Draw Me Nearer

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.

• 
  Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
  To the cross where Thou hast died;
  Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
  To Thy precious, bleeding side.

Faith in the Flowers

Tis my faith that every flower
Enjoys the air it breathes!
~William Wordsworth

Shine On

Our faith needs to shine through
even in our darkest hour.

Seed of Faith

The smallest seed of faith is better
than the largest fruit of happiness.

- Henry David Thoreau

Contentment in the Valuable

The most valuable things in life are not measured in monetary terms. The really important things are not houses and lands, stocks and bonds, automobiles and real state, but friendships, trust, confidence, empathy, mercy, love and faith. - B.Russell

Lord, May I Have A Flour Sack Walk

The Flour Sack poem brought back memories as a little girl in late 1940s. Most of you are way too young to remember flour (or feed) sacks. My dad would use the feed for the chickens, my mother would wash the sacks, cut out a dress, and sew it up. She made aprons too. The plain white sacks would be hemmed into dish towels with my grandmother embroidering them into the days of the week. I remember wearing many a "sack" dress. No one considered it embarrassing back then - it was a way of life. Have we come a long way? Yes, we have but sometimes I am not so sure it is for the best (my personal opinion). We've lost the "wonder" of innocence, of loyalty, of faith, and the list goes on and on (but I'll hush).

THE FLOUR SACK by Colleen B. Hubert

In that long ago time when things were saved,
When roads were graveled and barrels were staved,
When worn-out clothing was used as rags,
And there were no plastic wrap or bags,
And the well and the pump were way out back,
A versatile item, was the flour sack.

Pillsbury’s Best, Mother’s and Gold Medal, too
Stamped their names proudly in purple and blue.
The strings sewn on top were pulled and kept;
The flour emptied and spills were swept.
The bag was folded and stored in a sack
That durable, practical flour sack.

The sack could be filled with feathers and down,
For a pillow, or would make a nice sleeping gown.
It could carry a book and be a school bag,
Or become a mail sack slung over a nag.
It made a very convenient pack,
That adaptable, cotton flour sack.

Bleached and sewn, it was dutifully worn
As bibs, diapers, or kerchief adorned.
It was made into skirts, blouses and slips.
And mom braided rugs from one hundred strips
She made ruffled curtains for the house or shack,
From that humble but treasured flour sack.

As a strainer for milk or apple juice,
To wave men in, it was a very good use,
As a sling for a sprained wrist or a break,
To help mother roll up a jelly cake,
As a window shade or to stuff a crack,
We used a sturdy, common flour sack.

As dish towels, embroidered or not,
They covered up dough, helped pass pans so hot,
Tied up dishes for neighbors in need,
And for men out in the field to carry seed,
They dried our dishes from pan, not rack
That absorbent handy flour sack.

We polished and cleaned stove and table,
Scoured and scrubbed from cellar to gable,
We dusted the bureau and oak bed post,
Made costumes for October (a scary ghost)
And a parachute for a cat named Jack.
From that lowly, useful old flour sack.

So now my friends, when they ask you
As curious youngsters often do,
“Before plastic wrap, Elmer’s Glue
And paper towels, What did you do?”
Tell them loudly and with pride don’t lack,
“Grandmother had that wonderful flour sack.”

Please Lord, let my walk with You be as versatile, as durable, as adaptable, and as useful as a flour sack.

Girls in picture whose dresses have floral patterns were made from flour (or feed) sacks.

Colors were bright and cheery as seen in the patches.

Faith Speaks

My Prayer

Passing of the Mantel

This is a repeat of a previous post on my blog
but it is a thought that I feel more strongly
with each day, especially after I read a comment
on Facebook written by a precious young
pastor's wife. So unassuming were her words but
how touching they were. Her words portrayed hers
and her husband's burden for their city and the
people the Lord has given them to lead.
Well, here goes!

I believe that we are living in the disposition of passing the mantel from one generation to another. Looking at the (majority of) men and women arising in the ministry, I am most thankful. Many I have watched from the days of their youth, noting their growth and dedication in the Lord. It has been exciting, and sometimes humbling. (I must admit in a few cases, it’s been disappointing; but only with a very, very slight group who seek material benefits and look for position). BUT away with the negative! It's the Positive that touches my heart - The Lord has chosen well the future leaders of His great church.

The calling of God can never be taken lightly for it comes attached with much commitment. In Mark, the 10th chapter, Jesus told His disciples that the rulers in the world lord over the people, while its officials flaunt authority over those under them. He went on to say, BUT whoever wants to be a leader among His disciples must first become a servant – and further stated that He came not to be served but to serve others. What a sober thought – to do His will means putting self last in order to be a true called one of God. Wow! Putting self aside to serve can be awfully lonely at times as well as there's always the chance of being misunderstood. It also requires being faithful when nobody is looking. Thank God, there is a new generation of men and women willing to do this. Willing to “serve” in order to see the Lord’s Cause and His prophesies fulfilled.

Yes, I have faith in our new generation of ministry – just like I have had faith in the elder ministry that has taken me and mine this far. With the new generation of ministry, we will continue to be in capable hands. I have faith in their enthusiasm, and their energies to fast, pray, witness, preach, teach, counsel, comfort, and carry the burden for souls. I have faith that they will stand their ground and battle for what is right and what is good in the face of impending chaos. I have faith that they will be there for me, and I can trust their counsel and keeping of my soul. I have faith to trust in the Passing of the Mantel.

A Fig Tree's Lesson

If a blade of grass can grow in a concrete walk and a fig tree in the side of a mountain cliff, a human being empowered with an invincible faith can survive all odds the world can throw against his tortured soul. - R.H. Schuller

Rooted in Him

Each blade of grass has its spot on earth whence it draws its life, its strength; and so is man rooted to the land from which he draws his faith together with his life. - Joseph Conrad

January 27th Changed My World

Normally this is not an aspect of my life that I share but feel directed to write this today. Perhaps there is someone struggling with the loss of a loved one and there need to be exercising faith - believing that the Lord can do all things - even in extreme circumstances, when most people seem to lose hope.

January 27, 1993, changed my world forever. Although I still have three wonderful children and the most precious grandchildren in the world, a piece of my heart is gone. That piece? My fourth child, a son who was full of love. His warm smile could melt a heart, and he could charm any and every one. His friends were many, his enemies few. His concern for others was sincere.Often he gave when he didn't have to give. If you'd asked for the shirt off his back, he would have given it. Too, he could be a pest...joking when being serious would have been best.I miss Mark...I miss his first words when he called, "hi, momma". I miss his hugs that squeezed the stuffing out of me; his love pats; and his arm around my neck. I miss his expressions of life and of love.

Mark fell into the pit holes of youth and on into adulthood. He struggled with his calling and identity. It was a constant struggle. However I was encouraged that the Lord would go with Mark, and that he would find his way. Wonderfully the Lord never lets us down (if we believe).

It took several years before I was able to go through his belongings. The pain of so quickly losing him was too great to do so before then. When I did, I came across handwritten notes that Mark has written. As I read the pages, I wept. They were sermons - sermons that he should have preached. No one will ever hear them as they lie wasted in the bottom of a cardboard box. What God wanted most for Mark will never be. In his writings were words about faith and trust in God. Examples carefully written on the pages. His words encouraged the use of faith. I continue to hold to the faith he wrote of, for I believe God answers a mother's prayer, and holding to that faith, I plan to see Mark one day in heaven. He did not pass from this life as some ugly gossip and rumors had it, for in his last few minutes on this earth, he and the Lord came to peace. He spent his last few minutes uttering praise to God in a heavenly language.

Now for that person that may be struggling - we do struggle from time to time with our loss. And moreover it is difficult to accept the scripture, ". . . the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away..."(Job 1:21). But even harder is its finish, ". . . blessed be the name of Lord." Bless the Lord when he takes away a vital part of our being? Taking away a life that loved unselfishly, bringing slices of excitement and joy? Yes, we need to bless Him! The Lord sometimes only gives us loved ones for a season, and He has every right to reclaim them. Dear one that struggles, may you find peace and comfort. For to have loved ones even for only a short while is better than to never have had them at all.

Mark's pride and joy from the time he turned 15 until his passing at 32 - and it still sits in our garage. Just wanted to use something different instead of a traditional picture.

Just Checking

From CNN Website:

"In parks and backyards, anywhere a group gathers, the prayers of the Haitians can be heard. Last week, the call-and-response chanting and clapping that accompany those prayers pierced the darkness of night and the pre-dawn hours - sometimes as early as 4 a.m. The singing and praying was particularly intense in Champs de Mars plaza, where hundreds of people have taken refuge. But the scene was repeated throughout the city, with preachers on megaphones exhorting the faithful, who responded with lyrics like 'O Lord, keep me close to you' and 'Forgive me, Jesus.'

Many preachers are telling followers not to lose faith, that God remains with them regardless of what's happened. Most Haitians don't feel abandoned.

'The people don't blame Jesus for all these things. They have faith. They believe that Jesus saved them and are thankful for that...' "

This event has truly affected me more than any other. For as one doctor put it, "The Haitian people are resilient. They continue to crawl out of Hell with a smile."

How would we in America handle such devastation? Would it be with a smile, believing in the mercies of Jesus Christ and trusting Him completely? Would we sing, praise and pray in the streets? Is our faith that strong? When stripped of everything, would we still serve Him - or would we question and complain? (I know that I'm doing some soul searching, checking the strength of my walk with the Lord. Is my walk just "lip service" or is my walk truly a "heart experience"?)

Hop On Over

The shortest distance between two points...
is a leap of faith!

Faith's Steps

Faith is taking the first step

even when you don't see the whole staircase.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Faith

Faith isn't faith until it's all you're holding on to.

I Have Hope!

I have Hope (there's a land that's better)

I have Hope (where the soul lives on)

I have Hope (that the sun shines brighter). . . in that land.

Walking by Faith. . . I'll reach my Goal,

Over the Hills I see the Lights of Home.

My crown is won, my race is run. . .I have Hope.

(I love these words from a great old song)

Knock, Knock

"Behold, I have set before you an open door

which no one can shut. . ." Rev 3:8

Remember that the open door set before us

must sometimes be entered in total faith.

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Matt 7:7

Nothing But A Dreamer

You see things; and you say "Why?"
But I dream things that never were; and I say "Why not?"
quote George Bernard Shaw

There are times in life when a dream is all we have. We can either question it, or we can make it work to the Lord's advantage. It will require putting our dreams in motion, and not getting hung up on the nightmares.

Get Out the First Aid Kit. No, Faith Aid!

Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever. Lance Armstrong

Remember, Faith is a powerful medicine!