Hello to everyone, everywhere,

Today, I would like to begin by expressing my appreciation for you, readers of my blogs (and hopefully my books). 😊 I have mentioned that I have an app that shows the countries my readers live in. I believe we are up to twenty-five nations, according to my last count. It is truly humbling that you would find what I write worth your valuable time. The Lord does His part, and I do my best in doing mine.

As I was asking the Lord if I am doing my best, He brought to mind something that He directed me to do, and that is what I will begin today.

If you read my introduction to both books and some of my blogs, you will find the story of how I began writing poetry. I never imagined I would have more than the one poem that I wrote for my sister, much less publish a book of forty poems, a few short years later. It became obvious that God’s plans are bigger than mine.

I thought I was doing the right thing by not writing the scripture out, hoping it would motivate the reader to open their Bible to read the verses for themselves. After publishing, I discovered typos I had missed, and my husband humbly admitted he wasn’t reading the references himself.

So, a seed was planted, and for my next book, I not only took my husband’s advice for writing out the scriptures, but also added the narratives. What I believe the Lord has directed me to do going forward is to share some of the stories behind select poems from “Inspire Me”.

Since you already know, or know where to read about my inspiration for my first poem, I will move to the next, the Old Testament Names of God…

We received a Christmas card with these names, and I thought, “How appropriate to begin with the beginning of God’s Word. Our Messiah, Savior Christ Jesus, throughout Genesis to Revelation.”

As I read these names, very brief rhymes followed in my thoughts. Although the list of names is not complete, I knew that these names were enough for us to see…

“The names of God right before us we see,

He is our EVERYTHING; what more could we need?”        (pp. 10-11)

Brief and to the point. Sometimes lengthier, and sometimes humorous, but as I write, I ask the Lord to help me focus on what is most important. If my words don’t boast in Him only and bring others to a deeper understanding of who He is and who we are in Him, and as a part of His family, then I am wasting my time and yours. (For more of my thoughts on the subject of time, please see my poems and narratives, Blink of an Eye pp.14-18, and Brevity of Time, pp. 19-23 in “Blue Skies, Butterflies& Battlegrounds”.  

One of the most powerful quotes I’ve ever heard to express Jesus being our everything is by Corrie Ten Boom:

“You may never know that Jesus is all you need, until Jesus is all you have.”

Corrie and her family experienced the depth of this firsthand. If you haven’t seen the movie or read the book “The Hiding Place,” I highly recommend that you do. It is the autobiography of Corrie and the Ten Boom family, who helped hide Jewish refugees during the Holocaust. Her quote will have a much deeper impact if you see the immense brutality they endured through their faith, sacrifice, and forgiveness.

Yes, He is our EVERYTHING, what more could we need?

Since writing this poem based on the names of God on the Christmas card we received, I discovered a book, “Praying The Names of God” by Ann Spangler. It is a year-long Bible study with one name each week for 52 weeks. The author points out that most of these are more properly called titles. In the Old Testament, God’s name is Yahweh. In the New Testament, Jesus is the name of God’s Son, whose Hebrew name is Yeshua, meaning “Yahweh is salvation”. I find that incredible; God and salvation in His name, Father God and Jesus His Son. In ancient times, when the Bible was written, names were believed to reveal a person’s essential nature and character. This is particularly true of the various names and titles of God revealed in Scripture. Although the titles are extensive, I personally think there’s more to Yahweh and Yeshua than we could ever put into words or rhymes.

Have you ever been curious about the meaning of your name or how your parents chose to name you? I have been told two different stories about my name. Reba was originally used to shorten Rebecca, rather than Becca or Becky (the beginning rather than the end). My dad said he had a 3^rd grade teacher, Ms. Reba, whom he held in high esteem. When he and Mom finally got to baby number five (that is me), he wanted to use that name. My Grandmother, Dad’s Mother, said she had read a book about an incredible woman named Reba. The story of this woman had a powerful influence on my grandmother, so much so that she requested that name for me. I don’t know which story is true, maybe both, but either way, I am blessed to have a name that meant so much to my Grandmother and especially my father.

So, there you have the story behind the Old Testament Names of God, including two stories behind my name. 😊 As I look at the nations you live in, I can only suppose that you know the meaning or the story behind your name. But most of all, I hope that by us taking this step toward a closer look at the names and titles of God, you have discovered more of His nature and character, thereby drawing you closer to Him.

Meanwhile, I will continue my curiosity about the majority of your names as I mark the nations you live in on a world map. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just think, one day we will all meet. What a day that will be! All because of Jesus through the Love of the Father.

And as I ended my poem, God In Our Seasons…

I will take time to share my seasons, to help others see,

And encourage them all to take time with Thee.

For our time with our Maker makes our burdens light

If we choose the Giver of Time, in all our seasons of life!

Your Sister in Christ,

Reba

Hello again,

I have an app that displays what countries my readers are from. Twenty-five and growing. I thank you for joining me, and I hope that if you gain from my writings, you will tell others to join us.

The title of this one might sound strange (maybe not after Beans and Ham :), but when understood and put into action, it can change the direction of our lives. Apparently, the Lord is helping me recognize areas where I need obedience to stay in the right direction. Maybe this resonates with you, so I hope you will stick with me.

I thought of saying I need some “tongue” surgery, but then I was reminded that it is “heart” surgery that I need. Matthew 12:34: “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”.

One of the many things that caught my attention to my words was a short podcast I heard recently. It was titled Words Aren’t Sounds, They Are Seeds. This brought cause for pause and examination of what kind of seeds I am planting.

As I go to God’s Word to see what He has to say about words and seeds, I realize the seriousness of the matter. I say the seriousness of the matter, because the Lord says life and death are in the power of the tongue. Is that not serious enough? As I search, this power is spoken of from Genesis through Revelation. God “spoke” life into the darkness. He used words for all creation. As we move through the scriptures, it becomes evident that the power of words is also given to us.

This blog could be the longest ever written if I tried to write all of the scriptures and examples that have already been given on this topic. Therefore, I will write about the main ones the Lord is using for my surgery. Lord, help me be as James 1:22 NJKV “But be doers of the word, not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

Staying in sync with my title, I will begin with Proverbs 18:20-21 NKJV: “A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. V21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit”.

Yes, I shall eat the fruit and be filled by the very words that come out of my mouth! I wrote about this very thing in my first book, “Inspire Me”. The poem is titled Kind Words pgs.34-35. The poem is filled with what happens when our words are sweet or sour and where these words originate…

“God tells us it is the condition of the heart; the wellspring determines what flows from the start…

So take some time and give it some thought; prayerfully ask, what your words have brought,

If they were served on your plate and you daily had to eat them; would they be sweet, savory, and filled to the brim?

Or would they be bitter, sour, and look pretty grim?”

And if our words are seeds filled with life and death, let’s consider why we plant seeds. Isn’t it to grow fruit for the harvest to eat in our future? So I am realizing the seeds I plant today will determine the harvest I reap tomorrow.  What I will be doing in the future depends on the types of seeds I am sowing today, and what I am experiencing now is due to the kinds of seeds I have sown in the past.

Hmmm, would I knowingly and willfully sow rotten, bitter, or dead seeds? Let’s also consider this: every time we speak, we are prophesying our future; there’s the harvest (in our future). Robert Lewis Stevenson is quoted as saying, “ Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.”

 So, I ask myself, what do I want to plant for my future harvest? I do want my harvest to be… “ sweet, savory, and filled to the brim”; not only for myself, but also for those to whom my words reach. I want my words to be ones that bring hope to those around me. I want to bring people up who are constantly being pulled down. I want to bring hope to the hopeless and blessings where there have been curses. My words truly have the power to bless or the power to hurt.

With this understanding (knowledge), we might ask, “How do we put it into action?” Examination of what’s in our hearts is a great place to start. Any unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, fear, defeat, unbelief, gossip, lack, or weakness that are hiding in the dark chambers of your heart? Remember when He gave us new hearts, He gave us the ability (power) to be transformed by the renewing of our minds to His Word that brings new life, not the old, dead hearts of stone.

I ended my poem Kind Words with these verses that I will end this blog with…

“Feasting on His Word, and having peace of mind, that you can speak Love, and with Him daily dine.

By the power of the Spirit, to us, He will bind

Showing Grace, Love and Mercy, through His words that are kind!”

Let’s make His words our words. That’s how we put His words into action! Good seeds for the abundant harvest by the Holy Spirit who lives in us. He will guide us and direct us when we are willing to be doers of the word, not hearers only.

My  questions for you are two of the main questions I have asked myself…-

“What seeds are you planting?” And “Are you willing to let the Lord examine your heart and do some surgery?”

Remember, there is no condemnation in Christ. If you feel convicted, as I have,  it is for correction. You and everyone around you will benefit, and God will be glorified. In my correction, I am led to ask others for forgiveness. It is humbling, but God says He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Thank You, Lord, for Your Forgiveness and Grace.

Feasting on His Word and with Him daily dine…

Until next time, I would like to speak this blessing over all of you.

“The Lord Bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”  Numbers 6:24-26.

To God be the glory,

Reba

Here it is noon, and I am finally getting to my computer so I can tell you about my time with the Lord early this morning. I truly hope it adds value to your day. Your time is valuable, so thank you for joining me.

As a winter storm approaches (possibly the biggest of a generation), our day ahead was to be filled with last-minute preparations. But first, thank the Lord my time with Him in His Word gave me the most important preparation there is… prepared spiritually!

As I began to pray for my family and friends who are in such need of health, healing, and financial concerns, I was abruptly stopped and redirected. I decided a better beginning would be to praise Him with a song by Don Moen, “Thank You, Lord.” Quite appropriate, keeping in mind that we,  “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless his name.” Psalms 100:4 NKJV. And then, it happened, as I was singing that song while looking for it on YouTube, up popped the barrage of winter storm warnings that half the population of our nation is predicted to be affected by.

With the realization of the dire need for safety, food, shelter, and warmth for multitudes in this storm, my thoughts continued in thanksgiving and praise to our Sovereign God. In my praises, I acknowledged our God who is always good, no matter the circumstances. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”.  Romans 8:28 KJV  

As I continued sitting quietly and letting the Lord speak to my heart and mind, this question arose, “Lord, is it true that man is now controlling the weather, and they brought this on us?” I might as well ask the question because He knows my every thought, right? 🙂 I thank God that He has shown me I can ask Him anything I want. He doesn’t mind His children’s questions because He always has the answers. I wrote about this in my blog  “My Many Whys”, to help me understand.

His answer to this question was clear. “Anything the enemy may devise is only allowed by Me, and if I allow it, it is for your good”… all things working for good for those who love Him. Talk about peace in the storm! And we get to experience God’s faithfulness in the process! And if He allows this weather to be devised by the enemy, we get to see it backfire on him. Just like convincing those who crucified Jesus. Wow, did that backfire on Satan! Amazing Grace and Mercy brought forth by the plan of God! The Perfect Plan that I wrote about in my book, “Blue Skies, Butterflies, &Battlegrounds”.

But then the best was yet to come…

With a forecast of snow, sleet, and freezing rain in various areas and degrees of severity, I remembered a dream I shared in my blog titled Joy Ride With The Holy Spirit. I had just shared this with a friend yesterday, because I wanted her to see what the Lord had shown me in this incredible dream…

Note about Ice and snow in the Bible: Ice represents God’s power over the elements and seasons. Job 37:10  NKJV “By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen”. Job 38:29 “From whose womb came the ice? And the frost of heaven, who gives it birth?” Psalms 147:17 “He casts out His hail like morsels; Who can stand against His cold?” Snow is also used to represent God’s power and purity. Isaiah 1:18 NKJV “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins be like scarlet, They shall be white as snow, Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” And in Psalms 51:7 David also uses this concept in his prayer. “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” On the Desiring God link it points out in Psalms 148:7-8 “Snow is purposed by God to glorify Him and “do His bidding.” Snow has a Sender (Job 37:6), frost has a Scatter-er (Psalm147:16), and God uses both to showcase His supremacy (Job 38:22).

Again, this was confirming everything the Lord had spoken to me thus far. Just look at His Word at what He says about controlling the weather. Pretty incredible, wouldn’t you agree? But we aren’t finished yet. 😊

So I opened my Bible (NKJV) to Job 37 and began reading in verse one. Each verse holds much deeper revelation of who God is as our Creator of all things and how all is at His command. In verse nine, it describes the weather pattern we are in right now: the whirlwind coming from the south and the cold from the scattering winds of the north. Verse 10 says, “By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen”. I was going to jump to verse 13 and count on you to read it all for yourselves. But seeing the numerous countries that my readers are in, I realize you may not have access to the Bible, so I must include V11-18. It is too good to miss. And again, if you do not have a Bible, with God’s help, we will get one to you.

The background of the story, the majority of the book of Job, is his dialogue back and forth between him and three of his friends. Job’s friends concluded that his suffering must have been caused by his sin. Job defends his innocence. However, Elihu, a younger man listening to the conversation, spoke up. He is dissatisfied with both Job’s and his friends’ arguments.

Based on Job 32:8, Elihu perceives his insights as inspired by God’s Spirit, which drives him to speak. As God inspires and we speak up, revelation is given. Thank you, Elihu, for speaking up when the Holy Spirit inspired you to. Because you did, countless people like me ( and hopefully those reading this) have clarity.  Elihu speaks in chapters 32-37, but I will pick up in 37:11; “Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds; He scatters His bright clouds. V12 And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance, that they may do whatever He commands them On the face of the earth, V13 is the one that answered my question of the Lord this morning… “He causes it to come, Whether for correction, Or for His land, Or for Mercy”. Do you see it? Let’s move on. V14 “Listen to this, O Job; Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God. V15 Do you know when God dispatches them, And causes the light of His cloud to shine? (I think of our meteorologist trying so hard to forecast our weather). V16 Do you know how the clouds are balanced, Those wonderous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge? V17 Why are your garments hot, When He quiets the earth by the south wind? V18 With Him, have you spread out the skies, Strong as a cast metal mirror? Sure helps us get things in proper perspective, right?

I will end here because I believe the Lord’s Word has made it known…

In Psalms 148:7-8 “Snow is purposed by God to glorify Him and “do His bidding.” Snow has a Sender (Job 37:6), frost has a Scatter-er (Psalm147:16), and God uses both to showcase His supremacy (Job 38:22).

Every day, our lives are filled with the truth of His Word. He gave me the dream Joy Ride With The Holy Spirit, the notes with the clarification of the meaning, and revelation in my time with Him this morning. For it is true, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless his name.” Psalms 100:4 NKJV. In His presence is our supply for everything we could ever need. We bless Your name, Lord Jesus.

When we are prepared each day, spiritually, we can be strong and courageous through any storm that comes our way. And the storms are coming, and we know who is always in control and have some understanding of His reason for the storms.

By the way, I texted my 16-year-old granddaughter and asked if she is ready for the arctic blast. Her response, “Born ready!” I love her sense of humor. She is much like her Dad in that. 😊 She inspired the title of this blog.

Are you born ready through your new birth in Christ? If not, 2nd Corinthians 6:2 NKJV, “For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation”.

With love and prayers,

Reba

Greetings on this windy, rainy, but milder-temperature January day. I smile as I describe the weather today. Let me explain.

As we hear an increasing number of reports of a “world gone mad”, I become more aware of my need to keep my mind on the “Good News” so that I don’t go with them. 😊 Calmness and peace reside in Him and His Kingdom. Yes, we live in His Kingdom while still on this earth. Jesus said in His prayer in John 17:16, “They are not of this world, just as I am not of this world.” Meaning believers in Christ are simply in the world, physically present, but not part of its values. We are not to engage in the sinful activities the world promotes, nor are we to retain the vapid, corrupt mind that the world creates.

The world (cosmos) belongs to Satan. Through Christ, we become His children, adopted into His family in His Kingdom, and are no longer of the world system ruled by Satan. Rather, we are to commit to following Romans 12:2 NKJV, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” “The Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (The Word), so I don’t go with the world gone mad!” Thank You Jesus!

I must add that reports of the struggles, trials, and pain that we Christians are experiencing are also on the rise. Daily, I hear Christians who are experiencing sickness, loss of jobs, unsaved children, and trials of all kinds, my husband and I included. How do we, as children of God in His Kingdom, deal with this? That is what I’d like for us to find answers to. I hope you will continue on to explore this together.

As we read about people of faith, from Biblical times to the present, we see it is not an easy road. I see no scripture that says we will not have trials. As a matter of fact, I am reminded of one scripture in particular, John 16:33 NKJV: “ These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Now you may say, “ But we are not of this world, so why does Jesus say we will have tribulation in this world?” That is why Jesus has already told us in previous verses that we, as His children, are no longer of the world system ruled by Satan. He has overcome the world system so we can have peace and “be of good cheer”. Why did He give us the fruit of the Spirit that lives within us if we are to live as the world lives (the world gone mad)?

Wow, my friends, this is proof positive of our need to stay in His Word. Yes, we Christians experience tribulations, but we are not overcome by them. Which brings me to my time with Him this morning and the title for this blog…

I had some of the words to a song playing in my mind, “Everything” by Lauren Daigle. Repeatedly, I was singing, “You give me everything, You give me everything, You give me everything I need.”  Then I was on to reading the first chapter of Romans as our pastor had requested. We are now beginning a chapter-by-chapter, verse-by-verse study of Romans on Wednesday evenings. I do believe we are off to a great start for this new year!

After reading the chapter, I grabbed a notebook to write the verses we are to memorize. The notebook I chose was one already filled with notes.  Therefore, I flipped through the pages to find a blank one. I know my organizational skills need to be honed. 😊 But sometimes, as in this case, my disorganization leads to what I need.

The next blank page came after my notes on a study titled “Laborers With God.”

Revelation 22:17 is the last scripture referenced in my notes, which says, NKJV “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” Note: Bride is the Church, Body of Believers.

Next in my notes was a quote believed to be attributed to St Augustine. Quote “God provides the wind, but we must set the sails.” Next, I wrote my thoughts on this: “I will see my destiny. Sovereign Captain at the Helm.”  I finished with a quote by John Wesley, “God does nothing in the earth without prayer first.”

The meaning of the quote by St Augustine suggests that God gives the power and direction (wind), but we need to position ourselves to receive it and act on it ( raise the sail). Combined with John Wesley’s quote, we must raise our prayers first and see God move.

Interestingly, I had asked for the right opportunity to share my poem with those who haven’t read it, “Sovereign Captain at the Helm”. Through the process, today is the day. It is in my first book, Inspire Me.

Sovereign Captain at the Helm

                                          January 13, 2017

Sail on my shipmate, in this raging storm

Where faith and strength become the norm.

Our sovereign Captain is at the helm

Storms won’t overtake, or you overwhelm.

Our sails set full, surrendered to the Captain of the sea

With Him in control, we become carefree.

Allow Him to be the Captain of your life vessel

Storms, remember, are not yours to wrestle,

When LOVE, GRACE, AND PEACE in your ship reside

Your voyage successful, calmly into destiny you glide,

Till your sailing is over, Eternity on the other side.

Talk about giving us everything! The way to reside in His Kingdom, the way to enter into His presence through songs of praise, worship, and prayers of thanksgiving, the way to live life with the Sovereign Captain at the Helm, and so much more!

There it is… the stormy weather in this physical world this morning as I sat down to write. By the way, as I wrote, the storms passed. But we got much-needed rain!

 The storms (tribulations) of life, while in this world but not of it, PEACE (be of good cheer).

How we can be laborers with God, where faith and strength become the norm

How we, as the Church with the SPIRIT, can say Come! Take the water of life freely to those who hear, thirst, and desire.

God gives us the power and direction (wind) we need to position ourselves to act on it (set sails)!

Let me ask you, do you hear, thirst, and desire life in His Kingdom with your sails set full? If not, He has given you everything you need and more than you can even ask for.

Which brings me to finalize this blog and save the rest of what He gave me for my next blog, more than I asked for. I do hope you will join me…

Our voyage successful, calmly into destiny we glide,

Till our sailing is over, Eternity on the other side.

Love and prayers for you,

Reba

PS Remember we are all fellows in this ship together. That’s why our time together is called fellowship.

Happy New Year’s Eve! It is evening time here, so it is still 2025 for us. Wherever you are, I hope this blog will help you each year going forward.

This morning I exercised in the therapy pool at our adult wellness center. This center is where Senior adults (ages 50 and older) gather for a variety of activities, encouraging better health and staying active. Our group is 99% female, so it is a social event with as much conversation as exercise. 🙂 Some call it “talk therapy” while we work out.

One of the topics in conversation among a few was the secret to longevity. The main spokesperson stated that a long life is for those who find a hobby that they love doing. Something that gives them pleasure and passes the time. My brief input began with, “ I believe it needs to be much bigger than that; much bigger than ourselves.” You may be wondering why I said, “brief input.” I knew that it could easily sound like a sermon if I continued, and that would serve no good purpose. Sometimes, less is better depending on your choice of words.

So, here I get to expand on my viewpoint, and without the sermon. I do believe that we are to enjoy the abundant life that Jesus came to give us. That is not self-indulgence as long as we have discovered our purpose in life and are using it for His Glory. And I’m not too sure about it causing us to live longer either way. But one thing I am sure of is that if we are living for Him, no matter how many days He has numbered for us, we will have an abundance of joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the nine virtues described in Galatians 5:22-23 that manifest in a person’s life as a result of being guided by the Holy Spirit. These grow as believers connect with God through faith, prayer, and the study of Scripture.

As I list these virtues, I recognize areas where I need growth. I thank God that His desire for me is to continue growing in these virtues, and He has shown me the way: faith, prayer, and scripture.

Which brings me to our new year and a poem that He inspired me to write on December 27^th, 2016. It is in my first book, Inspire Me.

Post Christmas Reflections

“When Christmas is over, now what do we see?

Are we still laughing and singing our praises to thee?

Are we shopping and giving to those in need?

Or are we like old Scrooge, still living in greed?

Are we living in peace, where fighting has ceased?

Where the love in our hearts we have finally released?

Or we back to the old ways of living for self?

As we mindlessly place our idols high on the shelf

Did the reason for the season slip quickly away?

 As we, like sheep, go blindly astray?

PLEASE LET IT NOT BE!

Now, this day, is a great place to start

To share all year long, the love of God, straight from our hearts!“

The first scripture reference I listed is 1Corinthians 10:14-15. I am using the Amplified Version.

“Therefore, my beloved, run, [keep far away] from [any sort of} idolatry [and that includes loving anything more than God, or participating in anything that leads to sin and enslaves the soul]. V15 I am speaking as to wise and sensible people; judge [carefully and thoughtfully consider] for yourselves what I say.”

Would you agree, my friends, that this is a” A Great Place To Start”? Right here, right now, let’s commit to finding and serving our God-given purpose. For this is truly a life well lived, no matter the length of days.

God bless you all, and may Joy unspeakable be had in your New Year,

Reba

Good, blessed day to all,

As I awoke extra early this Christmas Eve, my thoughts were on our family gathering today. Then I began my mental rehearsal of preparation for the event. Although we are making an effort to simplify, I still found myself heading toward the activities of the Bible character, Martha. As I lay there with my thoughts racing from one task to the next, the Holy Spirit reminded me of Jesus’s response to Martha’s request for help from Mary. I chose to follow His advice. He said that Mary chose the “better part” (attentiveness to God’s Word). Martha was “distracted by many things” (worldly tasks). So, as we gather today, I will be sure to share some things about Christmas with my family that have been on my heart for some time now.

And I am here to share with you my next reminder from the Lord this early morning.

David and I have continued the tradition of sending Christmas cards with a brief “catch-up” letter about our lives for those we are thinking of, but some we don’t communicate with often. I decided to send a copy of it to you, my readers, to let you know that I’m thinking of you as well.

The poem, following the letter, is one I wrote in 2017 for our church’s Christmas Eve candlelight service. The Christ candle, the last candle of Advent. It is my “attentiveness to God’s Word”. After all, Jesus is the Word. John 1:1 & 14 NKJV “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”. V 14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” The reason we celebrate!

Christmas letter 2025…

Here we are again, by the grace of God, with the opportunity to rejoice together through cards and letters at the birth of our Savior, with a little recap of life in the Bailes family.

Early this year, we lost our family pet, Howie, the Wonder Dog. Broken hearts…enough said.

We later adopted two orange cats that we named Mango and Tango. Our cats have not only been comfort for broken hearts, but also very entertaining. If you want pictures, text me, I have a few. 😊

Simply put, the completion of our new Church sanctuary has given David a new lease on life, for me, my husband back, and for our Church family, an amazing place to gather and worship. A major milestone for sure!

At the conclusion of the Sanctuary, we bought a new car and embarked on a couple of much-needed vacations. One, to Texas to attend the 55^th wedding anniversary of our dear friends George and Linda Bostock, and to see my sister Karen and her husband Mike’s new home. The icing on the cake was our time with Denise and her Mike, also.

Next, I had been longing for the beach, so we headed for Panama City Beach, Florida. There’s just something healing about the ocean breeze and walks on the beach. As I walk, I offer to take pictures of families, friends, and pets, all with their camera, of course; just one of my simple pleasures. David relaxed, rested, and rejuvenated for the next opportunity…

We both embarked on a whole new skill (investing) for our family legacy and Kingdom building. David is doing the majority of the training, and I am the support and cheerleader. To say it has been challenging has got to be the understatement of the year! They say if it is not challenging, then you’re not growing.

While supporting and cheerleading David, my poetry and books have turned into blogs that might turn into books. 😊 Only the Lord knows what’s next.

We, like many of you, have also had our health challenges. Maybe that’s from “growing” so much, or maybe just growing older. 😊We have too many blessings to dwell on that. The Lord has us covered for that, too, right?

Mentioning blessings, our family and friends are counted as our biggest blessings. Allison, Andrea, Steven, and their families are still all close by. We love that! All with life challenges, busy lives, and the hope for their futures as well.

All because of this glorious time to celebrate the reason for this hope that lives within us through the Birth, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Rejoice, our friends (our blessings), count your blessings. Have a wonderful Christmas celebrating His birth, and Happy New Year to all! David, Reba, Mango, and Tango

Candle of Christ

What do you see on this Holy night?

Is it sleigh bells, Santa, with gifts that delight?

Are we shopping, exhausted and broke through the year

And trying our best to be of good cheer?

Please pause for a moment and come to our senses,

Before this special service fully commences.

This night is Holy for only one reason

The CHRIST CHILD’S birth is the cause for this season!

God’s greatest gift if we’d only believe

And lay down this strife, HIS GIFT we receive.

But somehow we think His Gift isn’t enough

We seek satisfaction with more earthly stuff.

Storing our treasures here on this earth

When eternal treasure came through Christ’s birth.

This gift included the gifts of the Spirit

Are so self-indulged, we don’t want to hear it?

So, as we each light our candle and illuminate our faces

And think of our loved ones in many other places,

Let us all reflect on the purpose of this night

Through His people, let His glory shine bright.

Remember, Christ Jesus went on to the cross

He is our treasure as we count all else loss.

What more could we ask for, what more could we need?

When we lay it all down, let Christ supersede.

Lit with HOPE in remembrance of Him

PEACE, the Gospel, Good News of Him.

JOY unspeakable filled by Him,

LOVE of God, the very essence of Him,

Christ, His birth giving way to Him.

 Join with me now, making it ALL about Him

WORSHIPPING, SING HALLELUJAH, SPIRIT-FILLED TO THE BRIM!

May God’s blessings fill your hearts and minds with Christ this Christmas,

Reba

Good evening, my last blog was on November 13th, so life and its events are moving right along. I trust that those of us who celebrated Thanksgiving were filled with gratitude that we will carry throughout the rest of our lives. Let’s keep our focus on the blessings and how we can be used to bless others.

Now I’m hoping the title of this blog has got you curious. If it has, then it has served its purpose. I will tell you of an event in which God used beans and ham for a supernatural blessing.

Our previous home was in a subdivision where most homes sat on several acres of land on the outskirts of town. There is a creek that runs through the area, and the land is heavily wooded and hilly. If you are familiar with NW Arkansas, then you know the beautiful landscape.

Soon after moving to our home of 26 years, I discovered that we had an extremely “different” kind of neighbor. He lived in a tiny one-room shack built from tree limbs on his property just across the creek from our place. He had no running water, no toilet, sink, or bathtub, no heat, no food storage, and wore clothes and shoes until they looked like they could literally fall off of him. He bathed in the creek a couple of times in the summer (whether he needed it or not) 😊.

The first time I saw him, I was on a walk by myself, and I must admit, I wasn’t sure whether running or standing my ground was my best option. I did neither. I kept walking and looking straight forward as if he wasn’t there, all the while trying to steal glimpses that I hoped wouldn’t be noticed by him. The closer he got as we were walking on the same road, but in opposite directions, the scarier he looked. He was the kind of guy that my Dad and Mom had always cautioned me about, and the reason my husband had encouraged me not to walk alone. There I was walking alone regardless. My desire for fresh air and exercise frequently overpowers solid advice.

But an odd thing happened. Although all of these factors were racing through my thoughts and emotions, as he passed by, I decided to look him in the eye and say, “Good morning.” He continued to walk while replying, “Good morning to you also”. We broke the ice, as some would say. I felt a sense of safety and calmness that surrounded me.

Through the years of following some sound advice, getting to know my neighbors, and adopting a large dog, I walked regularly. This different kind of neighbor (his name is David, the same as my husband) and I would have conversations that exposed a man who lived solely on his piece of land in his tiny hand-hewn shack that was barely standing, by nature’s medicinal plants, and the generosity of others. Mostly, the ever-present grace and mercy of God was, as he said, more than enough. I found that he was an educated man who had a wife and family until one day it all came undone. Afterward, he knew the Word of God and believed that the Lord told him to live on his land in total reliance on Him. He had been there for 20 years at that time and had no plans to leave unless God told him to.

 He never asked us for anything except the time he asked our son for assistance (yes, he, some others in our family, and community members got to know him and care for him as well). He needed help piecing together some dollar bills he had discovered that had been stashed away. Being exposed to the elements for a lengthy time, they had deteriorated to the point of falling apart. Our son took them to the bank, got assistance matching serial numbers on the bills, and the man had enough money to pay his property taxes, which were a significant amount! By the grace of God.

I thought maybe he could have gone to the creek, caught a fish with coins in its mouth to pay the taxes, as Jesus had His disciples do. But God is so creative that He had another avenue to perform His miracle, and our son was a trusted key player needed to make it happen.

Those roadside visits with my extremely “different” kind of neighbor held valuable lessons and opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus for those who would listen and obey His voice. One of the most important things I heard the Lord say is, “Remember how John the Baptist was described? This man loves me as John does, and I will use his obedience to this difficult lifestyle as an example to people like you”. That word from the Lord prepared me for beans and ham. 😊

I grew up in the south with a mother who was not only an outstanding cook, but also knew how to stretch the dollar. Beans and ham were a way to feed a large family on a tight budget, and we had them fairly often. To this day, my husband and I find this meal a real pleasure as it brings back fond memories of both our families. Yes, we are fortunate to have ham in our beans most of the time, but it isn’t all about the food, right?

So on one extremely cold January night, we indulged in this tummy-warming Southern-style meal. As I was cleaning the kitchen afterwards, a thought popped into my head, “David (the different kind of neighbor) would sure like some of this food.” At first, I thought that it was getting very late to offer food. Then the thought was repeated, “David would sure like some of this food.” My next thought was that he had probably already eaten and was buried in his sleeping bag for warmth. The third time with the same thought, “David would sure like some of this food.”  I knew it was the Lord speaking to me, but I attempted to reason with Him. My puny response was that my husband, David, would not let me go out into the woods in the dark in bitter cold to offer food to a man who was probably battened down to survive the night.

 Well, the Lord wasn’t interested in my excuses, as you can imagine. So, I decided that obedience was the better choice, whether it made sense or not. With the matter settled between the Lord and me, the next step was to convince my husband. I proceeded to explain, blow by blow, my conversation with the Lord and how my mind was made up that food would be delivered to our neighbor that night. Because the Lord had gone before me, it didn’t take much explaining on my part. David went along with the idea of taking food, but not with me being the one to deliver it. He willingly volunteered to take the food himself and hoped not to frighten or irritate him for dragging him out on this bitter night. So, I thankfully agreed, packed the food, along with numerous other goodies, and rode with him.

Surprisingly, David (husband) said, “Wait here in the car and call for help if I don’t return.” I didn’t believe for one second that he was kidding! That was a clear indication that he wasn’t certain this was a good idea. I, on the other hand, was certain because I had heard from the Lord. It was settled that we were safe.

As the story goes, David went into the woods up the hill with our sack of food in one hand and his trusty flashlight in the other. He was calling out to David as he made his way into the dark. By the time David reached the shack, our neighbor David stepped out calling out, “Is that you, David?” He welcomed him with open arms and with increased delight when David presented the food. He told him that Reba thought that “he might like some of this food.” His response was “I haven’t eaten in three days”. He thought he had heard the Lord tell him that night that Rita was bringing him food, but now he knew the Lord had said Reba, not Rita. He also said that when he saw the light coming up the hill, he thought it was an angel. Then he realized it was David doing the angel’s work. And oh, by the way, it just so happens that David (neighbor) also loves beans and ham, cornbread, fried potatoes, and all the other goodies I sent. Although we know that after three days without food, anything would have delighted him.

With all of that said, since that event, beans and ham bring back not only fond family memories but remembrance of the blessings of listening to the Holy Spirit and being obedient, even when it doesn’t seem reasonable. I wonder how many shied away from John the Baptist and missed the most incredible blessing of their lives.

Now it is my goal to continue listening, without lame excuses or trying to rationalize with the Holy Spirit, and step out in obedience. I get to see Him use the simple things like a hot meal for someone whom He knew needed it and had anticipated God providing, just by using Reba, not Rita. And of course, David doing the angel’s work. We, like our son, got to be trusted key players in making it happen.😊

How about you?

Sincerely,

Reba

Good afternoon, my friends near and far,

Here I am to write, and I thank you for joining me.  

I have shared that the Lord uses a variety of avenues to bring inspiration. It could come from almost anything, from the seemingly mundane (like pulling weeds and cleaning closets), the extraordinary (finding lost valuable items that we had given up on, or the incredible beauty of His creation), to the supernatural (powerful dreams and the Lord orchestrating events for us that are far above our abilities).

 I have also noted that I sometimes jot down a topic for a blog and then wait for the right time. This “Goody Two-Shoes” was in my notes on August 8^th. This past Sunday, our Pastor’s sermon inspired me to write about this particular topic that had long awaited its turn. Although some have waited for years. 😊

Our Pastor has spent several Sundays teaching on The Father’s House, which brought us to the story of the prodigal son. But this time we focused on the older son rather than the younger (you know, the one who really messed up). Have you heard the saying, “There are two sides to every story”? It is true, so it was very revealing to take a closer look at the older son, you know, the goody two-shoes guy. You can find this parable in Luke 15:11-32.

For those who may not be familiar with the term goody two-shoes, it is an idiom for someone who is excessively virtuous, well-behaved, and rule-following, often to the point of being smug or annoying to others. Prideful in their own goodness comes to my mind.

As we read the scriptures, our Pastor pointed out that both sons had everything they could ever want, but both were unhappy. They had a good father, but neither had an authentic relationship with him. One had a rebellious nature and went out into the world seeking happiness. But when he came to his senses, he humbled himself and only hoped that his father would allow him to serve in his house. But on the other hand, the older son, who had stayed with his father and didn’t stray, became self-righteous. He pointed out his virtues, good behavior, and rule-following lifestyle to his father. He wasn’t just being smug or annoying. In his self-righteousness, he became angry, jealous, and felt unappreciated, so much so that he couldn’t even rejoice when his younger brother returned to his father’s house.

Note: If you look back to January and February of 2024, I wrote a series of blogs about feeling unappreciated, how we get there, and how we get free from it. Again, I say it is very revealing when we take a closer look at the other side of the story. It is truly for our good, an examination for our transformation. My sister, Karen, sometimes refers to it as “heart surgery”. That’s a good one!

So, as I mention my sister’s name, Karen (the prodigal daughter in this case), and the goody two-shoes gal (in my case), I want to take a closer look at my story as the older sister and my heart surgery. I believe it reveals much-needed truth for many of us.

If you know me, or have read my first poem in Inspire Me, you know that there was a period of time in Karen and my life that “along the way our relationship grew apart”. As she went farther into the world chasing happiness, I tried to follow the rules, live well-behaved, and became a people pleaser. I became angry and frustrated with Karen’s behavior, and she grew weary of me trying to “fix” her. Who wouldn’t?

I tried even harder to be the example of how you follow the rules and be the “good” girl without recognizing my own lack of an authentic relationship with my Heavenly Father. I was operating on a “works” for salvation plan rather than the transforming power of being saved by Grace (God’s plan).

See how deceived we can become by comparing our virtues to someone who has obviously wallowed with the pigs? Through God’s eyes, I was wallowing with the pigs right along beside her. Isn’t that an interesting thought? In God’s eyes, no one’s sin is greater than another’s. Read James 2:10 to see… if we break one of the Laws of Moses, we are guilty of breaking them all. As Dr Phil would say, “How’s that working for you?” I can tell you that it was a disaster for me!

This leads right to the story of casting stones in John 8:1-11. The Pharisees and scribes were demanding that a woman caught in adultery be stoned according to the Law of Moses. As they made their demands, Jesus was writing on the ground. In Blue Skies, Butterflies,& Battlegrounds, I wrote the poem, “Casting Stones”. It and the narrative address how our view of ourselves can be amiss, and that only our Lord knows what’s in our hearts. I’ve wondered if Jesus was writing in the dirt all of the sins of the crowd demanding her stoning. He did say to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” He stooped down and wrote some more. Then they were convicted by their conscience and left one by one. After the accusers left, and it was only Jesus and the woman there, Jesus asked her where her accusers were. They acknowledged there was no one condemning her, and then freedom proceeded from Jesus’s mouth, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” That freedom does mean both a physical freedom by not being stoned and a spiritual freedom by not being condemned by Jesus. When He said, “Go and sin no more.” He did not mean she had to go and try her best to follow the rules and try to be perfect. He offered her both forgiveness and a chance to change her life through the transforming power of His mercy and grace.

This is he same transforming power that my sister and I both needed so desperately. He taught us how to have an authentic relationship with our Father for forgiveness and the life-changing, transforming power of His mercy and grace. Once you have it, you can extend it to others and restore relationships better than you ever imagined. If you don’t have it, you are wallowing with the pigs, no matter how good you try to be.

So, here is a little more of this transforming process…

It grieved my heart deeply that she and I had gotten to the point that we couldn’t even be in the same room together without arguing. As she went farther into the world, and I lived the Navy life, we had very little chance to be together. The separation during that time was a good thing. Who needs to be together to do more damage to the relationship? God had a lot of work to do in both our lives. Although it wasn’t apparent, God had never stopped working, He just had to deal with us differently.

I do not remember the year, but I do remember the event. As I was growing in the Word, the Lord was revealing to me that my salvation is about His grace, not my works. Along with that came the understanding that His Love for me was unconditional, not how well I performed. Then came the awareness of my need to extend that same kind of love to my sister. He was examining my heart for the transformation that was soon to have a profound effect on both of us.

As I remembered her birthday, the wonderful memories of her birth and childhood came to my mind.  I loved her deeply and wanted her back! So I picked up the phone that day, May 11^th, ???? not even sure exactly what I was going to say. I wasn’t even sure she would answer when she saw that it was me calling! The only thing I was sure of was that the time was right and the Holy Spirit would help me. Thank God, although she was very hesitant, she answered, and then I proceeded with my birthday words of blessings.

I went back to when I was 10 years old and how I was absolutely delighted to find that Mom was expecting a baby. I had hoped for a baby sister and got one! My words flowed from my heart, and I was able to express the love that I always had for her and so much more. The Holy Spirit truly is our helper. He even helped my sister receive every word I spoke. Most of all, I was able to tell her that I love her just the way she is, unconditionally! That phone call was our breakthrough. Those words had the power to set healing and restoration into motion. Proverbs 16:24 NKJV “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones”.

 In that same call, Karen began to cry and tell me of a time after one of our arguments, when she was sitting on her bed crying. She cried out to the Lord, “Why can’t Reba love me just the way I am?” The Lord had to show me why, and there I was calling her to answer her prayer. There we were… the prodigal and the goody two-shoes sisters basking, healing, and rejoicing in the Father’s unconditional love that I could now share.

Do you remember how the Father of the prodigal responded to his son when he returned home? He had compassion and ran to him, hugged him, and kissed him. As the son confessed his sin, the father placed the best robe on him, put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet. He had the fatted calf killed, cooked, and they ate and were merry, rejoicing over the son that was alive again! He didn’t hold back and was filled with joy.

Now the scripture doesn’t go further for us to know if the older brother’s heart was ever changed. But praise God, I’m here to tell you as the older sister, mine was!

It is so sad that some will never look at both sides of the story and receive all that the Father has for them also. If this is you, I can tell you that there is nothing better in this life than to get into God’s Word, submit to the Holy Spirit, and let the Great Surgeon Jehovah Rapha do some heart surgery on you. It is life with an authentic relationship with the Father. It does not get better than that because He holds back nothing good.

No wonder the first poem He gave me was for Karen on her birthday in 2016.Expressions of His Endearing Love (My sister, her poem, both sent from God above)

“I praise God I am a part of my sister’s story

And together forever, we will sing of His glory.”

Although this story is of a torn relationship between two sisters, these principles apply to all of our relationships. He’s not holding back good from us if only we will see both sides of the story and let Him examine our hearts. Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even unto the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”. There is that surgeon’s scalpel for the much-needed heart surgery.

Dear God, I can never thank  You enough!

And dear friends, I pray this has searched your heart as it has mine.

Reba

P.S. Keep in mind, I have other siblings as well. I have never loved them any less, but our bond is different. And I can thank God for “different”, not “less”.

Hello from me on this beautiful, sunny, chilly autumn day in Northwest AR. The leaves are beginning to transition into their brilliant display of what God does with His paintbrush in the hills of the Ozarks. 😊Regardless of where you are, in a desert land, ice-capped mountains, or a tiny island in the vast ocean. Just look, with the Creator in mind, and you can see Him everywhere.

I began my day soaking in our Creator’s beauty in this season, in my Bible study, and time with Him. I believe the Lord has been preparing me for the text from my sister, Karen, which led to a phone call (too much for a text). Our conversations are packed with so much that I would not attempt to cover it all, nor should I. I am here to unpack the main thing the Lord has for me to share today. So, here we go…

Our discussions are mainly around our Lord, spouses, families, friends, Bible studies, church, our health, and natural supplements to improve it. You name it, and we pretty much have it covered. There is a lot when you become our age. 😊No wonder it turns into marathon calls that deplete our phone batteries. Lol! These conversations help recharge our spiritual batteries, also.

Each phone visit, I take away what I continue to call golden nuggets. These nuggets come in all forms. Sometimes they are simply reminders of what the Lord has already done for us, His blessings and encouragement. Sometimes it is for us to share the lessons that God has taught us through experience. You know, what we get the longer we live. Other times it is for accountability, confession, correction, or confirmation. Given enough time, we think we covered them all, and when we hang up, we think of something else. Lol! No matter what, though, there are always those golden nuggets.

Today’s example, we came full circle to the word that I claimed as my intent word for the year 2025… “Trust”. What we keep holding on to is simply a matter of distrust. We sing songs and say the words like “I surrender all”, which is a song that is typically sung throughout the years when there is an altar call. Do we leave it all at the altar? Do we really mean it? I surrender all! All means everything! What about our families that we keep trying to rescue from their troubles? Have we surrendered them to His trustworthy care? Or are we getting in the way of them turning to Him for help, direction, and Him being the Rescuer?

In our current Ladies’ Bible study, The War Room, we are asked some soul-searching questions that help us recognize where we honestly stand in this “trust” issue. You know we can be easily deceived; therefore, these questions are there for our benefit, and I was able to share these with my sister.

One of the most revealing questions for me was, “What do you crave most? List anything and everything you tend to place first in your life ahead of God. And then the following question, “Would you be willing to lay aside these or anything else, even good things, in order to keep Christ first in your heart?” As I answered without deception,  the truth was revealed. My issue was not fully trusting God with my family. I often surrender them on the altar and then pick them back up. What does it look like to surrender my family into God’s hands and trust that He keeps His promises to me about them?

A good place to start is to acknowledge who we all belong to before we were created in our Mother’s womb. That’s a humbling thought. Did I create them? It is almost laughable to believe that.

And as usual, this reminds me of a poem in “Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds”. Here are a few verses in “Gain”…

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

If I laid it all before Him, what should 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 as gain, so I can clearly see?”

Then the poem goes on to point out authentic gain and the way to it. I end with these two verses…

“By laying it all before Him, abiding Helper working in me,

I gain everlasting bounty by giving all to Thee!”

Sounds like surrendering all to Him is the way. But we can do this only by fully trusting Him with everything, including our families.

At this point, it is appropriate to recognize that countless families have had theirs stripped away. It could be you. If it were me, would my faith remain? Only by His Grace and remembering who they belong to from the beginning of Him creating each one.

This leads me to all of the songs we sing, stating that we “trust” God? Doing a quick search, we find an endless list of songs that repeatedly say, “I trust in God”. Are we singing and following those words because we mean it? Or is it just what we should say, coupled with a powerful voice and talented musicians?

Now it may seem as though I’m off topic from my phone call with my sister, but that is not so. As I shared with her the soul-searching questions in this study and the revelation I received while answering them, it helped her with some of her family issues as well. When we hung up, I listened very closely to the words I was singing in Lauren Daigle’s song “Trust In You,” and I heard the Holy Spirit say, “Sing it like you mean it!” Was I not? The answer was clear that I had not yet surrendered my family so that I could truthfully sing those words and mean them.

 I spoke earlier of coming full circle to the word I claimed as my intent word for 2025, “Trust”. Intent is defined as a noun: aim or purpose; as an adjective: resolved or determined to do something. I am thankful, as we are nearing the end of the tenth month of this year, that the Lord has me taking a closer look at where I am in this trust intent. As in the 139^th Psalm of David, “O Lord, You have searched me and known me.” NKJV Thank You, Lord.

I can confidently say that my sister agrees that the golden nuggets in our phone calls are of mutual benefit. As Proverbs 27:17 states, “As Iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” This is an image to illustrate how people, through mutual interaction, can help each other grow and improve.

I am even more confident in the Lord helping us both grow and improve in surrendering it all, including our families, as we mean what we say when we say (and in my case write poems and blogs), and sing that we trust Him. There’s a little saying, “the proof is in the pudding.” God says, “I’m looking at your heart, and your actions are the proof”. With His help, our Holy Spirit Helper, our actions will be the proof of what God sees in our hearts. We will mean it with all our hearts; therefore, do it, not just sing or write about it.

Karen and I have both been led to look up all the promises of God about our families. These promises will certainly build our trust if we stand on them, not sight our circumstances.

Regardless of your area of lack of trust, the Lord’s deep desire is for you to mean what you say and sing. He will gladly help you through the Holy Spirit, His Word, and the golden nuggets He sends. You might also read my February 4, 2025, blog titled Passing the Gouge With Golden Nuggets for further encouragement.

And I mean it when I say that I hope you have gained a golden nugget by reading what I believe the Lord had for me to share today. Your comments are always welcome.

God bless you and yours,

Reba

I hope this day has been filled with a “knowing” of God’s goodness. Without it, our thoughts are surely misguided.

 As I settle in to write, many topics come to mind again. There is a question the Lord has prompted me to consider, and today I believe I should share it with you, and we can contemplate it together. It is the simple question of “Who said that?” A simple question, but it is of utmost importance.

Recent studies used functional MRI brain imaging to count “thought worms”, or transitions between distinct thoughts. It is an odd name, but I believe it is a visual picture of the transition between distinct thoughts. These studies, using newer technology, found that participants had a median of 6.5 thought transitions per minute. The estimated thoughts per day that an average person has is more than 6,000. The much older estimate was around ten times that much, but many sources say this is not supported by scientific evidence.

I personally believe my thoughts are closer to the older estimate of 60,000! Could that be due to my age? 😊I’ve even considered a blog or a poem titled, “I think, I think too much!” LOL! Maybe that is the definition of an overthinker. What do you think? 🙂

Regardless of the exact number and how I see myself, I will move on to share a few key points of what the “experts” agreed on about our thinking.

Although there are a lot of worms moving around in there, a large percentage of our daily thoughts are repeated. Probably because we didn’t get it right the first time, so we have to do a rerun. Or maybe we got a positive thought mixed in there and have to repeat it numerous times to connect to those little things called synapses. Obviously, I am not a psychiatrist or a scientist; therefore, I will stick with the researchers’ findings. 😊

So their first key point was the repeated thoughts. One source states that 95% of thoughts are the same as the previous day. That is a lot of reruns, whether positive, negative, or a mixture of the two! Do you recognize this pattern in your thoughts?

The second is the impact on our well-being. The content of these thoughts, whether positive or negative, has a major impact on our mental and emotional health. Can you imagine the effects on our mental, physical, and spiritual health if 95% of our thoughts running through our minds every day are negative? On the same token, how about the impact of 95% positive? Can we believe for the 95% positive?

Although the exact number varies, it is theorized that three positive experiences or thoughts are needed to counterbalance one negative experience or thought. I’ve heard of ratios with numbers as high as ten (or above) positive to one negative, depending on the individuals and situations.

The third is the quality over quantity. The sheer volume of thoughts is less important than their nature and how they affect our mood and behavior. So maybe I don’t “think too much” after all. I must evaluate the health of those thoughts. Did the Lord say that? If so, it is trustworthy and good to eat the fruit thereof (healthy for my mind, body, and spirit).

Therefore, this brings me to my simple, but utmost important question, “Who said that?”, and the infallible Word of God from The Expert…

Simply put, when a thought comes to my mind, if I apply this question and answer it with what God says, then I will know if it is from the Lord or the enemy, positive or negative. Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? But it is known that man’s nature is to lean toward the negative. The research also indicates that the average person’s thoughts are 75% negative! That’s why the transformation from the carnal nature (old man) is by the renewing of our mind. Renew our minds to what God says, freeing us from the “old negative” way of thinking. Romans 12:2.

Or maybe those thoughts come from words spoken to us by others, you know, those flawed, misguided souls, much like us at times. That is why the Lord’s Word says in Proverbs 18:21 that  “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits”. The NLT says, “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” This means that words can build up, heal, and encourage (bring life), or they can tear down, hurt, and discourage (bring death). This Proverb reminds people to be mindful of their speech because they are accountable for the consequences (good or bad) of their words, which can shape their own lives and the lives of others. It is revelatory to know this! This should absolutely cause us to think before speaking, right? Do we want to be partakers of death words? I choose life, and I believe you do too. So, Holy Spirit, please help us with our thoughts that lead to words that shape lives.

Remember, the battleground is for our minds…We are in a battle with the enemy, and this is why the Lord has given us the Whole Armor of God, Ephesians 6:10-18. Let’s not go to battle unprotected!

 And on the same lines, here is another profound scripture about our thoughts. It is the first part of Proverbs 23:7 NKJV, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” This emphasizes that a person’s inner thought and deepest convictions shape their true nature, behavior, and character. It can also shape a person’s circumstances, achievements, and overall life. That’s pretty powerful, wouldn’t you say?

Here’s another powerful quote to consider…

“Watch your thoughts, they become your words.”

”Watch your words, they become your actions.”

“Watch your actions, they become habits.”

 “Watch your habits, they become character.”

“Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”

As I consider the Lord’s question, “Who said that?” I have a deeper “knowing” of God’s goodness through His guidance in our thoughts. For me, with the Holy Spirit Helper, when one of those multitudes of thoughts goes shooting through my mind, I can quickly ascertain its value by asking that simple, but all-important question. If that thought lines up with what God’s Word says and His character, it is priceless. I know it will become my words (words of life). My words will become my actions (living for Him, life with purpose, Kingdom building). My habits are the results of my actions that become my character (more like Jesus). And my destiny is eternity with Him. Who said that? Why, He did! In His Holy Word! And I eat the Fruit thereof. Thank You, Lord!

The Scriptures are abundant with the answers to “Who said that?” Hopefully, this is just the beginning of your search for them for yourself. His Words are full of Grace, Love, Mercy, Truth, and Life as ours should be.

Thank you for contemplating this question with me. And if you would, please read my poem titled ‘Kind Words”, in Inspire Me pages 34-35.

“So take some time and give it some thought, prayerfully ask what your words have brought”…

(Remember, those words originate from our thoughts.)

 I am reminded of a report given by my sister, Karen, whose ministry team brings the Word of God into bars in the Houston area. There was someone in the congregation who had a copy of Inspire Me and requested that the pastor read this particular poem aloud to the congregation. The words had such an impact on a certain man’s heart that he began to cry. He had not experienced the power of kind words until that moment. The 75% negative was overpowered in just one moment as the Holy Spirit moved. Praise God! That’s a powerful ratio, wouldn’t you agree?

Sincerely,

Reba

P.S. A.W. Tozer stated, “What comes to our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”