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.”

Hello there, I’m still here. It’s still Saturday, and I’m continuing to write. Unusual for me to sit this long, I know. It is stormy, cool, and writing is on my heart. With some cooking meals in between. 😊

As I wrote the first “Washed” blog, I didn’t make mention of our nation’s recognition of the loss of American lives on 9/11/2001. Those lives were no less important than Charlie’s life, or any life for that matter, but his sudden, shocking news was the primary topic at the moment. I want to make certain that those lost on that tragic day in our history were not forgotten nor unnoticed. I’m thankful that we live in a country that doesn’t forget and serve a God who continues His Love, Grace, and Mercy toward us. This side of Heaven, we may never know who the enemy used in this attack, but we know it was sifted through our Lord’s hands first, and He will use it for good. Nothing, no scheme, or evil devises slip by our Sovereign God! We can rest in that! Lord, please heal the many broken hearts, give them peace, and use this to bring them closer to You. Thwart the enemy’s schemes to destroy our nation and use it for Your Glory. Amen.

As I mentioned in my previous blog, the Lord allowed me to pray a blessing over someone at our hotel. This one revealed more of God’s perfect timing, even when we are unsure. This is how the event played out…

 I encountered a lady in the breakfast line who quickly offered to clean my accidental spill on the counter. I thanked her and told her how kind she was to do that. When she looked at me, I sensed a weariness about her, a sadness in her eyes. As I ate my breakfast, the Lord nudged me to pray Numbers 6:24-26 over her.  At that time, I thought she was another guest of the hotel. She had quickly disappeared, so I wondered why I had that nudge, because the opportunity seemed to have vanished as quickly as it came. So I went back to our room, where David was ready for us to check out. When we went to the front desk, there she was! She was an employee, not a guest! I thought then, “Ok Lord, my opportunity is back!”, only to realize she was very busy, way too busy for me to interrupt. By then, I was thinking, “Do I need another cup of coffee to hear You clearly, Lord?” 😊

Next, my husband and I moved our bags out front, where I waited for him to retrieve our car. During my brief wait, out steps the woman who needed the blessing. Wow! The timing was perfect! She had just finished her shift on the job, so I didn’t have to wonder anymore. I knew this was my opportunity to speak to her. I approached her and said, “Excuse me, ma’am, the Lord said you need a blessing. Do you mind if I pray for you?” She looked surprised, as you can imagine, and said “ok”. I seized the opportunity that was so timely given, took her hand, and spoke the words. “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift His countenance upon you and give you peace.” As our eyes met, she gave a sigh and with a genuine tone of voice said, “Thank you, I really needed that.” I told her that the Lord knew, He sees her and loves her. We knew He had the perfect timing for our encounter. The Holy Spirit was there to give her a “wash” of His Love and care for her. I got to partner with Him for that “wash” as well. No need for a beach there, right?

Loaded and ready for our next leg of our journey…

As we were making our plans for this vacation, we were going to stop to visit old-time friends, Don and Linda, who live in Florida. Linda’s health was in a serious declining state. We knew she wouldn’t remember who we were, but he would, and could use the support. A short time before getting our date set for our trip, we got word that she had passed. We agreed that our timing to visit him would work out appropriately. He needed a little time before he was ready. So, we planned our visit during our trip back home. He was ready, as about four weeks had passed. As we visited, Don told the most heartwarming story of Linda’s passing that I will share with you. I consider it a gift from God, and so does he.

Linda was in the last moments of life under Hospice care. Her attending nurse was on one side of her bed, and Don on the other. Don was telling another story of his and Linda’s lives together. Over fifty years’ worth, so you can imagine how many the nurses had listened with kindness and compassion. Don said as he continued recounting another of his memories, the nurse raised her hand to stop him and pointed down at Linda. Don said in that moment, they watched her chest rise as Linda took her last breath and then stepped into the arms of her Savior. As peaceful as it has ever been witnessed. No pain, struggle, or fear, just crossover. You can imagine the comfort this has brought to Don. Now that is a gift!

We spent the rest of our time reminiscing about marriage, old times in the military, old friends, parenting, grandparenting, government (a little politics, we wanted to keep blood pressure healthy😊), our health, our church, and plans for our futures. Most of all, our topics brought us back to our Lord, so I’d say it was a good visit and perfectly orchestrated by our Lord. We even got to treat him to a fine dinner before our departure. God is good all the time, and every friend is a gift from God. Let’s work toward not taking them for granted, as we often do. As I stated in my poem titled Friends in “Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds”

“And if you’ve been blessed with one true friend,

   please don’t take them for granted…

For some day you might be left with only

   memories they have planted.

So lift up your hands to our Lord above and

   thank Him for your friends,

Chosen by God’s only Son, He’s overjoyed to send!”

Now, Friends, I want to close with the blessing over you that the Lord nudged me to speak over the women at the hotel (reminds me of the woman at the well).

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift His countenance upon you and give you peace.”

Blessing and Keeping, Favor and Grace, and Peace.

Thank you for allowing me to continue sharing the fruit of my reflection, meditation on God’s Word, and focus on God’s trustworthiness. Though the dark evil surrounds us, let those of us remaining be found faithful as the voice, hands, and feet (Body of Christ) to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ with great expectation as we are “washed” in His blessings, kept in His hands,  highly favored, covered by His Grace, and filled with His Peace going forward.

Thank you for continuing to read what I write and for your kind words in your comments.

I don’t take you for granted,

Reba

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My friends, writing after the events of the last week has required extra reflection, meditation on God’s Word, and focus on God’s trustworthiness. The Holy Spirit has been faithful in reminding me of the truth that guides me forward. I’m here again to express the fruit of my reflections, meditations, and focus on God. You don’t have to look far to see the multitudes that are trying to do the same. And then there are those who love to spew hate and downright evil. Lord help us pray for our enemies because it does not come easily.

My last blog on September 5^th was about “my many whys”. Then, 5 days later, it happened: the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Why Lord? Why? Why? Why? And in my many whys, the Lord began a process of revelation for peace, hope, comfort, to move forward with great expectation. Yes, the Lord is doing a mighty work, and as my sister Karen and I (and many others) discussed this, we agreed that the devil will not gain credit by seeing it as an assassination. Charlie Kirk was martyred in the name of Jesus and for the glory of God!

Quickly, after the shock of this news, my heart was burdened for his wife, Erika, and their two small children. The thought of this kind of pain was deep, dark, and heavy as I tried to imagine myself going through such a tragedy. I could only allow those thoughts for a moment. They were entirely too heavy. Then the Holy Spirit’s faithfulness reminded me of another great promise of God. Isaih 26:3 NKJV “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You”. So get your mind in focus, Reba!

I quote another statement from my September 5th blog… “And when we have those questions that we don’t understand the answers to…, “We don’t have to understand the why of God’s ways.” Sometimes we accept it, as my Dad said, “Because He said so, that’s why.” That is why our comprehension of His trustworthiness is of paramount importance. Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV “ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”  Bigger questions, bigger trust!” We can only imagine Erika’s big questions, but growing bigger trust.

As the Lord walked with me on the shores of the vast ocean,  I was washed in His Love, surrounded by the incredible beauty of His creation. His creation…hard to describe in words, but it speaks volumes to soothe our aching souls. Psalm 19:1 NKJV “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.”

 It appeared that I walked unaccompanied on the beach; my husband found relaxation in his preferred spot… the shade. As I have frequently done in the past, I offered to take pictures of those I passed by so they could have a better shot of themselves together, including the various hues of aqua, turquoise, and deep ocean blue of the water and the skies above. Frequently, their pet was included, as we were in a section where dogs were welcome. I wondered what Howie would have thought of the ocean and sand. For a moment, I felt a wave (no pun intended) of sadness and longing for my pup. Again, I brought my thoughts into focus.

As I did so, I was back among people from everywhere (even three young ladies from Sweden) who were also soaking in this piece of heaven. As always, seeing everyone’s response to my offer to stand in as a photographer brought much pleasure. Such a small gesture of kindness on my part, but so graciously received and greatly appreciated on their part.

Some were eager to chat, and discovering more about them was another added pleasure. What I found even more interesting was how a surface-level conversation with total strangers could lead to a discussion about the Lord. Yes, His name would just pop right out of my mouth! 🙂 That is not surprising for anyone who knows me. After all, He is what it is all about, right? Opportunities everywhere to speak of Him. The words to an old song started playing in my thoughts…”This is my story, this is my song. Praising my Savior all the day long.”

This one young woman in particular was open to talking. Since making some tough decisions about her relationship with her boyfriend, she was at a difficult crossroads in her life. I directed the conversation to the most important relationship first: her relationship with Jesus Christ. This is an overall summary of our discussion of our Savior…

I shared with her my experience with a loving God that showed me that I could never measure up to His righteousness, no matter how “good” I tried to be. If I could be good enough, then Jesus wouldn’t have come to pay for my sins, right? He is the only way to the Father, John 14:6. Another essential aspect of the Christian life that we talked about is forgiveness. “When” we sin, not “if”, we are to confess it. God sees all sin the same. There are no “big” sins or “little” sins to God. Most of us can get confused when it comes to conviction. The Lord convicts us of our sin for correction. If we confess (to acknowledge and agree with God that one’s actions are sinful), He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin, 1 John 1:9. The enemy uses it for condemnation. He tells us we’re not real Christians if we sin again; that we were never Christians to begin with. You know, Satan’s twisted lies…doubt, confusion, and defeat are his weapons, and his goal is to kill, steal, and destroy! Same old tactics throughout the ages.

I continued by sharing with her how the Lord saved me from my sinful ways and that I am a work in progress through the Holy Spirit living in me. We both knew that the Lord wanted to clear up any confusion in her mind and that He was touching her heart. So she allowed me to pray with her right there in front of God and everyone. It was as though she, I, and the Lord were the only ones there. She got “washed” on the beach, also.

It was a very special moment for me because I had asked, as I regularly do, for the Lord to send someone in my path so that He could use me for His purpose. Taking pictures was the avenue He used. I am humbled that He would trust me to follow His lead, and the Holy Spirit was the guide and sustainer. He trusts me because He knows I trust in Him. She and I shared our contact info and are keeping in touch. I trust the Lord to complete the good work He began in her, and to water the seeds that are planted in her heart. A continual “washing” in God’s Word, His promises to us, and the working of the Holy Spirit as we surrender to Him.

My thoughts go to the multitudes Charlie Kirk spoke to, bringing them out of those confused, dark places. No wonder the enemy tried to shut him up! But actually, it backfired on satan again, just as God had preordained (for the saving of many souls). Charlie’s ministry has exploded into the greatest movement our nation (and others) has ever seen, and we get to be a part of it!

Now back to the beach…

As each evening approached, David and I excitedly returned to the beach to experience the sunset. Yes, I mean experience it.

Although we view sunsets from our home regularly and have a sincere appreciation of them, there is something exceptional about them in that environment. The openness of the sky and the vastness of the horizon make one feel incredibly small. And when it appears that everyone around you is experiencing the same appreciation of God’s creation, it evokes a feeling of oneness with God and mankind. No killing, sadness, hate speech, politics, or anger. Simply all eyes on the magnificence of the works of our Creator’s hands. Another washing, so to speak. I found a change in my heart, which is the fruit of my reflections, meditations, and focus on God. The peace that surpasses all understanding that I long for.

Now, as I think of Charlie Kirk and his martyrdom, I don’t have to ask why. I have consolation that God is in control of this whole universe and His ways are always good. We can trust Him to be showering Charlie with his rewards for a job well done. And He is continuing the work that He began in Charlie. It is already evident across the globe!

I am reminded of another unexpected soothing of the soul. During my first walk on the beach, shortly after hearing the news of Charlie, I discovered this piece of a sand dollar.

 I thought of the numerous pictures I had already seen of Charlie’s family on the beach. I imagined the walks, talks, sunsets, and “washings”  they experienced there. I knew that this heart-shaped piece was representative of the Lord’s and Charlie’s love for his wife, Erika, his children, and all who loved him. As I took the picture, I noticed the cross lying across the heart. The cross of Jesus covers it all. It “washed” up on the beach as if a treasure from our Lord. Thank you again, Lord, for surprises from Your creation.

I could never finish writing about the meaningful events and open-door opportunities to reach out in kindness or pray for a stranger that have happened since first stepping on that beach. And I would also be negligent if I didn’t mention that those opportunities are for us every day. We don’t have to be on the beach to “wash” others with our words, actions, and the Love of God. The avenue He used for me to connect with strangers was my offer to take their picture while admiring the beauty of His creation. But on our way home, He allowed me to pray a prayer of blessing over someone at our hotel.

I will gladly tell of this event in my next blog. Until then, let us do as 1 Peter 3:15 instructs. This is the Amplified Version: “But in your hearts set Christ apart (as holy-acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives) as Lord. Always be ready to give a (logical) defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance (elicited by faith) that is within you, yet (do it) with gentleness and respect.”

By this, we can “wash” others with the Word and Salvation of Jesus Christ, no matter where we are, as in my upcoming hotel event.

God bless you wherever you are. He sees you, He loves you, and He is pursuing you,

Reba

Good evening, instead of morning this time. I hope all is well with you. Thank you for clicking on my blog. I do hope you gain something of value from your time reading it.

Occasionally, I jot down a note on topics that I would like to write about. Sometime later, as I settle at my desk to write, the right one comes popping up in my notes. As I quickly selected My Many Whys and started this blog, I glanced up. The first thing my eyes landed on was a note card from a Bible study our ladies’ group had done the previous spring. It was titled Trustworthy by Lysa Terkeurst. It was great studying the results of our choices and God’s trustworthiness through the ages. I love the notecards that came with the study guide. They serve as handy reminders that I posted right there in plain sight on my desk hutch. This particular card says, “We don’t have to understand the why of God’s ways. But we do have to keep choosing to follow them.”  I am a bit amused that I chose the topic, glanced up, and saw a study note that confirmed my selection. The Lord often puts a smile on my face. 😊

It is common for most children to begin asking questions at an early age. After all, there is a whole big world that we need answers to, right? I have to be at the top of the list, maybe a record breaker, in the number of questions I asked. My go-to person for most answers was my Dad (My Mom was for the domestic and girly things). I thought Dad knew absolutely everything there is to know. Keeping in mind I have four older siblings, so I thought he had all the answers figured out by the time he got to me. Actually, by the time he got to me, he was understandably worn out with the barrage of the previous inquiries! And remember, I was not only over-the-top inquisitive, but there were times I would ask questions only to strike up a conversation with my Dad.

My poor Dad would occasionally tell me to stop asking so many questions, and at times, he would tell me to “think” before I asked a question. Why would I do that? I wanted the answer from him. Lol! And if he didn’t answer the question to my satisfaction and I came back with another “why?”, he sometimes said, “Because I said so, that’s why!” Keep that in mind because there is a connection.

A few months before my eleventh birthday, my parents had my baby sister. As she grew, I learned quickly about young, inquisitive minds. Reflecting on it, it is really kind of cute. “Why do some animals sleep standing up?” Now, that is a valid question, right? “Why do I have to go to bed early while you stay up late?” Another one with validity. “Since worms are so sticky, why don’t they stick back together when they get broken apart?” Correct me if I’m wrong, but that could be an original of mine. I remember actually asking my Dad that question! I think that was one of the times his answer was, “Don’t ask so many questions.” Lol!

By the time I entered elementary school, my Dad had not accomplished his fatherly duties in satisfying my ever-growing list of questions.  Now it was the teachers’ turn. But at the wise old age of six, I had decided that Dad was right. I asked too many questions, and I needed to “think” first. Coupled with being very shy, my many questions ceased, for a while anyway. It took some hard years of silence and growing out of my shyness before I was brave enough to speak up again. On the positive side, by listening to others, learning to research, and “thinking” before asking, my questions became more valid. But, as always, there are more questions than can be answered in a lifetime.

Now I have a question for you. 🙂 Do you remember when you discovered that your parents didn’t have all the answers? Somehow, it helps us realize they are human, just as we are. So we need to give them the same Grace that the Lord gives us, right? Remember how God created us? He does! Psalm 103:14 NKJV “For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust”.

As we journey through our lives, we have many things that we may never understand or have answers to. And for those of you who never knew your Father, or either parent for that matter, this can bring up even bigger questions.

By growing spiritually and getting to know our heavenly Father better, we can be certain that He has all the answers.  We are His children, and He loves it when we seek answers from Him, our all-knowing God. When we are seeking Him and His ways, He says in Jeremiah 29:12-13 NKJV, “Then you will call upon Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” And in Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Wow, not only will we discover more of our Father’s character, but more of His answers for our every need.

And when we have those questions that we don’t understand the answers to…, “We don’t have to understand the why of God’s ways.” Sometimes we accept it, as my Dad said, “Because He said so, that’s why.” That is why our comprehension of His trustworthiness is of paramount importance.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”  Bigger questions, bigger trust!

When you continue to read the second half of the notecard, it completes the thought… “But we do have to keep choosing to follow them.” Follow His ways even when we don’t understand, because we can trust that His ways are always better than anything we can devise ourselves. In our Trustworthy study, we took a deeper look at nine of the Kings in 1^st and 2^nd Kings in the Old Testament. If we weren’t convinced previously that following God’s ways is better than our own, these Kings’ choices convinced us. So we don’t “have” to choose to follow God’s ways, we get to! And we receive all of the benefits of a life well lived in Christ, the Fruit of the Spirit.

So, as I conclude My Many Whys, I thank God that I can ask all of the questions I have for Him, and He welcomes my seeking Him and His ways. I don’t have to understand because I am confident in His trustworthiness to have all of the perfect answers and to direct my path in His perfect ways.

This could be why He gave me these words at the end of my poem, The Perfect Plan in “Blue Skies, Butterflies and Battlegrounds”.

“Finally, I tell you, He does hear our requests,

He will answer in His time, so put your mind at rest.

He created the universe…so surely, for His children, He knows what’s best!

And each Resurrection Day, we proclaim His control, even over His own death,

 As we celebrate the Master’s perfect plan with every God-given breath!”

Isaiah 26:3-4 NKJV “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever. For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.”

God bless and keep you even in your many whys and all your ways,

Reba

Hello, today, the day after my 71^st birthday. Yes, I am that old and thankful for it. Ha!Ha!  I say 71 is wonderful in Christ! My day yesterday and today has been filled with an extra big dose of love and well-wishes. I’m off to a great start to a good year and reaching 72. That is, if the Lord doesn’t take me home or return meanwhile. Any way it goes, I’m a winner in Christ. You are too, my friends.

If you have been reading my poems, narratives, and blogs, you know that I occasionally share a dream that I’ve had. Not just any dream from eating too much pizza, or from watching a movie. 😊 Some of you know what I am referring to. Those special dreams, the ones that you know the Lord is reaching out to you with a message. I’m here to share one of those with you today.

This dream occurred about five days ago. It was short and very thought-provoking. In this dream, I was drinking out of my right hand as I cupped it. It wasn’t very easy to get much water, but it worked somewhat. As I finished trying to quench my thirst on my own, I looked up. As I did, two masculine hands appeared. They were cupped with plentiful water cradled inside. The hands and water were all I could see, except the cuffs of a garment. The cuffs belonged to a royal garment. As I peered at the hands, water, and cuffs, my thoughts went to my efforts in drinking with one hand. Then I heard these words, “Here, it is much easier to drink from two hands. See how full it is! Then, I woke up!

As I lie there reliving that dream, there was an abiding love and a sense of peace within me.

His hands of strength, guidance, provision, comfort, power, creation, protection, blessings, and yes, loving discipline were there to represent a message to me. They brought to my memory numerous verses from different poems I have written, all based on His Word. I looked them up so you won’t have to. 😊

The first I would like to share comes from “Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds” pages 56-57…

“You grip my hand, guide me through, the very one I’m desperate for.

While drenching me in Your cleansing power,

You’re transforming me even more!”

Here are several verses in the same book from The Rest of Our Story pages 8-9…

 “He restores our land with a wave of His mighty hand…

Some verses later…

With the touch of His hand, blind men see, pretty incredible wouldn’t you agree?’…

He is above all things, yet we can feel His touch… He laid it all down to give us so much!”

And in Dust to Diamonds page 31, the verses that say,

“Through the hands of our Creator, see what you become;

 In His time, with His refining,

Into diamonds, dust succumbs!”

In The Ballerina’s Dream, pages 35-36, the entire poem was about my sister, Karen’s vision of dancing in Jesus’s hands. Isn’t that both interesting and incredible? Please read it to see if you agree.

My Quiet Heart Speaks, pages 82-83, tells of His hands during the tragic loss of a baby. This one still makes me tearful, but I’ve had numerous moms tell me that this poem helps in their healing. Just as it was meant for. Thank You, Lord.

“He’ll give you hope in a future, of your dreams of watching me grow.

So take our Creator’s healing hand; He’ll heal your broken heart

               And lead you here where I am, where we will never part”.

Written In Red pages 88-89 says …

“We must remember agape love will always hold us

Restoring us to wholeness, in His time, His way, just as He told us.”

His hand of deliverance is in these verses in The Land of Regrets, pages 143-144…

               “My knees hitting the floor, I am finished with strife!

Asking my Father for a beautiful new life…

“I am here my child, I hear your plea,

Now take My hand, removing your misery.”

From tormenting regrets, I am free and unbound

Through Jesus, land of peace is found.”

In my first book, “Inspire Me”, there is more. Sea of Forgetfulness, pages 12-13, says this…

               “So there in the midst of my many sins in the sand

Kneeling before Him, I took “Gift’s” nail-scarred hand.

I asked Him for forgiveness, now in my heart, I believed

And the Gift He offered, I humbly received.”

I’m sure you can see it coming in Sinking Sand page 14…

“He rose again from our sinking sand

And brought us out with His mighty hand.

Surrender to Him, take His hand,

Stand on the Rock, you’re on dry land

Saving Grace, His Promised Land, overcomers of

Our sinking sand!”

Peace Be Still pages 18-19… His hands again, a great place to find peace…

“So when I go to dark places that I don’t understand

I lean not on understanding, I just rest in Your hands.”

I will end these poem references with my very first poem in this same book, “Inspire Me,” pages 8-9. Expressions of His Endearing Love is my youngest sister’s story and my custom birthday poem for her. Here are some verses that refer to the hands of our Lord…

“With God’s Grace and Mighty hand of protection

The baby was born of the Creator’s perfection…”

Several verses later…

“And as the Lord gives back, to us tenfold

I see in His Mighty Hands, us sisters He always did hold.”

I don’t have to wonder why He gave me this dream. It serves as a reminder of what His hands represent, causing me to rejoice in all that He is to us. And remember the picture I used in my last blog says, “He’s got the whole world in His hands!”

And I thank you for allowing me to share what He has given in this dream and what I believe is its purpose and the poetry. I hope this will cause you to pause, remember, and drink in the “Cupped Hands” instead of your single hand on your own.

Here’s His invitation… drink from His Royal hands of strength, guidance, provision, comfort, power, creation, protection, blessings, and yes, loving discipline that He extends to you. Ask yourself, “Why would I drink alone in a single hand?” Then join me in saying… “Praise God! To Him be all the glory forever and ever!”

If this has been meaningful to you, please share it with others, and thank you for leaving your comment.

Reba

Surge defined: A sudden, powerful increase or rush of something, often a physical force or a feeling. It can also refer to a sudden, large increase in a quantity; A sudden, powerful forward or upward movement, especially by a crowd or by a natural force.

Welcome, I’m sure you are wondering what this surge is all about. I will explain what it pertains to in my case and why I chose to write about it.

David and I have been catching up on chores, everyday tasks, and other commitments since we attended a three-day event called Trade Surge this past weekend. We signed up for this event at Life Surge. Life Surge is a one-day event that was held the previous weekend. Sounds like a lot of surging! Lol!

For three days, we experienced a powerful increase in our understanding of how we can build our family financial legacy and add to His Kingdom.

How God orchestrated this opportunity for David and me to learn how to build this legacy and add to His Kingdom is nothing short of incredible. Even at this late stage of our lives, He brings opportunities. How many of you know that with God, age doesn’t matter? After all, look at many of the Bible characters. I bet Abraham and Sarah came to your mind first, as they did for me. Case in point. 😊

We frequently thank God for His timing, opportunities, provision, and for being our guiding light on our paths. Only when we follow do we truly receive His full abundance. So we signed up for the instruction on trading the market and are off on a new journey with the Lord and a huge community of believers.

I know some would say, “Oh no, another prosperity preaching!” I understand because some are taught that money is evil. Read the scripture NKJV 1Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows”. The verse right before it, V9, says, “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition”.

Many live what we call “paycheck to paycheck” or poverty by misunderstanding a few verses of scripture (there are plenty more). We do need clarity, and hopefully, as you read on, we will find the truth of what God wants for us.

I find it interesting that I just wrote a series on The Dangers of Prosperity. Wow, these blogs speak of what happens when a nation “falls in love” with money…straying from their faith, becoming greedy, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

All of the Life Surge events are faith-based, biblically sound, and covered in prayer. In our Surge Trade event, there were 8-12 people at each table. There were approximately 240  attendees, so I believe there were 20 tables. Each table was asked to present a verse of scripture that speaks of the abundance the Lord has provided. Here are a few examples:

 John 10:10 NKJV “The thief does not come but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly”.

Luke 8:38 NKJV “Give, and it shall be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Can we see that the Lord is saying not to be greedy with what He has given us? And keeping it in context, the verse before speaks not to judge, condemn, and then He tells us to forgive. Then we will not be judged, condemned, and we will be forgiven ourselves. This is abundant living as we move on to giving instructions. More abundance!

Now I will quote a verse in Proverbs (the book of wisdom), chapter 3, verses 9-10 NKJV “Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the first fruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. Sounds like abundance to me.

Additionally, chapter 10:22 NKJV “The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.” I want to point out that the King James Version says “it maketh rich”. It does not say “makes one rich”. I believe that both versions convey the idea that the blessings of the Lord bring wealth. But wealth is not exclusive to money. We can be rich in love, peace, joy… the Fruit of the Spirit. What an abundance! Why would we desire material wealth only for self-indulgence?

The Lord indeed gives us more so that we can give more! No love of money! Just blessings in the abundance of the Lord. Many scriptures tell of His desire for His people to live in abundance. Why would He not, we might ask? Only if we “love” money that causes us to stray from our faith. He loves us too much for this, and if we love Him, we should not desire anything above Him.

Consider this: why are there so many sermons on this subject? I did a quick search, and there are over 2300 verses in the Bible pertaining to money, wealth, and possessions. It was the most talked-about subject by Jesus. My understanding of why is that Jesus knew money was a heart issue and that it is one of the most likely reasons for someone to choose not to follow Him, or even give up on Him. God gave us money to use as a tool to invest in His Kingdom and to leave a legacy for our families so they can do the same. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21 NKJV. It is a heart matter for sure.

Therefore, this abundance came with a warning and instructions because He knows us better than we know ourselves. Remember that He looks at our hearts, where“many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition”.

These lessons bring to mind several of my poems, many of which I have included in previous blogs. My last statement about the Lord looking at our hearts reminded me of my blog What a Closet Can Reveal Part 2, and the poem Cleaning Out The Clutter. I referred to so much of the darkness in our hearts while giving the solution. I do hope you will read the blog (posted on July 1^st, 2025) and the poem in my first book, “Inspire Me,” and see the close connection to the message in this blog.

And there are two of my all-time favorites on this topic, Liking Stuff and Gain, in “Blue Skies, Butterflies, &Battlegrounds”. I know this could sound boastful, but it is not. It is what I can share with a grateful heart, giving thanks to God for helping me see where I go astray and finding His solution. He has allowed me to share it with others to assist in knowing that He has this for them also.

My poem Liking Stuff ends with these verses:

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!

So, I am committed to surge in life to fulfill not only my mission, but to support others in their mission to add to His Kingdom and leave a legacy for my loved ones.

In Philippians 4:18, the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in the city of Philippi that the things they had sent to support his ministry were a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. Then in verse 19, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”. V 20 “Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

I hope you will seek what the Lord has for you if you are not already walking in the abundance I have been writing about. It is His will for us to prosper in all areas, including finances. Josea 4:6 NKJV “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”… God is saying to His people that a lack of knowledge can lead to poor decisions, flawed understanding, and ultimately, negative consequences. We need clarity of the Word of God, so we can know the Will of God and Walk with Him in His Ways. His Word, Will, Walk, and Ways always flow in abundance in every area of our lives. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for bringing the abundance of Heaven to earth through Your Son, Jesus, for all who believe.

Philippians 4:20 “Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

And again, I thank you for your time; new subscribers, comments, emails, and readers everywhere.

Reba

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