Wherever You Go

Be strong and of good courage;
do not be afraid, nor be dismayed,
for the Lord your God is with you
wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9

Darkness into Light

You, Lord, keep my lamp burning.

My God turns my darkness
 into light.

With Your help
 I can advance against a troop.

With my God I can scale a wall.

Psalm 19:28-29

In a Little While

 

When Kaedyn was younger, she would beg me to go right then to the toy store for some promised special reward. Being a busy Nana, I would say, "In a little while."

Discouraged, she would whine, "Is that a YES or a NO?!!"

As I was reading the Bible this morning, I realized that I can count on God's promises, even though it might be a 'little while' before I receive them.

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise.

For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 
Hebrews 10:35-37 

Let me hear in the morning

of Your steadfast love,

for in You I trust.

Make me know the way I should go

for to You I lift up my soul.

Psalm 143:8 ESV

Roman Road

The book of Romans in the Bible is one of my favorites. When I was a child, my Daddy taught us these verses in Romans that explain how we can have everlasting life by putting our trust in Jesus Christ. The book of Romans is a letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to his Christian friends in Rome about 30 years after Jesus died and ascended to Heaven. I like to think of discovering these verses as clues in a treasure hunt as we travel down a road to reach the prize.

Our first stop is Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." We have all disobeyed God's laws. There is no one who is perfect except Jesus Christ.

#2 is Romans 6:23 "The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." The punishment for sin is death - hell and separation from God.

There is wonderful news at stop # 3. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Number 4 on the Road to salvation is this, "If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9-10

Romans 10:13 says, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."  God's forgiveness of sins, is available to anyone who will repent and put his trust in Jesus Christ as Savior.

Romans 8:38-39, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Lord I believe that You took the punishment that I deserve. Through faith in You I can be forgiven. I place my trust in You. Thank You for forgiving me and for the gift of eternal life! Amen!

1958 Family Thanksgiving

Pickled peaches and spiced apple rings

Candied yams and good green beans,

Cornbread dressing and sweet iced tea,

And pecan pie baked just for me.

Grandma in her apron,

Flitting all about,

Grandpa greeting kinfolk,

"Come in this house!" he'd shout.

Young'uns in the kitchen,

Cousins acting silly.

Grown-ups 'round the dining table

"Ask the blessing, Papa Billy."

I'm missing all the loved ones

Who once gathered around

But thankful for the love we shared

And the faith that they passed down.

Karen Rice

November Evening

  

A crackling fire

The chiming clock

Little ones playing with toys and blocks.

The antique hall tree loaded down with wraps.

Uncle in his easy chair catching up on naps.
Granny crocheting a warm winter shawl.

 Candles glowing in the windows 
Bringing cheer to us all.
Karen Rice

God Knows My Name

I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. 

Isaiah 45:3 NIV

He know my name

He knows my every thought

He sees each tear that falls

And hears me when I call.

Be Glad

Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You.

Psalm 40:16