Greetings, my friends.

In the past, I  mentioned that I have an app  I can use to see where my blogs are being read. I am so humbled to think that you would gain something of value from my writings. It causes a deeper desire in me to fulfill my Mission Statement: “To glorify God through writing, sharing His Word, and my life experiences, communicating the love of Jesus Christ to add to His Kingdom”. So as I checked stats, I saw there are 33 countries and counting. 😊

Occasionally, I pick up one of my books and read a poem I have written and scripture I have referenced in that poem. Yesterday morning was one of those occasions. As I picked up my Bible and notebook (I am definitely a note-taker) to head to the deck for early-morning quiet time, I included my book “Blue Skies, Butterflies & Battlegrounds”.

As I sat in the dark stillness of the morning, my thought was, “What will I gain from my time with the Lord this morning?” Since I have some “Martha” tendencies, I have an endless list of tasks to be done. An unrealistic list, of course, but good intentions (like Martha), nonetheless. The story of Martha and Mary is found in Luke 10:38-42. The lesson for us all is that our chores and serving are good, but time in the Word and listening to Jesus are more important and should come first. I choose, as Mary did, to sit at Jesus’s feet and listen to His Words.

This blog and the next will tell of the thought-provoking and soul-searching events of that day.

After asking myself my initial question, “What will I gain from my time with the Lord this morning?”, my thoughts turned to my poem “Gain,” and its scripture references. I quickly realized why I was prompted to include my book. Pages 127-128…

What I live for, instead of God, keeps holding me back,

Desirous pursuits that lure me off track.

Seemingly good, but void of eternal value,

What He gave for me greatly devalued.

If I gave my all to Him, what would I gain?

If I laid it all before Him, what would remain?

Or suppose all was stripped away, instead of laying it down,

Could my faith remain with nothing else around?

If my Lord and I were all there was remaining;

The gain I thought I once had is not sustaining?

Would this be the only way, to the good He has for me

Removing all I thought was gain so I can clearly see…

Only these will last forever… faith, hope, and love (charity).

Love is my hope and only way to true prosperity

Skipping several verses, I end by saying…

By laying it all before Him, abiding helper in me,

I gain everlasting bounty by giving all to thee!

This poem itself answered the all-important question. Only these will last forever… faith, hope, and love (charity). I gain everlasting bounty by giving all to thee!

But read on, there’s so much more.

My thoughts went back to my opening paragraph. Thinking of you as I considered what each of your lives might be like and what you could possibly gain from your time with me.

Examination of my motivation brought me back to my mission statement.

My poem previous to “Gain” is “Liking Stuff”. Here are a few verses that lead to what motivates me to write… liking the right stuff!

Now the Lord is teaching me, I like the wrong stuff.

I need eternal treasures that are more than enough.

He gives me what I truly need and even more to share,

So I can store real treasure with Him up there,

The lasting stuff that won’t be stolen, rust, or get rotten.

The kinds of stuff that will never be forgotten.

The souls that are won by investing in them,

The ones I help, leading them to Him.

So, it’s good to like stuff if you choose the right stuff…

Souls won for heaven; now that’s more than enough! (That’s you, my friend!)

And my poem immediately after “Gain” and its narrative is “Distractions”. Right back to Martha, Mary, me, and you with the choices we make as we begin our day.

“Distractions” ends with…

Listen to Him; He’s won the battles that come our way.

Meditate on His Word; focus on what he has to say.

Distractions of this world won’t really matter

Peace with God, overcoming noise and clatter,

Equipped each day with His plan of action,

Victorious lives, with God the attraction!

Next, the Lord brought the testimony of a South Korean Pastor and a movie/documentary of Hurricane Helene. From before daybreak to bedtime, my day was full of answers for “What will I gain?” I do hope you will join me as I move on to answer the question “What Would Remain?

May God bless you, my friends, with the words that I write and the things He gives me to share. It is truly a blessing to have you join me wherever you are.

Reba