Reba Bailes-Faith Filled Inspiration

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.”

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

comments

Good day, everyone. Here we are, a few days into August, and I will conclude my series on the floods in Texas. It has been difficult to finalize as more accounts pour in, as I shared in my previous post, “The Lord had been giving more pieces than I anticipated, and He won’t stop here.”

This is the time to wind this up, though, and I believe I have found a good place to do it. What better place than the first-hand account of a twelve-year-old girl, Skyler, who was a flood survivor from Camp Mystic in Hunt, TX? This young girl was on Fox & Friends News, one of our National television news stations. She told of her nightmare experience as pictures of the aftermath of her camp were being displayed behind her. Her story recounted the healing and hope that came from the inspiration to rewrite the lyrics of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” song.

Skyler wrote the lyrics with the help of her mom, Lacey Derrington. “It was very emotional and healing like song therapy,” Lacey said of working with her daughter. Does this remind you of King Saul when he was depressed, calling for the shepherd boy, David? David played his harp and sang to bring “healing like song therapy”.

Skyler sang her song, broadcasting across our nation, like a professional, while displaying courage and her giftedness. She began…

“I heard there was a giant flood

But we were washed in Jesus’s blood

And you don’t really care for my news, do ya?

On July the fourth 2025

The water rose, we went adrift”

Later in the song, Skyler sang,

 “Our faith was strong, you showed us love

Like only God from up above

Your prayers, your hugs, and your love overwhelmed us

We cried we  prayed, we did our share

You clothed us , fed us, brushed our hair

And from our lips we drew the Hallelujah.”

She ended the song with these words…

“We did our best, we left a mark

A light that shines within the dark

I told His truth, I didn’t come to fool ya’

She continued…

“Even though it wasn’t long

We stand before the Lord of songs

With nothing on our tongue but hallelujah

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Halle looooo jah!”

These words resonate in my mind, and they also bring tears. Tears for healing are always good. I thank God for them.

After her performance, Skylar was interviewed and asked about her faith. Her testimony was grounded in God’s Truth and was impactful even on the interviewers.

She also stated that she wants to be a Christian singer like Lauren Daigle. One of the hosts asked her if she would like to say “Hi” to Lauren. She looked right into the camera to say hi as Lauren walked onto the stage to greet her in person.

The surprise was genuine, and a moment this youngster will never forget. Lauren was complementary and encouraging to Skyler. One thing she said that stood out to me was, “Tragedy happens in so many people’s lives, and what you experienced was unbelievable. But you took a tragedy and you turned it into something incredible. You turned it into something beautiful.” She continued… “That, to me, is so telling of your faith. It is so telling of the hope that you have in Jesus that you could take a tough situation and turn it into something beautiful. I just want to applaud you”.

The singer also revealed that she is releasing a new single on August 1^st titled “Let It Be a Hallelujah,” a song written nearly a decade ago but never released. Lauren stated that she did not know why the delay but with this event, she now knows. There is no coincidence in the title or the song.

So, how about we give a resounding applause to our Lord? Only He can orchestrate such as this! I stand amazed and humbled at His wonderful works in the “Battlegrounds” of our lives.

  “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!

Now pure as blue skies, I glide with butterflies amid the beauty of You.

Thankful through life’s battlegrounds, I’m homeward bound, beyond the sky so blue!”

“Blue Skies, Butterflies, & Battlegrounds” poem, pages 56-57. Written during the destructive 2020 worldwide pandemic. God was there also.

As I have shared what I have found to be healing when we don’t understand, I pray it has accomplished or set you on that path. We first looked through our dear cousin, Kathy’s, vantage point and the emails shared by her sister-in-law, Carol. There was a clear analysis of the event from Schreiner University staff.

As I stated in this first part…

 “I believe this is a good starting place to give us a glimpse of the depth (please, no pun intended) of the pain and crushed hearts that we may never understand. Throughout this process, I hope you will see God still working in the hearts and lives of people”.

In part two, I continued with a portion of the university president’s description of the monstrous night and subsequent days. He also shared one of the most heartfelt prayers I’ve ever read, written by the Rev. Dr. Dongwoo Lee, Schreiner’s University Minister. “How could I ever add to this? This prayer describes our God… Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who He is and who we are in Him. Strengthened, empowered, full of compassion, hope, and healing as we each function as parts of His Body. We commonly call it the “hands and feet” of Jesus. And remember, you don’t have to be there to contribute. And with His help, we won’t forget and we won’t stop!”

As I moved on to part three…

 “Each day, more news is coming in about the tragedy, the cleanup, recovery, and how God is allowing good to come from it. It would be impossible for us to be aware of all of it, but I believe I am to share some of what I have found that has deeply touched my heart and others’.”

Therefore, I continued by sharing a Facebook post; another source for the healing balm the Lord was spreading over crushed hearts that could not understand. The writing titled Where Was God In The Flood?, was by a man named Scott. May God bless this man for his incredible compassion, insight, and wisdom. He wrote of absolutes about God and our responsibilities as His people. I found his call to the Ekklesia (the church as a community of believers in Christianity), and his mention of the anchor, along with numerous other key words, in agreement with many of my recent posts. God is speaking to His people everywhere. Let’s take heed.

With this wrap-up post, I believe this young girl’s testimony and song will continue this process of healing, even if we were never involved in a tragedy like this. As I stated previously, many of you have experienced much worse. By taking this look together, we can gain more trust in Him and His ways, even in any type of tragedy we experience in life. The Lord has supplied more than we imagined through our look at first-hand accounts, prayers, poetry, songs, and testimonies. No doubt He hasn’t stopped here.

As we continue to pray, support, uplift, and encourage one another, we find the compassion of Christ living in us and working through us (His Body of Believers). His hands, feet, and His heart in this painful world. To accomplish this, we must break free from the Dangers of Prosperity not only in America, but in many nations around the world! Let’s agree together to do our part.

I do pray God’s blessings on each of you. My appreciation of you grows with each blog.

May God continue to spread His healing balm over your lives,

Reba

Hello, again, from the unusually hot region of Northwest Arkansas. From the looks of the weather map, most of our nation is hot and dry, more so than usual. I pray for those whose jobs require outdoor work or unairconditioned buildings. They probably do not allow themselves to get too accustomed to the air-conditioned temperatures that most of us do. God bless them, for what would we do without them?

I am drawing closer to wrapping up my blogs on the floods in Texas. Each day, more news is coming in about the tragedy, the cleanup, recovery, and how God is allowing good to come from it. It would be impossible for us to be aware of all of it, but I believe I am to share some of what I have found that has deeply touched my heart and others’.

For now, I am moving to more healing words from yet another source. This was posted on social media, namely Facebook. It is titled, “Where Was God In The Flood?

WHERE WAS GOD IN THE FLOOD? 

Written by Scott 

“Over the past few days, my heart has wrestled deeply with the tragedy unfolding in Texas. The floodwaters have swept away more than cabins, they’ve shaken families, broken hearts, and left many of us asking the hard questions. As a shepherd, I’m supposed to have answers, but sometimes, I just have tears. This isn’t a post filled with easy explanations, it’s one born out of pain, prayer, and the unshakable truth that even in the flood, God is still present.

This is the heart-wrenching tension we must sit with, one that stretches both the human soul and the theological framework of even seasoned believers.

Could God have stopped the flood? 

Yes.

Could He have preserved every life? 

Absolutely.

Did He have the power to send angels, divert waters, or awaken every camper before danger came? 

Without question.

And yet, He didn’t. Not in the way we prayed. Not in the way we hoped.

This is where we enter the sacred realm of mystery.

Even the Apostle Paul, caught up to the third heaven, confesses: “Now we see through a glass, darkly…”  1 Corinthians 13:12

There are moments in life where divine sovereignty doesn’t align with human expectation, and in those moments, our theology must not collapse, it must deepen.

We often ask, “Why didn’t God act?”, but what if the deeper question is, why does He sometimes choose restraint, even when it breaks His own heart?”

The cross is our clearest example. Jesus could have called twelve legions of angels to prevent His crucifixion, but He didn’t. Not because He couldn’t, but because there was a greater purpose at work, a redemptive plan hidden within suffering.

Could this be one of those moments?

We do not claim to know the full mind of God (Isaiah 55:8–9), but we do know this, His delay is never His absence, and His silence is never His apathy.

Sometimes God restrains His hand so that a greater Kingdom revelation might emerge, even through the ashes of grief.

This Is Not Judgment. This Is Travail.

Let’s be clear, this tragedy is not a sign of God’s judgment on these children, this camp, or this region. This is not wrath, it is travail.

Creation is groaning. The earth is trembling.

And the Kingdom is advancing through birth pains, not comfort (Matthew 24:8).

This flood did not take God by surprise, but nor was it His delight. We serve a God who weeps with us (John 11:35) and enters into our suffering with scars of His own.

What We Do Know

Though we cannot answer every “why,” the believer’s voice must anchor the people of God in what is unshakably true:

He is still good, His goodness is not circumstantial, it’s covenantal. The cross remains the proof of His love, not our circumstances.

He is still just. His justice may not be immediate, but it is inevitable, every tear will be accounted for, every injustice will be made right, every hidden pain will be healed.

He is still present. Even in the storm, He was there, in the cries, in the chaos, in the quiet miracles. He is “Emmanuel,” God with us, in the flood as much as in the fire.

He is still working. As Romans 8:28 declares: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

This does not mean all things are good, it means that even the worst thing, like a flood that takes young lives, can become the soil for divine redemption. Let’s not allow mystery to give way to unbelief, let’s not allow pain to steal our posture of faith.

This is the time for the Ekklesia to weep and war, to mourn with those who mourn, to declare the goodness of God even in the valley, to contend for a generation that has been shaken.

We don’t have all the answers, but we have a God who still speaks, a Gospel that still saves, and a Kingdom that cannot be shaken.”

Written by someone named Scott

The wisdom that this man shared from his aching heart is another example of God’s healing balm that I mentioned in each of these blogs. “The Lord has been giving piece by piece messages that are like a healing balm for aching hearts and clearing minds that cannot understand”. The Lord has given us more pieces than I anticipated, and He won’t stop here. NKJV Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

In my final blog on this topic, I will share the testimony of a twelve-year-old girl for whom the Lord is doing just that… “Completing the good work He began in her.” As for the ones who perished…I will quote Scott, “We don’t have all the answers, but we have a God who still speaks, a Gospel that still saves, and a Kingdom that cannot be shaken.”

As you continue with me, I appreciate every moment of your time. Someday, we will meet from all nations and join together in our praises to Him. Meanwhile, we can join together even at a distance and praise Him through it all!

Reba

Good Sunday afternoon. We had a powerful worship, fellowship, and message at our Church gathering today. I hope you did as well.

I am writing on this day that we set aside for the Lord and for us to rest. Writing because we are not finished with “When We Don’t Understand”. I know that many who were affected believe the rest of us have moved on with our lives and have forgotten them. We have not! The Lord is reminding multitudes of us to keep you lifted in prayer and support. The Lord prompting me to write about this tragedy 22 days later, and the responses to my first part of this blog are evidence of this.

Therefore, I will continue with a portion of the letter from the President of Schreiner University, Charlie McCormick. Only a portion, because he describes that fatal night that I have already shared in the first part of this writing.

Again, this is copied from the email I received from our cousin Kathy in Kerrville, TX. I will pick up where he describes the events from his vantage point at that time.

Hello dear ones, now to write about the tragic loss of lives in the Texas flash floods this past July 4^th holiday weekend.

You may remember this is how I began my last blog. “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 tragedy was on my mind when I began that blog, but my thoughts were quickly directed to the state of our nation as I acknowledged what we were supposed to be celebrating that weekend. My ‘Dangers of Prosperity’ series is what developed instead. As I concluded this series, my final thought was that in my next blog:  

     “I will write about the incredible, faith-filled responses to the catastrophic floods in Texas this past July 4^th. Yes, during our nation’s time to celebrate, that turned into mind-boggling, tragic devastation. Yet, more healing balm for aching hearts and clearing minds that cannot understand. No, this is more like crushed hearts that we may never understand. But we can take a look together and gain more trust in Him and His Ways even in the devastation”.

I will begin with cousin, Kathy, and her husband, Gene. You may remember that they were the ones who generously gifted us a stay in their “Little Paradise” condo after we sold our house to downsize in 2021. I wrote about it in The Gift of Little Paradise poem and the narrative in “Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds”.

Since that event, they downsized and moved to the city of Kerrville, in the county of Kerr, TX, less than one year ago. Yes, that is the county that sustained the most fatalities during the July 4^th flash floods. Our cousins were safe, but greatly impacted by the devastation all around them. It has been too sad to express accurately in words, but there have been some valiant attempts. I am taking the liberty of copying them to share, as I’m certain they were written for that purpose. More healing balm straight from our Lord, especially when we don’t understand.

I will begin with an email that I received from Kathy shortly after I inquired about their safety. This email was sent on July 5^th, one day after the tragedy.

Reba, this came from my sister-in-law, Carol. She’s on the board at Schreiner University. The writings may seem lengthy, but they describe well the disaster we have been living through. 

A clear analysis of what happened from the Schreiner University Texas Center

As I said previously, “Dear Lord, I sure need your help here”! As I do in all things.

You may have some misgivings about what I have written thus far, but I am asking with genuineness of heart that you consider allowing the Lord to search your heart as you search the scripture. Ask yourself, is He speaking to you about the dangers of prosperity? Allow the Holy Spirit to be your guide.

With His help, as I approach the final part of this series, I believe we need to revisit the beginning, again, back in the Garden of Eden, to Adam’s disobedience and Eve’s being deceived. We will do this as we take a look at the “church” and where it is today.

The Church, the Body of Christ, all followers of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior across every tongue and every nation, His family, that’s who we are in Him. We gather in buildings that we call churches to worship, praise, pray, learn together, and equip us to go into the world to spread the Gospel of Jesus, adding to His Kingdom.

But some churches have been deceived into spreading a gospel other than the Gospel of Jesus Christ. By that, I mean they teach that there are other ways to the Father than Jesus. John 14:6 NKJV “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Some reject the Holy Trinity: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19 Jesus gives the Great Commission and is very specific about the Trinity. “ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” NKJV. The Trinity is a core Christian belief! Some twist, delete, and water down the Holy Scriptures to meet their agenda. They do not teach the Truth out of fear of losing numbers of people and the revenue they bring. They allow “anyone and everyone” to be leaders in the church instead of following the requirements of Church leadership taught in the scriptures. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 NKJV “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound doctrine, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” Has that time come?

Remember what the church I’m speaking of is: a place for individual followers of Jesus Christ to gather in corporate worship, praise, pray, learn together, and equip us to go into the world to spread the Gospel of Jesus, adding to His Kingdom. No wonder the enemy works so hard to deceive us, and our human flesh follows him in disobedience! Just like Adam and Eve!

And what about those of us who judge others’ sins while our hearts are just like the Pharisees?

Looking at the Church today could be condemning, but recognize that condemnation is from Satan himself, also! We must remember that God never condemns us. He lovingly corrects us as we have all gone astray. He is the Good Shepherd, and Jesus made the way back to Him. Just as the prodigal son in Dutch Sheets’ prayer for our nation…

“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!”

As the Lord reveals my times of going astray in my sinful nature, and judging others, I thank Him for making the way for not only me, but all of us to come back to Him.  Hopefully, you have seen a glimpse of my confessions throughout my poems, narratives, and blogs. The Lord does not bring our sins to the Light for condemnation, only for correction for our “good” and His Glory.

I stand on the words I wrote in “Casting Stones” and the associated scripture. This is in “Blue Skies, Butterflies & Battlegrounds”. It begins on page 149 and ends on page 150. I hope you will read it in its entirety and the narrative, as well. This is our warning not to “cast stones” of judgment on others.

When regarding others, do you have a bit of smirk

And your critical eyes around corners still lurk?

Do you gossip, ridicule, and point the judgment finger

And when you’ve departed, your hurtful words still linger?

You might say no to any or all of this

But your view of yourself could honestly be amiss…

Only our Lord knows what  is in our hearts;

It is there where this evil in each of us starts.

He reveals things in my heart I did not know,

To show me the stone is not mine to throw!

We must not “blame” or “cast stones”. “Disobedience and blaming, what misery they bring”… “No stones will He cast; Only forgiveness He imparts”!

His healing balm, His Word, His Truth, His way back to our relationship with the Father, is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore.

As we apply it through reading, studying, and obeying it, His Word does what He says it will do. We, as believers, our families, governments, schools, and our nation will function and serve their purpose as designed by God.

So, with my mixed emotions, I approached my keyboard. And piece by piece, He has given messages for the healing of the hearts of those of us who mourn over the direction our great nation has chosen. Have we forgotten those who fought so fiercely and sacrificially for our freedoms? Worse yet, have we forgotten the price our Lord paid with the sacrifice of His only Son? He made the Way back to the Father through Jesus Christ, the only way! He made the greatest sacrifice ever for all mankind. There was no other way!

I thank the Lord for helping us examine the dangers of prosperity because it helps clear our minds to understand how we have been deceived into believing that our way is the better way, and that somehow, God is withholding “good” from us. I, for one, move from the sadness, discouragement, and shamefulness of what we’ve done. With humility and confession, I receive the Lord’s forgiveness and walk in His Godly prosperity, not man’s prosperity.

As I will continue to profess, “His Way is always the Better Way!” And He certainly has “The Perfect Plan”, pages 104-105 in Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds. I hope you will read it and be encouraged. For those of us who know God’s Love, Grace, and Mercy, this is more than encouraging. It gives us hope for all of us and the future of our families, governments, schools, churches, and every area of our lives.

Romans 12:2 NKJV “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”. Emphasis mine.

In my next blog, I will write about the incredible faith-filled responses to the catastrophic floods in Texas this past July 4^th. Yes, during our nation’s time to celebrate, that turned into mind-boggling, tragic devastation. Yet, more healing balm for aching hearts and clearing minds that cannot understand. No, this is more like crushed hearts that we may never understand. But we can take a look together and gain more trust in Him and His Ways even in the devastation.

God bless you and thank you for sharing in my journey, through my mission to glorify God through writing, sharing His Word, and my life experiences, communicating the love of Jesus Christ to add to His Kingdom.

Reba

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.

First, let me thank you for staying with me and being patient in this process. I hope it doesn’t appear that I think it is all about me and my family. Even if no pets were involved I would be sharing my life experiences and His Word to hopefully encourage you in your faith and trust in the Lord. You know, “Inspire Me”, “Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds”, and in this case, All Things Great and Small.

With that said, I will begin with a bonus then on to my dreams and the “Right Door”.

In my first attempt to write about this in All Things Great and Small, I stated “I made my title include all things because the Lord cares about all things concerning us”. Closer to the end I quoted 1 Peter 5:7. I ended with a picture of our church bulletin referencing the books the veterinarian wrote, and the verse in Psalm 104:24-25. This morning I looked at the other bulletin that was with this one. This is what I saw…

Thank You, Lord, for your apropos bonus.

Now on to the first dream that shows just how deeply He does care about us…

In this dream, I was standing in front of our vet clinic which does not provide emergency care. I saw a man standing on my left and I understood that he was one of the doctors. I said I wanted to bring him last night for help but I didn’t. The doctor said, “Howie was here last night scratching at the door to come in but no one was here to help.   I could see Howie frantically scratching to get in for help. Immediately after, I looked up and saw Jesus standing slightly to the right. Jesus said to me, “ I was here for Howie and I opened the right door for him to come in”. He came in the door with Jesus! I woke up! Can you imagine the astonishment, then, the peace that swept over me? I cried with joy and wonderment this time. I understood that it was Howie’s time to go with Jesus. Jesus was there for him and opened the right door. Remember the doggy door at our church I mentioned?

My heart was so full of overwhelming gratitude, yet there was more healing in the process still ahead. The process included another dream. More than I could ask for.

This dream began with me standing in our family room looking at our front door. It was opened slightly and a bright beam of sunshine was pouring inside our foyer (our house faces the north so the front is always shady). (Our door was reversed in the dream. The doorknob is on the right but in the dream it was on the left). Then I saw Howie happily and hurriedly passing through the doorway into the light. Howie had had a fear of passing through doors that weren’t opened wide. There was absolutely no fear or hesitation in this instance. I awoke with a smile and another big bandage on my heart.

The Lord hasn’t stopped doing His part, nor will He ever. He is Jehovah Nacham, Hebrew for The Lord is my Comforter. The Greek word for “Comforter” is parakletos, which combines “para” and “kaleo” to mean “called to one’s side”. He has assuredly been by our side. How do we thank You, Lord?

As I have relived these dreams over and over, I decided to search for a picture of Jesus opening the door for a dog. Here is what I found. Another big step in healing our broken hearts.

Some day I will order this and hang it by our front door.

Meanwhile, I choose instead of staying heartbroken by the loss, to shift my thoughts to the joy and wonder God gave us through Howie’s life. The reality is, that Howie was aging. I just didn’t want to accept that fact. Also, most of us outlive our pets. So when we add them to our family we will most likely have to say goodbye.

Our new veterinarian sent us a card that says, “Forever in our hearts“…“They ask for so little yet leave behind so much”. I’m cherishing the “so much”!

But no, it doesn’t stop there. We received a sympathy card from Cousin Kathy. The message read, “To make Heaven the perfect resting place for loved ones we adore, God made sure those Pearly Gates contained a doggy door”. Again, the doggy door! The right door!

The Lord has beautifully connected more comfort and healing than I could have imagined. Hopefully, this has helped encourage you to trust our incredible God forever at our side through all things great and small. Always opening the right door for us to enter in as we cast our cares/anxieties on Him because He deeply cares for us.

Psalm 100:4 NKJV “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise, Be thankful to Him and bless His name”.

I am thankful Lord for 11 Wonder-filled years with Howie the Wonder dog that you led through the Right Door.

To Him be all the praise and glory forever! AMEN!

And if you have a pet, please hug him or her for David our family, and me,

Reba

As I walk down a fresh raw memory lane, these are just a few things I can share about Howie.

Howie would leap in the air to catch his frisbee and with joy leap even more when he welcomed us home. He would fiercely chase the squirrels and then wonder where they had gone when they disappeared up a tree. This was the other side of our “wonder” dog. 😊

His best effort was given in pursuit of a herd of deer until the buck gave a clear indication that it wasn’t a good idea. Howie turned away on a dime! With his tail tucked and ears peeled back he gave his little, short legs a run for his life, back home where David and Steven were witnesses to this scary but hilarious event.

He stood to guard over strangers and had an instinct of who belonged and who didn’t, except for UPS, FEDX, or any large delivery truck.  He never understood they were the good guys. I believe his distaste for them was engrained while abandoned at the airport. He really did try to contain himself and did pretty well at times. Now it does my heart good to think he could be chasing all the delivery trucks he wants. When he catches them he will find they are good guys after all. They are delivering doggy treats for every wagging tail; him first.

He loved everyone and played with their dogs regardless of their size. However, when several dogs were competing for my attention he would stand guard in my lap or by my side and let them know who I belonged to. Although he wasn’t considered a lap dog, when he did sit in a lap, David was chosen most frequently. He seemed very content there for a while. If David left for a moment he saw that as his grand opportunity to steal the seat.

He would only chase the cats that ran from him and loved on the ones that didn’t. Howie spread his love and joy everywhere he went. He especially enjoyed his trips to Lowe’s Hardware Store where they told him how cute he was and would treat him to a doggy biscuit. He would strut around like he owned the place. He was small in stature but he didn’t know it. He was the biggest creature on the planet!

Many of our church family met and loved Howie. After greeting everyone who came for our group Bible studies, he would settle down so we could have our time together. We noticed that he stayed closer to one particular group member than others. We no longer wondered why, when our friend, Donald, disclosed the doggy treats he carried in his pocket and doled out to Howie throughout the evening. Howie knew a real dog lover when he met him.

Through God’s perfect timing, Howie was instrumental in meeting my friend Pati. David and I took him to the doggy park just before releasing my second book “Blue Skies, Butterflies & Battlegrounds”. Pati was exactly the helper that I didn’t even know I needed. She was experienced in book promotions, and blogs, and has a wealth of talents she could now use for me. She had become widowed a little less than a year prior. On that special day, she had decided that a trip to the dog park with her furry puppy companion would help lift her spirit. Pati had a renewal of purpose and was highly motivated to help me who was clueless in her area of expertise. Pati was the “hummingbird” zipping along and I was the “butterfly” floating along taking in what I could grasp. Although Howie and Kippy did not become best friends, they served a greater purpose. They were the reason Pati and I connected. I think of that day every time I drive by the park.

Howie was David’s assistant overseeing the building of our new church sanctuary. Although he didn’t see its completion, I’m sure of Howie’s confidence that they would certainly install a doggy door.

Please keep the doggy door in mind as we continue with this story.

Each of our family members were a big part of Howie’s joy. We will share those treasured memories together for years to come. Wonder-filled life for certain…

In my effort to go forward in healing, I will tell only a little of Howie’s passing.

Howie was aging. Yes, it happens but it’s hard to accept. He slept a lot. He lay on the window bench to continue his guard over our home. He began having seizures. I wondered how much of this we would have to endure. Sadly our daughter, Allison, and granddaughter, Haley, had experience in this and were helpful. He only had two seizures that we know of and after the last one, he wasn’t the same. It appeared to have caused a heart issue. His last night he showed signs of congestive heart failure with some problems breathing. He wasn’t in pain and appeared to desire to be alone. He went to a wooded area next door and lay in the leaves. We brought him inside to be close to us, having no idea he would not make it through the night.

It was late evening and I wanted to find an emergency vet to take him to. For some reason, my husband didn’t agree. He didn’t believe they could help. This had the potential of being a big issue between us. But thank God, He put that to rest also by giving me a dream. Dreams I will save for later.

After Howie passed quietly and peacefully, and David and I were drained of tears and sadness, we needed to rest. I was admittedly afraid to go to sleep. I was concerned that I would have fretful dreams about not finding emergency care for him. I did finally go back to sleep sometime after midnight only to have violent dreams! They had nothing to do with our horrible event. I do not remember anything specific other than they were bad enough that I woke up. I immediately asked Jesus to “please help me”. “I need sleep and Your comfort, Lord”. After a while, I dozed back to sleep to experience the most comforting dream I’ve ever had about a pet!

This may sound like a cliffhanger but I decided to post this dream and some bonuses in the next, along with a short ending. A much-needed break is in order again.

So please join me for more of this wonder-filled life story,

Reba

PS How could I forget to mention Howie’s smile?

As I write to you today, I am considering it healing “therapy”. You pet lovers will understand my broken heart and many tears.  I and Jesus lovers will gain a deeper understanding of God’s healing in all things great and small.

Some of you are familiar with the series of books “All Creatures Great and Small” written under the pen name James Herriot. He was a veterinary surgeon in England from 1940-1992. I made my title to include all things because the Lord cares about all things concerning us.

I have always been a dog lover from a family of dog lovers. No, dogs were not exclusive but foremost. My husband shares the same love for dogs, so early in our marriage, we adopted dogs (sometimes cats). Each has held a special place in our hearts, but this time, it is all about Howie the Wonder Dog. Howie passed away last week, leaving another big hole in our hearts that needs healing.

First, let me tell you how Howie came into our family and how his nickname “The Wonder Dog” derived.

Not too long before Howie, we had two dogs who had grown elderly. When the time came for that agonizing decision, with the assistance of our family veterinarian, Dr. France, we laid them to rest. I prayed many prayers that the Lord would through His love and mercy take them. But through previous experiences, the Lord had already shown me that we have authority over the animals. That choice would have to be ours through our love and mercy toward their suffering.

After making that choice (just two months apart) for our beautiful Golden Retriever, Chelsea, and our gentle giant Great Pyrenees, Bogey I wondered if I could ever be a dog owner again. But with time to heal… my husband… and our natural love for dogs, we decided to visit our local animal shelter. We discussed what we were looking for in our new furry friend. “No males or puppies”.  Well, guess what? We instantly fell in love with a male puppy! I mean instantly! There was no turning back! They asked if we wanted to take him outside to walk in a fenced area to see how he responded to us. We did gladly but he had already stolen our hearts. He was such a happy loving dog even in those circumstances. They explained that he and his brother were found abandoned at our local airport on a cold rainy night. His age was approximately a year old. His tail had been broken and grew back crooked and unbeknownst to us, at that time,  he had been shot in the hip with a BB gun. That was later revealed in an X-ray.

As I observed this scruffy pound puppy, with tail wagging, excitedly bouncing around David, his name came to me. “Howie”, I said to David, “ He looks like a Howie to me”! David quickly agreed so we named him before he was officially ours. We paid the fees and signed the adoption papers. Then excitedly and proudly drove him home. He rode in my lap, his tail still wagging as the three of us had newfound friends.

And then it happened… shortly after arriving home, I fed him and he immediately threw it all up. I tried to reason that it was from the excitement and the car ride. Just give him more time and he will be fine. After all, he didn’t look sick and was still wagging his tail. They don’t adopt sick animals and he was too happy to be sick, were some of my thoughts in an attempt to console myself and David. Those thoughts were failed attempts. The reality was that Howie could not hold down anything he ate. How could he be growing and looking healthy were the puzzling questions.

We had already made an appointment with Dr France for puppy shots and neutering. Little did we know we would experience over a year-long journey with a baffling sickness that mysteriously afflicted our precious pup.

I remember too many details of this journey, so it will suffice to say after multiple lab tests, special diets, X-rays, exploratory surgery, medications, and a significant amount of money all without answers or cures we lost hope for his future. I must add that the exploratory surgery left him with an incision from the base of his sternum all the way to the castration area! All were held together with staples and glue. When they brought him out to us, his massive incision was shocking! Extraordinarily Howie’s tail was still wagging as if nothing had happened! The outcome… he found nothing that could cause this sickness.

I found myself not just praying but begging God to do something! We could not find answers and could not bear the thought of putting him down! But the Lord did not answer at that time. He had a miracle waiting for us and we just didn’t know it.

After David and I gave up our efforts and thought we had no choice but to rely on the Lord to carry us through, I took Howie back to our vet to discuss the possibility of putting him down. (I thank God that Howie did not know what we were thinking). We were agonizing over the right decision for him.

Dr France was very understanding and knew how we had not only bonded with him but had desperately tried everything known to us to save him. He suggested, although he didn’t have any inflammation, if I was willing as a last-ditch effort, to try a round of steroids. His suggestion came with a warning, “I don’t want to give you any false hope but this is the only thing we haven’t tried”. “It’s not likely to help but do you want to try”? With all my efforts to suppress false hope, I agreed to try steroids for him. Dr France gave him his first pill in his office and we were to return after the ten-day course of this medication.

As I drove home with Howie, my emotions went everywhere. The battle in my mind was intense. Hope went to no hope, no hope went to false hope, and around and around we went. David was experiencing much the same but relied on me to make the final decision.

When we arrived home it was time for Howie’s evening meal. He ate but did not throw up! That had never happened before! I was puzzled even further. The next morning he ate but did not throw up again and again he ate and never threw up! After ten consecutive days of not throwing up I desperately wanted to believe we had a miracle. I could hardly wait to hear Dr France’s response. When I reported Howie never threw up again after the first pill he had given him, Dr France’s response was, “Well we know it wasn’t the pill.” “It’s a wonder.” While petting Howie he said, “Howie the Wonder Dog”! At that moment by a miracle of God, I knew our prayers were answered!

I could go on telling of this wonder dog, but I will have to continue when this “therapy” session has had a little break. I hope you will stick with me and hear more of God’s goodness in all things concerning us, all things great and small.

Meanwhile, I will trust the Lord for more healing as I praise Him for allowing us eleven years with His small but great creature.

And as always, I hope this is healing to anyone’s heart that is broken over the loss of a pet.

My purpose for all is to build our belief and trust in His goodness toward us no matter how hard it seems.

NKJV 1 Peter 5:7 “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you”.

To be continued…

Reba

PS This morning I found this timely bulletin lying under another and my Bible. It is from our church dated February 2^nd, 2025. I could hardly believe my tear-filled eyes.

Notice the scripture: NIV Psalm 104:24-25 “How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures…living things both large and small”.

As the snow and ice are still melting from last week’s wintry blast the temperatures have risen to a spring-like 71 degrees today. We have a little saying in NWAR, “If you don’t like the weather here, just stick around a few days (or sometimes a week) and it will change. Funny, but often true. 😊

And here I am at my computer to share with you what is on my heart.

My oldest brother, Thomas (we call him Tommy), who lives in Texas is going through some serious health problems again. I say again because he has had several touches with death, mainly but not exclusive to his heart condition. As in previous times, he drove himself to the emergency room not sure that he would make it. Thank God he did!

Although, without knowing of Tommy’s emergency situation, I continually had him in my thoughts and knew I needed to call him. He didn’t answer so I decided if he didn’t call me soon I would contact my sister, Denise, who lives close to him. Thank the Lord I didn’t have to wait long. The next morning he called and I learned of his admission to the hospital the day when I had tried to contact him.

As he began recounting the experience I could tell it was intense. It got more intense when he told me that the doctors were at odds with each other and disagreed on their diagnosis. Without definitive answers, they were treating him independently of each other. This was frustrating for us and added much unnecessary stress for a heart patient. As we talked, it was even more upsetting for Thomas to recite the confusion and lack of care throughout the process.

I decided to redirect our conversation by reminding him of all the times the Lord pulled him through and that he could trust Him again no matter how critical it got. We reminisced over events that confirmed God’s trustworthiness. Some would say that is “Preaching to the choir” (an idiom that means to try to convince people who already agree with you). And I say they are correct, but we all need those reminders.  Remembering God’s trustworthiness through our reminiscent conversation helped us get our eyes focused on how big our God is, not how big our problems are. Yes, near-death experiences are big. But never bigger than our God!

I have two brothers. Both are talented musicians, but I will tell more about them in another blog.

So before my phone conversation with Tommy ended I took the opportunity to express my appreciation for my big brother’s talents and how much his music ministered to me. Soon after, I thought of the old song “The Anchor Holds”. Tommy was familiar with the song but couldn’t remember the words. As we made light of his forgetfulness we started joking with each other.  Then he laughingly sang a childhood rhyme “I’m a little teapot…tip me over and pour me out”. My reply was, “Brother they gave you too much Lasix (a  diuretic used to relieve excess fluid) and you are already “all poured out”. Lol! The laughter was good. Like medicine as the Lord says in PROVERBS 17:22 NKJV “A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones”.

Unfortunately, there were far more less-than-positive events to his hospital stay. But when I spoke with my brother again, he had released himself from the hospital! In my opinion, this was a drastic move, but understandable also. How does a stressful stay in a hospital help the heart to heal? So many concerned thoughts arose again.

But God reminded me of the “anchor” so I listened to it along with the story behind it.  “The Anchor Holds” by Lawrence Chewning. I forwarded the link to my brother believing he would find comfort and strength in it also. You can find it on YouTube if you would like to hear the whole story with the song. It is powerful!

I will tell the parts of Lawrence’s story and the verses that minister deeply to my heart.

In Lawrence’s story, he told of the year 1992. He called it a year of sorrows. Oddly enough 1992 was much the same for my family. There were many commonalities in our stories that year. It was a year of burnout, discouragement, and depression not understanding tragic loss. He went on to tell of his time emotionally broken at his piano where he wrote the lyrics to this song. He said it was a very lengthy song, 10 to 11 minutes long but it really did help him by writing this.

Several months later, through a certain course of events, he ran into an old friend, Ray Boltz. He told Ray of his and his wife’s extremely difficult year and shared what he had written. Ray later asked if he would mind if he recorded it. With Lawrence’s permission, Ray downscaled it, recorded it, and made it famous. Lawrence was understandably going through financial difficulties at that time. This song provided not only emotional healing but also financial provision. The Lord’s provision in so many ways! Now that my friends is what I call the Lord taking what the enemy meant for bad(destruction) and turning it into good. More than good, His best came from the storm. And there is no telling how many lives have been comforted, healed, and changed through his song!

Here are the verses I connected with the most…

I begin with the chorus…

1. The anchor holds though the ship is battered,
2. The anchor holds though the sails are torn,
3. I have fallen on my knees as I face the raging seas,
4. For the anchor holds in spite of the storm….

• I’ve had visions, I’ve had dreams, I’ve even held them in my hand
• But I never knew they would slip right through like they were only grains of sand …

Chorus again and then…

• I have been young but I’m older now and there has been beauty these eyes have seen.
• But it was in the night through the storms of my life
• Oh that’s where God proved His love to me

The chorus is meaningful because of the words I wrote in Sovereign Captain at the Helm…

“Sail on my shipmate in this raging storm

Where faith and strength become the norm

Our Sovereign Captain is at the helm

Storms won’t overtake, or you overwhelm”… Page 15 in “Inspire Me”.

“Sinking Sand” on the page just before it is full of the same theme.

“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!”

Lawrence’s words in lines 5&6 remind me of these verses in “Gain”…

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

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

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

Could my faith remain with nothing else around?”

Many of my poems and narratives have commonalities in our storms/battlegrounds, as in my book and poem “Blue Skies, Butterflies and Battlegrounds”. I began the poem by naming some of the “beauty I have seen”. Then we move on to the battlegrounds…“You grip my hand, guide me through, the very one I’m desperate for.”  That sounds like an anchor to me! It continues through his verses 8 & 9 “Through the storms of my life Oh that’s where God proved His love to me”. Mine in the last verse, “Thankful through life’s battlegrounds, I’m homeward bound, beyond the sky so blue!”

Can you tell, my friends, how this song touched my heart? This certainly wasn’t just for my brother. That is how God works; the good for all!

And I truly hope He has used this to touch your heart to know there is nothing in our lives that the anchor won’t hold as He is gripping our hand. He won’t let go! Be encouraged by the words in this song, my poems, and our testimonies. As I wrote in “God in Our Seasons”…

“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!”

And for the most important truth of all:

Hebrews 6:19  NKJV “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil.”

Isaiah 41:10 NKJV “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand”.

This is how we know He is the anchor and His grip is sure.

Until our time together again,

Reba

Hello, thanks for joining me again.

Business first today. I am still having trouble with my comments page. I am getting some, although they might not look like it on your end. I will continue to work on it, but in the meantime, go ahead and comment in the box, and just hit enter when you are finished. Or you can sign up for emails as many of you have.  Thank you for your patience with this. My experience is that technology doesn’t always work as it should. Can you relate?

Through my efforts to write shorter blogs, today I will write about more that came to mind during yesterday’s blog. Namely my comment about the less fortunate and those of us who have more to give more. “For it is truly more blessed to give than receive.”

After time in the Word in my special quiet place, I lingered there. I decided to continue reading my “Art of Living” book by Norman Vincent Peale. Many of you are understandably unfamiliar with Mr. Peale. The copyright of this particular book is in 1937. His counsel using God’s Word, was instrumental in saving countless lives during the Great Depression. You may have heard of his book called “The Power of Positive Thinking”. This 1952 best seller encouraged millions and still does today. He tried to instill a spiritual renewal in America in those days. Does that sound like what is needed in America today?

In the “Art of Living” book I am in the chapter titled The Discovery of Happiness. I wanted to share some of the statements he made and a story he told that led straight to my statement “It is truly more blessed to give than receive”.

Norman started this chapter with a question. “If you could have the thing you most desire; if you could realize your dearest wish, for what would you ask?” He went on to say the wise man would conclude that the one great thing most to be desired in this fleeting life is that state or quality we call happiness. He states, “Happiness is something to be distinguished from pleasure”. In my Bible studies and blogs, I have pointed out the difference between happiness and joy. But as I read on, he describes happiness as a concept involving something much deeper, richer, more satisfying, more spiritual, and therefore longer lasting than pleasure.

This, in my opinion, describes joy. Joy/happiness is so much more than skin deep. It is bigger than and not reliant upon circumstances. And it is much larger than my emotions. I want the kind of happiness that comes from trusting God more than my circumstances, obeying God, and following God regardless of where that path leads, even if it is hard and means I leave my familiar comfortable places. This is the path to true joy/happiness. How about you? We do have a choice and we can settle for less. I admit, many times I have settled for less. But even at this age, I am learning to follow the Better Way. Thank You, Lord, Your ways are always better than mine!

In this discovery, Norman points out why the pursuit of other “good” things is why many of us are still discontent, unfulfilled, discouraged, depressed, and oppressed. “We seek God because our souls tell us the truth which our experience confirms that to find God is to find true happiness.”

So in order not to rewrite this entire chapter, I will get to his teaching that pertains to happiness in giving. I am paraphrasing some and italicizing his verbatim words. His teachings are simple but do not underestimate them because of that fact. He points out that  “the profound and the simple are first cousins”.  (This reminds me of my testimony of salvation as a 9-year-old girl. Thank You, Lord, for the simplicity of Your Truth.) He made the simple statement, “Happiness is not to be found in getting but in giving”. Does that sound familiar? It is not what you do for yourself that will give you the greatest happiness but, rather, what you do for others. There is no joy like it and it will make the whole world brighter for you”. “This was what Jesus was always trying to get people to do. Many Christians fail to do it, and their lives are like a twenty-five-watt bulb when they could shine with the brilliance of one hundred fifty watts.”   

He continues this message by telling of a distinguished writer who told him that “for years he had lived the selfish life, making money only to lavish on himself”. The man went on to tell how over time a feeling of boredom, weariness, and dissatisfaction overwhelmed him. The drabness of his days became oppressive. Pleasures were not to be found. The “love between him and his wife died and they divorced. Then it happened that he fell upon a strange secret. He learned that a Great Teacher was right when he said, “He that saveth his life shall lose it, but he that giveth his life shall find it a hundredfold”. This man truly had lost life, for little remains when happiness is gone. He was saving his life and he had lost it, but now he began to give it away, and wonder of wonders, he had it all back again, only this time much deeper and richer than ever before”. Later in his story he even stated, “Perhaps I’ve been converted.”

As I read this little, but powerful book, I can see why its title is so apropos. God is the Artist/Creator of our lives and by following the Artist’s instructions for life (His Word) our lives create a Masterpiece of artwork. The Art of Living! “There is no joy like it and it will make the whole world brighter for you”. Pretty incredible, wouldn’t you agree?

And before I could get to my computer to write my continuing thoughts from yesterday’s blog, today I read among many other things, Andrew Wommack’s daily devotional. There’s that word again, “devotional”. Lol!

Straight from the teacher’s mouth, or email in this case. 😊

In 2017 I wrote a poem after missionaries from Haiti visited our church. The poem is based on filling the basic needs of a nation in starvation. It is in my book “Inspire Me” and the title is “Hungry Sheep”. Here are a few verses that express “Ministry in Action”. Beginning with verse three…
First we do like Jesus did, and show them that we care,
Feed them all we can with help from everywhere.
We go to where they are, turn our words into action
Doing what Jesus did, that’s the main attraction,… (skipping a few verses) Sharing God’s abundance and filling basic needs
Living out the Gospel, on Jesus more believe. The last two verses say…
Using those of us He calls, feeding hungry sheep together
Bringing the Gospel to the nations, glorifying Him forever!
You can read it in its entirety on page 32.

My dear friends, I could never put all of this together myself. And I couldn’t make it “less is more” if it wasn’t for your input, my desire to accommodate, and the Lord’s help in that also. I pray this has been worth your time to read and consider.

May our lights grow brighter through the art of living,

Reba  

Your comments are valuable, so I will use them to improve my blogs.

 A couple of you have suggested that I shorten my blogs. Lengthy ones are sometimes hard to stay focused on and find the time to read in one sitting (might not make it back to finish). Funny thing, I wondered about this but I also had other opinions.  Now with this in mind, I decided to make adjustments that I believe will better serve all. This reminds me of my poem “Brevity of Time” in my second book.

For all of these lengthy blogs that I seem to have plenty of, I will break them up into segments, as I did with my 3-part series “Losing My Sight”. That way for the ones who need shorter versions, you won’t need to try to hang in there for the ending. 😊And for me who has more thoughts to add, I can keep writing in the next segment. Those who want to read more can continue along with me. I’m hoping that will work better for us all. So let’s give it a try again. And keep those comments coming! I do hear and appreciate you.

Since I haven’t written about Valentine’s Day, I will share with you what happened on that special day.

I didn’t get up at my usual every early morning hour. I had somewhere to go so I had to shorten my quiet time. As I sat in my favorite chair, I asked the Lord what He had for me. I knew He had something special in those few quiet moments set aside with Him. I remember He meets me where I am when I make myself available to Him.

I decided to begin with the devotional in my Jesus Always book. As I previously mentioned, those devotionals can land us right where God wants us. For me to begin my time with a devotional is not typical. I usually sing along with some praise and worship music first. But as this came together it was ideal for the quiet moments I sat in His presence. The songs came later.

My Valentine’s “gift” of the Lord’s Word for February 14^th, 2025:

For some very odd reason, I read the devotion for November 14^th, not February 14^th. But no matter the reason or the date, it was His “gift” for the day which happened to be Valentine’s Day.

It began with, “I am always with you.” How is that for getting off to a great start to the day in His Word?

Some of you may remember in my last blog I mentioned my family going through some very challenging storms in life. Some commented that you were praying for my family. I want to thank you for that. The Lord is not only hearing our prayers, but He is answering.

The devotional continued to encourage me and lift me far higher than any troubled waters my family could ever find ourselves in. He is always with us!

The verse of scripture that I grabbed onto was Isaiah 54:10 NIV “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor My covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord who has compassion on you.” As I repeated those words and looked out my window at the Ozark mountains that I live in, my peace was restored and it gave me joy. The Lord’s covenant is a blood covenant that remains forever because it was made with Jesus’s blood. Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  God’s love is an immovable foundation even when the world around us is crumbling (mountains shaken and hills removed).

I then went to YouTube to play Don Moen’s song “Thank You Lord”. But instead, a map with a warning popped up that caught my attention. The warning was a very high likelihood of a major earthquake in the New Madrid Fault line in 2025. The New Madrid fault line runs through northeast Arkansas. A major earthquake can be felt hundreds or even thousands of miles away depending on the magnitude. But God had just given me the words in Isaiah 54:10. “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed…”

I am not left to wonder why these events fell into place as they did, although they seemed odd (November 14^th devotional on February 14^th Valentine’s Day) and unusual (my atypical start in quiet time). Now was the time to sing with Don Moen “Thank You Lord” which led to the “Revelation” song with Guy Penrod.

As I am praising my Savior all day long, the icing on the cake at the end of my Valentine’s Day was that my husband brought me beautiful roses and we enjoyed a special homecooked meal together in the quiet and privacy of our blessed home.

Now we are waiting out the biggest snowstorm our area has undergone in years. I am reminded of my blog “Joy Ride With the Holy Spirit”. He displays His Sovereignty over all the land. God bless those who are less fortunate and without warm shelter. And may the Lord continue to direct us who have more to give more. For it is truly more blessed to give than receive.

In Blue Skies, Butterflies, & Battlegrounds in my final thought I wrote, “Over the period it has taken me to write the narratives of these poems, the Lord has given me so much more. Each passing day I could add to what He has taught in these messages. I could recount the repeated times He has reminded me of the lessons I have gleaned from Him”.

I guarantee you there are many more thoughts on this subject! Lol! But I will agree that sometimes less is more for the moment.

God bless you until next time and I will say again, “ Your voice matters”.

In Jesus’s name,

Reba

comments

I hope your day got off to a great start! Mine has, so here I am to write about it. I must confess, I was going to go shopping before writing, but my heart said, “This comes first”.

So I am here to tell of my day thus far.

Our family is again, going through some very challenging storms of life. My time with the Lord sustains me and I thank Him. He always meets my needs abundantly. Instead of reciting all my needs, I invite the Holy Spirit to guide me to what He has for me at this moment, my daily bread.

I begin with a song or sometimes several that just effortlessly come to my thoughts. Yesterday the words to the song “Trust In God” were playing in my head. The words “I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered, I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered, He will never fail, He will never fail, That’s why I trust Him, That’s why I trust Him” were drawing me right where the Lord wanted me.

Immediately after playing the song on YouTube a teaching by Johnathan Cahn popped up next. This teaching was exactly what I needed to fill, not only my needs but the needs of my loved ones in the “storm”! I sent the song and Johnathan’s teaching to several, and my sister, Karen, came back with this… “For to You I entrust my life…my life is not my own”. Based on Jeremiah 10:23.

As in the song, “That’s why I trust Him!” The Lord is consistently speaking to me about trusting Him, and more importantly, learning to trust Him more. This is part of the reason I have been in a long season of remembering Who God is, Who I am in Him, and what He has done for me. NKJV Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You”.

There is no need to wonder why I penned these words in “Blue Skies, Butterflies, & Battlegrounds”…

“But my thanks are most of all when storms prevail…For when I’m weak and battle-worn is where I draw from you…You grip my hand, guide me through, the very one I’m desperate for… Thankful through life’s battlegrounds, I’m homeward bound, beyond the sky so blue!” The full poem is on pages 56-57.

Since the Lord has consistently brought “trust “to my thoughts, I recently decided to bring a study to the ladies in our church titled “Trustworthy” by Lysa Terkeurst. I have always relied upon Him to direct me to what He has for us and He always comes through. And I learn to trust Him more as I learn more of His trustworthiness.

Each and every day is packed with “golden nuggets” as I “tarry with Him”.

So for today’s nuggets to share. Who’s reading your mail?

Blessed Assurance was how this day began. A few verses from the old beloved hymn “Blessed Assurance”…

“Blessed assurance Jesus is mine, Oh what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of His Spirit, washed in His blood, This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.”

Oh, how I love the assurance in Jesus this song declares!

From there my thoughts went to a question that our pastor, Mark Laster, made in his message on January 6^th (I’m glad I took notes and even dated it). The message was titled “God Is In My Story”. He had a self-examination question for us that I was directed to reexamine this morning. The question is, “What if my story was written not by my actions that everybody sees, but what if my story was written in a book of what I thought?” I’m sure if he had asked us to respond, many, like me, would have been on our knees thanking God for not exposing our thoughts in our life story! Blessed assurance was given throughout Mark’s message that as believers in Jesus, our story is covered in His righteousness. No condemnation in Christ! I am glad I got to reexamine what I gained from that question. I was deeply humbled and so full of gratitude for the words, “Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of His Spirit, washed in His blood, This is my story, This is my song!”

Just moments later my poem “Sea of Forgetfulness” came to mind.

“One day I was walking along a dreary beach.

Love for living had spiraled out of my reach,

There in the sand exposed for all to see

My sins were written, all the evil about me.

Guilt and shame came crashing in

Thought I’d drown, didn’t care enough to swim.”

Friends, can you imagine all of your sins and all of your evil thoughts being written across the beach and exposed for all to see? Read on to the place where Salvation stepped in…

“The Gift He offered, I humbly received”. Pages 12-13 in “Inspire Me”.

What transpired through that poem still brings tears to my eyes…

“Washed clean by His righteousness, that’s where I stand.

Neither shame nor guilt, just pure white sand!”

There has been so much more revealed to me in this process I couldn’t possibly write about it all. But I must mention one more thing and then I will try to wrap it up.

In January 2017, I wrote a poem about the intimacy God wants with us. Its title is “Intimacy (Into Me See)”. It is in my first book also. Page 26.  It goes like this:

“We will make it short and sweet

As we lay it at His feet,

We rip off our masks

Never a painless task.

He tears down our walls

With His loving voice, He calls,

For in our hearts He sees

Our hurts and many needs.

“He beckons us draw nearer

Helps us see our Father clearer.

As into Him we see

THE INTIMACY

He has for you and me!”

This is our God’s desire for us! To have such an intimate relationship with Him that we can trust Him with everything! Even those things about us we would never want to be exposed to others. NKJV Hebrews 9:14-15 “how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? V15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”  

“Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit washed in His blood, This is my story this is my song!” Notice that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. Eternal inheritance! My heart rejoices! Consider all that He has done for us! It is out of His great love for us that He deeply desires that intimate relationship with us. Have you known anyone else who has ever loved you like that? I know I haven’t! It is honestly hard for me to wrap my mind around it. But I believe His Word.

Blessed assurance in the storms of life, my thoughts not being revealed in a book for all to see in my life story, my sins not being exposed on the dreary beach, and the intimacy He so desires with me. All through time in His Presence through praising Him in song, scripture, lessons from trusted teachers, poetry, messages at church, and the Holy Spirit putting it all together for us in this blog, step by step.

This has been so much more fun, fulfilling, and valuable than shopping! I hope you agree!

Oh yes, mentioning shopping, as I was getting ready to go shopping (I thought), I opened my phone to listen to my favorite Christian radio station, KLRC. But I decided to check my emails instead as we have others in our church family going through their own set of storms.

My daily devotional from Andrew Wommack popped up first in the emails. Typically pop-ups are not desirable, but when the Holy Spirit is involved, the pop-ups are perfect. This one couldn’t be more perfect and I am grateful and in awe.

Here is today’s devotional that wraps up our theme of “Who’s reading your mail?” Honestly, I could hardly believe my eyes as I read this!

February 11^th John 4:4-26

GOD LOOKS INSIDE

The bookmark is one I designed for my new book “Blue Skies, Butterflies,& Battlegrounds. Finally the perfect wrap-up!

This leaves me to also wonder who’s reading my blogs? God bless you for taking your time with me. I pray you are looking forward to our next time together and please share your comment.

God bless and keep you,

Reba

I’m glad to be here writing to you again! I have a little different approach to what I have for you today.

My military-minded husband calls what I am doing “Passing the gouge.” It is a military slang term that refers to sharing inside information or tips with others to help them succeed. It is often passed from older veterans to the younger ones, helping them learn the ropes.

With that said, here is my “inside information and tips to help you succeed.” The Passing the Gouge…

Our church has monthly Leadership Meetings. During those meetings, each leadership couple or individual tells of something they have experienced or are experiencing to encourage and strengthen the overall team, therefore, strengthening the church body as a whole. Our Pastor fondly calls what we bring “Golden Nuggets.”

Now on with the “Golden Nuggets” part…

Marty and Lori Boyd ended our 2024 meetings with a bucket full of nuggets and I have their permission and honor to pass these along to you. You know I am a big promoter of believers sharing what God has done in our lives to build each other’s faith and spiritual growth. The Boyds did just that! I am excited to dive into the bucket!

First Marty shared three of the most impactful events in his life. We had a time limit or I know he could have shared a multitude more. Each was unique in its theme and uniquely impacted each of us. I must say he did an excellent job of causing us to feel that we were in the moment with him as he told and even acted out these events. I do believe I will always remember the effect this has had on me. It even brought me to reminisce many of my most impactful moments, much like the ones I share through my poetry and narratives. Or how about my blogs? “Defining Moments” in particular.

After Marty’s turn at the microphone, it was his lovely wife, Lori’s, turn. We often use “lovely” loosely, but Lori bears a lovely that comes from the inside out. Much like was brought to light in my poem “Behold a Mirror” in my second book.

Lori began by explaining how her story came about. I don’t remember her saying she was doing anything in particular, maybe just doing housework. It was nothing like climbing a mountain or fasting for forty days and nights to hear God’s voice. But she did hear the Lord speaking to her as she was simply going about her chores. Not an audible voice but in a way that there was no mistaking it was Him speaking. I can relate to that. How about you?

The following is what the Lord said to her. “The World vs God” is brought to you by Lori Boyd via me.

The world says there is no God – God says, I am the alpha, the Omega, the beginning and the end.

Revelation 22:13

The world says life is all about self-gratification- God says it is better to give than to receive.

Acts 20:35

The world says I am ugly-God says you are all together beautiful

Psalms 139:14

The world says it’s okay to be jealous or envious-God says love your neighbor.

Matthew 22:39

The world says to be afraid- God says fear not. (repeatedly)

Isaiah 41:10, Deuteronomy 31:6

The world says take sins and make them legal-God says follow my commandments.

John 14:15

The world says it’s okay to lie-God says the truth shall set you free.

John 8:32

The world says it’s okay to live in sin-God says for the wages of sin is death.

Romans 6:23

The world says once a sinner, always a sinner-God says ask and you will be forgiven.

John 1:9

The World says you don’t need to go to church- God says the church is the body of Christ. (multiple times)

1 Corinthians 12:12

The world says it’s okay to steal-God says ask and it will be given.

Matthew 7:7

The world says let someone else raise your children-God says I have given you children as my gift.

Psalms 127:3

The world says it’s okay to use the Lord’s name with profanity- God says take my name and keep it holy.

Ezekiel 36:22

The world says you don’t have to be appreciative of anything- God says thank him and praise him daily for his gifts.

(multiple) Psalms 92:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:16; 1 Chronicles 16:34

The world says to change the meaning of the bible to fit your life- God says my word is everlasting and unchanging.

(multiple) Psalms 110:38; Isaiah 40:8; Malachi 3:6

The world says it’s okay to worship anything you desire – God says you shall have no other gods before me.

Exodus 20:3

The world says prayer is useless- God says pray without ceasing.

1 Thessalonians 5:16

The world says God doesn’t answer prayers- God says My will be done.

(Lord’s prayer) Matthew 6:9

The world blames God for bad things that happen to them- God says for all good things come from me.

James 1:17

The world says  I don’t need God to get to heaven- God says I am the way, the truth, and the life.

John 14:6

The world says nobody loves you-God says I love you so much, I sent my only son to die for you.

1 John 4:10

The world says God’s love isn’t forever-God says I will love you with an everlasting love.

Jeremiah 31:3

The world says you are all alone- God says you are not alone, for I am with you.

(multiple) Isaiah 41:10

The world says give up – God says I will carry you.

Isaiah 46:4

The world says you can’t be happy-God says keep the joy of the Lord in your heart.

Nehemiah 8:10

The world says there is no hope- God says all things are possible for those who believe.

Mark 9:23

The world says God doesn’t know you- God says I knew you before you were created in your mother’s womb.

Jeremiah 1:5

The world says God doesn’t know me personally- God says I know the number of hairs on your head.

Luke 12:7, Matthew 10:30

The world says there is no cure- God says I am the great physician.

Mark 2:17

The world says you have to be first to be the best- God says whoever is first shall be last and whoever is last shall be first. Matthew 19:30

The world says you can’t have enough- God says I will give you all you need.

Psalms 16:5

The world says you can’t -God says fear not for I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

The world says God is dead – God says I am the living God.

Mathew 22:32

The world says God is not with you-God says where two or three have gathered in my name, there am I.

Matthew 18:20

The world says you have to be perfect – God says all sinners come boldly to the cross.

Hebrews 4:16

The World says I don’t have time for God- God says seek me first.

Matthew 6:33, Proverbs 3:6

The world says money can buy you happiness- God says for the love of money is evil.

1 Timothy 6:10

The world says the more money you have, the more important you are- God says it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Mark 10:21-25

The world says there is no eternal life-God says my salvation is all you need. Romans 6:23.

Lori had written what she heard several years before she shared it with us. Marty was led to the scripture that so aptly backs it up. The way we know that the Lord is truly speaking to us is that it will always line up with His Word in the Scripture. Spend some time reading each statement and your Bible. You will find more of God’s truths revealed for developing a more personal and intimate relationship with Him. With God’s Word as the God Sword, we can shut the mouth of the deceiver. The timing was right for them to pass the gouge with their golden nuggets. He can use us to encourage and strengthen others to be successful in this world of lies and chaos. The world is only getting darker and the Lord is steadily pouring into us, His people, the Light. As our Pastor said in tonight’s meeting… “It overflows”.

As I wrote this blog, I found it interesting the commonalities we have in writing. I too, hear the Lord, not in an audible voice, but I hear Him, nonetheless. I write what He gives and reminds me of, and then His Word backs up the messages. Then opportunities arise in places we never imagined sharing with others. Passing the gouge to be successful at building His Kingdom and glorifying Him. Remember iron sharpens iron. As my “Body Builder Food” poem in “Inspire Me” (Books)says in a few random verses:

He also told us, “He is the Word”

The Bread of Life, our loins to daily gird.

You see it’s this food we  need as believers

Growing strong and equipped to win unbelievers.

His Church, His Body, becoming what it was meant to be…

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 thank Him for this opportunity and the Boyds for what they do as leaders in our church and community. They carry the Light and it does overflow.

Thank you for reading what Lori and I have written and as always I hope that you have been blessed with a bucketload of nuggets. Be sure to tell others! Look what we would have missed if Lori and Marty had not shared what they were given. This is your opportunity to multiply what God gives to you, to overflow filled with His “Body Builder Food”. After all, we have so much to share as we grow individually and then in the Body of Christ’s Church. We believers are the Church! Remember the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.

I do hope you will join me again as I pass the gouge and gain more nuggets for the bucket. Hey, that might be a good poem! Lol!

Blessings to you my friends,

Reba

Good day, my friends, In today’s blog, I decided my opening should follow up on two statements I made in two of my previous blogs. I have found summarizing my words in a short blog challenging. There is so much! Thus a follow-up.

I have a close friend, Joanna, who jokingly said it took her an hour to read one of my blogs. I reassured her that I could have written much more! Lol! Her statement reminded me of a book I had many years ago titled, “Could You Not Tarry With Me One Hour?” by Larry Lea. At the time that I got that book, I was a young Navy wife and mother of two small girls. My thought just looking at the title was, “How in the world would I spend an hour praying and reading the Bible?” How is that for being honest?:) My husband was gone most of the time so as you military wives and spouses of those who are extensively away from home know, the demands and responsibilities were on me. I was too young spiritually to know that although the duties were great, my time with the Lord would have been a burden lifter. 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. Of course, I believed God helped us out! He proved Himself faithful over and over to me. Thankfully I stayed in Church, Bible studies, and experience with the Lord, which He used to help correct some of my misconstrued notions and false sense of responsibility. Again, thank God for His correction and continued spiritual growth!

The Lord gave me a poem to further confirm that He was with me all along and the benefits that come with more time with Him. I’ve heard it said, “The busier your day is, the more time you need to spend with the Lord.” I have learned why. The benefits are incredible.

The poem I referred to is “God in Our Seasons” in “Inspire Me”(my first book) pages 42-43. Here are a few lines from that poem:

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.

You have helped me all along, and now I see clearly

My time with You, You desired so dearly.

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 be my all

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

Several verses later I ended with this:

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

And encourage them all to take time with Thee.

For our time with our Maker makes our burdens light

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

Now this leads right to my first statement I consider a follow-up on my blog titled “IF” a Big Two Letter Word. I will quote part of the first paragraph…

“He is reminding me of the truths of His Word as I first get still and sit in His Presence. As I organized files and rediscovered things I had written down in years past, I realized The Lord was leading me to do what He called me to do in this season of life. I thought He started with my first poem, “Expressions of His Endearing Love” in my first book “Inspire Me”, but I now see that it began many years ago.”

This explained why I had jotted down moments in my life without understanding why.  The Lord was preparing me to do things that I had never imagined for use in a future season of life. Then He inspired me to write poetry, narratives, and blogs. A whole series of callings on my life that I could have never dreamed of. The means to fulfill: My Mission Statement: To glorify God through writing, sharing His Word, and my life experiences, communicating the love of Jesus Christ to add to His Kingdom.

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

And encourage them all to take time with Thee”.

Now for the next follow-up on my blog titled Defining Moments, I will quote the statement I made about using devotionals and the additional thought.

“BAM! I was ready to get things in their proper order because I have to admit, I have been known to read a devotional and the verses of scripture referenced in it or listen to an online sermon or prophecy without really making time for just me and the Lord in His Word.

(I am adding this thought. It is not wrong to read a devotional or listen to a sermon as it may sound like I am suggesting. After all, this was taken from a devotional! Those things can land us right where the Lord wants us in His Word. But there are times we spend doing only those things that prevent us from simply being still before God (I’ve mentioned sitting still doesn’t come to me naturally) and letting Him speak to us personally through His Word. You know that One-on-one time.)”

I truly hope you got a clear understanding of how I view devotionals because shortly after this blog I came upon this note I had made on my phone.

“Listening to the birds sing and how the mockingbird stood out. Gazing at the stillness and beauty of the details of my front yard. The tall oaks and dogwood that made it through an oak falling on it, and the beautifully shaped redbud I had transplanted. The flowers, weeds, and bugs along with the funny squirrels… so beautiful! Everything thing was so still as I noticed the sun’s rays increasing as it rose and cut through the thick trees. This all brought my thoughts to God and His incomprehensible creation. Then I started reading my devotional in my lap that I had already opened to today’s date, June 18^th. As I read about “STILLNESS AND TIME WITH THE LORD… IMMANUEL GOD WITH ME. THE LONGER YOU GAZE AT ME THE MORE YOU CAN REJOICE IN MY MAJESTIC SPLENDORS,” a strong breeze blew through the tree tops right in front of me! Most would not believe it unless they saw it! The other trees were still as these few swayed so beautifully. I caught my breath as I recognized the Holy Spirit is in the wind and every breath I breathe. Praise God for my time with Him to, as my Pastor would say, fill my tank!”

This occurred about 10-11 years ago. There I was, sitting still in His Presence with my devotional in my lap speaking to me the Truth of God’s Word. The devotional I referred to is one that dear friends, (Karen and John) gave to me as a birthday gift. It is Jesus Always (Embracing Joy in His Presence) by Sarah Young. Here is the full devotional for June 18^th.

“Could You Not Tarry With Me One Hour?” Now I see clearly what I miss when I don’t and I don’t want to miss out on anything God has for me. How about you?

It brings tears to my eyes as I not only see the Lord putting all of this together for me but also experiencing what He has for us by “Tarrying With Him”. The words in the old hymn “How Great Thou Art” come to mind,  “I scarce can take it in”. The hymn’s first and second verses praise God for the beauty of nature. The third verse shifts our thoughts to God not sparing His Son to die for us. No wonder my tears and that I can scarce take it in. My God, how great thou art!

Tarry defined: To stay there longer than you meant to and delay leaving.

By the way, our Pastor Mark Laster gave the message at our church last Sunday. The title was “God is in Your Story.”

To God be glory,

Reba

Are you surprised that I’m writing again so soon? You can’t imagine how God is stirring me to write and teaching me the blessings in obedience. He is reminding me of the truths of His Word as I first get still and sit in His Presence. As I organized files and rediscovered things I had written down in years past, I realized The Lord was leading me to do what He called me to do in this season of life. I thought He started with my first poem, “Expressions of His Endearing Love” in my first book “Inspire Me”, but I now see that it began many years ago.

This morning He led me down a path (His Word) that brought me back to my last blog, Aye Aye, Captain. Mainly to focus on commitment and obedience.

I used the US Naval crew, specifically the cook, laundry crew, and the Missile Fire Control officer, to point out the necessary training, dedication, commitment, and obedience it takes to achieve their mission. I mentioned what their disobedience could incur. Their actions are a reflection of our Naval forces. That is a direct reflection of our nation!

Then I continued by using the church (believers in Jesus as Lord and Savior) as a parable or analogy to the crewmembers. I want to point out what the Lord showed me about the disobedience of God’s people, namely the U.S. of America. I find it interesting that this comes right after not only “Aye Aye, Captain”, but the inauguration of our 47^th President Donald Trump.

I am doing a 52-week study on the names of God. Today I was reading the lesson on the name Yahweh Lord God. For a deeper study, Deuteronomy 28:9-13 was suggested. The title of 28:1-14 is Blessings on Obedience so I began reading in verse 1. As I was reading of all the blessings of obedience, I wondered why we would ever choose to be disobedient. But read on Reba. So I did! The following verses 15-68 address the Curses on Disobedience. Wow! That’s a lot! 14 verses on obedience and 53 verses on disobedience! We can’t say the Lord Yahweh did not warn His people! And this is the best part yet…

I am using the Bible that I mentioned in a previous blog. It is the one my daughter, Andrea, and her husband, Jared, gave me last Christmas. It is called the Evidence Bible in the New King James Version.The commentaries are by Ray Comfort. Ray, a New Zealander, is drawing much of his commentaries on evangelism from his experiences in open-air preaching for twelve years.

Here is Ray’s commentary for Deuteronomy 28:15:

“The divine butler. As of 2010, America was over $13 trillion in debt (a trillion is a thousand billion). That is no small change. Ironically, hundreds of billions of that debt was to Arab nations, $900 billion to China, and $128 billion to Russia. (I will add that the only debt we should owe to any nation is to obey the Captain of the Lord’s host and do as He instructed in the Great Commission. Obedience to the call of the soldiers in the Lord’s Army.)

Back to Ray’s commentary on the state of America in 2010: Over 2.8 million homes were in foreclosure, with 4 million foreclosures estimated by year-end. A gallon of milk costs as much as a gallon of gas. And a gallon of gas costs an arm and a leg. Add to that the bad news that over 2.3 million Americans were diagnosed with cancer that year, many of whom were children.

ABC News reported that more than 60% of the U.S. was in a drought. We became used to seeing onslaughts of floods, hurricanes lining up our coasts, and killer tornadoes by the dozens ripping up the nation like there’s no tomorrow. And of course, we are in a war on terror that it seemed we couldn’t win.

The above are all signs of God’s dealing with a sinful nation. If you find that hard to believe, read Deut. 28 and see what God warned would happen to Israel they forsook His Law and turned their backs on Him. Underline the places where Scripture warns that they will get into financial debt to other nations and become the tail and not the head. Think about those nations to whom we are in debt. Underline where God says that aliens will flood the country, that their enemies will overcome them, and that disease will plague them.

As you hold your pen, also hold on to your theology, because this chapter will destroy any image of God as a celestial Santa Claus or a divine butler.  He is a God of justice and wrath as much as He is of love and mercy. To form an image of God with only one or two of His virtues, and to leave out the others, is to create an idol in your mind.

We are no different from ancient Israel. These sufferings have come to us because we have not been thankful to God but instead have forsaken His Law. “And I.  say please don’t miss this part!”  If we heed the Ten Commandments, they would show us our sinful state and drive us to the cleansing blood of the Savior. Hearts and minds that are responsive to God, and not political change, is the key to healing for our land.” by Ray Comfort

My friends, here it is the first month of 2025, fifteen years after this commentary. I can tell you with all assurance that America’s decline is evident in every area that Ray pointed out and then some. Fires are now raging like never before in some of the most beautiful and expensive areas of California. It is shameful to mention the atrocities of abortions and the hate crimes across our nation. Can we see that God warned America of the things that would happen if we turned our backs on Him?

But praise God in the Old Testament He gave us the way back:

 2 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 will forgive their sins and heal their land.”

Although this focuses on Old Testament Law living, we must know that the Law was given to show us our sinful state and draw us to the cleansing blood of the Savior. The Lord is a Righteous God and He must pour His wrath on unrighteousness. That’s what He did in the New Testament at the cross. He poured His wrath on Jesus, the cleansing blood of the Savior. So, you might ask, “Why do we need to be obedient if Jesus did this for us?” First, I would say, out of gratitude to Jesus for the suffering He did for us, that we would desire to be obedient as He was to the Father. This was all to restore us to right standing (righteousness) with the Lord for a relationship with Him. It was for our benefit. As I mentioned before, why would we not be obedient? Obedience brings blessings. He loves us so much His desire is for us to have His blessings. He made the way but we must choose.

Countless numbers of God’s people have been praying for our nation and we know God hears the prayers of His people. Many are choosing the way back to Him by humbling themselves, praying for forgiveness, seeking God’s face, and turning from their wicked ways by choosing Jesus and following Him. By the way, in seeking God’s face, remember the only way to the Father is through His Son Jesus. John 14:6 NKJV “Jesus answered, “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Through the Word of God; it is not only our training manual, light to our path, and supply for every need, but it is also the way, the truth, and the life that we live in Christ. His righteous way of living in us, that frees us from the lawlessness of the world. You know, the curses of disobedience!

He gave it all so that we can have it all; all that is good in the Lord’s sight for His people. The amazing thing is, is that He gives us choices to make. If we choose His Son, His Word (training manual), and obedience to His teaching, filled with the Holy Spirit we are equipped with everything we need for victory and walk in His blessings. And the best part is we are a spiritual reflection of the One that made it all possible through His obedience to the Father. By (Spiritually) “looking like” our Father, others desire to know the God we serve.

My poem “Behold a Mirror” in “Blue Skies, Butterflies, & Battlegrounds” Books, helps differentiate between physical reflection and Spiritual reflection. On pages 42-43 the last few verses say:

 “With unveiled face, I see who I really am

I look like my Father, the great I Am

Beholding the Spirit of the Lord transforming me

From the mirror’s lies, glory to God, I now have liberty!

I found 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 as my scripture reference and see it as confirmation of the message in the poem.

NKJV “Now the Lord is Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord”.

And Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”.  We renew our minds to God’s Word. Away with the lies of the enemy!

I know there is a lot to unpack in this continuation of commitment and obedience. The main point and the reason for the title “If”, is there are blessings “if” we are obedient to our God. “Captain, I will obey.” “If” we choose disobedience there are consequences as with most things in life. Consider for a moment why our prisons are so full of prisoners. By America’s disobedience and dishonoring God, many are made prisoners to the enemy. We are the reflection of a nation in decline right into the enemy’s hands.

It is my prayer and many godly men and women of God, that America will soon again reflect the Godly nation that we were created to be.

It begins with each individual “If” you are called by His name. “If” you are not His, through the cleansing blood of Jesus and His righteousness, you’d better choose today. For we are not promised tomorrow. Proverbs 27:1 and James 4:13-17. By doing so you are choosing God’s blessings and, if not, you choose curses. Only “If”!

As always this has caused me to look at my own life as the Lord looks right at my heart. I hope this has done the same for you without condemnation but for correction. It is said, that although God loves us just the way we are, He loves us too much to leave us that way.” He provided the way for the transformation now we get to choose. Praise God!

Anticipating our transformed America, so that we can be a blessing to all nations as intended,

Reba

Yes, this picture is of my husband at his “Piping Over” ceremony after 20 years of service in the US Navy.

Yesterday as I was going about my daily chores, I was thinking. I wasn’t thinking about anything specific; I was just thinking as usual. Am I the only one? 😉Someday I must write a poem titled “I Think, I think too much!” Lol! But amid my random thoughts, there was a shift to something I felt drawn to listen to and certain I needed to write about.

If you have read about me and some of my narratives you may remember that my husband, David, served 20 years in the US Navy. I considered this thought may have stemmed from seeing and hearing how the military operates. Whatever the cause, the Holy Spirit began to unfold a lesson, therefore a purpose for the shift in my thoughts.

So, here we go…

I was considering how a naval vessel operates, mainly the various tasks among the crewmembers that accomplish the ship’s purpose. There are various ships, therefore varying in their specific purposes. But in all instances, there is a chain of command. After requesting a brief review of this chain of command from David, I quickly realized that it has far more links than is necessary for this lesson.

Let’s just start with the Commanding Officer of the ship. He has the authority to use everyone and everything at his disposal to accomplish their mission. Each department has a department head with certain training and authority over his team. Each team member has his position among the crew. Power, authority, and control are used and alongside it, dedication, commitment, and discipline are necessary for success. Does this remind you of my recent blog where I mentioned the God of Order?

As I focused on just a few of the tasks that could appear quite menial, it was evident that each was significant in the overall “success” of the ship. Taking it another step, I was considering what it would be like if the crewmembers decided they didn’t want to do their task. Disobedient!

Here are some of the examples and thoughts I had about these few:

Let’s consider the Cook. We all know how vital meals are! He or she has limited food and utensils to prepare meals with. They have had training in that area and have agreed to do that task. They cooked and all ate.

Now let’s consider if the cook never got a “thank you” from the crew, only grumbling, complaints, and insults. Would the cook have the option of not cooking? Would it make his job less vital to the functioning of the crew? Or how about the laundry crew? I dare say they get accolades for their hard thankless task. What if they just quit or made excuses for everyone’s clothes being smelly and mildewed because they didn’t put them in the dryer? These two examples reminded me of the blogs I wrote titled Losing My Sight parts 1-3 and Appreciation. Please read them some time and see if you agree. You will need to scroll down on this blog page from January 31,2024 through February 16, 2024.

Then my thoughts shifted to the Missile Fire Control Officer, which was one of David’s jobs aboard a guided missile destroyer he served on. What if he told the Commanding Officer that he didn’t want to watch the radar scope for countless hours on end? Or he didn’t want to pull the trigger when he was told because he thought the timing wasn’t right? I think a dishonorable discharge would be in store for that person or worse yet, their ship blown up! This example reminds me of my poem “My Will Be Done?” in my book “Inspire Me”.

A few verses from it:

“This life I live renewed by Thee. Fulfilling my purpose Thy will for me

YOU’RE my daily portion, filling every need; Keep my heart humble, far away from greed

THY WILL BE DONE, YOUR will for me, from this day onward, my heartfelt plea!”

As my thoughts moved on to the various tasks, training, personalities, and experiences of the crew members, it was obvious it took commitment, dedication, discipline, and hard work from everyone. And the consequences, some being detrimental, of not doing their part. Disobedience! Of course, some were more dedicated and were bigger contributors to the overall functioning of the ship than others. Some received more awards, recognition, and fulfillment than others and were advanced more quickly and further than others. There are those whose motivation and purpose for joining the military were for all the wrong reasons. All of these were factors in the ability of the crew to accomplish the ship’s purpose and a reflection of our US Naval Forces.

So, the question is, “Why were my thoughts on such as this?” Could this be used as a parable? Right away I thought of the Church. In this instance, we believers would be the shipmates or crewmembers. (My Pastor says we call coming together “Fellowship” because we are all fellows in this ship together.) LOL! Do you see why I think that I think too much? Ha! Ha! 

But seriously, who has top authority over the church? Who is the Commanding Officer of the entire ship? God the Father in Ephesians 1:21 NKJV set Jesus “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but in that which is to come.” And Colossians 2:10 NKJV says, “and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”

As my thoughts were processing through the comparison, I was getting a clearer picture of how the body (crewmembers) should be dedicated to the Lord, committed to serve Him, trained (in the Word), and disciplined by the Holy Spirit to serve our purpose and accomplish our mission. We would be a “healthy” reflection of Who Jesus is therefore honoring Him. How about the Lord’s Great Commandment and the Great Commission? His will for us!

I stopped writing last night and I thought it was because it was getting late. That doesn’t usually stop me though!

This morning the Lord showed me why it was time to stop. He had more clarification of why I was drawn to listen to these thoughts and was certain that I needed to write about it. I will share today more of what was revealed about this parable.

As I was writing about God being the Commanding Officer of “we fellows in this ship together”, I knew there was more than I had written. And I’m sure that there is plenty more to discover as we seek a deeper understanding going forward.

Honestly, I wasn’t asking the Lord for more on that topic when I was “being still” before Him this morning. I was praying some specific verses of scripture for those who are in bondage, rebellion, and hardened hearts through pride and selfishness. Disobedience!

Then there it was…

The scripture that most directly addresses the Lord as the Captain is Joshua 5:13-15. Reading this passage gave me an excitement for the Lord’s Word that I could hardly wait to continue writing.

Joshua encountered a man with a drawn sword who reveals himself to be the Captain of the Lord’s host, signifying that the Lord is the commander of the heavenly army. Do you know we believers are in the Lord’s heavenly army here on earth? We are soldiers (crewmen and women) with the Armor of God and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God in Ephesians 6:17. We are equipped with Hebrews 13:21 “every good thing to do His will. And He may accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” And get this, my friends, Romans 8:11 NLT “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by the same Spirit living within you.” Doesn’t this give us an understanding of the power and authority given to us through Christ?

This, we know, is how we accomplish our mission, our purpose, the Great Commandment, and the Great Commission. But in God’s ship, we do have a choice. As my examples of the Cook, laundry crew, and Fire Control Officer, if we don’t do our part the whole ship suffers. Without our dedication to the Lord, committed to serving Him, trained (in the Word), and disciplined by the Holy Spirit, we will not be a “healthy” reflection of Who Jesus is and the power of the Holy Spirit in us. After all, our Captain of the Lord’s host gave us the Great Commandment NKJV Matthew 22:36-39  “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and 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.

Next, the Great Commission: Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Now these truths, my friends, are how we are to live as dedicated, committed, obedient, disciplined members of the “crew”. Victory in Jesus, all to His glory!

On January 13^th,2017 I was inspired to write a poem I titled, “Sovereign Captain at the Helm.” It is in my first book “Inspire Me”. When I wrote this poem and noted the scripture references, I didn’t even know about the scripture in Joshua 5:13-15. But He showed me today! He promises us if we seek Him we will find Him, when we search for Him with all our heart. Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV. I thank You, Lord for teaching me and giving me more desire for You.

Here are a few verses at the end of my poem “Sovereign Captain at the Helm”:

Allow Him to be the Captain of your life vessel

Storms, remember, are not yours to wrestle,

When LOVE, GRACE, AND PEACE in your ship reside

Your voyage successful, calmly into destiny you glide,

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

Again, I trust by sharing my directed thoughts that I am fulfilling my mission statement, but most of all, the Great Commandment and Great Commission.

God bless you and thank you for joining me in this opportunity to commit, dedicate, and be obedient to our Sovereign Captain at the Helm. Will you join me in saying…AYE AYE, CAPTAIN? Aye aye captain is a nautical phrase that means “I understand and will comply with your order”. It is used in the US Navy and the Royal Navy. It is a way to show that the speaker understands the order and will carry it out. We use it in response to an order from a person of higher rank.

Until next time and as always in His name,

Reba

Greetings to you all everywhere,

Today I will write of a defining moment that began in November 2018.

Some of you might remember the picture I included of me in my Joy Ride With the Holy Spirit blog. There I sat at my desk with the unorganized files that I was searching through in piles all around me. I not only found the file I was looking for, but I also did a good deal of organizing. When I have things in order, I benefit in many ways. Another way specifically is finding the topic that I am writing about today.

But before I move on to this Defining Moment, I should mention the message in our sermon for last Sunday’s service. We have several pastors in our church, and on this day, Pastor Rusty Jones took the pulpit.

He spoke of our God, a God of Order. He began in Genesis, a great place to start, wouldn’t you agree?

God told Adam not to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil (then Adam told Eve). I would like to point out in Genesis 2:16-17; and 2:20-22 that God told Adam not to eat that fruit before He had even created Eve. You might ask why point this out? I say it explains why the Bible says that sin came through Adam, not Eve. I am reminded that I pointed this out in my poem “Nothing New Under the Sun” in my book “Inspire Me”.  By not listening to God’s command to protect them, disorder came upon Adam and Eve and their lives in the garden. Before that time, everything was in God’s perfect order by His design.

As our Pastor progressed in his sermon, he used the word “order” as an acronym and a valuable teaching tool. It certainly resonated with me. Let’s look back at the first paragraph of this blog. “When I have things in order, I benefit in many ways.”

This sermon talked about order in our spiritual life and this is how he used the acronym:

Our responsibility: Psalm 69:32

Request God’s guidance: 1 Chronicles 15:11-15

Desire righteousness: Matthew 5:6

Engage our culture: 2 Samuel 6:18-19

Ready to dance: 2 Samuel 6:13-15

I have included a few of the scriptures that our Pastor used and I hope you look those up. We can see how we benefit from following God’s order, but it doesn’t stop there. We benefit physically and emotionally by following God’s order for our lives in those areas also. Just think of the joy King David had as he danced before the Lord and everyone! Spirit, Soul, and Body…oh how connected we are!

Now for the Defining Moment of this day…(although taken from what I wrote about in November 2018). Do you remember what was going on in your life during this month and year? I don’t remember many specific events, so I am glad I wrote this down.

Here is what I wrote:

One morning (I didn’t include the day) I headed for the couch with my devotional. My devotional was from the makers of the “Chosen” movies and it was titled “Chosen” also. As I settled myself on the couch, I noticed my Bible lying on the ottoman. I left it there and continued with my devotional.

The title for that day was “Wolves” on day #38:

As I read about false prophets, I was thinking of all the fake news and preachers that have “watered down” the Gospel and of course, the false prophets. The authors did an excellent job of describing the wolves and evil schemes.

The last paragraph jumped off the page at me! “But detect we must, lest we be deceived. So how do we do that? We stop opting for one-off Jesus stories and spiritual inspiration and go directly to the inspired WORD OF GOD!! We read His stories and meditate on His Words. We replace instant gratification with long-term soul satisfaction by allowing Christ to determine our preferences and desires. We reject any message promising ease or lack of resistance as contrary to Jesus’s example and message. We learn who He is and who we are in Him. WE ARE CHOSEN.  Not by wolves to be exploited, but chosen by the true and living God, to be with Him now and for all eternity.”

BAM! I was ready to get things in their proper order because I have to admit, I have been known to read a devotional and the verses of scripture referenced in it or listen to an online sermon or prophecy without really making time for just me and the Lord in His Word.

(I am adding this thought. It is not wrong to read a devotional or listen to a sermon as it may sound like I am suggesting. After all, this was taken from a devotional! Those things can land us right where the Lord wants us in His Word. But there are times we spend doing only those things that prevent us from simply being still before God (I’ve mentioned sitting still doesn’t come to me naturally) and letting Him speak to us personally through His Word. You know that One-on-one time.)

On with what I had written:

So I gladly picked up my Bible and started reading the book of John. I hand out Pocket Testaments which are the book of John and I had recently given one to two of my grandchildren, Drake and Anna.

I started in chapter 6…So much of Jesus’s righteousness, forgiveness, the truth of who He is, and before you know it, I’m in chapter 9. JESUS HEALS THE BLIND MAN. When I came to verses 39-41, I realized I needed a better understanding of those verses (remember I tend to make things somewhat complicated). I looked it up in Matthew’s Concise Concordance and several other reliable resources and this is their explanation…The Pharisees were full of pride and would not accept the Gospel of Grace. Still blind in the darkness. That brought clarity (no pun intended) and I could see it was pretty simple and I was complicating it as I had done previously. Thank you, Lord, for clarifying Your Word and helping me with my natural tendencies.

Then my thoughts went back to chapter 6 and the story of the boy with 5 loaves and 2 fish. I imagined how the boy’s mother, who had likely packed his lunch, felt when she either heard or saw how the Lord worked His miracle for the multitudes. It came alive to me and brought me so much joy even though I have read and heard this story many, many times.

By this time, David and I were ready for breakfast. As I am writing about this in this blog, again, a poem comes to mind… “Feasting At His Table” in my “Inspire Me” book. I feasted first on His Word and was filled. Then I was ready for the day.

Now continuing… Of course, I just had to tell David what I had walked through in my quiet time in God’s Word and yes, my Chosen devotional.

When I came to the part of the 5 loaves and 2 fishes my thoughts and discussion went to the meaning of numbers in scripture. 5+2=7; 5, meaning grace, 2, meaning unity, and 7, meaning finished or complete. David asked, “Where does it say, in the Bible the meaning of numbers?” I said, “God uses numbers, animals, colors, and everything He created to help us learn more about Him, for example, the Lion. Jesus is called the Lion of Judah but in other instances, the devil is like a lion roaming the earth to see whom he can devour.” We talked about the difference between the two lions; one lion being Jesus protecting and defending His people the church, and the other lion, the devil to kill, steal, and destroy. The false prophets in sheep’s clothing, and us listening to fake news and watered-down sermons instead of going straight to God’s Word referred to the wolves.

Ok, so we finished our conversation on wolves, lions, and numbers, over breakfast, and went about our busy morning. I, speaking for myself was still processing so much that was already packed in that morning, meditating on God’s Word.

Anna, our youngest grandchild was about 6 years old at that time. I sat down to visit with her as she ate breakfast that same morning. Immediately she was eager to tell me about her dream. She said, “I just had it, Grandma, so I can remember it easily.” In her dream, she was in her classroom and the teacher announced that it was time for recess. Anna was sitting on a couch and the wall behind her disappeared so she could see the children playing in the playground. She saw them playing with a lion! The lion appeared very tame and the children were petting it and talking to it. She was very concerned because she knew the lion was a wild animal and could seem harmless but suddenly attack them! Then she woke from her dream!

Wow! What a morning!

 First going to the inspired Word of God.

Reading about the wolves and not following them (false prophets, “watered down” sermons, or fake news.)

Seeking clarity of scripture and tendencies to complicate the message.

God is giving and using the meaning of numbers, animals, and everything He created. The example we discussed of the lions mentioned in the Bible and the difference.

The joy it brings when we see God work His miracles. Like the mother who packed the boy’s lunch of loaves and fish.

The Pharisees are blind due to their pride and not accepting the Gospel of Grace. And the ones that had been blind could see clearly as they accepted Jesus as their Savior. The power of the Gospel of Grace!

And my precious granddaughter had a dream with the wall disappearing so she could see the innocent children playing with a lion and the danger it posed. I would have thought that the lion was Jesus, but Anna was afraid of the lion and was very aware of how it could turn on them. So, we knew that was the roaming lion seeking whom he could devour and he is certainly after our innocent children!

These were all in my mind, messages from God. I praise Him and thank Him from the bottom of my heart!

The end of my 2018 writing.

So, in my New Year’s Eve blog, I started with unorganized files and the need to get things in order. I even included evidence of that mess! Lol! By getting better organized I benefited by finding what I consider a defining moment that I had written about. What a good way to start the new year!

Our sermon this past Sunday on “God is a God of Order” was the bonus just waiting for that day. I couldn’t have ever organized all of these events myself. I have learned some valuable lessons but mainly a deeper understanding of God’s ways. And that they are always the best in all areas of my life because He knows we benefit from order. He is a God of Order!

You may find this interesting also. What is a defining moment?

A defining moment is a point in your life when you’re urged to make a pivotal decision, or when you experience something that fundamentally changes you. Not only do these moments define us, but they have a transformative effect on our perceptions and behaviors.

I believe our time with the Lord and His Word, and the numerous other things He puts together for us should lead to defining moments. They should not only define us as His chosen ones but transform our perceptions and behaviors therefore changing us to look and live more like Jesus. Christians! Christ followers!

Reflecting on defining moments can help us understand how they have shaped us, and how we can continue to grow. What are some of your defining moments? Maybe you should write them down. I’m glad I did.

 I hope I have motivated you to not only do this but get your life in order by spending time with the Lord and His Word first, then include devotionals, videos, songs, blogs, testimonies, etc., and let’s certainly not leave out poetry! Lol!

Most of us have such busy lives! But even if you have to set an alarm to get up earlier God will help you get everything else in order and redeem your time. Let’s keep the acronym ORDER in mind. The first letter O represents Our responsibility and keeping God’s order has benefits we can’t imagine. Oh, my brothers and sisters let’s get Ready to dance!

Thank you again for spending your valuable time reading my blogs and books.

God bless you,

Reba

My greeting was going to be Good morning. But as I started writing,  I looked at the clock and it was 12:25 pm CST. So good afternoon! I wouldn’t say my morning got by me for surely nothing of great importance “got by me”. My morning has been in prayer and richly deep in the Word. I received forgiveness, correction, clarity, and a deeper relationship with my Lord and how to go forward in this new year.

 Now I am ready to write.

As a couple of weeks have passed since Christmas and I look at my first week of the new year, a certain poem came to mind that I would like to share with you. It is one I wrote on December 27^th, 2016, in my first book, “Inspire Me”. The title is “Post-Christmas Reflections”. If you have my book, it is found on page #27.

It goes like this…

When Christmas is over now what do you see?

Are we still laughing and singing our praises to Thee?

Or are we like old Scrooge, still living in greed

Are we living in peace where striving has ceased?

Where the love in our hearts, we have finally released?

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

As we mindlessly place our idols high on the shelves

Did the reason for the season slip quickly away?

As we, like sheep, go blindly astray?

    PLEASE LET IT NOT BE!

Now this day is a great place to start

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

As I read what I was inspired to write eight years ago, I have some thoughts about the message in this poem. You guessed it, I’m going to share them, also.

1. Are we still laughing and singing our praises to Thee? Were we ever doing this? Or instead stressed or worried about finding just the right gift for people that we love but didn’t need any material thing. Wearing ourselves out not only physically by shopping for gifts but how about decorating our yards and homes and writing cards and letters? Worrying about how we would pay for all of it and accumulating debt we should never have? We wear ourselves out not only physically but emotionally and financially. How about spiritually?
2. Old Scrooge? Greed? Maybe we need to consider the better gifts.
3. Living in peace? The peace of God is through His Son the Prince of Peace. He’s the only way to peace by having a relationship with Jesus Christ by faith. Through receiving and giving forgiveness, obedience, and loving others more than ourselves. And it is a fruit of the Spirit so allowing the Spirit of God to rule in our hearts will bring peace. No living in strife when walking by the Spirit. The Bible has much to say about peace and how to live in it.
4. How about releasing the love in our hearts? If we are lovers of ourselves, money, material things, greed, and unforgiveness, we don’t have the love of God. So how can we release something we don’t have?
5. Back to the old ways? Or were the old ways the only way we knew because we never knew the true meaning of Christmas, or Jesus Himself? We must not be deceived about this!
6. The “idols on the shelves”  are anything that we put before God, like pleasures of life, money, education, and even other people. Everything that people hold in high esteem or that can draw our attention away from God. Think about that for a while. Bring it to the Lord for correction. 2 Timothy 3:16 ESV “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” Revelation 3:19 ESV “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” I thank God for the love He poured out on me for the correction I received from Him again this morning by humbly repenting.
7. Again, did the reason for the season slip away? Or did we ever know the true meaning of the season? Was it Santa, snowmen, parties, and Disney movies? Hmm
8. Talk about blind sheep going astray! Or were we ever on the right path?

Wow! I don’t know about you but this was a very close examination of my heart, lifestyle, and where I’m heading in 2025 and thereafter.

Now, this day, this post-Christmas reflection with examination can be a great place to start!

Spend some time with Him in His Word first. Humbly letting Him examine our hearts giving us His loving correction. “To share all year long, the love of God, straight from our hearts!”

I recognize that there is a possibility of condemnation in my thoughts and words about this poem. And please know that I do not believe the Lord does not want us to enjoy any of the things I listed that we sometimes do. The point is why and how we do what we do to celebrate Christmas! This is the reason we come before God for reflection and examination. He knows us far better than we know ourselves. My poems “Dark to Light” and “Cleaning Out the Clutter” point out these truths.

And I would not dare finish this reflection and examination without pointing out some all-important facts about myself.

Some of you may remember that I have said the messages in my poems speak to me as well. As my Pastor has said, his sermons speak to him also. I only share these things as a way to draw us closer to Him, His Word, and a better understanding of who we are in Him. No casting stones here, as my poem says in “Casting Stones” in Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds. Books. Or how about “Harvest Seed” (in the same book)? “Your guiding Word to follow Jesus Showing others the way So there will be an abundant harvest For Your return on that glorious day!” pg. 156. Or the poem with the odd-sounding name, “Walking on My Knees”? “Walking on my knees might sound really odd, But it’s clearly a way to walk humbly before God. You see if I start in prayer on my knees His strength for this day is mine to be seized. Humbled, surrendered, dependent on Him…” pg. 77. “Distractions” gives us some explanations as to why we have so many distractions. Have you ever noticed how distractions are ramped up during Christmas? This poem helps explain why distractions and how we can overcome them.

Another fact about myself is I have done many of the wrong things that I listed starting with #1! Ouch, that would really sting, but again, let’s look at what God says when we are forgiven. FREE FROM INDWELLING SIN: Romans 8:1 “There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Only the enemy condemns, God lovingly corrects. And the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” What if Paul had allowed the regrets of his past mistakes to hold him back from his destiny in Christ? I need to consider the same for my life. Did you know Paul wrote two-thirds of the New Testament? That should speak volumes to those of us who would allow the enemy to condemn us of the past. It does to me! And I have heard Andrew Wommack say it this way, “I haven’t arrived yet, but I have left the station.” Lol! I’m joining Paul and Andrew in pressing forward and I hope you will too.

So back to the beginning of the day. My time with the Lord, His Word, and all that He has given me, prepared me to write. The purpose is for a deeper relationship with Him in His Word, Holy Spirit guidance correction, forgiveness, freedom from indwelling sin, and “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Here in this new year 2025 and thereafter.

Are you with me? I do pray that you are and that this time of reflection and examination has stirred you and given you a hunger like no other for His Word and His Way. Did you read my blog titled The Word, The Will, The Walk, The Way? I told my testimony of salvation and how you can be saved and I mentioned we all need clarity of the Word of God so we can know the Will of God and Walk with Him in His Ways.

I do look forward to our time together after my time with the Lord. Meanwhile, I am continuously grateful for your time and responses. If what I am sharing has benefitted you, please share my books and blogs with others.

God bless and keep you,

Reba

Good New Year’s Eve my friends,

Here I am reflecting on 2024 and something, in particular, came to mind that I want to share with you.

During this time of reflection, on this New Year’s Eve, I am reminded of a dream I had several years ago. I keep thinking that I should write about it. I confess my organizational skills are considered by some as “pathetic”. But that sometimes works to my benefit. As I wade through the piles of unfiled or filed in the wrong place documents, Bible Studies, letters, medical info, invoices… well that’s really telling on myself. Anyway, I discovered things that are nice additions to my dream story.

Yes, this is me although I don’t even recognize myself from the back view. My white hair hasn’t reached that far yet! Lol! But the evidence of my disorganization is apparent. I know some of you will get a laugh, and some can relate.

So, I will get to the story because there is no telling what will be added if I don’t. Ha! Ha!

First of all, the dream I titled “Joy Ride With the Holy Spirit”. I actually wrote the month and year the dream occurred, August 2014.

The winter weather outside was the most severe ice and snowstorm I had ever witnessed. Although it was nighttime, it appeared light because of the intensity of the white ice and snow. David and I stepped outside and saw our car sitting outside in the storm. I decided I had somewhere I must go. However, I could not fathom the destination, urgency, or purpose in ever considering the possibility of driving in those conditions. David was pleading with me not to go. It was far too treacherous! But I knew I had to get in the car and go anyway. Much to my surprise when I got in the car it started up and began moving on its own. I remember seeing David standing there as my car drove past him. With my hands gripping the steering wheel all I could see ahead was an ice-covered road with sharp jagged ice formations jutting along the narrow path. The road was very curvy as I was navigating through frigid snow-covered mountains. Despite the danger, I was unimaginably calm. The car was effortlessly gliding as it maneuvered through the danger. As I went around sharp curves, I could see the edge was a huge drop off the side of the mountain. But still no fear! I started praying and was so full of joy I could hardly contain it. Then I saw huge, jagged mountains ahead of me with razor-sharp peaks, but these mountains were barren and brown. At this point, I let go of the steering wheel and started praying in the spirit in an unknown tongue.  The joy elevated and the peace intensified. The ride with the Holy Spirit was thrilling beyond my wildest dreams (no pun intended). Then I woke up! As I lay in my bed, soaking in the experience, I said, “What a ride!” I didn’t want it to end. I just knew the Lord had a message in this incredible dream.

Here’s what I got:

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

As I did this research and read each scripture, it gave me a much greater appreciation of, not only the dream but my heavenly Father Who blessed me with such a dream. Oh, what a ride!

Here’s another note about the dream to consider. I got in the car to travel somewhere. I didn’t know where I was going, but I knew I had to go! No matter sight or circumstances. That is called faith! That faith was in something bigger than me. It was the Spirit of God with me!

I searched the internet again but this time it was for the scriptures that tell the meaning of traveling. In the Bible, travel can mean a variety of things. First, in Genesis 1:28 God tells Adam and Eve to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth. God wasn’t telling them to leave the Garden. It can be interpreted as a divine command to travel, or to extend the Garden of Eden. Travel can also be a pilgrimage of faith. It can be a metaphor for a spiritual journey, where God leads people toward a deeper relationship with Him and to learn to trust Him more. That’s where again I had the faith to get in the car when it didn’t seem rational under the weather conditions. And the letting go of the steering wheel came into play. Letting go and letting God bring me into a deeper relationship with Him, and trusting Him more. Traveling in the Bible also represents our life’s journey. In that journey, by trusting the Lord and seeking His will, He will show you the right path. Proverbs 3:5-6. Psalm 32:8 says He will guide you on the best pathway for your life. And He will advise you and watch over you. It gets better and better doesn’t it, my friend? I will list more scriptures I found and I’m sure you will find more to explore. Isaiah 30:21; Exodus 13:21; Psalms 121:82 Corinthians 5:7. And I have to write out Hebrews 11:8 “It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going”. Oh to have the faith of Abraham, not just in my dream state, but in real life!

I believe the Lord is trying to convey an all-important message to us, don’t you? The Bible Repository link is where I found these verses, but they have 35 in total for us to read and further our understanding of God’s purpose in this dream.

And I believe this is why on this eve of the new year, I was reminded of this dream and was able to find where I had written about it amid the clutter.

As we look to the new year we can be confident that we have everything we need in this life’s journey. Have faith, and confidence in God’s Word, His promises, and His indwelling Holy Spirit that never leaves or forsakes us, no matter sight or circumstances. Be willing to surrender to Him and His plans and He guides us all the way on our journey home. It just can’t get better than that, can it?

AND WHAT A JOY RIDE IT WILL BE! Praising our Savior all the way, for making the way to the Father and our eternal home sweet home. It seems perfect for us to celebrate the new year right after celebrating the birth of the One who made the way for the Joy Ride With the Holy Spirit.

To finalize this blog I am adding a couple of things I discovered in my search through my files.

First is an article that Paul Thigpen wrote titled “Joy Stealers”. This is a good time to give this some prayerful reflection too.

If to see God is to know Him, to know Him is to love Him and to love Him is to enjoy Him, then anything that obscures our vision of God will inevitably diminish our joy in the Lord. 

Here are some common joy-stealers: 

GUILT. In loving God the Scripture says, we turn our heart toward Him, and in disobeying God we turn our heart and the “eyes” of our heart away from Him.(see for ex. 1 Kings 11:4,9). When we stand in unconfessed sin, we turn our back to God, and in losing our view of Him, we lose our joy. For joy to return, we must turn around again. The Bible calls it repentance; to face the Lord once more. 

FEAR.  Fear robs us of joy because it makes God seem far away. When the things that frighten us seem closer at hand than God, they also seem larger than God. Their proximity intimidates us and rivets our attention until we can no longer see the Lord who stands beyond them. 

For joy to return, we must gain some “analytical distance” on what frightens us by holding it up in the presence of God in prayer and redirecting our attention to God in worship. When we recapture a view of God near at hand(the vision of prayer) and on His throne reigning over the situation (the vision of worship), fear subsides, and we can once again take delight in God’s goodness and power. 

ANGER. When someone’s offense against us occupies our mental and emotional attention, we have little left over for the Lord. Anger clouds the eyes of our hearts and obscures our view of God, draining away our joy. The cure: We must forgive if we are to have our joy restored. 

DISCONTENT. At times our days seem filled with dull moments and insignificant concerns—fixing a child’s bike, doing the laundry, shuffling papers on an office desk. With our nose to the grindstone and our eyes to the ground, we fail to see the Lord in our daily movements, and so we move in a joyless routine. But if we lift our eyes to the Lord who rules over even “the day of small things”(Zech 4:10), our joy returns as we realize that the mundane moments we find so tedious are the common stuff from which we build a lifetime of faithfulness that pleases Him. 

DESPAIR. When we give up, concluding our situation is hopeless, we lose joy because we’ve taken our eyes off the all-sufficiency of God and fixed them on our own failure. We’re looking for God in a broken mirror. To find joy, we must throw away the mirror and instead, with hope to the great Artist who is making of us a masterpiece that is yet unfinished (Eph 2:10). 

SUFFERING. When we suffer, God suffers alongside us; that is, in part, the meaning of the cross of Christ. Yet grief, the ancients agree, is a “constriction” of the heart, and with it comes a narrowing of our sight, a loss of our heart’s peripheral vision, So if we would regain a vision of God in our suffering—and with it, our joy—we must turn to glimpse our hurting Lord right beside us, sharing our pain. In that moment, His face can stir in us a profound joy in the unsearchable love that would stoop to bear our sorrows as His own. 

Joy in suffering grows deeper still when we behold the Lord beside us in yet another sense, We are “seated… with Him in the heavenly realms” (Eph 2:6. The day will come when we will “reign forever and ever” with Him (Rev.22:5). Next to that triumphant eternity, the suffering of today or even of a lifetime grows infinitely small and so the joy of our vision of final glory can pour comfort and hope into the thirsty ground of our present pain. 

By Paul Thigpen 

I discovered some areas that I definitely needed to work on and I know I have the Holy Spirit (Helper) on that journey also. So let’s not let our JOY be stolen!

And I have a friend, Linda Greenler, who turns doodles into works of art. Glorifying Jesus! Joy in Him! Thank you, Linda, for sharing your talent with us!

I truly hope as you read what I have written that you will benefit by drawing closer to our Lord. And if you haven’t read my books, I hope you will in the new year. Just click on the word “books” and it will take you to my books page.

I have readers from 15 different nations (some of whom have already stepped into 2025), and I appreciate each one of you. I believe God will multiply that number and use what I write to serve His purpose for calling me to write. To Him is the glory!

Have the happiest New Year ever and enjoy the ride, in Jesus’s name,

Reba

Christmas already? I remember my Mom saying, “The older I get, the faster time flies!” Now I can relate.😊

Where do I begin? As I read this to David the first time, he suggested, “How about January?” LOL! So much happens in one year. Can you relate? As with every year, there’s rarely a dull moment. There are lots of activities but different events as we move through the seasons of life.

David has found a new “career” as chairman of the building committee for our new church sanctuary. He is certainly the guy for that job—dedicated to the fullest! I have continued to lead our Ladies’ Bible Studies and write. We completed a life-changing study by Andrew Wommack, “Spirit, Soul, and Body. Life changing, that’s what the study of God’s Word is about, right? My writing has shifted from poetry to blogs on my website (rebabailes.com). I hope you have read some and have benefited. If so, they are accomplishing my mission.

As for the rest of the bunch, I can hardly keep up with activities but I will try to name a few.

Andrea and Jared went on a mission trip to Brazil. A mission trip was a long-term goal of theirs. So, they jumped right into one of the most dangerous places they could go, the Amazon! Yes, they returned unscathed with testimonies of an incredible experience. Most importantly, winning souls for Christ! A successful and fulfilling mission indeed! We even got a taxidermied piranha. I named him Marco. 😊

With work, school, and play for the rest of the Bailes Clan the activities, and unexpected events continue. For those who don’t know, NWAR was struck by a tornado in May. Several of our family members were significantly impacted but thank God, all were safe. Through all of the damage to our families’ homes, only one broken finger resulted. Although our oldest granddaughter, Haley, and her husband Ry’s home (of less than one year) sustained substantial damage, Haley saw her husband rise to the occasion. He was a servant to their neighbors. They have camping gear that includes a coffee pot and alternatives to electricity. He was up bright and early each morning serving coffee from the tailgate of their truck. Something that most of us think we can’t live without and can’t make without electricity! They had coworkers, friends, and neighbors with whom he worked hand in hand to work through the destruction. Haley dealt with the insurance company and all of the business side of the disaster. What a team! The rest of our family and community experienced help from numerous sources, strengthening relationships with neighbors and strangers like no other event I know of. Rogers and Bentonville will never look the same but thank God, the storm was used to serve His good purpose. Realizing lives are most important, loving neighbors, acts of kindness, and building relationships. He takes what was meant for bad and turns it into good.                                           

In August Adrianna (our youngest grandchild) and I flew to Albuquerque, NM. She enjoyed many new experiences (like her first flight) to a place she had hoped to go. We lived there when her dad, Steven, was 8 and 9  years old. It was David’s last duty station before retiring. Adrianna and I stayed with our dear friends Bob and Joanna and were treated like family members. Joanna chauffeured and helped us visit all of the places on our list. And Bob treated us out to some fine meals. We even had Dairy Queen desserts for dinner a couple of times!

With our other children, their spouses, and GRANDS, we have an occasional get-together for games, dinner, and holidays. Cherished moments for us. They all have school, jobs, friends, and life in the fast lane. And yes, some are walking through some of the toughest times life can offer. We know that they are carried through by our Savior. We pray and we trust. We believe and we hope. The very reason we celebrate this season and the reason we have hope for us all.

We also had loved ones pass over, as many of you have, David’s dear Uncle Ralph and my Aunt Roberta. More reason for this hope I speak of so we don’t say goodbye. We say see you later on the other side. But until then they will certainly be missed.

And I quote last year’s letter, “They say we live in “uncertain times”. David and I say we stand on the “certainty” of the almighty God being all that we could ever need and more than we could ever ask for. This makes our hearts full of gratitude for this incredible gift of His birth, the Christ Child that we honor by making it all about Him!” We pray this is how you will spend your Christmas Season, making it all about Him! For God so loved the world that He gave His only son… John 3:16. We love you too! Merry Christmas to all!

And I will end with this…we had our presidential elections! Again, God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace for America. David says, “Can I get an Amen?”

From our home to yours,

Reba and David

Today I would like to share some of the many things I gained in my quiet time with the Lord this morning.

I could have hit the floor running from store to store trying to finish my gift shopping. I thank God that instead, I stayed focused on the Gift of His Son who has already been given. Jesus is the One whom Christmas is about. He also gave me the gift of this day. I have a choice of how I will use this gift. Suddenly shopping didn’t seem so appealing or a priority. If you have read my poems and narratives in Inspire Me and Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds, I point out that He even gives us ideas, talents, and resources for the gifts we want to give to others. My writing poetry began as a gift. So I will write and count on Him to help with my Christmas list. You know, first things first, right?

 Therefore, I began with some praise and worship songs. This is the place to start. As it says in Psalm 100:4 KJV “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him and bless His name.” I have much to thank Him for far beyond any material things I may or may not have.

Being still before God, entering His gates and courts with thanksgiving and praise, He is present. This brings me to the purpose of sharing this blog.

My first song of choice was “Be Still and Know” by CeCe Winans. The lyrics bring to our attention that we all “ Face many mountains, have been through trials, and shed many tears.” Sometimes I need to hear these words from someone as gifted, beautiful, and famous as CeCe. Do you ever think “those” people don’t have the same struggles we do?

I also viewed her short video about the Lord’s inspiration for her to write this song. I felt inspired to share her video and write this on Facebook “He gave her this song in the middle of the night, as so with many of the things I write. She also says she has to walk out the things she tells others…hmm, my experience as well. And I know that she and I are not alone in this! Can somebody say amen?” In the comments, I got some Amens!

The Lord says we are all more alike than we realize. He shows no favoritism toward His children. For God so loved the world that He gave to us…that’s to all of us. He continues to give to us. And we are to share what He has given. That’s why I am eager to share this with you today.

As I sat still and came into His presence with the song “Be Still and Know”, He revealed more of who He is and who we are in Him. When we look at how big our God is, the creator of the mountains, the mountains grow small.

In my lap, I had my  Evidence Bible and a notebook for my Bible study notes that were gifts from our daughter, Andrea, and her husband, Jared.

 Interesting title for my notebook, right? I opened both and continued my study “A Better Way to Pray” by Andrew Wommack. Today was lesson number 12. Andrew starts with Matthew 6:28 “So why do you worry?” He cares for us more than these things mentioned in V28-30 (lilies and clothing of the grass of the field).  V33 has the solution to worry. “But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”. Like the words to CeCe’s song, “When I look around and it all seems hopeless, I won’t fear, I won’t fear. I’ll be still and know, know You are God. You’re right here with me through all my troubles. Be still and know.” The lyrics in the song get better as she goes on. God speaks to my heart through songs. How about you? Did you know that most songs are poetry set to music, and the Bible is one-third poetry?

Andrew continues in the study… Seek first and foremost our relationship with God. He supplies all of our needs. Make God the center and focus of my life. My primary reason for prayer should be to praise, worship, and fellowship with Him! Psalm 16:11 NKJV “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Did you notice the “is” and the “are” are in italics? This emphasizes two words that indicate a “state of being”.

The true Gospel of Jesus is to bring us into a close relationship with God. A state of being in the fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. Our Lord desires this more than we do! Andrew stated there is a Hebrew word for prayer/praise that means “Kiss the face.” Just imagine kissing the face of God! Incredible wouldn’t you agree? As in a few verses of “Intimacy (Into Me See)” in my first book Inspire Me…He beckons us draw nearer Helps us see our Father clearer. As into Him we see THE INTIMACY He has for you and me!

As I continued reading my Bible, I came across a profound comment that I will take the liberty to share. This comment is about using the Law in evangelism specifically in America. By Paris Reidhead “If I had my way, I would declare a moratorium on public preaching of “the plan of salvation” in America for one to two years. Then I would call on everyone who has use of the airwaves and the pulpits to preach the holiness of God, the righteousness of God, and the Law of God until sinners would cry out, “What must we do to be saved?” Then I would take them off in a corner and whisper the gospel to them. Don’t use Joh 3:16. Such drastic action is needed because we have gospel-hardened a generation by telling them how to be saved before they have any understanding of why they need to be saved.” Emphasis mine.

We Americans lose sight of why we need a Savior. Pretty prideful I would say! And the Lord says, Proverbs 16:18 NKJV “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” This is a warning about arrogance that can be interpreted in both physical and spiritual ways. I will point out the spiritual warning. Pride can lead to spiritual ruin: For example, assuming one does not need God’s forgiveness is an attitude of spiritual pride that can lead to ruin. Does anyone else notice the increase in Americans who believe they do not need God’s forgiveness? There again, they have been told how to be saved before they have any understanding of why they need to be saved!

 Living like this has caused many to turn from the history of our nation being founded on Godly principles. I believe the disasters we are facing are being used by God to turn us back to Him. 2nd 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 will forgive their sin and heal their land.” I pray that it is so. Then there will always be those who decide not only do they not need forgiveness, but they don’t need God’s Word either. They say pridefully “I can do this by myself in my way, and my time. I live by my own moral compass. Who is God to tell me how to live?” Or I just don’t have time. And on and on…

Suddenly I remembered several poems that I wrote on this topic.  Beginning with “Peace Be Still” on page 18 of my first book. Then picking back up on page 20 there is a series of six poems that carry the same theme. My second book has more, but I would like to point out the bullet points on the back cover of it.

• Understand why God created you and that He has a purpose for your life.
• Know that He desires an intimate relationship with you.
• Come to know His never-ending love for you.
• Gain confidence in His provision for everything you need in life.
• Build your faith in Him through His Word.
• Discover He does have good plans for your life!

As my thoughts process through the day, while multitasking including meals and laundry, 😊 I know there is much more to gain from my experience. Yes, these times in His presence are causing an eagerness in me to get out of bed early each day, spend intimate time with Him through praise, worship, prayer, and His Word, and share my experience with you.  The excitement of celebrating His birth is ever-increasing, also.

I hope as you read through my books and blogs that it will increase your desire to be still and know that He is God. Enjoy the intimacy with our God like you’ve never known before. As Andrew says, “Get addicted to it by making it your primary reason for praying.”

And if you need a gift to share, please consider giving one of my books. Or maybe even both. They make great gifts any time of the year, but especially this season.

I appreciate as always that you have spent some time to still yourself in the hustle of the season to read what I desire to share. I love your comments also.

God bless you and keep you,

Reba

Hello again,

On this cold December night, I am returning to the testimonies of lost things being found. After all, three events came to mind, but I told of only two (other than the “Sound of Found” in Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds).

My first story was one titled “Appointments & Disappointments” where I told of finding a treasured Mother’s ring at an appointment during some very disappointing events.

The next story was when I lost the diamond from my engagement ring. I titled it “Unexpected Outcomes”. This event tells of how I believed in an outcome that I expected. God showed me how He sometimes blesses us in unexpected ways.

 I hope you have read or will read them. Each was written out of my desire to tell how God cares about everything we face. He shows us we can trust Him as Chuck Swindoll has stated, “Not only in the pit of dire circumstances but also in the pinnacle of abundance and success.”

After I gave testimony of these two events and before I could write about the third, I found myself in one of those pits of dire circumstances. Thus the blog “Heavy Hearts”. It was a timely reminder of how imperative it is to yoke up with Him and cast our cares on Him to free us from heavy hearts. After all, He lives in our hearts giving us peace and joy in the midst of it all. I am still in the circumstances that began the heavy heart, but I know what God says about not only yoking up with Him but not walking by sight or circumstances.

Then we moved into celebrating Thanksgiving with Christmas soon to come. It is pretty interesting how all of this comes together by telling of another experience with a lost item. This item was mine. Another treasured piece of jewelry. But this time it was recovered. The recovery story will always leave me with a sense of wonderment and a heart full of gratitude again.

During our first Christmas, as husband and wife, David bought me a diamond and ruby necklace. The diamond was in the center and encircled with deep rich rubies. It was dainty, perfect for my taste, and another big surprise for me. Can you tell that my husband enjoys surprising me with jewelry? As it turned out, diamonds are the birthstone for our oldest daughter and rubies are our second daughter’s. He could have never planned that out!

I valued it and wore it only on special occasions. Through the years I knew that one of our daughters, or granddaughters, would treasure it also. (Much like the Mother’s ring that was passed to the granddaughter.) My necklace was carefully kept in a cherry wood jewelry box David got me several years later. Throughout our numerous moves in the military and afterward, it was watchfully transported along with several other jewelry items.

In September of last year, we received word that a very dear friend’s mother had passed. The funeral was in Louisiana and we decided to attend. We planned to take advantage of the proximity to our families in east TX and visit with them after the funeral.

As I was selecting my clothing to wear for the funeral, I decided that I would also wear one of my special necklaces. The choice was between my diamond and ruby necklace or an emerald and diamond necklace that David had surprised me with on our 50^th wedding anniversary. I couldn’t decide at the time so my thought was to take them both and decide there.

I chose the emerald necklace to wear at the funeral and did not get my jewelry out for the rest of our trip. After returning home, while unpacking, my diamond and ruby necklace was missing! It was not with the other jewelry I had taken on the trip. I looked over and over again!  I turned the little travel bag inside out and to my dismay, it was not there! I  searched absolutely everywhere that I could think of. Even places that seemed somewhat absurd and unreasonable, like the top and bottom of my closet, drawers, pockets, trunk of the car, under furniture, etc. Then my thoughts went to the possibility of the cleaning lady at the motel taking it.  What was the likelihood of her confessing? I thought it may have fallen out of the little bag at my sister’s where we stayed in Texas. I even called her to see if she had found it knowing all along that I had not gotten it out at her house.

I was so desperate to find that necklace that I admittedly obsessed with my search. And the real anguish came with the thought of telling David that I had lost it! I just couldn’t! At one point I hoped he had forgotten he had given me the necklace! I’m telling on myself, I know, but that’s where I was at the time.

I finally settled in my mind that the ring was gone. Those things happen and we just need to get over it. Then I started examining myself and decided that I was placing too much value on material things and letting it rob me of my joy. Or worse yet my sanity! I told myself if God wanted me to have it, I would have found it after all of these months of searching. The conclusion was that He would teach me in this and I needed to let go and learn whatever it was He had as a lesson. Hmm…

An understanding of the lesson was not had, because I was confused about the lesson. Or even if there was a lesson! I hope some of you can relate! In my moment of desperation, I lost my ability to reason. Or worse yet, my ability to let go and let God carry me through. Talk about losing focus! They say hindsight is 20/20. Lol!

So I decided I must let go and chose to relinquish my pursuit. And there was no need to disappoint David by telling him unless the topic came up.

Eleven months passed and one day I decided it was time to clean out and organize my cherry wood jewelry box. I took everything out and selected numerous costume jewelry items to donate. I also have a jewelry armoire that I bought years ago that had collected a lot of clutter. My cleaning and organizing lead to include the armoire.

For most of the years that I had the armoire, my jewelry box sat on top of it. But I had recently moved the jewelry box to the vanity top. I pushed up on the top of the armoire as I was moving it to clean, revealing a forgotten hidden compartment! I hesitantly said “forgotten” because in my mind I never knew it was there. (And I have the reputation of having an elephant’s memory). LOL! Much to my shock and astonishment there inside this compartment was my cherished diamond and ruby necklace! I picked it up in momentary disbelief! If I was not holding it in my hands and seeing it with my own eyes, I would have never believed it was real. I had to sit down and catch my breath so that I would have more breath to say, “Thank You God” over and over again. Tears and laughter ensued!

I realize some might think I am being unnecessarily dramatic as I describe this event. I say the very definition of drama is what I experienced and am trying to convey. Drama is defined as an exciting, emotional, or unexpected series of events or sets of circumstances. For me, this event was filled with drama and dramatic expression was necessary.

After a few moments of sheer delight and wiping away some tears of joy, like the little boy with his ring in the “Sound of Found”, I eagerly told my husband from start to finish about the lost necklace he knew nothing about. He hugged me and we both soaked in the moment.

I must add that as I retell these events, I get to soak in these moments again. As I previously shared, “He shows us we can trust Him as Chuck Swindoll has stated, “Not only in the pit of dire circumstances but also in the pinnacle of abundance and success.”

Thank God for reminders because, I for one, need them regularly. How about you?

And as an additional reminder, listen to Do It Again by Elevation Worship. He never fails!  Your promise still stands, great is your faithfulness…Praise God! I hope this reminds you of His faithfulness.

May I remind you that I am blessed by your comments?

I will end with the title of this blog, He Did it Again!

Thank you for taking the time to read my stories and may God richly bless you,

Reba

Hello, and happy belated Thanksgiving!

Although it is never too late to give thanks, my delayed blog is about last Thursday, the special day we set aside for giving thanks to God for the Christian principles the United States was founded on.

Sadly, we’ve gone through a prolonged period of those who have been ruthlessly attacking, revising, deleting, and in some cases downright lying about our country’s history! Thank God, He is intervening for us again and we see many who are opening their eyes and discovering the truth. And, most importantly, the truth of the Gospel!

Instead of giving a traditional lesson here on our nation’s history, I would like to share something valuable I learned from Greg, a Messianic Jewish friend. I met Greg while visiting my sister in Texas and he recently posted this on Facebook. Since it was posted on social media, I took the liberty of helping him spread it further.

So here’s the interesting information straight from Greg and the reason for my blog title:

Thanksgiving is a Jewish Holiday by Greg Savitt, Rock of Israel.

Did you know that the first Thanksgiving in 1621 was patterned after the Jewish holiday the Feast of Tabernacles found in Leviticus 23:39-44?

First, both Thanksgiving and The Feast of Tabernacles are celebrated in the fall. The Pilgrims went to the New World to celebrate their religious freedom. Both holidays dealt with a harvest of food.

There is an old saying for all Jewish holidays. First, our enemies persecuted us; second, God gave us the victory, and finally, let’s eat. From historical writings and diaries from the Pilgrims, 1) the Pilgrims saw themselves as the children of Israel, 2) the New World was their promised land, 3) the Atlantic Ocean was there the Red Sea, 4) the Kings of England were the Pharaohs of Egypt, 5) the American Indians were the Lost Tribes of Israel, 6) the pact of the Plymouth Rock was God’s Holy Covenant, and 7) the Puritan ordinances were the Laws from Mount Sinai.

The Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot, which is Hebrew for booths, was the last great harvest of the year. (Leviticus 23:39-44) On the First Thanksgiving, noted historian Diana Karter “The community joined together to bring the last loads of grain from the field and share a merry feast when the work was done.” Furthermore, on The Feast of Tabernacles, Jewish people had a feast from their harvest. They ate these delicious meals in booths to remind themselves that the sojourned in the desert for 40 years.”

The Feast of Tabernacles is also called in Hebrew Z’man Simchateinu, which means a season of our rejoicing, and of course, Thanksgiving is a time of our giving thanks for our blessings. The first Thanksgiving in 1621 was the Pilgrims giving thanks to a huge harvest and giving thanks to the Native Americans who had helped them.

So this year, as you pass around the turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, give thanks to Aaron and Moses and the two million Jewish people who wandered around for 40 years. I always believed if Moses’s wife Zipporah had only asked for directions, they would have arrived at the Promised Land much earlier. Joshua and Caleb trusted in God’s Word. May we trust Him as well so that we won’t wander in circles.

I hope you find this as enlightening as I have. And I agree with Greg’s comment about Zipporah asking for directions. But we women know that Moses probably would not let her ask! Ha! Ha!

It would be fun to hear how you celebrate Thanksgiving (if you do). Yes, as Greg mentioned, we have turkey, cornbread dressing (a Southern tradition instead of stuffing), mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, etc.

As always, I love to hear your comments. Maybe you already knew what I have passed on. Tell me about it, I am interested. Thank you for spending time reading what I have to share.

God bless all of you everywhere,

Reba

Here I am again to write with so much on my mind to write about. But I know I don’t write from my many thoughts. I write from my heart.

So here we go…

My heart has been heavy. Yes, the attacks of the enemy are heavy. Darkness all around me, but only when I’m looking at the works of the enemy are they heavy. Again, while looking around me, I need reminders of who lives within. The power of the Holy Spirit lives in me and each who believes in Christ for salvation. We must understand that the Holy Spirit never leaves us or forsakes us. This is the “rebirth”. The “born again” spirit. The “new man” inside of us! Romans 8:11 “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

We just completed our Ladies Bibles Study by Andrew Wommack titled “Spirit, Soul, and Body”. It is a life-changing study like no other I have experienced. That is when I renew my mind and remember these truths. And I thank God for His many ways to remind me. (You can find this complete study at AWMI.net.)

Today instead of continuing with my testimonies of things found (we will save that for later), I am going to share how the Lord is lifting my heaviness. The Lord said in Matthew 11:29-30  NLT “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. V29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.V30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

As I walk in the “battlegrounds” and the Lord pours priceless reminders into my thoughts, He often takes me to what He has already given me, namely His Word, poems, narratives, and life experiences.

This time, and over again, He reminded me of several verses I wrote in my poem Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds (no wonder it is the title of my second book!).

At the beginning of the poem, I was thanking God for all of His wonderful works all around me. Then I quickly progressed to, “But my thanks are most of all when storms prevail”. As I wrote those words I immediately paused and said, “God, I don’t thank You most when storms prevail! Why would I write that?” I knew inside of me that He said, “Continue writing and you will see why.” It still takes my breath when I see where He took this. “For when I’m weak and battle-worn is, where I draw from You, Love strength, and faithfulness when friends are seemingly few. 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!” It goes on to say, “Now pure as blue skies, I glide with butterflies amid the beauty of You.” This is where I started in this poem. Praising Him for His beauty all around me! As we go full circle, we begin to see why…” Thankful through life’s battlegrounds, I’m homeward bound, beyond the sky so blue!”

Talk about lifting our burdens! This is how we glide with butterflies and see His beauty all around us again. And this is how we soar on eagles’ wings as it says in Isaiah 40:31 AMP “But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] Will gain new strength and renew their power. They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God} like eagles {rising toward the sun}; They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not become tired”.

And I am also reminded of these verses in my poem Gain ( also in my second book), ”Only these will last forever…faith, hope, love (charity). Love is my hope and only way to true prosperity…By laying it all before Him, abiding Helper working in me, I gain everlasting bounty by giving all to Thee!”

Why would I even attempt to carry these burdens as I walk in the battlegrounds of life? He has told me, “Reba we will walk this out together.” I wasn’t designed to carry these burdens. He has given me everything I need and even more to glide, soar, and walk in victory over the darkness. Yoke up with Him! So I can honestly thank Him through life’s battlegrounds, I’m homeward bound! After all, this is not my home.

Hebrews 13:14-16 NKJV “ For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. V15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. V16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”

I ended my narrative for Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds with this, and it stands true today… “The song, “To God be all blessings and honor, and glory and power. Forever! Amen!” came to my mind, so I was going to play it when I found it on YouTube. I found this scripture and decided it was perfect to end with. Please praise Him with the song also! “Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!” Revelation 5:13 NIV. Amen!”

I hope what I am sharing has helped lift any burdens you might be carrying unnecessarily. It helps me by sharing, reminding me, and confirming God’s promises to us. John 16:33 NKJV “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

I hope again, that my mission statement will be used by God to accomplish my purpose in sharing this: To glorify God through writing, sharing His Word, and my life experiences, communicating the love of Jesus Christ to add to His Kingdom.

The words escape me to express the impact of your reports on how God uses what I write. Last week a precious lady told me with tears in her eyes that she reads a poem or two with narratives each night. She has gained encouragement to face her own battlegrounds. Her home was majorly damaged in the May 2024 tornado and they are still dealing with repairmen. Meanwhile, her husband is having significant health problems that require surgery. She explained by my sharing, that she sees my heart for God and how He gets me through.

Then, today, as I was wrapping up this blog, a mutual friend called to update me on a situation with her unsuccessful surgery. She has had to limit her activities while seeking different opinions regarding her options. Through her disappointment in her failed surgery, and while waiting to discover her options, she has been reading the poems and looking up the scriptures in my first book “Inspire Me”. Her words of confirmation that God is touching lives with His Word and my poetry inspire me to keep writing. I thanked her and told her that our mutual friend had said the same last week. Then to my surprise, she said the two of them had lunch together and did not tell each other what they were experiencing from my two books. For them to individually thank me made it even more moving and heartwarming.

God is working in ways we don’t even know! Sometimes, He allows us to get a glimpse. And each of your comments adds to the glimpse and is just as much appreciated. As always, to God be the glory!

May God bless and keep you through your battlegrounds too.

Until our next time together,

Reba

Are you ready to hear about my lost valuable item’s unexpected outcome and yet another lesson? I hope so because it is interesting how this one comes together.

 I am writing this experience to show how God can turn our disappointments into His appointments to bless us in unexpected ways, in His ways, in His timing.

This is the story of an experience in which God did just that!

My husband, David, and I got engaged to be married when I was very young. He asked his mom for advice about all aspects of the ring that he would present to me for that special event. He didn’t ask my ring size, style, or color of gold preference. He wanted it to be a total surprise. He was successful at that!

The day he planned for his surprise proposal, I was a little upset with him about his long delay in coming to see me. The day was dragging on and I hadn’t heard anything from him. He finally showed up on my doorstep that evening. Without attempting to explain his late arrival, he presented the beautiful ring and made his proposal. That was probably the fastest I have ever gotten over being a bit miffed at him! Lol! I readily accepted the ring and his proposal. I might add that we will celebrate 53 years of marriage this Wednesday, October 16^th. I thank the Lord for having His hand on us through all those years.

The ring couldn’t have pleased me more but the size was far too big. I have a much smaller finger than most women. The jeweler had already told him it could be resized if that was the case. He was correct but what we found out later was that cutting it down that much weakened the band. I checked it frequently and had it repaired several times. Also unknown to us was that although diamond solitaires were very popular, the prongs holding the diamond had to be re-tipped occasionally. After many years, mine got so worn that we decided to have the diamond remounted.

In my second book Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds my narrative for “Stumbling” begins with “Stumbling.”  “Wow, what a chapter in my life story!” After I explained the injuries that I sustained and the outcome of stumbling over an uneven place on a sidewalk, I made this statement. “There are many other dark paths in this story, but I believe those details are not necessary.” I could have never imagined my diamond engagement ring being one of the dark paths in this story that I chose not to tell of at that time.

Today I reread my narrative for “Stumbling” to refresh my memory of the process.  I spoke of the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit after my bleak walk through “untraveled territory” with the damage to my teeth. “I knew I had Him for direction, peace, and wisdom for everything I was going through. I needed every ounce of it because we were not finished with this story yet!” Page #52.

I continued by telling of the visual problems and my referral to a retinal specialist. The outcome of my appointment with the retinal specialist revealed an even more serious condition of my eyes.

Although peace that surpasses all understanding stepped into my life, I still needed time to process all that I was going through and to be able to tell my husband.

On my way home from the retinal specialist. I distracted myself for a moment by picking up a couple of grocery items. At that time I believe I was feeling shocked and numb. Arriving home David could tell I did not have good news. As I told him the condition of my eyes, he was silent as if he couldn’t take it in either. He probably shared in my shocked and numb state of mind. And even though I had peace within, this was a process. “The enemy never missed an opportunity to attempt bombarding my mind with fear of what could happen!”

Immediately after telling David the bad news, I glanced at my engagement ring only to find the diamond missing! The numbness intensified! I could not believe my eyes! I can’t possibly remember how much time passed before calling the doctor’s office hoping by some miracle someone had found it and turned it in. How likely was that? No one had found it but the kind lady said she would tell the cleaning lady to watch for it.

I then decided to retrace my steps. First, I looked in the car, and everywhere between the house and the car. Then I decided to search the parking lot at the shopping center. I searched the store where I had bought the grocery items. Meanwhile, I remembered that I had pumped gas before returning home. So I went to the gas station to continue my search. You can tell I was determined to find that diamond!

All the while, I was praying and believing the Lord would direct me to find my diamond. After all, I had returned several rings to others so it was my turn to receive that blessing. My thought process in my moment of distress is almost embarrassing to acknowledge. I kept praying for a blessing, but the blessing didn’t come in my time or my way as my search drew to a conclusion. God had other plans and that is where the unexpected outcome enters the story.

This reminds me of my poem “The Answer is Coming” in my first book Inspire Me. I hope you will read it and see if you agree … “But if in His wisdom, the Lord says “No” He has something better; through it, you will grow. So always remember our Father hears our requests And however He answers is always the best!”

Time passed and my prayers and thoughts were focused on my healing. Thinking back on my lost diamond, somehow it didn’t compare to the possibility of losing my sight! This helped get things in proper perspective. I have been truly blessed to have come through those dark places with amazing results.

The injuries I sustained in my stumbling accident and the loss of my diamond were in 2020. If you remember, that year was a tough one world wide.

David and I were already excited about and looking forward to our upcoming 50^th wedding anniversary in the Fall of 2021. We were saving money and deciding how to celebrate our “Golden” event. I had no idea that David was planning another grand surprise. Instead of waiting for our anniversary, He would present his anniversary gift to me at Christmas in 2020. All our children and grandchildren knew of this gift and kept it secret. After everyone had opened their gifts, they gathered around to see my response when presented with such a beautiful surprise. It was the last gift to be opened when David took it out of its hiding place.

The gift was the most beautiful ring I could imagine. This one had a large diamond in the center, and smaller diamonds around it, with various shapes and sizes of diamonds halfway around the band. It was stunning and I could never have chosen a ring I would enjoy more. Actually, I tried. Let me explain because I know that sounded very odd.

This ring was also far too large for me. When I returned it to have it resized, we found they could not adjust it that small. The ring would have to be remade, which would take about 6 months! So David suggested that I shop around to see if I could find one that I  liked equally that could be made to fit much sooner. After an extensive local search and online shopping, it became apparent the ring David had chosen for me was ideal. I would wait however long it took for it to be remade. “A “yes” that says, “just wait a little while,” Waiting with Him you can walk the extra mile.”

There is another factor in the equation that made this ring exceptional. David and I set aside a monthly amount of money for each of us to spend however we choose. Unknown to me, David had been saving for months to be able to buy that ring for me! That is sacrificial giving and a notable expression of love. This token of his love for me is more precious than gold or diamonds. I am reminded of this every time I look at it.

Yes, this unexpected outcome was an opportunity for God to take my deep disappointment and use it as an appointment to bless me. Only this time, he used my husband to express his abiding love for me. The Lord said “no” to me finding my diamond because He had something better for me through David.

Additionally, although I was told I would have to wait six months for the remaking, I got a call less than two weeks later that my ring was back! How could that be? It had been sent overseas! It fits perfectly!  Even the manager could not explain how that happened. I have a friend that calls that,  “a God Wink”. I like that. God’s way and His timing are always the best!

The lessons packed in this event were very similar to my previous blog:

#1. The ring symbolizes eternity, endless, never-ending love. When we wed, we exchanged rings pledging this love for each other.

#2. Gold is thought to be the most valuable thing on earth. In this case, putting God first, a husband and wife are to hold each other as the most valuable thing on earth.

#3. Although my diamond was not recovered, my husband replaced it in a way that expressed the same love and commitment to me as the first ring. And as a bonus, I still have the gold band that held that diamond.

#4. The sound of rejoicing with tears of happiness that I did when he presented this ring. All with my loved ones around to witness this occasion.

Many of you have not experienced this kind of marriage. This topic is one I would like to write about. But now is not the time.

The purpose of this story is…

God is always looking to bless us. Just remember that life has its disappointments, but also remember that God wants to use them as His appointments to bless us with unexpected outcomes in His time and His way. He always wants to grow our faith and trust in Him and show us His love, sometimes to show us the love of others. “So always remember, Our Father hears our requests And however He answers is always the best!”

I Chronicles 16:12 NKJV “Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgements of His mouth,”

I truly hope He has used me to bless you by sharing this story. I enjoy hearing from you and appreciate what you share with me.

God bless and keep you,

Reba

Hello, my friends, I am eager to write to you again. The many other distractions are set aside. My husband is going to a meeting, our dog is napping and I am focused on writing what I have on my heart. 

If you read my last blog, you probably remember that I started with a testimony, which is defined as “a public recounting of a religious conversation or experience.” I started with my most valuable testimony, my salvation experience. I truly hope and pray that God used it to make a positive difference in your life and add to His Kingdom.

For several days I asked the Lord how to move on to my next testimony to share. I remembered so many things I knew I could never write about them all. I certainly needed His help to choose the next one. As different memories of past experiences came to mind, the three that came more frequently pertained to jewelry. It seemed, at first, that focusing on material things would not be the direction the Lord would want me to go. After all, we are the most valuable of His creations that have ever existed on earth, right?

I can hardly wait to tell you how and why I believe He does want me to share these particular experiences next.

This morning as I was still pondering “what next” I heard a song referring to how valuable we are to the Lord. The song is “Gold” by Britt Nicole. I understood that the Lord would use these experiences with material things that I am writing about as another lesson through parables.

 I said, “Another” lesson because in my second book Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds, my poem and narrative “The Sound of Found,” told of an incredible experience I had finding a child’s lost ring. It was nothing short of a miracle! As I remembered that experience, other poems that I have written about jewels came to mind. The best part of these poems is the scripture references that tell what God says about us and jewels. He used precious metals and gemstones as a parable to teach me how valuable “priceless” we are to Him.

So by prayer, frequent reminders, and a song, here I am to tell another story of finding something precious and having the experience of returning it to its rightful owner.

In 2008 I was in a serious car accident. After the Lord brought me through the concussion and more serious injuries, I received treatment from a chiropractor for neck and back pain. Little did I know, at this particular appointment, that the Lord had something extra special for me. Not only for me but a fellow massage therapist.

As usual, I pulled into the parking lot at the Chiropractic clinic. The lot was gravel and the rest of the surrounding area was grass. I opened my car door and of course, as I stepped out, I was looking down. The tiny edge of something shiny caught my eye. It was buried in the hard-packed gravel. My curiosity caused me to use my fingers to dig the rest of this shiny object up. With determination and bare hands, I uncovered a very worn old-looking ring with three different colored stones. I am no expert in deciphering valuable jewelry but I did not think it had much worth. Even after brushing most of the dirt off, it didn’t improve its possibilities of worth. For a fleeting moment, I thought it could be a child’s toy ring. But, according to its size, that couldn’t be the case. Additionally, this ring had to be pretty durable to withstand being crushed underneath car tires and end up buried in gravel. Still, it had been lost and the least I could do was turn it into the receptionist. It was not my place to determine its value.

So I gave the ring to the receptionist and told her where I had found it. Her face lit with excitement and she said, “Wait here.” “ I think I know who this belongs to.” They had a massage therapist working in the clinic and the receptionist left to show her what I had found. The massage therapist was busy with a client so she would have to see it later.

Meanwhile, I was called to the treatment room for my visit with the chiropractor. While I was updating him on my progress, a young woman appeared in the doorway and eagerly asked if I was the person who found the ring. She had something clutched in her hand held tightly to her chest. It was easy to conclude it was the ring that I had found. She proceeded to exclaim, “It is mine! It’s mine!” “You found my ring!”  She was jumping up and down with such joy that I wanted to jump with her! She even did a little happy dance while laughing with joy. After she displayed sheer delight, she collected herself enough to quickly explain that it was her grandmother’s and this ring was the only thing she had that belonged to her! The young woman was honored to be chosen for the ring to be passed to her at her grandmother’s passing.

She had lost it several months prior and had been very distraught and disappointed over the loss of something so precious.  She could never replace it and she was convinced she would never see it again! I could imagine the distress it caused to have lost it.

After hearing the history of this ring, its value grew to insurmountable proportions! I had more insight into her heartache in losing it and my gladness and gratefulness for her increased significantly.  The many agonizing months that had passed and the countless disappointing searches made its recovery even more significant. To see the joy in this woman’s response by having this precious ring returned to her filled the rest of us with joy also. Oh yes, she said it was a Mother’s ring. The different stones represented the birth months of each of her grandmother’s children. She pointed out the stone that represented her parent’s birth month. I was so caught up in the excitement of the moment, I’m not certain which parent she referred to. Father or Mother did not matter. The significance was apparent.

Her focus shifted to how and where I had found this cherished ring. When I told her, it made the recovery even more incredible and her heart filled with increased awe and gratitude. Mine too!

She left us to continue with my appointment but I can honestly say I don’t remember anything about my visit with the doctor other than him expressing his amazement at the ring being found. The Lord had an appointment for me with far greater significance than chiropractic care. I’m sure the doctor would agree.

So I mentioned a lesson in parables. If you look at the lessons I listed in my narrative for “The Sound of Found”, you will see some similarities. 

 #1. The ring symbolizes eternity, endless, never-ending; God’s love for us.

#2. Gold is thought to be the most valuable thing on earth. However, in this case, the gold was so worn and old-looking that it was hard for me to identify it as real gold. To the Lord, we are the most valuable thing that He created. Worth more than gold or any other created thing.

#3. The unlikelihood of the ring ever being found. God does these things to show us the possibilities in Him. All things are possible through Christ if it is His will.

#4. And the sound of rejoicing when something priceless is restored to its rightful owner! Once again, the sound of this woman’s expression of sheer joy reminded me of the angels in Heaven rejoicing when one priceless soul is restored to its rightful owner; our Father in Heaven.

We can take this to another level of our value to the Lord when we look at what He says about precious stones or jewels.

In “Dust to Diamonds”, also in my new book Blue Skies, Butterflies and Battlegrounds, I referenced Malichi 3:17 NKJV “They shall be Mine; says the Lord of hosts,` On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” And Zechariah 9:16-17 says, “The Lord their God will save them in that day, as the flock of His people. For they shall be like the jewels of a crown, Lifted like a banner over His land—For how great is its goodness and how great is its beauty!” And in my poem “The Ballerina’s Dream” I began with “Go ahead, open the box where precious jewels are stored,” (referring to a jewelry box). It tells of my sister’s vision of her being a ballerina in the Lord’s hands. Continuing it tells of the next generation…”My precious jewels.” As I typed these words, I was reminded of the cherished ring being passed to the third generation in the grandmother’s family. How good is that?

I am left in awe of how God uses our appointments, and disappointments, in everyday life with its highs and lows to express His never-ending deep abiding love for us. No matter how old, worn, tattered, dirty, buried, or worthless we might feel or appear, we are priceless to our Creator. And through our Savior, we have been restored to our rightful owner, our Father in Heaven. We are His, like the jewels of a crown, His Crown, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He refines us to reflect the image of His Son as the gold and silversmiths do to precious metals.

I had to pause for a moment to soak in those words. I pray that you received these words in a very personal way also. Soak it in! When (notice I said “When”, not if) we have doubts about His love and our worth to Him, we must renew our minds to what He says. One of my favorite verses of scripture is Romans 12:2 NKJV “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Saturate your mind with His Word. This will change your perspective on every event in your life! All glory to Him for the “lessons” He teaches us through our appointments and disappointments.

I will end with Revelation 4:9-11 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” And I say AMEN!

In my next blog, I will tell of another lost item that had an unexpected outcome but yet, another valuable lesson. I hope you will join me again. Thank you for every moment you spend reading my blogs.

My prayers are with you all,

Reba

“Testimony” defined…for this application I will use the definition that pertains to this blog.

“A public recounting of a religious conversation or experience.”

Frequently I have thought of writing about my experiences with the Lord, but there are so many I hardly know where to start. I decided to get still, start writing, and see where the Lord takes this.

In the introduction of my first book Inspire Me, I told how I started writing. In my second book, Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds, I was led to write narratives about events in my life connected to the poems. They were what I considered testimonies of God working in my life. I plan to write the narratives for my first 40 poems in Inspire Me, but for now, I want to tell of other events that have had a life-changing impact on me.

Let’s start when my new life began. The day I became a believer in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I believe that is a great place to start! After all, this is the most important testimony of my life.

My story is not earth-shattering or grandeur, by the world’s standards. Still, it is as significant and powerful as anyone’s in God’s eyes.

I hope this writing session will help you know Him better and that this testimony can be used for His greater purpose, add to His Kingdom, and glorify Him. Actually, that is my Mission Statement. “To glorify God through writing, sharing His Word, and my life experiences, communicating the love of Jesus Christ to add to His Kingdom.”

So here is my next attempt at my mission…

I’m from a large family. I am number five of six children. My parents were Christians and when I was very young, our family attended church regularly. We moved from Georgia to Arkansas when I turned six years old. My dad had to work weekends and most of my time growing up he worked two jobs. Without Dad, Mom didn’t want to attend church, so subsequently, our family stopped going to church together.

My parents were great at teaching us to be honest, hardworking, and responsible, but fell short in teaching us about Jesus and the Bible. This did not quelch my desire to attend church, for reasons I cannot explain. I knew that I would learn about Jesus and the Bible there. I could not grasp the thought of anyone not wanting to attend church! I begged and nagged anyone and everyone to take me to church. I’m sure some are still around that remember. I chose friends whose parents took them to church and were willing to include me.

 So the summer I turned nine, I was invited to a Baptist church that was having a weeklong revival. I had heard about revivals but was unclear about what they did or their purpose. My next-door neighbor friend told me all about how she “got saved “ at this revival.  She said that I could come and “get saved” too. She didn’t have to convince me to go! I was ready! So that night I did hear all about God’s plan of salvation. When the Pastor finished his sermon, he had an altar call. My friend nudged me and said I had to go to the altar if I wanted Jesus to save me too. So equipped with all of the “childlike” faith I had, I mustered up enough courage to walk that long lonely aisle to reach the Pastor standing at the altar. I felt like every eye in the church was zeroed in on me. That was a painful experience for the very young and shy girl I was. Thankfully, the Pastor welcomed me with open arms. He had me kneel as he knelt with me and briefly explained that I was to repeat a prayer after him. Plain and simple, from the heart of a child, and it was done! Thank God, through Christ, I was saved by His grace and added to His Kingdom!

 To this day, I wonder why some adults have to make salvation so complicated. Don’t misunderstand, the salvation experience is just the beginning of all the Christian life encompasses. But, it can get complicated quickly with the many different denominations, Bible translations, and opinions. However, it is the simplicity of the cross of Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection, and that He did it for you and me that should not be complicated or confusing.`

My life-changing decision was quickly attacked by those who believe a child cannot understand enough to make that choice. Others were confused themselves, therefore spreading their confusion to me and anyone within earshot. Some tried to explain to me how Christians must “act.” Much like the Pharisees that preached living by the Law. That set me on a course of guilt and condemnation each time I did something wrong, resulting in becoming a “people pleaser”.  After all, when I messed up, I wasn’t “acting” like a Christian, so I knew I wasn’t pleasing God. So I would try even harder! “If I am a Christian, surely I can do this!” How did being saved by God’s grace, not by works, get overlooked?

I have lived sixty-one years since accepting Jesus as my Savior. I thank Him every day for clearing up wrong thinking for me. Through His Word, He continues to give me clarity. I find His Will so I can Walk in the Ways of God. He knows me better than I know myself. And that, my friends, is something I am truly grateful for. And you should be too!

While writing this testimony, I was reminded of a poem I had written in my first book, Inspire Me titled “Thank God for Hope”. It speaks of the very things I am writing about. Deception, confusion, having to earn God’s love, and the struggle. Then Jesus cleared it all up! Here are some verses from that poem.

“So, in the midst of confusion, He gave me eyes to see

My Holiness, Righteousness, Salvation for all eternity.

Father, Son, Holy Spirit Provider, always there for my every need

All I could hope for to become all I could ever be.

What a joy it is to have hope for us all

When He opens our eyes and we follow His call.

Just lay it all down, the struggle and strife

Give it all to Him, begin your beautiful new life.

Hope for your future, each and every day

Clearing up the deception and showing you the way.”

And in my poem, “I Am Not”, in Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds a few verses say,

“I am His child, secure, significant, most of all free

To be all my Creator created me to be.

Released from the Am Nots, having freedom to just be me!”

With this foundational testimony told, I believe I can go forward from here. Salvation is the starting point in every believer’s new life. There are multitudes of stories I could share going forward and many have a poem, a dream, or another experience to coincide. Truly, the Lord must be orchestrating the events of my life. Or as some would say weaving a tapestry, the potter shaping the clay, or the gold or silversmith’s refining fire.

Hope for your future, each and every day. Clearing up deception and showing you the way.

To be all your Creator created you to be. Released from the Am Nots, for you to be free!

If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I would like to take this opportunity to invite you on a walk down …

 The Romans Road To Salvation

• God is the creator and ruler over all.

Romans 1:20:21 For since the creation of the world His visible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

• No one is righteous.

Romans 3:10 “…as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one.”

•  We have all sinned and fall short of His standard of perfect, holy righteousness.

Romans 3:23 “…for all have sinned and fall short the glory of God…”

• The penalty for sinfulness has already been set. But God has provided a gift through grace of life eternal.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

• God’s love is so great for us that He gave His only son as a sacrifice for the sins of all humanity.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

• Confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and believing (placing your faith/trust) in Him for the forgiveness of your sins provides you with salvation.

Romans 10:9-10 “…that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

Finally… There is only one way to receive salvation: Faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.

Romans 10:13 “… for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

To simplify the Gospel message even more I have heard it taught this way:

The  A B C’S OF SALVATION:

A= Admit that you are a sinner and that you need a Savior.

B= Believe in your heart that Jesus died for you to cleanse you from all sin.

C= Confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord.

This reminds me of my earlier statement, “I wonder why some adults make salvation so complicated.” It’s only because they need clarity of the Word of God so they can know the will of God and walk with Him in His ways. All because of His salvation through God’s grace alone.

And for those of us who have already received our new life in Christ, I will end by quoting Ron Hutchcraft:

“The most important thing you could ever do is to tell others about the sacrifice Jesus made for them. The greatest possible difference you could make with the rest of your life is to help others be in heaven with you.”

I pray that you have a Salvation testimony of your own. And as I continue to write, that my mission is fulfilled.

I’m looking forward to our time together again soon. Thank you for spending your time reading my blogs. If you haven’t already gotten my books, they are available through Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and online booksellers everywhere. I would be honored if you read them. Please notice my comments and connect page. I will be looking for your response.

God Bless you, 

Reba

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Well, I’m back! I hope my period of dormancy has not caused you to lose interest in my blogs. Or, worse yet, it implies that I have lost interest in writing. On the contrary, I consistently have thoughts of topics to write about. Since none seemed highly motivating, I would dismiss it and wait for that special one. And then there are always moments when I wonder if the Lord has given all there is for me to write about.

So as I live out each day and see the horrible things happening in this world, I recognize that I need more time reading and hearing The Good News. That is for each and every day. You know… “First Things First”. Therefore, I have been focusing more on  God’s promises of what is to come through His Prophetic Word and the hope for our futures.

There have been moments when I have sat quietly, (have I mentioned that doesn’t come to me naturally?) to just soak in the beauty of my surroundings. Our Creator God could burst forth through the sky to Rapture us at any moment! Surely the Day is approaching! This reminder consoles and soothes my soul and relieves my anxious thoughts. Much like the Scripture says in Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 And I humbly admit this Spring was a time when my husband and I tackled some major house and property projects. Somehow, I forgot, once again, that I’m not twenty, or even sixty years old! Lol! Are you familiar with overdoers’ syndrome? It’s when you typically discover you have done too much, after the fact. My body started reminding me of my age and syndrome a little late. So I have been doing damage control through physical therapy, pool therapy, and being more mindful of what constitutes healthy eating. Realistically, it is revisiting many lessons I have learned about taking care of my body and life in general.

So that statement brought me right to the topic I want to write about. I bet there for a moment you thought I was going down the path of many excuses for not writing!  Me too!

Finally, moving on (no pun intended) to the topic:

MOVING ON TO MATURITY

 I recently had a dream. Not that having a dream is anything unusual, but this one apparently had a message for me that I eagerly share with you.

In this dream, my cousin’s wife, Miranda, was showing me her High School diploma. She was holding it up so that I could view it as she read. It was in the most eloquent penmanship I had ever seen. Comparable to a fine piece of art. It was definitely like no other diploma presented. I realized that her diploma read as though it was a story of someone’s life. I assumed it was telling of Miranda’s life since it was presented to her. I said to her, “Why aren’t we all given a diploma like this?” Then I woke from the dream!

As I lay there revisiting the dream in a wakened state, I knew that a message from the Lord was the purpose of this dream.  It was too incredible to think otherwise.

As I walked through my memories of the dream, the meaning began to unfold. The Lord was using a human experience to reveal a spiritual lesson.

Let me explain my revelation in this…

In my country, our educational system is typically based on a 13-year program, with variations and personalization to individual needs. We start with Kindergarten and work our way through Elementary classes, to Middle or Jr. High, and then High School. If all the requirements are met through the 12^th grade, we often have a graduation ceremony and are presented with a diploma to prove this accomplishment.

As we learn through this system, some subjects are more difficult for us while others are easier. Sometimes we have to study harder and get extra help that others don’t seem to need. As knowledge is gained for each given topic, we are tested to see if we are ready for the next grade level. We must “pass the test” before moving up. (Maybe some of you are already getting the message in this dream.) If we don’t pass the test, we go through the test again. We are held back from the next grade level until we have proven we have the knowledge needed to move up. We are not required to complete all of these grade levels but, whether we do or not has a life-long effect on all of us. We also have the freedom to further our education/training in any field of study we choose. Only if we can afford it, though.

That’s a different topic, so I won’t go there. But let me interject this statement. Although we have one of the best educational systems in the world, it is in drastic need of improvement. We truly do need to pray more for our children, teachers, and all of our governmental systems. As my Pastor would say, “Can I get an amen?” This reminds me of my poem “Happy Birthday Teacher” and the accompanying narrative in my book, Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds. I hope you will read it and see if you agree.

Now that I have explained our system of education, I would like to share the spiritual connection.

Once we become believers, we are to grow in the Word and spend time with our teacher.

Many verses in the Bible describe Jesus as a teacher, Rabbi. While He was here on earth with us, He was certainly the Master Teacher. Since His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension to the right hand of the Father, the Holy Spirit is our teacher. Jesus said in John 14:25-26 NKJV These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

Jesus is also the Word.  John 1:1-2 NKJV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God, and the Word was with God. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.

Doesn’t it make sense that we would study the “Word” as we sit under the guidance of our Holy Spirit Teacher? This is the way, much like our man-made system, to move up to the next level. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!

Much like our man-devised educational system, as we study under the guidance of our teacher, the Holy Spirit, and learn what is written in our Holy Bible, the Word of God, we move up to the next level. Of course, this reminds me of a couple of poems the Lord has given me. Two are in my first book Inspire Me, “Fat Babies” and “Body Builder Food”. One of the scripture references I used in “Fat Babies” is Hebrews 5:12-14. It addresses Spiritual Immaturity. And The Peril of Not Progressing in Hebrews 6:1. There are plenty more for our exploration. I purposely did not write these scriptures out for you, believing you will be drawn into your Bible. If you do not have one, please message me on my connect page. We need to rectify this ASAP!

As we are learning and growing, we go through tests to see if we are ready for the next level of spiritual maturity. If we don’t pass the test, IN God’s spiritual growth system, we get to do it over again. Unlike man’s system, we are never failures in God’s eyes and He never holds us back! We hold ourselves back by not spending time studying the Word and letting our Teacher lead and guide us. How we grow and move on to maturity in Christ depends on our dedication and desire to grow and progress. I must add that staying a baby Christian does not keep you from Heaven. But it certainly has a lifelong effect on you and those around you. Some of us never get past the elementary things mentioned in Hebrews 6:1. It is by our choice, certainly not because God doesn’t desire a closer relationship with us. And remember the scriptures warn us of the perils of spiritual immaturity. Not to mention missing the abundant living the Lord has for us in this life. Do you know also that the more we grow in spiritual maturity, the more we look like Jesus? It’s true! There’s another great topic for our exploration of the Word.

Now, I believe it’s a good place to mention the incredible penmanship in which the diploma was written. Do you know that God Himself wrote our story? I’m sure His penmanship is like none other our eyes have beheld! Just like in my dream. And this also explains why Miranda’s diploma was written like a story of her life.  It was a beautiful story! Of course, it was, God wrote it! Do you believe He wrote a beautiful story for you? I know He did: Romans 8:28… and if we love Him (read the scriptures and it makes sense) John 14:15-18; John 14:21; and 1 John 2:4-6.

Through this dream and His Holy Word, God has revealed many encouraging thoughts toward how we move and grow in maturity. He always brings us to a higher level with Him, but He does not force Himself on us. Isaiah 48:17 NKJV “Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go”. God Himself (through the Trinity) teaches you to profit. He is the One who leads us to a higher level. He leads us. He never drags us! And if He is leading us, we must follow or we hold ourselves back! He’s ready to take us to a higher level right now! Are you ready to apply what He has already provided through His Word and the Holy Spirit?

I hope by the Lord giving me this dream, the poems, narratives, blogs, and most importantly the scriptures, and me sharing with you, you are encouraged and inspired to continue growing in spiritual maturity. As Hebrews 10:24 says, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Emphasis mine.

I love hearing comments and receiving emails. Please sign up and let me hear from you too. And don’t forget to reach out if you don’t have a Bible.

Growing together in Christ,

Reba

Since I last wrote, I have frequently thought of my question, “How do we express to the Lord our appreciation of all He is to us, who we are in Him, and what He has done for us?” This seems to be a common theme in most of my writings. At first, to answer this question seemed somewhat intimidating. I do tend to overthink things. But the Lord simplified it for me by consistently showing me that I just need to get first things first.

By that I mean, I put Him first by making my relationship with Him priority. It is something that should be done before anything else because it is the most important. Everything else that we put before Him and His Word is an idol. Yes, you heard me right. Everything else is an idol. That is a mighty big statement, I agree.  But let’s look at it with the understanding of Jesus being our Lord and Savior.

King Jesus is on the throne at the right hand of our Father. He is King Jesus. Very few of us have ever served a King in our lives today. But if we examine the days of Kings and kingdoms, we see that the King ruled. Most everyone else was a servant with specific duties and tasks for each day. Their lives were dedicated to the King and serving him first. They each had a purpose and it was all to serve the King, their master.

If you have never read about God’s people desiring a King to rule over them, I suggest you do. God knew it would not be His best for His people. But He certainly had a plan and purpose for allowing Kings to rule over them.

Ok, so let’s get back to this day and age. And remember Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8. God created everything with order. With that order in mind, when we accept His Son Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are added to His Kingdom. He is not only our Savior, but He is our Lord. He is King on the throne in His Kingdom that we belong to. As we come to Him to serve Him, we find our purpose, direction, and everything we need in Him to live in His Kingdom of abundance. Not only that, but we also add to His Kingdom as we spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Notice He says. “all these things shall be added to you”, after the previous verses where He acknowledges all the things that our heavenly Father knows we need. James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. The last part of that verse in the Amplified Version says, “in whom there is no variation (no rising or setting) or shadow cast by His turning (for He is perfect and never changes). It does not get any better than this my friend!

Putting our King first and adding to His Kingdom is a pertinent way to show our appreciation of who He is,  who we are in Him, and what He has done for us. Wouldn’t you agree? Other expressions of our appreciation or gratitude will naturally flow, such as praising Him, spending more time with Him in prayer, growing in His Word, serving Him, and trusting Him more. We develop an attitude of gratitude and we express it by gladly serving Him first and then others. What a beautiful and powerful way to express our appreciation of our Lord by getting first things first.

In my book Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds, I have several poems and narratives that tell of more obstacles that hold us back from putting our Lord first. “Liking Stuff” says, “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”…”Gain” is another that comes to mind. A few lines from it say, “Authentic gain through the giver of everlasting good, My utmost for Him, seeing gain with clarity as I should. Life of immeasurable value, as my Holy King is reigning, Faith, Hope, and Love all three of these remaining.” And then of course there are “Distractions”. Why in the world is there so much distraction? Minds all cluttered with no plan of action. Our thoughts are running all over the place, Can’t focus on God or give Him some space”… “Walking On My Knees” speaks of how we should start each day and how we benefit from it. “So starting each day on my knees before God, With my heart rightly postured, I do more than just trod. My spirit soars high on eagles’ wings Walking with God through what life brings.” And in Inspire Me in my poem “More Than Words” the last two lines say, “So I can stand humbly before You someday And truthfully utter, “I love You more than words can say!” And if you read “God in Our Seasons”, you will find a lengthy list of “life’s excuses and so many lame reasons.”

By me writing these poems, narratives, and now blogs, they serve as constant reminders and it helps me to stay on track of putting Him first. My hope is that by reading this you gain a better understanding, or maybe just a reminder, as I do, of why it is always best to get first things first.  I’ve heard it put this way… The Word. The Will. The Walk. The Way. You will never regret it and the rewards are eternal gain.

I do appreciate you spending time reading what I have written. And your comments are always welcome.

As always, I hope this blesses and encourages you,

Reba

Well, my friends, I’m sure glad I ended my last blog with this statement, “I hope you join me to see if that is what the Lord has for us next.” I’m glad because expressing our appreciation is packed with all sorts of revealing “stuff”. So much so, that I believe we will have to take this one a bite at a time also.

I must tell you that the Lord is still working in my heart with my last “Losing My Sight” blogs. He never stops teaching me and growing me up in my knowledge of Him, who I am in Him, and what He has done for me. And the Holy Spirit is always there to remind me, not only of these things, but His Word planted in my heart.

I am sharing these with you to serve the same purpose as my books. As in my Final Thought in Inspire Me, “As I have been obedient to write His messages in poetry, even in the storms of my life, my hope is it will not only please Him, but inspire us to seek Him, build our faith in Him, and add to His Kingdom. He has so much more in store for us!” And in Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds, as I have shared some of my highs, lows, and transformations, I pray you will reflect on the same in your life and see the love of God who created you.

So, I continue to write…

This appreciation topic is going to begin very differently than I first thought. I thought, and maybe you also, that this was going to be another creative list of ways we can express our appreciation of others and why we should do them. You know, things like kind words, pretty cards, flowers, special acts of kindness, or thoughtful deeds toward them. Let’s not forget a poem or a book of poetry! Lol!

But I believe the Lord is helping me approach expressing appreciation from a different angle. We will get to that in the process, so please read on.

This reminds me of Valentine’s Day. I have wondered why in the world would we have just one day to try to express our love to our loved ones. How about every day? Or how about expressing Love to the world as Jesus did? Not only that, but some of us compete to see who gets the most delightful gifts. We don’t leave it there either. As we try to outdo ourselves and others, we take it to another level of craziness. We feel obligated to buy gifts for everyone we know and feel disappointed when it isn’t reciprocated. Could this be the cause of Valentine’s Day spending being expected to reach just under $26 billion US dollars in 2024? This number is mind-boggling to me! $26 billion in a failing economy? Even in a great economy, in my opinion, it is insanity in action!

I had to step back a moment from my rant to collect myself. Before I move on though, I’d like to point out, we can, me included, get caught up in those dark places where our sight is diminished and we participate in “insanity in action”. No judgment from me. Like my previous blogs about losing my sight, we can all lose our sight in different areas. With that in view (no pun intended) as I got on the rant about Valentine’s Day, I made the statement. “When we follow the world’s way, we get the world’s results”.

So, let’s look at following what God says. As in my answers from the Lord about feeling unappreciated, the cure is in His Word. God surely knows our weaknesses. Yet He knows…Psalm 103:14 “For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” And He just reminded me of my poem Dust to Diamonds in Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds. And He does bring these things to the Light to give us clarity and free us from the world’s insanity. His Word is powerful and transformation is a process. Thank You again, Lord, for the process.

 With that said, I do believe setting aside a special day for expressing our love can be a good thing. Just let the Lord guide us in the way we celebrate it or not, as the case may be. And remember when we follow the world’s way, we get the world’s results. $26 billion industry and steady growth. Wonder how many hungry mouths we could feed or missionaries we could send with that enormous amount of money? Oh goodness! Don’t get me started again!

If you are still with me, I believe now is the right time to move on to our new angle of expressing appreciation. I bet you’re glad of that! Lol!

Appreciation defined… According to Merriam-Webster, the appreciation I am referring to means a feeling or expression of admiration, approval, or gratitude. The Oxford Dictionary defines it as the recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something.

So, now the “different angle “is about to be revealed. If, by faith, we believe what God says about Who He is, who we are in Him, and what He has done for us, would we not have such an appreciation of Him that we hardly know how to express it? If we get first things first by showing our appreciation of Him, I believe an appreciation of others will naturally flow from us. A natural flow of life and light. Psalm 36:9 NKJV “For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.” Our sight is restored in His light. As we see by expressing our appreciation of Him first, this fountain of appreciation flows to others. Him first then others.

 Again, I refer to not conforming to the world’s ways but renewing our minds to what God says. Romans 12:2 NKJV “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable will of God.” I repeat, “that you may prove what is that good and acceptable will of God.”

He is always drawing us into that intimate relationship with Him where are transformed to bring Life and Light to a dark and dead world. This is that good and acceptable will of God.

With appreciation defined and us approaching our expression of appreciation of others from a different angle, Him first then others, it leads to the question, how do we express to the Lord our appreciation of all He is to us, who we are in Him, and what He has done for us?

I will let this question be the wrap-up of this blog and the clue to the “next bite”.

Before I go, did you notice in my PS that I mentioned not being well? Thank you for your prayers, I am well. Meanwhile, we got some extremely difficult news involving our family. I am continuing to believe the truth about Who God is, who we are in Him as His children, and what  He has done for us (and will continue to do through His faithfulness). I am standing on His Word. Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

 I am also reminded that I thanked Him “most of all when storms prevail,” in my book Blue Skies Butterflies and Battlegrounds, the poem with the same title pgs. 36-37. And I am reminded of the reasons why… “You grip my hand, guide me through, the very one I am desperate for. While drenching me in Your cleansing power, You’re transforming me even more!”

I am looking forward to what He has for us next and am hoping you will watch for my upcoming blog and join us. As always, I am appreciative of your comments.

Blessed peace from the Prince of Peace,

Reba

By the way, if you are not getting my email notifications, you should check your spam folder or even your social folder.

Part #3 The Answers…

Well, here I am to wrap it all up in His Word, and with the end of my poem in Inspire ME

“The Answer is Coming”

“So always remember, Our Father hears our requests.

And however, He answers is always the best!”

Now on to the Word. Thank you, Lord, for your Word. These are a few scriptures the Lord used to regain my sight and set me free from misery. I’m only sharing a few. There are plenty more. If you seek more answers from Him, He will no doubt give you all that you need personally. He is that personal with each of us because He is a personal God. He created us each individually and through the Holy Spirit He can guide us to the exact Words we each need to hear. I’m hoping these verses will get you started delving into His Word for you.

To begin, we need to look at who we serve.

Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, and not for men.” NKJV. Notice he says whatever you do. No matter how big or small. For those of us who scrub toilets or haul trash, or executives of large corporations, government officials and everything in between. Whatever you do! I believe we are off to a great start, how about you?

The next verse goes on to say who rewards us. “Because you know you’ll receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward, it is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

And in Matthew 6:3-4  Amplified Version: But when you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing (give in complete secrecy), so that your charitable acts will be done in secret; and your Father who sees (what is done) in secret will reward you.

Who values and appreciates us?

Luke 12:7 NKJV “Why even the hairs on your head are all numbered. Fear not, you are of more value than many sparrows.” God sees you and the work that you are doing for Him.”

God tells us form Genesis through Revelation how He values us. Afterall, didn’t He love us so much that He gave His only son for us? You don’t give the priceless for worthless. We have worth in Him! In my book Inspire Me, the poem “When I Feel Like a No Count” pg. 36 addresses these very things.

Who gets the glory?

Isaiah 42:8 “I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images.” NKJV God says He won’t share His glory with anyone, that includes ME. Could it be that I have tried to hog some of the glory?  We must remember He reveals things in our hearts for correction, not condemnation. I thank Him that He loves me too much to leave anything unclean in my heart in the dark. He does not do that! He washes us with His Word.

I was just reminded of another poem He gave me to solidify this message. It is also in my first book Inspire Me pg. 21 titled “Soul Digging”. And then in the poems following it, there are “Cleaning Out The Clutter” and “Dark To Light”. All to address dark places in our hearts, forgiveness, victory, and peace.

Next is:

How do I serve with the right heart?

I Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you“. We are called to give thanks in everything. It is a privilege to serve others, whether in our family, church, job, or community. When I look upward instead of inward and give thanks to God, it relieves me of my selfish self-pity. I can enjoy the privilege of serving Him with the right heart—a heart of gratitude. Also, in Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds, “Walking On My Knees” pgs. 77-78, addresses humbly coming before the Lord for our answers for everything. 

Who is keeping a record of our good deeds?

 Malachi 3:16-18 NKJV “Then they that feared the Lord spoke often one to another and the LORD listened and heard them; So, a book of remembrance was written before him for those who feared the LORD, and who meditate on His name.”

For me, realizing that the Lord has a book of remembrance for those who talk about Him and think about  Him is incredible and assuring; for those who “fear” the Lord. That is to those who hold Him with a sense of reverential awe and meditate on Him. It makes it easier to let go of hurt, sadness, and even self-pity when we remember who He is and who we are in Him.

Mark 9:41 NKJV “For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

He not only gives the reward but also keeps a record for us! What more could we need?

Summing up the way my sight was restored:

Who do I serve?

Who values and appreciates me?

Who gets the glory?

How do I serve Him with the right heart?

Who is keeping a record of my good deeds?

I am no longer losing my sight in the darkness with my feelings dragging me down. But walking in the light of His Word; in freedom with my joy, sense of purpose, and value restored.  Clarity! And to God to whom all praise is due! I am encouraging you to read “Walking on my knees” pgs. 77-78 in Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds.

I hope you have benefitted from my experience because I believe this feeling is not foreign to most of us. I am asking you to consider reading “Overcoming Roadblocks”, “Emerging”, and “Artist Rise Up” in Blue Skies, Butterflies & Battlegrounds. Sprinkled throughout these three poems are the words, “Having the power of God’s Word to shut the mouth of the deceiver”. “Coming before our Father with a grateful heart”. Another… “As I believe and receive my true identity. Walking with You is where I thrive”. And last but not least, “Overcoming the enemy’s lies and rising above Serving my purpose spreading God’s love”.

God bless you for sticking with me through these three days of transforming my mind. I pray that it has been transformational for you also. Dark to Light. I can see clearly now. How about you?

I look forward to hearing from you either in the comments on this blog page, or through email.

 My next blog could lean toward the theme of showing others our appreciation of them. Isn’t that an interesting topic following this one? I hope you join me to see if that is what the Lord has for us next.

Reba 

PS I have been writing for the past two days with the flu. Thank God for His help and your understanding if you find errors along the way. Please pray for my complete healing soon.
“The Lord Bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”  Numbers 6:24-26