Thanks to all the Veterans

Today is Veteran's Day.  Such an honor to know so many who have served and are currently serving our country to protect us and keep us safe.  Where would our nation be without you??  We can never repay you for your service to this country.  Saying "thank you" just doesn't seem adequate, but, that is what we can do.  Each and everyone of us can speak up and show gratitude in that manner.  So, today, and everyday as you see a soldier; a man or woman who has been broken because of their service to our country; a young boy or girl who has had countless days and even years spent away from their mom or dad because they are in the Armed Forces; when you see one of these STAND UP and thank them for their service. 

God is in the midst

We have just returned from a short camping expedition.  What a time we had.  It is November, but the weather was gorgeous.  A little cool at night and early in the morning, but the rest of the time was wonderfully warm and sunny.  Found time to take many walks and just visit the land that God created.  The swamps, the reds and yellows and oranges of the beautiful trees changing their colors to get ready for winter.  The moss and the Oaks were among the best part of the trip.  In California you do not see the Mossy Oaks as they have here in Georgia.  The breeze starts the moss swaying.  If you look closely you can see all kinds of images in the gray, filmy shapes that are attached to the branches.  I saw God's hand in so many places.  The giant trees.  The flowing water.  The bright, blue, clear sky.  He created and said "it was good".  I would have to agree.  Who would know better then God!!!  Once I learn to attach photos, I will post some of the beauty of this great land.
I believe that as I observe, pay attention, and seek, then I will see God's hand all around me.  He is busy doing a work.  He has created.  He has set this world in orbit.  It hasn't fallen.  I remember one song that I used to share with the kids.  There is a phrase that is so good   ". . . who puts the salt in when it gets to the sea?"  Yes, indeed.  How does the sweet, fresh water from the mountain spring end up in the ocean?  At what point does it become sea water?  Well, my God, knows these answers.  He is not confused on this point.  So, I would say to you today;  "Open up your eyes, your ears, your mouth, all of your senses and see what God has done for you."  He is surely available and present and eager to be a part of our lives.  Surely, He is in the midst.  Remember when you are in turmoil, questioning WHY, that He is as close as a prayer away.  Be blessed this week.

Has this been a good day for you?

This is a Sunday.  The last one in October.  Has it been a good day for you?  Did you go to worship somewhere with those you love and who love God?  Did you really worship?  Or, did you just exist as many of us seem to do at times.  We get in this "rut" as Pastor put it today.  We like the familiar.  We like the easy road.  But with a few more "digs" that rut becomes a grave.  Is that where you want to be in service for our Lord?  I surely do not want to be there.  I want to be one that He can count on to work for Him.  To share His love and grace and mercy with those who are desperately looking for something or someone to fill that empty hole in their spirit and lives. 
God has proven Himself over and over again to be faithful. What He has said, He will do.  His promises are new every morning.  He desires for us to grow in our relationship to Him and to others.  To stand on His Word and proclaim it loud and clear. 
I would ask that you check out your spirit.  How are you feeling towards those that are the unlovely?   The "outcasts" as the world would call them.  Are you reaching out in love to help meet their need?  Or are you shrinking from contact with those that are not just like you.  God wants us out of our pews and out of our comfort and out into the world.  Set apart, yet, part of the world.  So. . . .go and shine your light for others to see.  May you have a blessed week as we enter into November.

THIRSTY FOR GOD

Psalm 63: 1-7 "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee; my soul thirsts for thee, my flesh longs for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is. (vs. 1) A popular soft drink company once claimed that its product "deeply satisfies." That may be true as far as beverages are concerned; but God, and God alone, satisfies our spiritual thirst. David recognized this truth during two turbulent periods in his life; once when he hid in the Judean wilderness after fleeing from Saul and later when he was forced to flee Jerusalem after Absalom's revolt. David knew the lack of water and the difficult terrain made the wilderness a place of trial and testing. But instead of thirsting for water, David longed for God. He used physical imagery to describe his desire to see God's power and glory, just as he had seen it in the sanctuary. God's loving-kindness would satisfy his soul. As a result, David could lift up his hands and rejoice in praise. Even in the wilderness, David could find comfort and satisfaction in the shadow of His wings. Both early in the morning and late at night, David meditated on the Lord. God alone satisfies our spiritual thirst. At all times God is faithful. (excerpt from Open Windows). So what about you? Are you thirsty for God? Will you go through trial and testing and still "long for God?" I pray that is true of all of you who take the time to read this blog. May He be your All in All. May He be the one to satisfy your soul. May He be the one to guide, protect, and encourage you along your spiritual path.

Many ways of Worship; Have you found a way to express how much you love your Lord?

I have been learning a new way to worship. Several years ago I went on a Ladies Retreat and observed an awesome woman doing sign language to the music. I was fascinated as we (my husband and I ) had done interpretive dance in the past and it tugged at my hearts strings to go back and visit that experience. I remembered how closer to God I felt while doing this type of worship. In order to "sign" a song, I had to first learn the words to the song. Then I needed to look up the word in ASL so that I would be interpreting it correctly. As I struggled to learn the song and add this next dimension I found that great joy was to be had. I learned a new way to express each word as I put the knowledge into the music. Sometimes I could not find the word in the ASL Dictionary and so I would go to a thesaurus to find a word that had the same meaning as the one I was attempting to sign. Sometimes as in "sovereign" there would not be a sign. But it means "authority, power, one and only one". This would cause me to be able to sign a word with the same meaning. As I continued on with each verse, each chorus, I found myself enjoying the song more and more as I learned a deeper level of understanding of the writers words. I would encourage you, who want a deeper worship experience, to find an avenue, a way, to liberate you; to cause you to "dig" into the words of a song, the words of a verse of Scripture and really find out the meaning for your daily walk. As you seek His way and His will in your life may you be drawn ever closer to His heart. I believe that music is very much an expression of the heart of God. May you begin a new expression, even today, of your love for your Savior.

Aren't You Glad Your Worse Day Doesn't Define You?

I heard that statement the other day. Ever have a bad day? A day where nothing seems to go right? You get up in the morning. . . the coffee maker isn’t working and so you don’t get your morning brew before you head out the door to begin your day. You get in the car and rip your jacket on the door handle. As you travel along the road to the interstate you hit every red light. Of course, you were late starting out that morning to begin with! Now you are really going to be late. You finally make it to your job and find out that your Head Nurse is out sick today and no one was able to replace her. So, you become the Head Nurse. Your day goes on and on and on and on. Never seeming to end. When 3:00 finally rolls around you are so anxious to get out of there. You give your report to the next shift and go to your office and begin going through the pile of work that had accumulated all day while you were working as Head Nurse. Could the day get any worse? You drive home after stopping to fill up the gas tank. You walk in the door and there are the breakfast dishes staring at you – still on the kitchen table. Eggs crusted on the plates. The garbage is overflowing. The kids arrive home from the school bus and you find out from your 2nd grader that he is to take 24 cupcakes to school TOMORROW. As you check your pantry you realize that you do not have all the ingredients to make the treat. Heard enough? I know many people go through life with the above scenario or a similar one. You sometimes feel that you are just unlucky or that things just don’t go right for you – EVER. You have tried and tried to plan better! You make lists and hope to accomplish even one on that list so you can mark it off completed. But things (your life) never seem to get better. No matter how hard you try. It goes from worse to worst without even a blink. Or so it seems to you as you are in the midst of the struggle. But there is someone who has been there all along. God knows!!!! He has been there through the work day. He has been there through the traffic and the messy house. He is with you now wanting to encourage you to look to Him. Scripture says, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed, perplexed but not in despair, sometimes persecuted, but not forsaken, cast down, but not destroyed” 11 Corinthians 4:8-9 You see, as a Child of God, you are going to have rough times. You are going to have times where it seems like the enemy is getting the best of you. But rest assured, you have the promises of God that say, “you will not be defeated”. Jesus has already won the battle for you. So take heart. Pick up your armor. Strengthen yourself in His mighty Word and press on. Don’t give up in the midst of the struggle and difficulties but look to God. Allow Him to direct your steps and you will be the overcomer He has created you to be. God Bless you, Leola Stotts

The Parable of the Spoon

A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, “Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.”  The Lord led the holy man to two doors.  He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in.  In the middle of the room was a large round table.  In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew which smelled delicious and made the holy man’s mouth water. 

The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly.  They appeared to be famished.  They were holding spoons with very long handles and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.  The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.  The Lord said, “You have seen Hell.”

They went to the next room and opened the door.  It was exactly the same as the one before. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man’s mouth water.  The people were equipped with the same long handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.  The holy man said, “I don’t understand.”  “It is simple”, said the Lord.  “It requires but one skill.  You see, they have learned to feed each other while the greedy think only of themselves.”  (Author Unknown)

Which room would others say we were in?  Are you one that is seeking only for yourself without thought of your neighbor?  Are you one who walks by when you see someone in need and say “someone else will meet that need?”  God calls us each one to work within our world to help those who are hurting, hungry, homeless and the list goes on and on. May you be one that is in the room where all are helping each other.