Last night as I was praying and giving thanks for all that God has blessed me with I was stopped cold in my thoughts as I realized my feelings or lack of feelings contradicted my words. I truly am thankful; still I am aware I don’t begin to understand what it is like to really be lacking in any necessity. In my younger years we lived from pay check to pay check. We did without many things yet we always had food, clothes, and shelter. I’m mindful that God knows my heart and the genuineness of my heart. That very thought is what made me examine my conversation with God. It also caused me to reflect on how truly blessed I am. I have taken my blessings for granted and I do not want to do that!

I have never been homeless or without food or clothing. I have not had to experience being completely impoverished I have been spiritually impoverished, when I chose to turn my back on God.

I was reading in Amos this morning and I read this:

“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land — not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.  Men will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it. Amos 8:11-12

These verses caused a sinking feeling in my heart. I can not even imagine how horrible it would be to search for the word of the Lord and never find it!! It seems to me our nation is spiraling downward in that very direction. Sin isn’t even swept under the carpet anymore. It is out there in full force, in plain site being flaunted in every way imaginable. Sin is now called tolerance. There are many who are trying to remove God from print, from our speech, from our very thoughts and we stand by silently, looking the other way fearing to open our mouths and take a stand.

Murder, Adultery, Fornication, Homosexuality, Rape, Stealing, Abortion, Lusting, Lying, Injustice and even Idolatry are as prevalent today as what we read about in the Old Testament. We still need to teach against SIN and quit trying to rename it. Sin is not alternate lifestyles, not personal choice, not consenting adults. We are to put God first in all things. Too often God is last in ALL things. Work, family, recreation and whatever pleases has become God for far too many.

Amos was sent to announce Gods judgment on the northern kingdom (Israel). From what I read he was an ordinary man and earned his living from the flock and the sycamore-fig grove. (Amos1:1; 7:14-15).

I have sinned far too many of the sins mentioned above. I thank God for my Savior Jesus Christ. Through him we can be forgiven. The message and the hope is still open to all today.

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38-39

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 2 Peter 1:3-4

Imagine all of this from my conversation with God last night. I want to be able to say as David did…I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Ps 119:11

She carried me under her heart…Loved me before I was born;…Took God’s hand in hers and walked through the valley of Shadows that I might live;…Bathed me when I was helpless…Clothed me when I was naked;…Gave me warm milk from her own body when I was hungry…Rocked me to sleep when I was weary…Pillowed me on pillows softer than down, and sang to me in the voice of an angel…Held my hand when I learned to walk…Nursed me when I was sick;…Suffered with my sorrow…Laughed with my joy…glowed with my triumph, and while I knelt at her side, she taught my lips to pray…Through all the days of my youth she gave strength for my weakness…courage for my despair, and hope to fill my hopeless heart;…Was loyal when others failed…Was true when tried by fire;…Was my friend when other friends were gone…Prayed for me through all the days, when flooded with sunshine or saddened by shadows;…Loved me when I was unlovely, and led me into man’s estate to walk triumphant on the King’s Highway and play a manly part…Though we lay down our lives for her we can never pay the debt we owe to our Precious Mother.

I have had this poem about 25 years. I don’t know who wrote it so I can’t give credit. It is a beautiful poem and I thought it quite appropriate to share it today in honor of our mom’s and Mother’s Day.



I’m still basking in the afterglow of the Tulsa Workshop and finally, I think I’m getting back to my routine after some much needed rest. Last week we attended the Tulsa Workshop, March 23^rd through March 26^th. We didn’t make it back on Saturday; still we packed a lot in Wednesday night to Friday night. Last year was our first time to attend and we decided then it would be a yearly mini-vacation for us. If you have never been, I urge you to try and make it next year. It truly is a wonderful experience. Our dear friend Karla has been with us both times. We have a great time hanging out together. The weather was very accommodating too. I remember that it snowed two years ago, even though I didn’t make it that year.

The lessons and the songs are still playing in my mind. I absolutely love a cappella music! Actually I love a very wide range of music, yet there is something about a cappella that stirs my soul. I was not blessed with a good singing voice. That doesn’t keep me from singing (for those of you who have to hear me, please keep the groans down) and I have prayed many times that I had a beautiful voice. I think I finally got the message “my grace is sufficient for thee.”

We heard so many great lessons and amazingly beautiful vocals. We made many new friends, visited with many old friends and friends who I usually only get to visit with either through my blogging world or Facebook or email. It truly is an awesome time.

Terry Rush, The Memorial Drive Church of Christ and many other people put in a lot of hours and hard work to make the workshop successful. Various vendors set up booths and exhibits. I am thankful for them and all of the effort behind a truly outstanding event.

To all my ‘far away’ friends…it was great seeing you and visiting with you, even when the visits were much too short.

Until next year…

Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.

Before our Father’s throne
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
Our comforts and our cares.

We share our mutual woes,
Our mutual burdens bear;
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.

When for a while we part,
This thought will soothe our pain,
That we shall still be joined in heart,
And hope to meet again.

This glorious hope revives
Our courage by the way,
While each in expectation lives,
And longs to see the day.

From sorrow, toil, and pain,
And sin we shall be free;
And perfect love and friendship reign
Thro’ all eternity.

As you can see, my blog is sporting a new look. I may play around with it some more so it may look different again next time you visit.

We are home bound due to the snow as are hundreds of thousand of people in various states. I’ve heard we have 20 to 21 inches of snow here in Northeastern Oklahoma where we live. It is certainly beautiful to look at, yet it has practically paralyzed Tulsa and all the surrounding cities and small towns. Even the snow plows are getting stuck.

We are currently receiving our newspaper online and we haven’t seen the mail carrier since the storm. That is fine with me as it is not safe for them to be on the road. One headline read Major Storm Paralyzes Tulsa. I believe this may have passed the last record snowfall which was in 1924; and “NO” I don’t remember it for those inquiring minds. Waaayyyyy before my time!

I cooked up a pot of beans, some fried rice and chicken yesterday. We are eating well and staying warm. I hope all of you are doing the same. Oh, I forgot to mention, mom and I had a Scrabble Marathon yesterday and later, Mom, Larry and I played Rummy Kub last night. I’m so thankful we don’t have to get out in this weather and I’m praying for all of you who do.

Until next time, stay warm and have a nice cup of coffee or cocoa and snuggle up with a good book.

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isa 55:10-11