Good morning, I am eager to continue writing about this important message, although it is far deeper than I could ever cover, much less in these few blogs.

As we took a glimpse at the foundation of our nation, I realized that many have not been taught that God has chosen the United States of America to accomplish “His Good Will.” “One nation under God with liberty and justice for all”. God’s plan and purposes for making us prosperous were certainly not for dethroning Him with self-indulgence and man-made idols.

 Dutch Sheets shared some all-important truths about our founding fathers in his podcast “Give Him 15.” If you doubt our Judeo-Christian roots or need a reminder, you need to listen to his July 10^th podcast titled “The God of Providence”. Dutch also references his podcast made on July 2^nd. I saw how little I knew, and it honestly brought me to tears to recognize how this truth of our foundation has been suppressed or, in some cases, omitted. But He is the God of Providence!

I am sharing this portion. He was referring to Benjamin Franklin:

“Without question, Franklin and those gathered with him at the Continental Congress believed that God wanted and needed to be involved in the birthing of America. On that specific occasion, they asked for His help in fashioning the Constitution of the United States of America. Just let that sink in. God was involved in every facet of forming this nation, including our Constitution. In this challenging time when some are trying to remove the influence of America’s Judeo-Christian roots, keep yourself reminded of this”. 

NOTE: I used this picture and quote that I found online among many of Benjamin Franklin’s faith-filled quotes.

Then I joined Dutch and his followers in this prayer. And if you are a Christian and an American citizen, I hope you will too. And all of you from other nations, you need America to be strong in the Lord because He is using us for your benefit as well! His “Good Will” for us all. He did not forget about or exclude you!

Pray with me:

Father, it is an indescribable privilege to be part of a nation created by You to propagate the gospel of Your Kingdom. You birthed America, and You have prospered and blessed us beyond measure. Our Founders knew You were involved in our formation; they knew and honored You as the only King. They worshiped You, honored Your Word, and believed in Your Son, Jesus Christ. And they led with “servant hearts” and unselfish motivations.

Over the many decades since then, America drifted far from You. We have dishonored and disrespected You, Your Son, and Your holy Word. Many of our leaders have been educated fools, leading America down a path of rebellion and wickedness. Like the prodigal in Scripture, we squandered our inheritance and wasted it on sin and selfish desires.

But also like the prodigal, we believe in Your mercy. We believe in the power of the blood of Jesus. We believe it cleanses us from all sin and unrighteousness. And we believe in restoration. We believe that You are restoring America to You and to our calling. We place our faith in Christ’s blood and boldly declare, “America shall be – and is being – saved!”

 I say a resounding AMEN!

Dutch’s podcasts confirmed the topic my blog was directed to earlier this week. Now I understand why. His podcasts take what I have written to the next level. Thank You, Lord, for Your direction, confirmation, and using brothers and sisters in Christ.

Now we will move on with what I wrote and decided to divide into Part 2…

Our government, our educational system, and, yes, even our churches have been straying from God as well.

It is said, “If a nation refuses to be governed by God, it will be governed by tyrants!” We allowed our history books to be revised, as citizens and non-citizens burn our flag and tear down and deface the Founding Fathers’ monuments. Far worse than that, they are allowed to destroy the Ten Commandments and quoted scripture monuments. Lawlessness is rampant. Our Nation has been invaded by enemies whose determination is to destroy us.

Our educational system has become an “indoctrination” system as it strays from its original purpose, and as our children come from fractured homes. We have allowed evil to take control of our children’s minds, to the point that they don’t know if they are male or female, gay or straight. Their gender is based on how they “feel” or imagine themselves, rather than the reality of how our Creator created them. They are told they can change genders by having body parts removed or added without parental consent. To me, this is evil to the core!

So we looked at the first family, Adam and Eve, and examined where families in America have strayed and why. In that examination through His Word and poetry, we got some of His healing balm for our families.  Now we’ve looked again at governments and then briefly at educational systems.

With God’s direction, we have a godly man’s podcast to help educate us and pray with us for the healing of our land. I add one more scripture of God’s healing balm through His Word in 2^nd Chronicles 7:14 NKJV “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land”.

“My people, who are called by My name”. He’s talking to believers, His Church, His Family, here, my friends.

Therefore, the third part of my series will be the churches.

Dear Lord, I sure need your help here! And as always, I can rely on You. You are trustworthy.

Have a blessed day, my friends. You have stayed with me this far, so please don’t miss Part 3.

With love and appreciation for you,

Reba

Today, as I approach my keyboard, my emotions are somewhat mixed. The Lord has been giving piece by piece messages that are like a healing balm for aching hearts and clearing minds that cannot understand. I will try to explain.

This past weekend, our nation once again celebrated the freedoms that we have enjoyed for 249 years. This freedom did not come for free! An enormous sacrifice was made. A price was paid. Countless lives were lost in battles, through disease, and while prisoners of war. Again, freedom is not free!

Our nation has enjoyed privileges and prosperity that are rarely found elsewhere. God has, no doubt, had His hand on America from its foundation. Our forefathers built this nation on Godly principles. But as we have turned from His ways to our ways, “The American Way” (more is better, climbing the ladder, keeping up with the Joneses, my children will have more than I did, etc.) there has been an erosion of morals, character, liberty, and justice in our nation that is destroying us from the inside out.

By believing “The American Way” is better than God’s way, we got caught up in this never-ending pursuit of “more is better”. As we dedicate our time, energy, and money in pursuit of these material things, we become idol worshippers (anything that we place before God). Fathers (if there is one in the household) and Mothers (if she hasn’t left yet) are exhausted with the never-ending demands at work, and weekends are spent trying to catch up on bills, yard, and household duties.

The pressure grows even greater as inflation, taxes, and everyday cost of living soar to all-time highs. The children are left with their “devices” on their own, babysitters, or grandparents who are trying to “parent” rather than the joy of being Grandparents. Church, who has time for Church?  Our families become more fractured and dysfunctional, and the American Dream is becoming more like the American Nightmare. Sad scenario, I know. But I believe most of you know exactly what I’m talking about.

This began by making the same choices as in the Garden of Eden. We believed that God was holding back “good” from us, so we must “reach out and grab it” for ourselves! Is this where that saying came from?

The Garden of Eden is where it began with the first family that God created, Adam and Eve. This was the first fractured relationship with God in their battle of good against evil. Just read in Genesis (beginning or origin), where the Lord told Adam not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Eve was deceived by the evil one. He convinced her that God was withholding “something good” from her (notice the enemy’s first temptation was food, hmm). Adam was with her, and instead of protecting her, he was in direct disobedience to God. Eve “reached out and grabbed it,” and Adam ate the fruit with her. This is why the Word tells us that sin came to mankind through Adam’s disobedience.

I was telling of this in my poem “Nothing New Under the Sun”. Here are a few verses…

There’s nothing new under the sun

In the Garden of Eden, where sin had begun.

Eve blamed the serpent, and Adam blamed Eve

When she listened to the lies, Eve was deceived.

Adam was told by God, but chose to disobey

Mankind has done the same, to this very day.

Disobedience and blaming, what misery they bring.

Does this sound familiar in our lives today? By believing God was withholding something “good” from them, they made the worst choice in the history of mankind! Thank God He gave the way back to our relationship with Him, healing balm…

But God made the way to bring us back to Him

Forgiven and restored, a new life to begin.

So think of the choices made in the Garden

And obey the Father, through His Son, receive His pardon.

AGAIN, FREEDOM ISN’T FOR FREE! Jesus made the greatest sacrifice and paid the ultimate price for our freedom from the enemy and our way back to the Father. This is more of the healing balm I spoke of in the closing of my poem. It says…

Although in this world, nothing is new under the sun

Trust in our Father to complete the work He’s begun

By living outside the Garden, EVERYTHING is new under His Son!

As I sat down to write, I had no intentions of writing about this topic. But this is the direction it has taken, so I believe it needs to be said. To see the pitfalls, deception, and tactics of the enemy is a great place to start (in the beginning). We also know that we were given the ability to “choose” obedience or disobedience and the consequences thereof.

 I have spent two days writing about this, and again, it became obvious it was long, too long for one blog. As I began, I stated that,” The Lord has been giving piece by piece messages that are like a healing balm for aching hearts and clearing minds that cannot understand”. Therefore, I do hope you will join me for the next piece of the message with its healing balm.

Up next is a look at our Government and Educational System.

It is getting late here in Northwest Arkansas. I will say goodnight, and God bless you,

Reba

 

Greetings, my friends, I am continuing today what was revealed during my closet cleaning. As I mentioned previously, it is incredible how God uses even seemingly mundane tasks to teach us and to speak to our hearts. Maybe we should clean our closets more often, right?😊

I hope that you connected and benefited as you read about the shift in my thoughts on our “seasons of life”, through the clothing items I was sorting.

Now, for the next thought during my cleaning and sorting…

My closet is unlike the one I showed in my previous blog in that it doesn’t have a window to let in natural light, let alone that amount of clothing. But it did look as though someone was sorting into piles to hopefully purge it of its clutter! Lol! And there is the one messy little word that brought me to my next thought, and you guessed it, a poem. Clutter! Cleaning Out the Clutter in “Inspire Me” pg 22. Only this time, I was referring to the clutter in our hearts.

How do we rid ourselves of the clutter in our hearts?

What is it? Is it there? Is this where we need to start?

Clutter is our sinful ways, which burden and impede

Without true repentance, in darkness sin does breed.

Most of us are good at putting up some “walls”

My closet is very dark until I turn on the light, exposing what is there. And honestly, there are times I could believe that my clothes and clutter have bred!

Confined in the darkness, when to light LIFE does call.

In our hearts, there are chambers, where darkness loves to hide

And all these secret places our clutter does reside.

We think that we’re so clever, in darkness tucked away

Without ever realizing how much our clutter weighs.

Have you ever loaded the closet pole to the point that it couldn’t hold the weight and pulled from the wall? Another of my confessions. And mentioning “hide”, my clutter is a great place for my treasures to hide. Hide even from me! Again, maybe I should clean my closet more often or buy fewer clothes. Another topic to write about.😊

As we continue in that condition…

We drag about with burdened hearts, our yokes begin to sag

Boasting of our treasures, while life just seems to lag.

Then one day it happens… we reach that broken place

Now our hearts are ready for light and the Father’s Grace.

We move forward with the solution…

Asking His forgiveness, He’s cleaning out our clutter

While giving us pure hearts, nothing like the other.

I wrote that poem on February 2, 2017. The Lord has continued to use it to bring me to the realization of my heart’s condition. It can get cluttered as quickly as my closet if I don’t let Him bring the light to those dark places so that He can clean it up. And I certainly don’t need to wait for the seasonal changes…

Daily when we’re humble, repenting to our King,

To those darkened places, His Glory Light will bring!

Matthew 6:19-21 is a reference I used, although there is a typo (it is 6:19-21, not 6:21-19). In the NKJV, it says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.

This seems to be a simple solution to so much clutter in our closets, or any of our possessions, should be included in this. And most importantly, the Lord has the simple solution for cleaning out the cluttered, dark, sinful ways that weigh our hearts down. By inviting Him into our closet (heart), He sheds light on those hidden sins that are weighing us down. As He exposes these things, we humbly ask His forgiveness. He is faithful to forgive us and give us pure hearts, “nothing like the other”. Now with the burdens of our hearts “cleaned out,” we are filled with His life again! That’s the heart I want to carry within me because it is lighter, brighter, and filled with joy. It’s the heart that He made the way for.

Thank you, Lord, for using the simplicity of routine tasks and Your Word to speak to us and show us the Better Way with uncluttered hearts.

Thank you for reading this. I hope it has touched an area of your heart that needed to be exposed and cleaned up, also.

Now I need to get back to my next cluttered space. 😊

God bless you,

Reba

Hello again, here it is the last few days of June, and summer is upon us. The past month has passed quickly with Spring cleaning, yard work, and a trip to Texas. Every day reveals topics to write about. Now, the determination to focus on one main topic by hearing from the Lord, and the discipline to write.

So, I will begin with one of my thoughts during my Spring cleaning, namely my closet. This picture is not of my closet, but you get the idea.

As I work through the change of seasons, I sort my heavy winter clothes into two categories, one to donate and one to store or move to the back of my closet. My task is a reminder of our love for the seasons of the area we live in. We have four seasons of weather, and both David and I have always enjoyed all four. That is, until recent years, winter has had a bigger impact on our aging bodies. Then we begin imagining a winter escape. 😊

My thoughts on our weather seasons quickly shifted to our seasons of life, aging bodies, purpose in life, and, as usual, a poem. The specific poem is in my first book, “Inspire Me.” The title is God in Our Seasons. This poem is the second one I was inspired to write. I would like to share with you how this came about.

As the Lord had fulfilled my desire for a poem for my youngest sister’s birthday through Expressions of His Endearing Love, I thought poetry for me was “one and done.” But God had other plans.

As I was preparing for our ladies’ upcoming Bible study, I was remembering the theme of a song I had heard approximately 35 years earlier. I had heard it one time, didn’t know the title, or the artist. But I knew the theme was exactly what I needed to encourage our ladies to spend more time studying God’s Word in all seasons of life. The song was laced with our excuses for not spending time with the Lord.

So, I started my relentless quest to find this special song to play in our church for the announcement of our study. I searched Google with every keyword I could think of. I searched music libraries, spoke with numerous members of worship teams, and with different ones from that era. Each search was fruitless. The theme was as far as I got. Sounds familiar if you have read how I began writing poetry, right?

I gave up my search for the song and decided I would do my best to convey the message by telling the congregation about it. Again, the Lord was patiently waiting for me to give up on my plan because He had a better one. One morning, as I sat quietly before Him, He gave me the words to write in “God in Our Seasons”. The poem can sound as if I did not spend any time with the Lord. That is obviously not the case. But it does bring the intended message to put away the excuses and stop waiting for the “ideal” circumstances for a deeper relationship with the Lord. It also tells of God’s faithfulness:

Your love through the years, You have faithfully showered

In Your Word for each day, You strengthened and empowered,

When I reached out to You, in my most difficult hour.

    And it goes on to tell some of the benefits of more time with Him:

You wanted to guide me, comfort me, and carry my load

In this life’s daily journey, the long narrow road.

You were there to teach me, love me, and to be my all

My time with You would have made my struggles so small.

    It ends with forgiveness freely given and my purpose going forward.

Forgive me, dear Lord, for not making more time with You in my seasons

I was so busy with life’s excuses and so many lame reasons.

Now with the forgiveness You have freely given me

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

 And encourage them 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!

Proverbs 16:9 is the first scripture I referenced and it speaks volumes to the path I was taking with the song I searched for.  It reads in NKJV “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps”.

His plan and ways were better than I asked for. It was evident when I read the poem to our congregation. There were big tears as it touched many hearts, and we had a good turnout for our study. I pray that these words will serve as a reminder to stay on track with Him and His Word.

Now, as I examined my clothing items for the coming season, I needed to let go of some and move others back from the past season. Like the winter clothing as I prepare for summer, each season of my life, it is revealed that what the Lord had me do in the previous season is not necessarily what He would have me do in this one or even the next. We change with the seasons, and when we allow the Lord to direct our steps, carry our burdens, strengthen, teach, provide, protect, and comfort us, He will be our ALL. We will transition and transform with ease and grace. It is very difficult to move to what the Lord has for us in our next season while holding on to the last.

I mentioned a recent trip to Texas. A couple of the events in this trip were perfect examples of these seasons revealed in my closet.

Our first stop was to celebrate our friends’ 55^th wedding anniversary and the completion of their house they had been working on for many years. These particular friends are near and dear to our hearts. He (George) was our Best Man in our wedding, and he and Linda (his wife) named David and me as Godparents to their three children.

The party was one to remember fondly. They, and their children, spoke of the many challenges they faced and always gave the Lord praise for the blessings in moving through the numerous seasons of life they have shared. Their adult children worked tirelessly to put together a fun-filled, food-filled, and yes, even tear-filled event (good tears, of course). They realize the season of life their parents are in and stepped up to make it all happen beautifully.

The long-awaited completion of George and Linda’s house has certainly paid off. It was so good to see them enjoying the fruit of their labor, God’s provision, and their patience. We were able to present them with a surprise gift for both events. We had the words to my poem, Our Home, and their name and year, laser-engraved onto a wooden plaque. Their response was priceless.

Our next stop was to visit my eldest brother Tommy, and my two sisters and their spouses. Tommy is suffering a significant decrease in his heart function. He is facing one of life’s most challenging seasons of life. As we gathered and visited with him, this season of his life came up frequently. In one visit, my youngest sister had us read Ecclesiastes chapter 3. I had just referred to that chapter in an earlier conversation with Tommy. The Lord was consistent with His guidance in what we were to focus on. We are certain that the Lord will lead our brother in this season and on into the next. We would all do good to read this chapter frequently.

And my sister Denise and her husband Mike are there for our brother Tommy to assist in any area of need, while making us feel right at home, and continuing to serve in their church. It is a sacrificial love that requires hard work and dedication to be a caregiver, and they have certainly stepped up to the plate.

Then we moved on to my youngest sister Karen and her husband Mike’s next season. Mike will be retiring from his job this fall. They prepared by downsizing their home, much like David and I did. They let go of many things from their previous home to move with God into the next. Their ministry work is expanding, and they are continuing their bike and bar ministry. I believe their motto is, “ We have a motorcycle habit with a bar ministry”. Pretty incredible testimonies come out of those bars consistently.

We gave them a customized plaque for their new home as well. Her response was… “You always make me cry!” Lol! Maybe I should give her one of my vintage handkerchiefs. 😊

So, as you can see, the topic of this blog began with a simple Spring cleaning and what my closet revealed. It continued to have more meaning as the month unfolded. I thank God that He sometimes uses the simple and mundane to reveal something of great importance to us, such as seasons of life.

In my effort to stay focused on “one main topic,” I will continue in my next blog with what else was revealed during my Spring cleaning. You might be thinking, “Her house must be immaculate!” That would be leaving you with the wrong impression. I haven’t made it much farther than my closet. 😊But I assure you that I am trying! Lol!

Our time with Him, He desires so dearly. And thank you again for spending time with me,

Reba

Good day to you. Before I start with today’s topic, I will mention my last blog, “Front Porch Soaking”. Today, as I was thinking of you spending your valuable time reading what I have written, I thought of my blog, Tarry With Me, January 28, 2025. In Tarry With Me, I had already recounted my front porch experience, except with fewer details. Evidently, it needed repeating.😊 Also, that entire blog was to follow up on two previous blogs, “If” a Big Two Letter Word, and Defining Moments.

As I looked back at those blogs I had written at the beginning of this year, I noticed I wrote of a time in my early years as a Navy wife, when I questioned how I could spend an hour reading my Bible and praying. Then I explained,

“During those earlier years, I also had the misconception that I was saved for eternity, and from then on, I was to do the best I could with what I was given.” (After all, wasn’t it my responsibility to figure life’s challenges out?) “Thankfully, I stayed in Church, Bible studies, and experience with the Lord, which He used to correct some of my misconstrued notions and false sense of responsibilities”.

In a recent early morning conversation with my husband, David, we observed that this is how many Christians live their entire lives. As we acknowledged the honesty of other Christians who had openly expressed their likewise “misconstrued notions and false sense of responsibilities”, David said, “There’s your next blog”.  

By the Lord sending me back to review blogs I had written almost six months ago, He got my attention on what my husband had suggested several days ago, that I write about today…

I will begin with some common quotes of our misconstrued notions you might be familiar with. “I’m just doing the best I can with what I’ve been given”. “I’m barely hanging in there”. “I’m just getting by”. “I’m barely scraping by”. “I’m making do”. “I’m hanging on by a thread”. “I don’t know how I will ever get through this”. “Somehow, I will get by”. “I’ve been dealt a bad hand”. “I must have been snake bitten”. There is a goofy song that says, “If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all”. But sadly, some believe it is true for themselves. I could continue, but I think my point is apparent.

So, let’s look closer at why we Christians would live like that.  

I will start with the meaning of misconstrued notion (you know, where I was and where many of us stay). Misconstrue means to interpret something wrongly, often due to misunderstanding or a lack of full information. It implies a faulty or inaccurate interpretation of words. Notion is a conception of, an idea, or a belief about something.

I doubt that we have ever been without some kind of misconstrued notion. Therefore, I know you can relate.

From what I have learned from God’s Word, and my open and honest relationships with other Christians, I believe many of us have had a misconstrued notion of the meaning of Salvation. If not, we wouldn’t be saying the things we say and living like we believe this is all there is in Salvation. Do you agree?

So I think it is good to look closer at what Salvation brings. First of all, it does bring eternal life in heaven, just like I thought as a young girl when I accepted Jesus as my Savior. If you have never heard the Romans Road to Salvation, here are some of the scriptures used to receive the Salvation of Jesus Christ. Romans 1:20-21; 3:10; 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-10; 10:13. For there is only one way to receive salvation: Faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. I pray that you will read those scriptures and know for certain you have settled the most important decision of your life. I cannot emphasize that enough!

But what next, you may ask? If the goal is to be in Heaven with God and Jesus settled that for us, then why are we left here in this world? That is where the rest of Salvation enters.

Jesus explained to His disciples when He was preparing them for His return to the Father.

John 16:7 Jesus tells us, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”

 And in John 14:15-18 NKJV

“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

My friends, these are only two verses that can resolve my first misconstrued notions: I didn’t have time to spend an hour “Tarrying” with the Lord, and I had the responsibility to “figure it all out”. If that were the case, why would Jesus send the Helper to abide with me forever, dwell with me, and be in me? He is the “Spirit of Truth”, right? Who among us doesn’t need the Spirit of Truth?

So, Jesus tells us if we love Him keep His commandments. Just starting with the Great Commandment gets us on the right path, and we will grow from there.

Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

If I were to love the Lord like this, how could I question an hour with Him? How could I do anything the Lord has called me to do if I don’t spend time with Him in His Word? All the while, the Holy Spirit Helper is there with me to lead me and guide me into God’s Truth.

I don’t know about you, but I believe that spells a life walking in the Spirit with the fruit of the Spirit… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. These are the qualities that develop in a person’s life when they are led by the Holy Spirit, as they are stated in Galatians 5:22-23. A life of abundance of all things good. No more just getting by.

No wonder the enemy wants us with a head full of misconstrued notions. Too busy trying to figure it all out that we don’t have time with the Lord in His Word. Too worn out and weary, trying to hang in there, scraping by, making do, and living with only bad luck. How sad!

Therefore, I will go back to the meaning of misconstrued notion: When combined, a misconstrued notion refers to an incorrect understanding or interpretation of a conception, an idea, or a belief.

Do you agree that this could explain why Christians often find themselves lacking direction, guidance, purpose, fulfillment, and most of all the Fruit of the Spirit? I humbly admit that I am lacking in some of the qualities that develop by walking in the Spirit. The Lord knows my heart. I desire more growth, and my Holy Spirit Helper doesn’t give up on me. Through my obedience to His Word (I do have a choice), as Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

I have a friend, Linda Dunn, whom the Lord brought into my life as a Spiritual Mentor over 35 years ago. Recently, we have been able to stay connected through texting. She shared this with me.

Unbelief is why we don’t obey.

The key to prospering is in the Presence of the Lord.

The key to the presence of the Lord is Obedience.

The key to obedience is Faith.

The key to faith is hearing the Word.

I ask you to ponder these words along with some of the verses in a poem I wrote in 2017. The Lord clarified these principles even more through “Body Builder Food” in Inspire Me. Here are a few lines starting halfway through the poem…

His Church, His body, becoming what it’s meant to be

Starting with His Word growing us individually.

Therefore, we must feast on His daily bread

Or be malnourished, downcast, and feeble instead.

Hunger for Him; the Lord gives us a choice

Serve Him, love others, actions give His Word a voice.

So, are you starving yourself not feasting at His table?

Surrender your will, Holy Spirit makes you able

To be strong in the Word and the Spirit of Life

Nourished and filled your light shining bright

Building the Body to fight the good fight!

I do hope you feel that your time with me has been well spent. Most importantly that this time has revealed more of His Salvation by living by the Spirit. All we’ll ever need and more than we could ever ask for.

God bless you, my friends,

Reba

Here it is mid-May, and as usual, I find myself needing to “be still” long enough to soak in the beauty. We often refer to it as “Stopping to smell the roses.” Although I don’t have roses, as I was filling our birdfeeder, the sweet, familiar aroma of the honeysuckle vine stopped me in my tracks. A variety of honeysuckle vines are common and grow wild in North America. As a little girl, I learned to gently pull the stamen through the bottom of the flower to access the nectar. It was a sweet delight, one drop at a time, straight from our Creator’s hands. I loved them so much, but was mindful to leave plenty for the birds and bees. 😊

It’s incredible how God uses His creation to spark a precious memory, to refresh us, and to connect with us. How sad it is that far too many times we miss out by not slowing down in this fast-paced world we live in. I have recently acknowledged that I need balance in my life. I continue to need help in that area. I believe that is why God got my attention today by sending the breeze in just the right direction for me to catch a whiff of the fragrance, causing me to pause.

After a short stroll in my yard, admiring the plants and trying to ignore the weeds, I was led to my computer to write (instead of pulling weeds). 😊

What I am writing about next transpired from “soaking” on my front porch in our previous home. It occurred about eight to ten years ago, so it is a good thing I wrote it down (the experience, not the year).  

This is from notes I took, having no idea I would ever be a writer/blogger. 😊…

I’m listening to the birds sing and noticing how the mockingbird stands out with its distinctive mocking. Gazing at the stillness and beauty of the details of my front yard. The mighty oaks and the dogwood tree that survived the storm damage incurred by another oak falling on it. It was stripped of all its limbs on one side. Ahh, another survivor! The perfectly shaped redbud I had transplanted from an inappropriate site, another survivor that had been uprooted and moved. The flowers, weeds, and even the bugs, along with the funny squirrels scurrying everywhere…so beautiful! Everything was so still as I noticed the morning sun rays increasing as it rose and cut through the dense tree population.

All of this brought my focus on God and His unfathomable creation. Then I started reading my devotional, Jesus Always by Sarah Young.  I already had it opened, lying in my lap to today’s date, June 18^th and my Bible at my side.

The devotion begins with, “Stillness is increasingly hard to come by in this restless, agitated world. You must fight to carve out time for Me”.

It continues by pointing out distractions, our need for focus, remembering God, and relaxing in His presence. It was all wonderfully appropriate, but the next part was outstanding, right where I was, “soaking” it in. Sarah continues…

“Remember that I am Immanuel-God with you”…“The longer you gaze at me, the more you can rejoice in my majestic splendors and trust in My sovereign control”.

As I read these words a strong breeze blew through only a few of the tree tops right in front of me! Most wouldn’t have believed me unless they were there to witness it. The other trees were oddly still as these few swayed in the strong breeze. It caught my breath as I recognized the Holy Spirit is in the wind and in every breath I breathe.

Oh, how I thank the Lord for sparking precious memories to refresh me and connect me to  His presence. This time, to soak in His creation, is worth fighting for because there is no better place to be than rejoicing in His majestic splendors. His Holy Spirit and praise songs, with a heart full of gratitude, brought forth the fruit of the Spirit. As my Pastor would jokingly say, “Filling my tank”. A refilling, so to speak, to pour out to others.

And for me, it motivates me to carve out time to write about this experience to communicate the love of Jesus Christ, my mission. Otherwise, I would be burned out, restless, agitated, exhausted, and empty like the world. Like I admittedly have been at times, also. Look what I would have missed if I chose to be out there pulling weeds! 😊 May we all choose to obey Psalm 46:10 NKJV “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

I will close by mentioning my poem in Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds, titled “Brevity of Time”, pgs. 19-20. A few lines from it say…

So, what about your time and how it is used?

Something freely given we so often misuse.

 Our time is precious, more valuable than gold

Time is God’s gift; it can never be sold.

Time has four letters, that is but a few

So has love; worthwhile to pursue

Through sending His Son, what love chose to do

Redeeming time for me and you!

Thank you for reading this, and I hope that you are motivated to do more “soaking” in His presence wherever that may be. Whether it is in the midst of blue skies, among the butterflies, or in the middle of the battlegrounds. We can come into His presence no matter what we see, feel, or our circumstances. Even when pulling weeds if we do it in the proper order with the right attitude. With Him all things are possible.

Until next time,

Reba

PS. On March 28^th, I wrote about “The Gift That Keeps On Giving”, namely books. Today, I mentioned my devotional, Jesus Always. It was a birthday gift from my very dear friends Karen and John. Karen is my “peanut butter friend”. No, not because we both like peanut butter! Lol! I explain this in my birthday poem to her titled PB&J. It, including the narrative, is on pages 189-191. You should read it if you need a laugh. And please keep in mind that books are gifts that keep on giving.

Another rainy day in May. Welcome, I’m glad you are joining me.

I find myself frequently reflecting on some of life’s lessons. My sister-in-law, Suzan, recently confirmed that it seems to be the norm as we age. She can say that without concern of being offensive because she and I are the same age. 😊

I believe these life lessons not only teach us, but are to be shared to help others, possibly.

Therefore, I would like to tell you about something I said I would never do, but discovered it was exactly what God had planned for me. In this instance, it was about becoming a massage therapist.

When I was very young, my dreams and aspirations were to have a loving husband and children. And a family would not be complete without a dog and, hopefully, a cat. I imagined four children would be a good number. Having a boy, then a girl, another boy, ending with another girl would be ideal in my young mind. I wanted to be the wife and momma extraordinaire within a modest lifestyle. Conservative, nothing big and flashy was my style. At that age, “storybook life” (without the castles and servants) was the path my thoughts were on. You can tell I didn’t know much about life, can’t you?

While in my late teens, I met and married my loving husband, who shared the idea of four children being ideal. By God’s perfect design, His grace, and working miracles, He gave us two baby girls and a son. I believe every birth is a miracle of God, but we had some challenges that indicated we would only have one. God proved again that He would accomplish His plans for us, and He gave us the “just right” family. My heart fills with gratitude, and a little smile comes across my face when I think of how God provided for every need during those difficult pregnancies. And our girls and our son are truly gifts from our Creator Himself.

I must add that those dreams did not include being a career Navy wife by any stretch of the imagination. But that’s how it turned out, and I can safely say the wife and momma extraordinaire didn’t pan out too well, either. Lol! But God knew all along that He would use every step of the way to teach me, shape me, and grow my trust and faith in Him and His plans for me. And at 70 years old, I say with confidence, He is continuing to do that. I am reminded of Jeremiah 29:11 NIV “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope”. And Romans 8:28 NKJV “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose”.

Nineteen years later, as David was approaching retirement from his naval career, I asked the Lord to help me find a way to assist financially as he transitioned into the civilian world. Step by step, in unexpected ways, He used people, places, and things to lead me on a specific path for a greater purpose. I was hired to train as a Physical Therapy Technician one year before David’s retirement date and our subsequent move to Texas.

In this training, I was unknowingly stepping into the world of the benefits of massage therapy. I wanted that job desperately, so I had to overcome the negativity that I had developed toward massage. Namely, that massages were for the ultra-rich for indulgence and luxury, or the purpose of prostitution. Some of you understand, and some are thinking, “How bizarre.” Unfortunately, in America, we have lost the art of appropriate caring, healing touch as a modality for treatment. Although it has been a long process, natural remedies are making a huge comeback. I, for one, am grateful the Lord was patient in teaching me that massage is where He was directing me, although I was still saying I would never be a Massage Therapist. I thought of Physical Therapy as my safe place. But I later found it was the initial instrumental door God would use to open a new world awaiting me. I would learn not to say “never” to God’s plans.

But wait, don’t think it was easy. It required numerous therapists teaching me and encouraging me by having me perform most of the massages that our patients needed. I repeatedly experienced the fulfilment of hearing patients say, “Her massage was the most beneficial aspect of my therapy program”. Yes, I had to hear that over and over again to confirm that God was using me for that purpose; caring, healing touch, in a world where it was lacking. Meanwhile, my family and friends confirmed that the massage was the best thing yet. God was waiting for me to learn to trust Him more with a gift He had given me.

Seven years later, after our move to Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, and then back to Arkansas, I was gaining the courage to consider getting my massage license and moving out of the “nest” of physical therapy. But, no, I still needed assurance that I would not be throwing myself to the wolves by making that move. I was living like the ones who stayed in the boat, instead of Peter walking on the water. No condemnation, just the plain and simple truth of where I was in my walk with the Lord. Oh, how I am so thankful for my patient and long-suffering Lord!

The move made logical and financial sense, but there were those nagging questions like, “What will people think of me?” “Will I be safe with men?” “Am I too old to remember all those bones and muscles?” “How will I work full-time and take classes at night with all of my other responsibilities?” “How will we pay for the school?” and on and on.

With the encouragement of my entire family, friends, and fellow physical therapy coworkers, I decided it was a valid option. So, I continued to pray about it for several more years! I know, it doesn’t look good for a woman of faith, but fear of stepping into unknown waters is real. For me, stepping out of God’s will was even more frightening!  And yes, fear is paralyzing. Therefore, I could not move forward until I heard from the Lord what His will for me was.

One day, as I was on my twenty-five-minute drive to work, I was in serious conversation with the Lord again. I needed to hear from Him! As I was finally ready to shut my thoughts and questions out, I made this statement, “Lord, I just want to do Your will, but I need to know for certain this is what You have for me. And then I listened. This is what I heard, “Reba, you keep asking Me My will, and I keep showing you. Why do you keep asking?” I gripped the steering wheel a little tighter, took a deep breath, and responded immediately with, “Ok Lord, I will, but I need Your help all the way!” That is all I needed to let go and let God do what He wanted to do all along. No, I did not hear an audible voice, but I knew without any doubt that it was Him speaking to me. John 10:27 NKJV “My sheep hear My voice and they follow Me”. I knew His voice when I shut up and listened. I was ready to follow!

One by one, the Lord answered every need in abundance. He was undeniably with me all the way. More than I had asked for. He provided the finances. The rehab hospital, our satellite clinic operated under, paid for my training in full. He led me to a new school where I would be part of her first class. He gave me the ability to make the highest score in the class, even as the oldest student and the only one working a full-time job. As the valedictorian, the award was named after me for the following students at this new school. He protected me and taught me that what He thinks of me (not others) is the most important thing to know. He was always with me, forever faithful and consistently showing Himself trustworthy. Why would I ever say never to Him?

I received my massage license in January 1997, then my master’s license in 1999. That same year, I left the “nest” and launched out on my own to continue using the gift He gave me for another thirteen years. I humbly admit that I stumbled along the way. Each time, I was forgiven and set back on the right path again. Remember Peter denied Jesus three times, and the Lord still loved him, forgave him, and used Him in mighty ways. The Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He will do this for you, too.

I would like to close with a quote that I saw on social media. I think it applies to me, and maybe you also.

“Don’t ever tell God what you’ll never do. He will have you nevering like you’ve never ever nevered before”! Lol!

And I say, “There’s never ever anything better than nevering for God”!

Another quote that Michael Jordan is credited with… “Never say never because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion”.

I, for one, have learned that fear is one of Satan’s biggest weapons against us, and those illusions agree with his lies!

May this help you reflect on your moments of saying never to see if fear has held you back from all that God has for you. Present your concerns to the Lord and then listen. Be willing to leave your place of “safety”. Step out of the boat. Follow Him into a whole new world that He is inviting you to live in. His abundance!

Reba

Well, friends, I just realized why I have felt somewhat “out of sorts.” In my case, I haven’t been feeling or acting as I typically would. It has been a month since I last wrote. Maybe that explains it. I can hardly believe how quickly time has passed.

So here I am, settling in and reflecting on April. Springtime! New life! The trees leafing out, and those with flowering buds are bursting open throughout the hills and valleys of Northwest Arkansas. Green grass has sprouted, and flowers are popping up everywhere. The birds’ songs of joy fill the air as they busily build just the right nest for their soon-to-be babies. Creatures everywhere are scurrying and birthing, filling the earth once again. Springtime, my favorite season!

I must say, along with the beauty of life springing up everywhere comes the storms, as it should be, while here on this earth. This is not our home! Which brings me to the cross…

The cross is a reminder of our sins Jesus did bear;

Yes, for you and me and His people everywhere.

But on Easter Sunday, we celebrate the resurrection story.

Because the cross alone could not convey the fullness of His glory.

If Jesus died on a cross and lay lifeless in the grave,

How could He return to the Father the ones He came to save?

No! Death was powerless over Him! He rose to our Father’s side,

And sent the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts;

That’s where He abides.

So, brothers and sisters, this is why we celebrate His empty grave.

The Holy Spirit is showing you, you’re one He came to save.”

The poem in its entirety is on pages 222-223, “Why an Empty Grave?” in Books Blue Skies, Butterflies, & Battlegrounds.

You might be wondering why now? Why would I be bringing up an event that we celebrated weeks ago? My statement, “This is not our home”, is why. As we acknowledge and give thanks for the beauty of some of the springtime events I had just mentioned, we also acknowledge that springtime for us includes the thunder and lightning storms, hail, wind, floods, and sometimes tornadoes. As you know, the weather is a factor wherever we live, and we take the bad with the good. Doesn’t it make you glad that this is not our permanent home and that by Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, we have a home in glory? I don’t know about you, but it makes me want to shout praises to my Lord!

1 Peter 1:3-5 (NKJV) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

So, I believe we should have a steady reminder of the empty grave, our living hope of our future home in glory, reserved in heaven for us. Our hearts become filled with gratitude and praise.  It changes us, our motivation, and gives us purpose. Meanwhile, if we love Him, we must love others and be ready to share the Good News of the Gospel. We all need this good news, don’t you agree? Without it, we have no hope.

I certainly need these reminders, so this is quite possibly the reason I am motivated to write about them. Funny thing, as I am writing, I am doing some household chores and laundry with a more grateful heart. Similar to the birds singing while laboring to build their nests.

Have you noticed how much I write about reminders, remembering the right things? The scriptures are full of the benefits of remembering. Just one prime example is in  Psalms 42:5-6 (NKJV). During King David’s yearning for God amid distress, he asked himself, V5 “ Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance. V 6 Oh my God, my soul is cast down within me; Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, And from the heights of Hermon, From the Hill Mizar.” (Emphasis mine).

I say “out of sorts” would not come close to what David was going through during this time. Yet his hope in God, praising Him for the help of His countenance (presence), and remembering that God is always with him, sustained him through deep distress and exile.

Now I ask myself, “How can I be out of sorts while doing as David did?” Hymns, praise, poetry, His Word, and remembering the right things are the ways David overcame so much more than what I have experienced. When applied, they work for me, too.

A significant portion of the book of Psalms is attributed to King David. He was not only a King, but a gifted, skilled musician and poet who influenced the creation of many of the Psalms.

So, as I write to you and remind myself of the empty grave, my hope in Him, His presence always with me,  I am filled with gratitude and praise.  It changes me, my motivation, and I live with purpose. And I hope as you read what I write, you will believe and receive it for yourself. There’s no better place to be than His Word changing us, motivating us, and giving us purpose in this life. What He has done for us, He will do for you.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you And give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26 NKJV.

Thank you for spending time with me. I appreciate you and your comments.

Reba

Welcome, glad you are here,

Today, I chose to go back to the beginning of my writing and the introduction in my first book, Inspire Me.  For those of you who have read the introduction, I will explain why I began my search for a poem for my sister’s birthday with Helen Steiner Rice’s work. For those of you who haven’t read it, I hope this will inspire you to. It is significant in this part of my journey. I  still believe you will benefit from this story if you don’t read it.

Before my husband retired from the US Navy, the Lord allowed me the opportunity to train as a Physical Therapy Technician. Through that training, I was exposed to the benefits of massage therapy. Eventually, I submitted to God’s will for my life and became a Master Massage Therapist. I should write about this part of resisting God’s will in my walk at another time. But for now, I will get back on my inspiration from Helen Steiner Rice and the gift that keeps on giving.

While working as a PT technician and massage therapist, my massage services were growing rapidly.  Our clinic consisted of Physical and Occupational therapists, and an Exercise Physiologist. I was the only one serving Physician and self-referred clients, and the other therapist referred clients to me as well.

Our Occupational therapist had a patient with a severe injury to his hand during cancer treatment. The patient’s name was Bill, and his wife was Gertrude. One day, while treating Bill, Gertrude explained that she needed help with a torn rotator cuff she had incurred during a fall. Her doctor recommended surgery, which was not an option for her due to her husband’s declining health. Our OT recommended that she schedule a massage appointment with me.

At first, she was a bit skeptical. Afterall, how could massage help a torn rotator cuff, right? With his encouragement and it being the best option she had, she made her massage appointment with me.

There was a much greater purpose in our meeting than therapist and client. Therapists are trained to disallow clients from becoming friends. Although I understand the reasoning behind this rule, I also know that God has better plans than our many rules.

Gertrude was in her mid-eighties and I in early-forties. She stood tall and stout of German decent. She was a well-dressed, educated woman who had overcome many difficult times throughout her life.

Her first husband was abusive, and she, with her two young sons, had fled for their lives after she raised a hog and traded it for an old beat-up truck that ran. She said with strong resolution, “My boys and I threw one suitcase each in the back of that ole truck, and I drove away and never looked back”! Her family members assisted with the boys while she worked hard to make a new life for herself and them.

She had stayed single all those years and had only been married to Bill about a year when they found his cancer. Thus, the trips to our clinic.

Gertrude and Bill were a storybook couple. “He treats me like a queen,” she stated with a soft, tenderhearted look.

As the story unfolded, Bill had been married to one woman previously. Her name was Virginia. They had a daughter named Carol. Carol met and married Gertrude’s youngest son, Jerry. I know this sounds complicated, but please bear with me. Hopefully, you will eventually see the importance of these relationships.

Fortunately when Jerry and Carol married, Gertrude and Virginia became best friends. After many years of this close relationship growing closer, Virginia got cancer. On her deathbed, she explained to Carol and Jerry that Bill would need to marry again. And then she said it…”Wouldn’t it be wonderful if he married someone like Gertrude”? Wonderful happened, and Bill married Virginia’s best friend, and Jerry’s mother, Gertrude. Therefore, Carol’s mother-in-law also became her stepmother. How’s that for a close family?

Our massage sessions were successful in Gertrude’s full healing. After about six to eight sessions, she had no more pain with a full range of motion. This time together was long enough for us to develop closeness, including activities outside of the therapist/client environment, her stories unfolding just in time for Bill’s passing. Gertrude said that although it seemed cut short, her year as Bill’s wife was the best year of her life. Gertrude continued to come for massages every week like clockwork.

Meanwhile, Gertrude bought a gift certificate for Carol to receive a massage. Wow! Our meeting was like an extension of friend/family-like relationships. Jerry and my husband became good friends, and we included Jerry and Carol in all of our family events. I cherish those God given years with them.

I can imagine by now you are wondering how this could have anything to do with the gift that keeps on giving. This is where it gets clearer.

After Bill’s passing, Gertrude got homesick for Iowa. She still had a home, farming acreage, two granddaughters from her oldest son, and some lifelong friends (most widows) still living there in Grundy Center. She made the very difficult decision to return for her last years. I missed her terribly but was so thankful that she was able to live out her wishes.

Gertrude left some cherished items with Carol and Jerry. One was a gift that Bill and Virginia had given her many years prior. Yes, this cherished gift was a book of Helen Steiner Rice’s poetry. The title was “Somebody Loves You”. The inscription inside in Virginia’s handwriting read, “Dear Gertrude, The somebody that loves you is us! You really are a beautiful person. We’re so happy you’re a part of our family. God bless and keep you. Much love, Bill and Virginia.”

Knowing the love between Gertrude and me, Carol chose to gift that book to me. Gertrude was well pleased with that decision and I was deeply honored. Although I had not had a fondness for most poetry, and Helen was a little older than my parents, I fell in love with her “giftedness”. She wrote some of the most inspirational poetry of her time. I discovered she was acclaimed as America’s poet laureate of inspirational verse. Coupled with her deep Christian faith and her giftedness, she published numerous books of poetry, of which I proceeded to seek and collect. As I read about Helen’s life, I discovered she, too, had a storybook marriage that ended in tragedy. Her love for the Lord and the gift He gave her was her saving grace.

Now for the Gift That Keeps on Giving. Virginia gave the book to Gertrude. Gertrude gave the book to Carol and Carol gave the book to me. Through Helen’s inspiring words, I had the desire to find one of her poems for my sister, Karen. I had read that Helen had a sister, but after a long, determined search, I could not find a poem that she had written for her sister. God used these relationships, my giftedness as a massage therapist, the gift certificate, and the gift of a book to inspire me to write a custom poem for my sister. As I explained in my introduction, “inspiration was turned on, thus this collection of poems”. It isn’t hard to see why I titled my book “Inspire Me”.

Now, I am here writing about these gifts and the subsequent two books of poetry that I have published, with the first poem being a gift that was inspired by a gift. These books led to my blogging, and my blogging has thus far reached people in my country, Ireland, South Africa, Portugal, Canada, China, Pakistan, Sweden, Netherlands, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Mexico, and Turkiye.

Could I have ever coordinated all of this? Of course not! Only the Lord God Himself can do such as this. I will be grateful to Him forever, and I am grateful for each of you. I do love hearing from you through your comments or my connect page. And meanwhile, I do hope you feel led to give one of my books as a gift that will keep on giving. You never know where the Lord will take it and how He will use it. You can find them on my books page. They are available on Amazon and from online booksellers worldwide.

I hope this helps you see more clearly how much God values our friends, family, and loving, gift-giving relationships. He is our provider in all things good, and His timing and purpose are always perfect.

To Him be the glory and honor forever,

Reba

P.S. My mother-in-law passed on Christmas Eve 2010. Carol sang beautifully at her funeral. The following year July 2011, Jerry passed, and the day before Christmas Eve, Carol passed also. Gertrude outlived them all. Ten years after Gertrude had moved to Iowa, I made my plans and set the date for me to travel to Iowa to see her. She passed in the night a few days before my trip. What a shock and disappointment! I could not understand! But what a glorious day when we are all gathered together with Jesus, our Lord and Savior, for all eternity. And as for those of you that have made Jesus your Lord and Savior, we will meet each other and together praise Him for the Gift That Keeps On Giving. His Son, the “Gift” that I love writing about the most. He’s the reason I am living. I pray you will choose Him also.

Hi everyone, Thank you for joining me today.

I want to also thank everyone for your condolences about losing our dog, Howie. I say “losing,” but I know he’s not lost. That in itself is consoling when I remember that I need to direct my thoughts to what God has given me.

Therefore, I will write about remembering the “right” things, again, as I did when remembering 11 wonder-filled years of Howie’s life.

In July 2023 I wrote two blogs about remembering. There is joy in remembering the right things. In Rightly Remembering I mentioned that David and I had agreed I needed to write about some of the many things God had given me to give others. My desire to give a poem to my sister as a gift began my poetry and writing adventure. In Blue Skies, Butterflies,& Battlegrounds I wrote about several gifts that the Lord had inspired me to give, just the right gift at the right time.

Today’s story is about a gift for a broken-hearted friend of my daughter’s.

Where do I begin? I will write as the Holy Spirit guides me to tell of the goodness and kindness of the Lord in many of the simple things in life…

My daughter, Andrea had a close friend several years younger than her. Her friend had never been married and was still dating. She had not been taught about Jesus until she met Andrea. She started going to church with Andrea and received her salvation. Their friendship grew even closer during that time and Andrea was able to give her wise counsel on various topics.

I met this friend and had only been around her a few times; I didn’t know her well.

She came to visit Andrea at our house and I saw the two of them sitting on our patio talking. I went outside to briefly greet her because I didn’t want to interrupt their visit. Before I went inside Andrea told me it was her friend’s birthday that day. I had the idea and desire to give her something that might be meaningful to her, so, I asked the Lord for help as I looked through my things.

Quickly, I thought of my vintage handkerchief collection, so I started there. They all looked very old-fashioned, too much so for a younger modern woman, except for one. It was bright and beautifully decorated with hearts. I was confident it was right to give as her gift.

 So I quickly hand-washed it and let it dry under my blow dryer.

The next step was to decide how to wrap it special. I thought of a box first but knew I didn’t have any wrapping paper. So, I went through my collection of gift bags. Right away I found a gift bag with…you may have guessed, hearts all over it. It even had a vintage look to it! I was very pleased with what I was finding, and thankful that it was going so quickly because I didn’t know how long her visit would be.

The handkerchief was soon dry and as I was wrapping it in tissue paper I had the idea to drop a few drops of essential oils on it. While searching through my essential oils I had no idea what scent she would like. I know enough about aromas to consider they have powerful effects on our spirit, soul, and body. It was an important decision. The Lord certainly knew the desires of my heart so when I came to the oil Melissa, I knew it was the right one. I can’t explain it, I just knew. I sprinkled a couple of drops on the heart hanky, wrapped it in tissue, and excitedly slipped it into the special bag.

As I was going outside to present the gift I decided to look up the benefits of Melissa oil. It is a calming, relaxing oil, and can help reduce stress and anxiety. It is also known as the healing of the heart oil! Not knowing what was going on in her personal life, I knew her well enough that she could probably use some calmness in her life ( as most of us) so I was pleased with my brief research.

So, with the gift in hand, I headed for the patio with that little excitement building that I didn’t understand. After all, it was an old handkerchief for a young woman who had most likely never used one, right?

As I presented the gift I told her it was a small token of my appreciation of her friendship with my daughter. I then wished her a happy birthday. She smiled and first remarked on her love for the heart-covered bag. 😊Then she unwrapped the handkerchief. As she smelled it she exclaimed, “I love this scent and the handkerchief is beautiful”! She appeared genuinely pleased. She asked what scent it was. When I told her the oil was Melissa and its benefits, she started to cry. The funny thing is, she had right in her hands what she needed to catch those tears.

I did not understand the emotions until Andrea explained something in her friend’s personal life. She had a broken heart over a recent break-up with a man she thought she was in love with and would marry. There it was, the purpose for the hearts and the healing of the heart oil!

As always, God knows exactly what He is doing through us and why. He provided and had me choose the heart hanky to dry her tears, the heart bag to hold it, and the Melissa oil to help heal her broken heart. All of this on her birthday and visit with her dear friend, my beautiful daughter, Andrea.

While all of this unfolded, I was not only blessed and grateful, but I was reminded our God knows how to give the best even in the small things. I can never thank Him enough for allowing me to participate and He gave me the desires of my heart while doing so. As always it is more blessed to give than receive. And He gives more than we even know to ask for.

Psalm 77:11-12 NKJV “I will remember the works of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. V 12 I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds”.

And the “Greatest Gift” of all reminds us…

Luke 22:19-20 NKJV “And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” “Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you”.

I spoke of this “Gift” in my book “Inspire Me”. Here are a few verses from the poem “Sea of Forgetfulness” pages 12-13.

“Forgiveness my dear, that’s where salvation does start,”

I inquired how to attain the Salvation He spoke of

He said, “It is a Gift from the Father above”.

Darkness removed, in His light, I could see

The “Gift” He spoke of was walking next to me!

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

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

Thank You, Lord, for giving us everything we need even in the seemingly small things. May we always give You the Glory.

And thank you, my friends. Your time is valuable. I pray each time you read what I have written you see more of God’s love and character and that you have or will receive the Greatest Gift of All. Jesus Christ, God’s perfect “Gift” to all mankind.

Reba

PS. I have seen some scripture references I have previously given that are the wrong chapter or verse. I will try to be more diligent in double-checking for typos or genuine mistakes.