Coffee

Most every day I have at least one cup of coffee. That is at least 10 ounces a day. Most days it is more, and today is no exception, I have had 4 so far I think. I lost count with all the other stuff I am doing at the same time.

For Christmas, I gave my father a mug that said... "All I need today is a little coffee and a whole lot of Jesus." And that is the truth. A little coffee can get me through the day but I need a lot more of Jesus. I talk to Him all day, and I can tell when I am not getting enough companionship with Him. Things tend to not go like they should. 

If for some reason I feel the distance between myself and Jesus, it is not Jesus that has moved. He is right there beside me, I have just put a "wall" between us. I wish I could say that never happens, I wish I could keep my eyes on Jesus and let Him control all I do. Sadly, I don't and if people are really honest most of us who are believers don't. 

When things are rough we cry out to Him and because He is who He is he helps us, holds us, and comforts us. Then things get better and we start to build the wall... we talk to Him all the while we are building the wall, but as things get better we keep building. Then we feel we don't need Him any more, we have got this, all is well. Yes, we speak to Him, tell Him we love Him, but that is about it. 

Then things start getting off, troubles frustrate us, because we can't handle it by our self. We want to blame Jesus, where was He or why did He leave me alone.  He didn't... We built the wall, and now we have to tear it down, but Jesus is right there helping us. He loves us too much to leave us. 

Lord, I thank you for all the times you have been there for me. I ask forgiveness for all the times I have put a wall between us. I pray that you will help me tear the walls down and help me rely on you instead of trying to do things on my own. Amen. 

When I made the Courage card, I used this piece of deli paper as my "drop cloth". So today I used part of it for my background for this card.  

Courage

Yesterday, I used the verse "Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart;  Wait, I say, on the Lord!" Psalm 27:14

Today, as I was waiting for my friend to leave to go to a hospital in New Orleans my pastor and asst. pastor read a verse Psalms 28:7 "The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him."

When I decided to make "art" for today I thought of these two verses the courage for all the chaos is Jesus. He is our strength, our shield.

I pray that my friend gets answers and is healed. I pray she finds comfort and courage in Jesus. Lord, please heal my friend. Thanks-you for your answer. Amen

Waiting

We all have been there... hurry up to wait.... and then wait some more.

What are the worst waiting times?  We all would have our own ideas. Waiting in a line. Waiting for a call.  Waiting on test results.

For me right now I am waiting for my friend to find out what is causing her to be ill. I want her to be healthy. It is hard to wait.

Another waiting time that is hard is waiting on the Lord. Abraham had a hard time waiting and look what it got him. In trouble with the eygptians, in trouble with Sarah, in trouble with Hagar and Ishmael. He was willing to wait but he allowed the frustrations of others to allow him to give in to them.
I tend to be like that too. I don't mean to be. I really want to wait for the Lord because His time is always perfect.
So I pray that I can learn to wait on God and be courageous. Thank you Lord for having perfect timing. And Lord please heal my friend. Amen!
"Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart;  Wait, I say, on the Lord!" Psalm 27:14

Late

I am tired and late with this.... no blog really... but a doodle :)

Blank

That is exactly what I am right now, blank....

I am trying to do this... I guess today going back to work after our school holiday, I have just been zapped of everything.

My day starts at 5 am, I wake and read a chapter in Proverbs for the day. You do know that Proverbs has 31 chapters, one for each day of the month. The I get dressed for work, make some coffee, take my medicine, and sit down to do my Bible reading. As I read I meditate on how those verse apply to life, today was Genesis 8 - 9. As Paul Harvey would say... the rest of the story of Noah.

After I read the Bible I check email, Facebook and if I have time look up other things on the Internet, like videos or articles. I gather my lunch and things for work and I am usually out the door by 6:20'ish. You may be thinking "WHY???" I like to get to the school and get things ready for the day, drink more coffee, read a devotion, and pray before I go on duty at 7:10.

On Duty, I greet the bus drivers and children and try to say "Morning" to every one I see. I throw a "have a good day" out every now and then also.  By 7:50 I am getting ready to greet my 1st class at 8:00. I teach until 11:00 when I have lunch with a few friends in my room and we pray for requests that have been placed on our prayer list.

At 11:30, I begin teaching again, at 1:30 I am finished with my regular classes. The rest of the time I spend working on lessons for the future, getting ready for tutoring, or working on technology work orders. On Fridays, I teach an enrichment class at 2:30. On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays I tutor from 3:00 until 4:00.

So, by the time I get home I am usually a little blank. I just want to sit and chill. After I eat dinner things are usually evened back out... but not always, it depends.  I think that is why it was so hard the first time to keep this up... I did pretty well, I had 237 posts out of 365... I will try to do better this time.

"It's so fine and yet so terrible to stand in front of a blank canvas." ~Paul Cezanne

Prepared

Today, the bible reading was from Genesis 6-7, I know most people know this story. God saw the way man was living on the earth and corrupting His creations, He couldn't watch anymore. He was going to end it all and start over. Then He remembered Noah, that he was righteous and found favor in His eyes.

Noah was told to prepare for a flood. I am sure he was afraid, he had never seen rain before, much less a flood. Noah was told to build an ark. I am not sure what Noah's profession was, yet he did as He was told. It doesn't say if he had any help,  he did all he was told. He made the ark to God's specifications, he gathered the food he was told to gather. God sent the animals in the numbers He wanted on the ark. There were two of every kind of animal, male and female. There were 5 extra of all the clean animals. 

Noah was prepared, because he believed and had faith that God was God. He believed that He would be saved from the destruction. He prepared the ark, He prepared the food, and He believed His God. I think the most important part of Noah's preparation was his belief, his trust. One ounce of doubt could have been the difference in the salvation of his family and their destruction. I am glad that Noah had the faith and the ability to do all God told him to do. 

Today is my last day off. I go back to the "grind" of my job. Teaching is a wonderful profession and I am prepared to do my job. It is not as easy as some would say. I have to be prepared every day to do my job, mentally, physically, and emotionally. There is Spiritual part that I always prepare for also, because the devil can be so cunning and can catch me off guard if I am not careful. 

So I have prepared, my lesson plans are written, my lunches are prepared and in the freezer, and I think I am ready to face what ever may come my way in the months ahead. I will read my Bible and talk to my Lord and Savior everyday. I will pray for myself, my co-workers, and all the kids. This will be a good year, I am prepared. 

Thank-you Lord for helping me to prepare for the job you have given me. Thank you for the little lives and minds, you have entrusted to my care. Help me to be the teacher you would have me to be. Amen! 

Garden

 "And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden." Genesis 3:8 

Every year, I try to read the bible through, last year I read all but Revelations, I got a little behind. This year the church I attend is reading through using "Daily Walk" magazine. Today, the reading was from Genesis 3-5. 

As I was reading the scripture above I thought of one of my favorite hymns, "In the Garden" here are the words if you are not familiar with it...

"I come to the garden alone,

1. While the dew is still on the roses,
   And the voice I hear falling on my ear
   The Son of God discloses.
   • Refrain:
     And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
     And He tells me I am His own;
     And the joy we share as we tarry there,
     None other has ever known.
2. He speaks, and the sound of His voice
   Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
   And the melody that He gave to me
   Within my heart is ringing.
3. I’d stay in the garden with Him,
   Though the night around me be falling,
   But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
   His voice to me is calling."
4. The scene in the garden on the day in Genesis 3 made me think of this song. I believe that up until the two were made to leave the Garden, their walks with God were like this song. It was peaceful and calm, no problems, nothing to fear, and a serene atmosphere of love, joy, and wonder. 
5. Today, and ever since that time we (humanity) has longed for that peace and comfort. We have tried to tame the earth and produce gardens that mimic the one the LORD God created. Ours pale in comparison to the Garden God walked in. Although, even though it is not the same, He is there all the while, longing for the sweet companionship with His creation. He longs to walk and talk with us. He wants to hold us and guide us. 
6. I like to walk through gardens, and quiet wooded areas. At those times I can almost feel the presence of God walking right beside me. I can hear His voice telling me what He wants me to know. 
7. Lord, today and everyday let me find tie to enter a garden. Even if it is just in the solitude of meditation. Help make the time to hear you speak and to feel you gentle guiding me in the way to go. Thank-you Lord for your love. Amen 
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