Bald like me!

Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord; may your love and faithfulness always protect me. For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me. (Psalm 40:11-12 NIV)

I got a little bit of a chuckle about this serious set of verses. For those of you that know me, I don't have much hair on my head. So when I'm reading this scripture and thinking why doesn't the psalmist just shave his head. I really feel my troubles are not that  numerous. They don't surround me and I don't feel they are going to over take me. They do match the hairs on my head.

My God has protected me in amazing ways. I can feel it and see it every day of my life. I often wonder why. I never come up with a sufficient answer. It has to be the grace of God. I have seen his mercy in my own life. I have seen all his power and strength through times of trial and pain. My heart is strong not because of my wonderfulnes. It is not me, it is my savior. So, if you want to overcome your troubles, shave your head. Ask Christ into your life and watch how the love, grace, and mercy fill your life. We should all be bald!

Praise God. I am blessed and amazed ny your love. I am amazed with your grace and how it has brought me to the point in my life that the troubles and trials DO match the numbers of hairs on my head. I am awed by your protection. I am awed by my own life, thank you Jesus for everything. You are amazing! Amen!

I'm one day closer

Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. (Psalm 119:97 NIV)

You might get tired of me saying it, but I am getting closer and closer to retirement. Every time I get my quarterly statement on my retirement, I dream of that day. I really do love what I'm doing and I'm not going to sit around and stare out the windows. One of the things I long to do in retirement is spend more time in the word of God. Right now I have time in the morning before school and in the evening after getting my school work done. I enjoy those times and long for them to be extended.

I think those are the same thoughts of the psalmist. As you grow older and see the results of spending time with God, you come to realize those intimate moments with the creator are the best times of your life. Your life starts to slow down. You are not bothered by setbacks and trials. You start appreciating the little things and the special times with friends and family.  You start getting your priorities in the correct places. You long for the word of God. Yep, I just can't wait until I get that extra time.

Thank you Lord for the wonderful life you have given me. The experiences have all directed me to a life closer to you. I praise you for the growth you have directed in me spiritually. Your power and your grace are overwhleming and the evidence of your love is everywhere in my life. Thank you lord. I love you! Amen!

Only the lonely

Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish. (Psalm 25:16-17 NIV)

I really can't say I have ever been lonely. It is amazing to me that in our society with all the people, activity, and busyness anyone could be lonely. But, loneliness is prevalent. Young people are lonely, senior citizens are lonely, widows, orphans, homeless, and many more people across this country are lonely. I also think the lost are lonely. Sure they have people in their lives, but do they really have friends that will stand by them through affliction, troubles, and aguish.

My heart is never alone. Jesus is with me, even in the most isolated situation, I don't feel alone. I'm not on my own. I have the greatest strength because the spirit of God is with me. All we need to do is turn to him. He will not leave us and he will heal us from the greatest pains in our life.  God is with us, but is that always enough? We love to have human interaction. We don't want to be alone here on earth even with the greatest friend in the universe. God can handle that as well. When we take our requests to him, he will answer them. He will provide.

Praise God for friendships. Praise God he can heal all things including loneliness, troubles of the heart, and anguish from life. Lord I pray you will take care of the lonely. Provide them with knowledge that you are always there for them. Provide them with a loving community of friends and family that will care for them and make the loneliness vanish. Thank you Lord for your great Love. Amen'

My girls!

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. (Psalm 127:3 NIV)

I love my daughters. At this point in my life, my grandkids get all the "press". It's not fair comparing grandkids to your own children. It's a totally different relationship. I know many grandparents, including myself, that just can't get enough of their grandkids. I've never heard my daughters complain, but really we grandparents almost neglect our own kids.

I can't express enough the love I have for my daughters. I feel for them when they hurt and share their joys. I am filled with pride about the people they have become. It's not easy having one live in St. Louis and another life in Mississippi. I miss seeing those two every day. But in reality the other lives an hour away and it is even tough to see her as much as I would like. 

If God uses kids to reward us, I feel like I've received the Nobel prize. I am blessed to have such a great family, a heritage that thrills my heart. Praise God for these wonderful blessings. I pray constantly that they are protected and are blessed by the creator of this universe. Thank you Lord for these wonderful ladies!

Teaching

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. (James 3:1 NIV)

I have been in the teaching profession for over  20 years. It is the finest of careers. There is nothing more valuable to a society than teaching and preparing young people for adulthood. Our country is tough on its educators. We should be. We can't afford to turn this world over to an ill prepared population. The essence of life is in education. People are passionate about how kids are educated, they all realize the value. 

Education goes way beyond the bricks and mortar of our schools. We teach our kids how to live life to its fullest. We teach kids compassion, dedication, love, honor, joy, sadness, and so much more. Yes, we christians are all responsible for the growth of young lives, young men and women who have dedicated their lives to the kingdom. If these people don't know the real power of the holy word, if they don't know the power of prayer, if they don't know the joy of bringing others to know the Lord, no one will see the kingdom come. We need to dedicate ourselves to TEACHING young christians and educating the secular world about the love of Christ. Teaching should be our greatest profession. We will be criticized, we will be ridiculed, and we will be held to a higher standard. We should be. We are all responsible for teaching the word of God, enduring the criticisms, and living up to the highest of standards. 

Thank you lord for the opportunity to teach young people. I also thank you for the opportunity to teach about your wonderful love for me. Thank you for this wonderful life you have granted me. Give me the wisdom to serve you every single day. I am humbled by your love and the blessings in my life. Amen!