The Wonder of It All

There's the wonder of sunset at evening.
The wonder as sunrise I see;
But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul
Is the wonder that God loves me.


George Beverly Shea
photo credit

Treasure Hunter

I took this pic at the Pirate Display at Union Station, Kansas City, int 2012.

I was reading a story about a modern-day treasure hunter who put his life savings into looking for a sunken cargo ship. He had done a lot of research and was sure he had figured out where the ship had sunk so many years ago.

A distraction occurred when he stumbled upon a few bars of silver, and stopped seven miles short of where he was originally headed. He then went into debt and spent fruitless years scouring that area but finding nothing else.

At length, he decided to go to his original destination, and there he found the sunken ship with millions of dollars in gold and silver still in the original treasure chests.

Father, You have called me to love You and love the treasure you place right in front of me every day. I pray that I don't detour from any plan other than Your original Treasure Map!

May your spiritual experience become richer as you see more and more fully God's great secret, Christ Himself! For it is in Him and in Him alone, that men will find all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 2:3

Record Warm Days in Southern Indiana

Our ladies' Bible Study is this morning. We are in Romans 8.
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,
who do not walk according the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free
from the law of sin and death.

The Name

He created all there is with His own hands

And yet the smallest need He understands

There is no other name

No other name but JESUS

Chris Christian

Silhouette and Reflections

The heavy morning fog lifted and it turned into a gorgeous afternoon for a walk. This bare tree made an interesting silhouette against the deep blue sky.

Last Saturday was granddaughter Kaedyn's last game for the season. I thought the reflection of the lights on the glossy gym floor made a pretty pattern. By the way, her team WON!

A Beautiful Story

I think this is such an uplifting story, I wanted to share it. I saw that Norma McCorvey ('Jane Roe') died on 2/18/17. I knew that she had become a believer in Jesus Christ in 1995, and had become a pro-life advocate, but I had never heard this story about her first experience in a church after her salvation.

This short article by Pastor Jim Garlow brought tears of joy to my eyes.

http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/63139-norma-mccorvey-s-first-church-experience-as-a-believer

I was so blessed yesterday to hear First Lady Melania Trump

 lead the audience in praying The Lord's Prayer in Melbourne, Florida.

As she prayed, Forgive us our trespasses 

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

 I was reminded of the scripture that says God gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6)

I love the last verse of Grace Greater Than Our Sin:

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,

Freely bestowed on all who believe;

You that are longing to see His face,

Will you this moment His grace receive?

Day of Prayer

The National Day of Prayer was signed into law by President Truman in 1952 after Billy Graham and his team held a five-week Crusade in Washington, D.C.

Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn said, “This country needs a revival” and gave final authorization for a Congressional Act authorizing Graham to hold services on the Capitol steps on Sunday, February 4 that year.

It must have been overwhelming to Vice President Truman to suddenly be sworn in as President shortly after Roosevelt's death, in the middle of World War II. Truman said:
"At this moment, I have in my heart a prayer. As I have assumed my heavy duties, I humbly pray, Almighty God, in the words of King Solomon: 'Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad, for who is able to judge this thy so great people?'"

This year the National Day of  Prayer will be on May 4. I am praying the prayer of Solomon for President Trump and Vice  President Pence.

A Bite of Something Sweet

A box of candy under his arm

Adds to a man a touch of charm.

A smile of welcome he's sure to win

Who, carrying sweets, comes walking in.

And this is well-known, in the candy shop

Many flaws are hidden with chocolate drops.

Edgar A. Guest

I remember Grandpa would sometimes drop by our house just as we were finishing supper and he would have a little sack of treats in his coat pocket from Leon's Quick Shop. Grandpa wasn't much with flowery words, but he remembered to bring us kids a 'bite of something sweet'!

God's reassuring Presence

I'm never out of your sight.

You know everything I'm going to say

before I start the first sentence.

I look behind me and you're there,

then up ahead and you're there, too—

your reassuring presence, coming and going.

This is too much, too wonderful—

I can't take it all in!

Psalm 139:3-6 Message

My youngest son Cameron is on his way from New Jersey to visit with me for a few days. I will enjoy his company, as he likes to sing and play the piano, and play Scrabble. And he's a good cook!

The Mighty Power of God

I sing the mighty power of God, that made the mountains rise;

That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.

I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;

The moon shines full at His command, and all the stars obey.

Isaac Watts

We had and incredible pink, aqua, and purple sunset this evening in the west, while the 'snow moon' was rising in the east. I don't know if I will be able to see the eclipse and comet tonight. Isn't God's creation amazing!

Memorization

I am truly impressed with all the long Bible verses Kaedyn has learned in first grade. Memorizing did not come easy for me. Maybe if I could put it in a song, I could remember it much better. Now, at 66, I remember things I learned in first grade, but I forget recent things.

Having the last name Williams when I had to learn a poem in school was an advantage. By the time the teacher called on me, I had heard the poem recited 25 times! Also my brother had to memorize the same poem the year before. I still remember my brother practicing Sir Walter Scott's poem:
Breathes there the man, with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said, This is my own, my native land! Whose heart hath ne'er within him burn'd, As home his footsteps he hath turn'd,  From wandering on a foreign strand!

I remember that, as a child, those lines made no sense to me at all. I went overseas on a mission trip when I was 50 years old - the first time I had been out of the country. Then I understood a little better how much I appreciated America. Only a few weeks after I returned, we had the terror attacks of 9/11. How thankful I was that I was not traveling at the time.

Little Things

I  gave my first granddaughter a talking/singing Winnie the Pooh for Valentine's Day when she was less than two years old. She loved that bear so much, and she still has it 16 years later.

My youngest granddaughter stays with me after school, and she loves to set the table for a snack when she comes in. She is very fond of this glass I got her. She looks forward to my iced tea and homemade cookies.

She made this little valentine for me.

Thrift Store Finds

I have a favorite thrift store I love to visit that is open on Friday and Saturdays. I never know what treasure I may find. I found this dessert plate and some IDEALS magazines with pretty art, poems, and stories.

There is an old poem about pen pals. I remember writing to pen pals when I was in school. How exciting to watch for the mailman and get a letter from some far away place. Made me thankful for all of you blog friends! (Think of the money we save on stationery and stamps!)

When I was a little girl our grandmother used to give mother Ideals. Mother instilled in me a love for poetry. I especially like Robert Frost.

Praying for the Nations

The earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.

Psalm 33:5

"Our prayers can go where we cannot...there are no borders, no prison walls, no doors that are closed to us when we pray.” Brother Andrew

I read the story of God's Smuggler, missionary Brother Andrew. He risked his life to go into Communist countries behind the "iron curtain" to carry God's Word beginning in 1955. He also founded OPEN DOORS to serve the persecuted church.

There are two kinds of people in the world: those who know forgiveness and peace through Jesus Christ, and those who desperately long to know Him.

Losers and Winners

Have you ever been called, "Loser"? People called Jesus a loser!

Luke 23:35 tells us that "People stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One."
Satan had convinced people of a lie. In reality, Jesus' life was not taken from Him; He gave His life willingly so that we can be winners! Then He rose victoriously from the grave and ascended to His Father.

The devil would also like to convince believers that we are losers, but we know that even when we fall, God gives us the strength to get back up!


The steps of a man are established by the Lord; and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand. Psalm 37:23-24

Princes and paupers
Sons and daughters
Kneel at the throne of grace
Losers and winners
Saints and sinners
One day will see his face
And we'll all bow down
Kings will surrender their crowns
And worship Jesus
He is the Love of God
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9BNzoC938M

A God of Faithfulness

When I get overwhelmed with the evening news, the Lord reminds me: A powerful thing I can do is to sing His Word back to Him.

Jehoshaphat...appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: 

"PRAISE THE LORD, FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER"
2 Chronicles 20:21

“For I proclaim the name of the Lord;

Ascribe greatness to our God!

“The Rock! His work is perfect,

For all His ways are just;

A God of faithfulness and without injustice,

Righteous and upright is He.

 Deuteronomy 32:3-4