for it.
I registered for Wedgwood, Queen’s Shape everyday dishes when we got engaged.  I received about 12 place settings.  We don’t use them every single day, but I do bring them out quite a bit. I like using the salad plates for our breakfast because they’re the perfect size.
Yesterday, as I was washing the ones we had just used, I noticed that every single one of them has a nasty chip on the side.  I am assuming that these chips came from slinging them around too hard when they were being washed.  I also noticed that one of my big serving platters has a crack almost all the way across.  Now, I’m not placing blame on anyone here, but some people in the family wash dishes like it’s a race at the speedway – slinging them here and there, smacking them on the faucet and throwing them into the dishwasher.
How in the world can this be a blessing?
I’m thankful for:
~ the nice plates, chips and all ~
~ food to serve on them ~
~ a husband and children to wash them ~
~ a family to sit around the table and eat from them ~
This is a thought that could just keep on rolling along.  I could talk about how I am not the same glossy plate that I was 22 years ago and how I’ve gotten chipped up along the way, but that all those chips mean I’ve lived a good life and have had tons of battles and blessings, but I’ll save that thought for another time!
Blessings to you today!

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High School

I went to open house at the high school last night.  I had such a nostalgic feeling as I walked through the halls and smelled the science lab and the gym.  Do you remember the smell of the gym?  That floor wax smell?  It hasn’t changed a bit.

There are all kinds of new gadgets and gizmos that weren’t around 30 years ago when I was in high school, but basically, kids are the same.  They’re trying to find their place.  They’re trying not to stand out or be different.  Well, most of them anyway.

I got a little excited as I walked from class to class to meet the teachers.  What was my teacher (my daughter’s teacher) going to be like?  Should I sit in the front or the back?  I found myself sending my daughter a text when I found out that she was having two tests today.  “You’re having a Spanish test!  Are you studying?”

And another text, “Oh, my goodness, sweetie!  You’re having a vocab test in English!  Are you studying?”

The reply:  “Mom.  Yes.”

If I had to go back and ‘do’ high school all over again, with the wisdom I have gained through the years, I would tell myself to branch out some.  I wouldn’t be so afraid of the ‘potheads’ or the kids who smoked outside.  I would get to know more people.

I would most definitely put a little more effort into my work.  I made good grades, but I could have made better.  I could have pushed myself more.

I would tell myself to not worry so much about fashion or style or where my friends bought their clothes.

But, all that stuff was important then and it’s still important now to teenagers.  It may take them 30 years to realize that what really mattered was how they treated people.  That’s what they will remember.

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A Giving Heart

I am beginning to realize that I am a bit selfish.

Oh, I love doing all the basic giving things like making meals and giving birthday gifts.  But, when it comes to giving my stuff away – new stuff – that is very uncomfortable.

Hannah, as I mentioned earlier, is leaving for Haiti tomorrow.  Her plan is to go with a full suitcase and come back with an empty one, leaving all her clothes and shoes for the orphans.  Friends, this is not coming easy for me.  I have bought new clothes, cute things, for her trip.  In my mind, I don’t have the money to just go back out and buy all new clothes when she returns.  She just smiles at me.  Today, I said in a loud voice, frustrated with myself, “Yes, I am selfish!  I don’t like it, either!  Just give all your clothes away, I don’t care!  God will be honored and you will be doubly blessed!”  I was trying to convince myself!

She has a heart like her father.  He would give everything away to anyone who needed it.  I was reminded of an event in our life that I had forgotten all about until today. I told Hannah and she was blown away.  I was humbled and repentant when I remembered this blessing from the Lord.

Victor and I took a missions trip to Guatemala several years ago to visit the Showalter’s work.  We helped prepare a Bible school by cleaning and painting everything.  We also set up a little clothing ‘store’ for people who needed clothes.  We all took extra things down to help stock this little store.  I had no problem giving away my second-hand clothing.

When we left, my husband decided to leave everything that was in his suitcase.  All his jeans, shirts, hats, socks…everything!  I felt the same little selfish spirit.  Did he realize that we were going to have to buy all new things when we got back home?   That was going to be so expensive!

About a week after we returned, Victor’s father came into the office one day and said, “Boynee (his little nickname for him), I was taking off the trash today, and you’ll never believe what I found!”

Sitting outside the dumpster, were boxes of freshly starched Duck Head khaki pants (in Victor’s exact size – and at that time, all he wore were those Duck Head khaki’s), starched button down shirts, ties, belts, t-shirts, etc.  All in his size and all clean and fresh!  This was probably 4 or 5 times the amount that he left and in much better condition.  We absolutely could not believe it!  This was a pressed down, shaken together blessing happening right before our eyes!

Now, how in the world could I still have a problem giving when I have seen firsthand the blessings of God?  I guess because I’m just a sinner, saved by grace, and need to be forgiven on a daily basis.  I am thankful for a husband and daughter who have no problem with the concept of freely giving.

I’m a slow learner, but I’m getting there…


Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Luke 6:38

 

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True Wisdom

My prayer today is to have a little True Wisdom.

James 3:17
“But the wisdom that comes from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Pure – true, real, from God.  I will pray every morning for wisdom to meet the challenges of the day.
Peaceable – I want a peaceful home and so I will speak peacefully to my family members…and insist that they do the same.
Easy to be entreated – to ‘entreat’ means to ask someone earnestly or anxiously to do something.  As a mom, I am ‘entreated’ all day long!  I will not be short with my children and will always have enough time to give when they entreat me for the thousandth time.
Full of mercy  – I will have mercy when something is broken or misplaced or even when something is said in haste.  I will not hold grudges or pout.
Good fruits  – may my children and husband witness the fruits of the spirit in my life.
Without partiality – I will treat all with fairness and respect – not giving more respect (time, cuddles, a listening ear) to one and less to others.
Without hypocrisy – May my family see that I am the same at home as I am in public. 

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