Words for Father's Day

Words for Father's Day

Sue Donaldson

Father’s Day is around the corner (this is your “heads up”). Here’s a photo of my dad and our eldest at a Grace Church picnic at Mitchell Park.

Debbi’s dad (77) writes “pomes” on a regular basis. She got this one last week – worthy of sharing because it’s so sweet and a good reminder.

No gifts for Dad on Father's Day,
He has the toys with which to play,
And sox and shirts, and other stuff,
All things of which he has enough.

But second thought does give me pause,
Can't turn you off complete because,
A GIFT of CARD would sure be swell,
In which your thoughts for me you tell.

Love, Daddy-o

(Lee Wagner, June 4, 2008 to his daughters, Tammi Briggs and Debbi Weeks)

Adorable, huh? He’s a treat!

Our “daddy-o’s” don’t need a lot at this stage in life – except words of appreciation. My dad worked hard while we were little, and deserves time reading his mysteries in that wicker rocker on the front porch. I need to get a card off.

Solomon had much to say about good words. Here are some to consider for Father’s Day:

“A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11)

“The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 15:4)

“Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.” (Proverbs 17:6)

Dear Father,

Thank you for my dad. Help me show him how much I appreciate him. I am proud of him, and he needs to know. Because of You. Amen.

PS And he said he doesn’t need any more shirts

3:16

3:16

Peggy B.

A long time ago, I heard someone (my dh Wayne) teach lessons on the 3:16s of the Bible. It was fun and enlightening. So, I thought I’d take a few weeks and look at some together with you. (These are mine, not his!)

Today we’ll start with Exodus 3:16: (New Living)

"Now go and call together all the leaders of Israel. Tell them, 'The Lord, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—appeared to me in a burning bush. He said, "You can be sure that I am watching over you and have seen what is happening to you in Egypt.”

There are days when I feel that I am alone in Egypt. (“Nobody loves me, everybody hates me, guess I’ll eat some worms!”) It seems like my bad situations last forever and everyone else’s life just goes on merrily for them. I always know God is there, but I can’t “feel” Him and there just doesn’t seem to be an end to my situation.

If you’ve ever felt that way, this is for you. God has given us a promise (not just here, but in many other places in scripture). I guess I’m sort of being a Moses to you. I’m telling you “God has appeared to me in His word. He said “You can be sure that I am watching over you and have seen what is happening to you”.

He doesn’t say “you can feel me watching you”. He simply says “I am watching”.

We women can place so much importance on feelings, but I have learned over the years that feelings are overrated! (Do any of you always feel like doing laundry, going to work, cooking dinner….? And yet you do them as an act of your will!) God is asking us to, as an act of our will, believe scripture and count on His presence during ALL of our situations.

Notice too, Moses was to call them all together to give them this news? Do you suppose God knew that they would need one another’s reminder and encouragement when the going got tough? I know I certainly need that from my friends when I’m having a struggle. Do you have a close friend or 2 that you can call on for prayer and encouragement? Look in your Sunday School class, your small group Bible Study group, or your Growth Group. I know that you will find them there! What an encouragement to know that God is watching and that others are in it with you!!

And remember, God didn’t leave Israel in Egypt forever…what a miraculous Exodus they had!

“Lord, your arms are big and my faith is small. Give me eyes of faith to see you in all of my life situations. I cannot do this life on my own, so I trust you to watch over me. Help me to leave things in your mighty hands. Amen”

F.R.O.G.

(I pulled this off of a post I had put recently on my own blog...I liked the reminder today...thought you might as well.)

F.R.O.G.
Missy Grant

I received an email during my work hours today that had a sign off that said, F.R.O.G. and then this after it read...Fully Rely On God. Now, I'm going to apologize right now if this is a copyright of anyone. It wasn't marked that way and I am not claiming it, but I did enjoy it. Fully Rely on God. It reminded me of lots of things, but the frog analogy was compelling. Do you know the story of the two frogs...it goes like this:

Two frogs fell into a can of cream
Or so I've heard it told
The sides of the can were shiny and steep
The cream was deep and cold.
"O, what the use?" said No. 1
"Tis fate-no help around!
Good-bye, my friend!
Good-bye, said world!"
And weep still, he drowned.
But No. 2 of sterner stuff,
Dog paddled in surprise,
The while he wiped his creamy face
And dried his creamy eyes.
"I'll swim awhile, at least," he said
Or so it has been said...
It wouldn't really help the world
If one more frog was dead."
An hour or two he kicked and swam
Not once, he stopped to mutter,
But kicked and swam and swam and kicked, then hopped out,
via butter.

In my bible study group today we looked back on a year of study together. We realized that while our prayers went up our circumstances did not necessarily change - but our hearts did. God is always faithful. The frog analogy above is a good reminder that we can mutter and give up or we can Fully Rely on God, pursue His face within our circumstances and have unexpected blessing when God takes our creamy circumstances and turns them into butter.

"O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!"
Psalm 34:8

In a Twinkling of an Eye

In a twinkling of an eye...
Kate Hasson

my girls have turned from babies into toddlers and as many mothers have warned me, it’ll just keep getting faster.
Last night I packed away Charlotte’s old clothes that don’t fit any longer to save for our next baby (someday soon, please!?) and brought out Suzannah’s old clothes to pass on to Charlotte. I got super emotional with this small transition. As I looked at Travis through tears, all I could say was, “It’s going too quickly...” Yes, the hard days are no fun and I usually look forward to putting the girls to bed at night and having my own time. But honestly, it truly, really only feels like last year that Suzannah was born. Can I really be the mother of two, with hopefully another on the way!? Time is passing and it scares me. I came to the realization that of all the things I hold most dear to me, I can’t really hold on to my two most “prized possessions”. I love my girls more than life itself and I can’t even keep them. They are growing into little girls and then someday will be a boy’s girlfriend, and then a man’s wife, and then a child’s mother, and then...and then I may be gone. And it will be all over. Oh, that I will take time to love them, not be busy with life.

As I grew shaky from sorrow and knowing that I have no grip on life itself I was comforted by God’s promise of Himself. Although I love Suzannah and Charlotte, my love for God runs so much more deep. I know that He will never leave me or forsake me. He holds me in His righteous right hand. He is steady and secure. He will never change. I can always put my faith in Him and will never be let down. He never sleeps nor slumbers but watches me both night and day. He is the Rock of Ages that I can hide in. He is outside of time! He has known me before I was even in my mother’s womb. I am thankful to be able to rest my short life in His strong arms.Suzannah at only a couple weeks old in her Aunt Jenny’s arms (who is expecting her own first daughter in just a few months!)


Charlotte, just 3 days old with her beamingly proud older sister.

My two big girls at Yosemite just a few days ago.

A song chorus that came to my mind while writing out my thoughts was
“My life is in Your hands
And though I may not see clearly
I will lift my voice and sing
Cause your love does amazing things
Lord, I know, my life is in Your hands.
I trust You, Lord,
My life is in Your hands.”
My Life is in Your Hands by Kathy Trocolli

Comfort of His Word

Comfort of His Word
Lisa Leonard

Psalm 139:13 & 14
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

These verses (actually the entire chapter) brought me so much comfort when David was born. I had planned and dreamed of a healthy baby. To be honest, I was devastated that we had a child with so many needs and felt my entire world crumble around me. Although it was such a difficult time when David was born, God has wonderful things planned for him and for us.

The Lord continues to show me his grace and beauty. This boy has brought more joy into our lives than we could have imagined. His body, although broken by human standards, was created by a loving God who doesn't make mistakes. I hadn't planned for this child, but the Lord planned for him. And he is wonderfully made.

Living and Active

LIVING AND ACTIVE

by Debbi Weeks

I’m reading a fascinating book called, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, by Mark Batterson. I think I’d recommend it, but since I’m not done with it yet, I’m not exactly sure! J The title is from a verse in 2 Samuel 23:20. Now, I’ve read through the Bible on several occasions, but I don’t remember ever reading anything about a man named Beneniah who jumped in a pit with a lion on a snowy day.

Then, in the second chapter of the book, he refers to a story in 2 Kings 6 about an axe head that floats. Again, if I didn’t know better, I’d think that someone snuck the story of a floating axe head in as an interesting addendum to God’s Word! I don’t remember reading about this gravitational anomaly before.

I guess what excites me about these verses is that although I must have read them before they were as new to me as my babies were when they were placed in my arms for the very first time. I went to my Bible in both instances to make sure these verses were really in there – I wasn’t about to trust this stranger, especially when I couldn’t remember it being in there myself! It amazes me that there is so much to God’s Word that it is always fresh, teaching me about who God is and who I am to Him.

Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” And 2 Timothy 3:17 says “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

I don’t have much to write today, I’m just awed by the amazing mysterious ways of God to make His Word new and fresh to me again and again. This truth encourages me to keep reading to see what He has for me today. What’s new to you?

Father God, Praise You for your living and active, always new and fresh, inspired Word.

Forgive me for taking it for granted and thinking I know what you have to say.

Thank you for giving me the right word at the right time.

Please help me to see your Word for what it is - your love letter to me.

In Christ’s Name, Amen

Marriage Marathon

Marriage Marathon

Sue Donaldson

June is Wedding Month. I don’t know why exactly. Maybe it goes along with Graduation Month – smart kids wait until they are finished with college before embarking on the next adventure – the adventure of a lifetime, here’s hoping and praying.

My folks didn’t wait until after dad was finished with college. He had a job and $200.00 and in 1939, that was enough. So, on this last May 6, they celebrated their 69^th Anniversary (no, that is not a typo.) Aren’t they cute in this vintage photo?

They met four years earlier – in church. Mom, at 16, was at the Sunday School registration table, and took note of the handsome older man (18). She and her girlfriend made a bet as to who he would ask out first. Mom won.

They courted for four years. Mom said she was hesitant because she wasn’t sure Dad really knew the Lord, as Savior – “I was afraid he was just a pew-warmer because his folks had raised him in church.” When she was finally convinced, she said “yes,” and the rest is history – a long history – including Dad returning to college, they having 5 kids, now 18 grandchildren – our Mary Grace is the last – and a zillion great-grandchildren. Dad has a list – in his front pocket, so he can keep track and brag to the world.

I tell my children that this marriage commitment is a modern miracle. We have unusual roots. My folks tell us it’s all God’s grace, and they are right. They were faithful to God and to each other, and it took grace.

Psalm 128 reads: “Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways. . .may the Lord bless you, and may you live to see your children’s children.”

At 91 and 89, Dad and Mom are blessed – they’ve seen their grands and greats – two more are due this year. What’s their secret? They would say it’s hanging in there over the long haul. Marriage is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. It’s not the speed of the race, it’s enduring til the finish line. They are still in the race, in spite of themselves. And we are blessed.

Dear God,

Sometimes we want to get out of the race. It’s too hard. We can no longer see the finish line. We might not even care about the finish line. Besides, we’re too sweaty and we hurt and life has sidelined us and-- who is this person I sleep with, anyway???

Please help. We need an energy bar from your Spirit. We need to want to be faithful. We need You, period.

And, thanks for helping Mom and Dad all these years. It’s kind of funny that they still bicker – comforting, in a strange way. May I see my children’s children, in spite of myself.

Love, Sue