The Story – Have you read this one?

I happened on to this the other day and wanted to share. Take a look at this and be encouraged.

The Story ().

Bumping your foot on a rock and Psalm 91

Psalm 91

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
12  On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13  You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

14  “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15  When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
16  With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

Did you catch the part about us striking our foot against a stone? What about the part where we are in trouble? It’s not all lollipops and rainbow is it?

Sometimes we hurt, cry, doubt, get angry, or just plain feel overwhelmed.

But look again to verse 15: When he calls to me, I will answer him, I will be with him in trouble, I will rescue him and honor him… That’s a promise from the Almighty! 

Frankly, as of late, I have had some times when I am hurting, crying and sad. But….then I anchor back to what He has told me in His word. Better than a tylenol, the pain subsides and peace takes its place. 

I want that for you. I want you to have this peace as well. Its there for the asking. If He spoke everything we see, hear, feel and taste into existence, He can speak peace into your life. Verse 15 says He will.

A Love Story

Ruth Justice Hall was born on November 8, 1927 to John A. and Myrtle Adkins Justice. Thus began a beautiful story of a remarkable woman who would go on to teach the many people she met in life about God’s love through her words, deeds, and the life she lived.

Ruth never knew her mother as Myrtle passed away after childbirth of Ruth’s brother ,Paul. Faced with raising children without their mother and with the Great Depression starting to worsen, John A. sent Ruth to live with different family members throughout her formative years. While not the idyllic situation for her, she used those experiences to learn the skills she would use to serve her family and others in the years to come. God had his hand on her life guiding her through those times and molding her to become the woman who would bless many.  She enjoyed attending school at the Upper Chloe grade school and continued there until the eight grade. Spelling, arithmetic, and writing would be her favorite subjects. As anyone who has received a card or letter from her can attest, she had beautiful handwriting which she combined with the eloquence of her encouragement to brighten many a person’s day.

As she got older she started working in 1942 at Newton’s Ice Cream Shop in downtown Pikeville, KY. She worked there with her cousin Flo, with whom she shared a one room apartment on KY Avenue during that time. She now is a young lady of 18 years, working as a waitress at Newton’s Ice Cream Shop, when she meets a regular customer of Newton’s. He has been coming in with his friend Denver Newsome for lunch, and to see Ruth. I can hear the strains of “Sentimental Journey” playing as they meet and plan their first date. Their date would be at carnival that was coming to the town ballfield. They would double-date (as would become a regular thing) with Denver and Flo.

Dan and Ruth’s love story began and they were married on July 15, 1946 at Ruth’s sister Ruby’s mother-in-law’s house on Cline Street in northern downtown Pikeville. Their honeymoon was a train trip to Dayton, Ohio. On March, 1947, Ruth and Dan moved to Sookey’s Creek near Dan’s mother, Susie. They would live in a two room house of a neighbor, Jarvie Newsom. They lived several places until they purchased property on Chloe’ Creek in 1958, where they would live and raise their children.

The love story produced four children, which in turn produced nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Ruth and Dan taught their children to love God, love one another, and to work hard and honestly for the things in your life. Their devotion and witness was on full display every day to their children, neighbors, and customers who came to Dan’s Body Shop on Chloe’ Creek for car repair. Ruth kept meticulous books for the business and made sure the parts/supplies were always on time as well as the accounts receivables. Her early love of arithmetic served her well.

Birthday parties, ballet recitals, ball games and car races filled the years of Ruth and Dan’s love story. Attending church at the Old Regular Baptist was a source of strength for them. Scripture would guide them during their difficult times. Any time that family could gather brought a beautiful sparkle to her blue eyes, a smile that brightened the room and a twirl of her apron as she rushed to the kitchen to serve delicious food to her loved ones. Her love of service was un-matched along with the quality of her meals.

Ruth and Dan’s love story was interrupted here on earth when Dan passed away in 2003. Of all the challenges she faced during her life, this would be the greatest. However, Ruth said that God was not done with her, He still had things for her to do. Her strong faith in His providence would be a testament to many.  Her words to me were, “Danl, God is love. So if you have God in your heart, you got love. He wants us to love one another and I am going to do that until He takes me home.”

Ruth truly loved everyone and shared God’s love to everyone she met. She left some journals with entries that talked of her true love and gave some insight as to her thoughts. Entries such as:

Psalms 63:3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.

Psalm 29:11 The Lord blesses His people with peace.

Psalm 37:7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.

    Come, dear friends and mourn with me, in my afflicted state;

     I’m bereaved as you may see, of my dear loving mate;

     His heart was bound to mine by love, good works to maintain,

     But he has gone to Christ above, forever there to reign.

Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress, and my deliverer: my God, my strength and whom I will trust.

     God moves in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform

     He plants his footsteps on the sea and rides upon the storms.

     His purpose will ripen fast, unfolding every hour,

     The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower.

Psalm 23 The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want; he makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.

Ruth knew her source of strength and joy. You can tell by the journal entries and conversations she had with everyone. She wrote her journals as a reminder of that along with her pictures she kept. She knew God loved her and was guiding her through her life. He delivered her through tough circumstances as each stage of her life, and gave her an abiding joy that stayed with her. He joined her with the love of her life. Now that she has left this life, that love story continues…

I love you Mom.

You know, sometimes you just gotta say it…

Readers of this blog have probably figured out a little about me. But, in my reading today coinciding with my reflections on the past year and goals for the coming year, I knew there was some things I needed to put down. I liken this to a Captain at the wheelhouse of a ship, reorienting true course! 

 

That being said,

 

• I believe the Bible to be the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God.I believe The Holy Spirit inspired the writers of the Old and New Testaments pointing to Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.
• I believe that there is One God, eternally revealed to the world in the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. By Him were all things created. I believe that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to redeem me and the rest of mankind. Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life on this earth, performed many undeniable miracles, was crucified for my sins, buried and was raised from the dead for my justification. By the name of Jesus Christ, and His name only, can I be saved. Jesus Christ sits at the Right Hand of the Father and will return personally in power and glory to receive His Church unto Himself.
• I believe that I am sinful by nature and would perish without the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as revealed in His Gospel. That God wishes that no one should perish, but that all would come to this saving knowledge through the preaching of the Gospel and His drawing power.
• I believe in the work of the Holy Spirit to bring conviction of sin, revelation of the truth of the Gospel of Christ, drawing of the sinner to God, adoption of mankind into the Body of Christ through regeneration, and the distribution and administration of the Gifts and Fruit of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life.
• I believe in the local church as a place where believers gather together for edification, teaching from the Word of God, and ministry to and through each other according to their spiritual gift. The local church provides identity to its members as well as encouragement, interdependence, fellowship, correction, and discipline.

This is my Statement of Faith.

 

Be encouraged today!

 

 

So it is Christmas…

Do you feel ready for Christmas? Amidst the hustle and bustle, running here and there to find just the right gift for that certain someone in your life, we never quite feel “ready” for Christmas. Some of us just want it to be over!

I love Christmas! It’s my favorite holiday. It is a time to gather together and be “family.” I remember my early years with Dad warming his back against the fireplace, my Mother making the best breakfast you could ever imagine! Just thinking about that now makes both my eyes and mouth water. My eyes water for good memories of home and my mouth waters for biscuits and ham made with extraordinary love. WOW! I love Christmas!

I love seeing my wife and children’s eyes sparkle when they get a gift they weren’t expecting. I love watching Holiday Inn and White Christmas. I love the togetherness I have with my wife and children!

I love reflecting on past Christmases and looking forward to future Christmases. I love the wrapping paper, cleaning up the wrapping paper, and peanut butter balls, and all of the things we culturally associate with Christmas.

But all of that, while especially great and fantastic, still pales to the anticipation I have for Christmas. I love the quietness and attentiveness to the reason we celebrate the time with anticipation. I love the knowing of Him that loves me so much that He came to this realm for the sole purpose of dying in our place.

Bonhoeffer said, “A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes…and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, is not a bad picture of Advent.”

Simeon, an old man living in Jerusalem, waited in anticipation with attentiveness for the Messiah. So did Anna, who served in the temple for 60 years after she became a widow after just seven years of marriage! Stillness and anticipation was their direction in waiting for their freedom.

That is the anticipation, I believe a lot of us have during this season even though we may not quite recognize it as such. The longing and anticipation of making everything “just right”, may just be a foreshadowing of the Creator calling His created. Anticipation, eagerness for the day!

After the presents are wrapped, the dinner menu prepared and before the guests arrive, find a quiet still place and think about the coming event. Like John the Baptist said: “Make ready the way of the Lord.” This still rings true today. Its a challenge to prepare our hearts for the opening of the prison cell door.

Freedom is here, even at the door. I can’t wait!

Can you?

 

The Plan of Your Life: Managing What Matters Most

By 

joneshogan - See all my reviews

 

This review is from: The Plan of Your Life: Managing What Matters Most (Kindle Edition)

Why is my life not happening as I thought it might or “planned” when I first started out? Why am I still trying to find answers to get to that place where I will know that I have “made it!”? Why am I always struggling with finding a clear path for my decision making? It could be my lack of … A Plan! 

I think we can all identify with those statements above! Right? But,…

What if you could find a short, easy to read book that outlined definitive steps for finding that clear path to the answers you are looking for? A step-by-step plan for your growth and that of your family? Collected words of wisdom and instruction to bring you closer to the heart of God and the Plan He has for you? 

Told in a warm, conversational style of a “love letter” from a father to his son, “The Plan of Your Life: Managing what Matters Most” is just that book. Inside you will find a narrative that paints distinct pictures of a “Plan” that will guide you along your path of growth. You will also find helpful PDF templates to assist you in crafting your Plan. Through the pages of this book you will find both scriptural and management expert references for each step along the Plan of your life.

This book is one that I will keep for reference and instruction. I also plan to buy copies for my friends and relatives. 

 

Check it out Amazon! Dr. Chris Stephens wrote the book.

 

 

Thanksgiving and Momentary Image Capture

Thanksgiving was a great time. My brother and his wife hosted the whole family at their house. It was one of those moments in time that will stay etched in my brain as a picture of what family means. The food was awesome and everyone was truly happy to see each other and spend time with each other. Family!

God puts us in places and people in our path to bless, encourage, challenge and measure us on the path to Him. Family does that. We can either choose to enjoy these moments now or wish for other times where everything will be “just right.” We can make sure we notice every nuance of the person we are talking to now to sear them into our memory. We can put our recorders on to record how their voice sounds when they talk, or their laugh when they hear something funny. We can do those things. Or, we can just let the opportunity pass and not experience the joy God had planned for us at that moment.

Do you think sometimes we look past what we have in front of us? Do we not see the opportunity that God has place right before us? Are we so wrapped up in our own agenda that we don’t see the beauty before our eyes? I believe we do that some of the time. We don’t have to choose that path!

I practice what I call, “Momentary Image Capture.” I look intensely at the person I am talking to, I listen to each syllable of their voice, I touch their arm or shoulder to feel their warmth and texture. I then intentionally capture that moment  in my mind and file it away or write about it in my journal.  Momentary Image Capture!

That was a big part of my Thanksgiving. I have understood that those moments don’t come around too often. Making sure they are burned into my data bank is a priority of mine. The other priority is insuring that each person there knew how much they meant to me. That I think of them often and pray for them. I remember the voice, eyes, tone of each person. I remember the funny laughs, the burps, the eagerness to prepare food for people they love, and the joy they have in just sharing their life. That way when life passes by, I have the Momentary Image Capture!

My greatest desire is to see everyone in that house which we spent Thanksgiving in Heaven one day. I want them there with me. I want them to experience the joy of knowing Jesus. I want them to have the everlasting hope that God provides to those who trust on His name. That would be the ultimate Momentary Image Capture!

What about you? Have you had a Momentary Image Capture?

WWhat about the opportunity you just had a minute ago to stop and tell the one next to you how much they mean to you and you want to introduce them to the Savior of the world

W hat about the time you trusted Jesus as your Savior? Can you recall that Momentary Image Capture when you realized that what you were doing wasn’t working,wasn’t what God had planned, and that Jesus’ payment for your sin was  yours for the asking?

That’s my ultimate Momentary Image Capture. I hope it is yours as well.

Thanks for reading,

Danl