3 day weekend - WASPS and Flies

Greetings dear sisters-in-Christ,

After a three day weekend my days get mixed up - I wonder why that is? Getting back to work after a 3 day weekend is really rough. It seems that just that extra day caused many people to panic - I guess? But for me that extra day to be able to do something out of the ordinary was quite wonderful and worth the price I had to pay in handling customers who were upset. Yes, just an extra 24 hours to have to yourself. And what to do. It was Memorial Day weekend and what better way to remember than to tackle the out of control foliage growth in the front area of our house. As I trimmed, rearranged and removed branches and plants it was just a matter of time until I encountered the WASPS. Yes, while trimming the palm trees of the flowering seed pods a multitude of WASPS were found. As I began to cut them down I began to PRAY, Lord protect me from their venimous sting. Lord I know that they need to survive too but please Lord protect me - I began to thank Him for His protection. (Because just a few weeks before I have been bitten by numerous baby spiders and had to take antibiotics for the infection.) All of a sudden I felt something on my legs and arm - I dreaded looking to see what they were - As I looked I saw flies - yes - there were flies not WASPS. None came near. An across the street neighbor came over and commented on where did all the flies come from. I told him God. I had prayed that the Lord would protect me and that the wasps would not sting me and the flies showed up. Is there a lesson here?

Heavenly Father, Gracious and Mighty, Glorious and Omnipotent, how Great thou art. How bountifully You supply us with Your Presence and Power. Most Holy LORD, thank You that in the asking You send Bread instead of a Stone, thank You that in the seeking we see Your Glory instead of darkness, thank you that in the knocking we hear Your Voice instead of silence. Thank you that we no longer need to fear the cold and lifeless stones of life for we are called by You "living stones(gems)", that we no longer live in total darkness for we called by You to walk in the Light and thank you that we no longer have the emptiness that silence brings but the continual communication of Your Love and Promises causing us to be able to HOPE and LOVE and be filled with JOY at all times. In Jesus Name, Amen

Until next week

Greetings dear sisters-in-Christ,

It seems that today I have writer's block - Does God ever get writer's block? Does He write down things? Did He stop once the Bible was written? I am one who keeps a journal - I have many journals for different occasions. I have favorites - and not used very often - Leather - Suede - Cardboard - Paper - Decorated with Love (from my daughter) - Store bought decorated - Colored - Plain - Some have been filled up and some still have pages remaining to be filled. I visit the filled up various journals from time to time, especially if I am looking for a specific date when something occurred.

Yesterday while writing in my morning devotion I was looking at the cover of my book and the picture on the cover inspired me to write a little poem of sorts. The picture is of a wooden swing between two sturdy tree trunks located by a river with the sun glistening on the water. Leaves on the trees and tall grass underneath the swing and on the banks of the river. Here is my poem:

Lord oh Lord
Thank you that You invite me to Rest by the Water
In the swing I plop Down
Between the trees I ponder Thee
While the leaves are singing Praises
While the Water tells of Your Love
Bathed in the beauty of sunbeams of Gold
Basking in the sounds of nature's Symphony
Lord, Abba, the time here is eternally stored
in the Treasure House of Heaven Above
Remaining I will until daylight does Fade
And into my World I must once again Go
Praise thee, Abba, for this day You have Made
My breath, my thought, my soul, my Life
Surrendered to You fully awaiting Your Call
Directing me to abide in thy Will
under the protection of thy Love

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise and Glory and Honor to thy Name, thank You most AWESOME and SOVEREIGN LORD that You give Your Word. That You fill the pages of my Life with Your amazing Grace and that is the reason why I testify to Your Goodness and Mercy and Faithfulness. May the words be uplifting and filled with grace that Your Name be magnified and glorified. Lord I pray for each dear sister-in-Christ that her life be filled with Your Words, Yes Your sweet whispers that are spoken to her and her alone drawing her into a deeper and richer and more intimate relationship where the sounds of the world have disappeared and only Your voice can be heard in the stillness of the moment. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Until next week,

102 years old vs GOD's LOVE

Greetings to my dear sisters-in-Christ,

I have shared with some of you that when we (DH and me) decided to move to Hawaii that his grandmother would come live with us and we would take care of her. She was 96 at the time. After only a few months of living together I started praying for her salvation. She was a dear sweet woman and very religious. She lived with us for 2 1/2 years and then moved to assisted living and then after a couple falls moved into a full facility (nursing home). I visit her on Wednesday afternoon and briefly on Friday night. After a couple deaths in the nursing home our conversations would always lead to her questioning her "going to heaven when she died". It was then that I started greeting her with a hug and saying to her, "I love you and Jesus loves you more." Her reactions at first was rather cold. I'm still praying for her salvation and the Lord is still wooing her big time. Okay, here comes the most exciting part, I love the working of the LORD. HE is so marvelous and glorious and magnificent. I came on a Wednesday and she had just had a conversation with a young gal who had left her religion, which was my grandmother's, to attend another church and how Jesus had changed her. My grandmother brought up the subject and God gave me the words and she bowed her head and asked Jesus into her heart and testified that she was no longer afraid of dying or being in heaven. So I ask you is anything to difficult for our GOD. No. NO. NO. Nothing. Our God is Sovereign and in Control and Knows all Things.

Abba Father, may we never tire of testifying of your Great and Glorious Love, may we never tire of lifting up words of praise unto thy NAME. LORD I pray for each dear sister-in-Christ that she remember Your Faithfulness and Love that nothing is to difficult or to old or to religious or to hardened to keep You from Entering into a Heart. Oh Lord each dear sister-in-Christ has a loved one who they have been praying for for a long time, LORD of the HARVEST come. May each dear sister-in-Christ be able to testify of Your Love and may their loved one be forever changed to reflect the image of Christ. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Until next week,


Your dear friend and sister-in-Christ,

Greetings my dear sisters-in-Christ,

One unique situation that living on an Island, or should I say living on an Island which some people refer to as "Paradise," is always having to say goodbye to friends. Since many of our friends are part-time residents (visitors) it is hard to keep the coming and going months apart. The amazing and most awesome reality is that God knows our hearts and friendships established in His Name are the treasures which we store up in heaven. While growing up I lived in such a small town, as I'm sure was the case for most of you, and became secure in knowing that so and so would always be around.

I'm realizing that taking things for granted should never be the case in relationships.

God brings friends into our lives. Friends, fellowshippers - that come along side and say a prayer or a word or give a hug. Shed a tear or share a laugh, Yes only GOD could unite us all in such a way that our struggles and our victories are shared and then in one accord lift up our Praises unto the King of kings and Lord of lords and say Hallelujah and Amen.

Heavenly Father, our Great and Mighty GOD.
Thank you for each and every dear sister-in-Christ and brother-in-Christ who you have brought into my life. Who have wept with me over situations that have caused me much distress and who have celebrated with me when the victories have been totally awesome. Thank you Lord and may I never take for granted that which which you have blessed me with. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Until next week,


Your dear friend and sister-in-Christ