Faith, Folklore, and Friends

“The more gratefully we fix our minds on the Supreme when good things come to us, the more good things we will receive, and the more rapidly they will come; and the reason simply is that the mental attitude of gratitude draws the mind into closer touch with the source from which the blessings come” . . . . Wallace D Wattles 201. The honor of seeing another sunrise in the Great Smoky Mountains 202. Seeing old friends 203. Spending time just looking at nature's offerings 204. Mountain streams 205. Hugs 206. Christmas bells tinkling 207. Christmas lights shining 208. Sisters, although I don't always know their names 209. Hot vegetable soup on a chilly day 210. Safe trips 211. Young hands raised in praise 212. The Christmas story, always new 213. Young legs dancing 214. Feet jumping for joy 215. Wrapping gifts 216. Sweet emails that encourage 217. When the doctor's report is good 218. The smell of pine 219. A warm scarf in cold wind 220. Beauty everywhere 221. Winter afternoons...

In this season of waiting, anticipation, I am reminded of the gifts I have already received..... 176. Family games around the dining table 177. Grown men yelling at a pigskin 178. Christmas dinner parties 179. Praise songs 180. Thanks from a student 181. Satellite radio 182. Christmas bears 183. Completed repairs 184. Frost sparkling like diamonds 185. Cards in the mail 186. Homemade gifts 187. Truth 188. Blackberry jelly 189. Charles Dickens 190. Quiet mornings 191. UPS truck in my driveway 192. Mistletoe 193. Flowers in winter 194. Tender hearts 195. Directions 196. Those who never give up 197. A wonderful semester finished 198. Courtesy 199. Old music that is forever new 200. Smells of Christmas You hem me in-behind and before; you have laid you hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Psalm 139:5-6

They are as old as man. Sheep have been providing food and fleece since the creation. In some parts of the world even today, livelihoods depend solely on sheep. Sheep are not the most intelligent animals. If they wander off, they cannot find their way home. Their shepherd has to leave the rest of the flock, and go searching for the lost ones. Sheep do have their fine points.... They have a tendency to move out of the dark into light. When disturbed, they tend to run uphill instead of down. They know their shepherd's face and voice. They have a natural inclination to follow their shepherd to new pastures. All sheep have a tendency to stay close to other members of the flock. They are prone to become stressed when separated from other flock members. After a lost sheep has been found, the shepherd puts them in the middle of the flock, where they are safe. Safe in the group, led by a shepherd who loves and cares for them. My sheep listen to my voice; I know th...

I am rich, immeasurably rich. Not from wise investments in the stock market. Not reflected by my bank account, although I'm thankful the bills are paid. Not in my humble home, although I'm thankful its dry and warm. Not because of my job, although I'm thankful it provides a little extra. I am rich in love of my Savior, my family, my friends. My Father holds the wealth of the world in His hands. The Word, the Truth, said "For a man's life consists not in the abundance of things he possesses." There are poor wealthy people. People who can buy a mansions and jet planes, but remain lonely, bitter, hoarding their riches because its all they have. The poorest of them all think their wealth is all they need, that their wealth will save them, and in the end have no hope of eternal life, no Divine comfort when their "fair-weather" friends can't be found. David, the great slayer of giants, wealthy king and conqueror, became poor be...

After a week of Thanksgiving celebration, these things must not be forgotten: 151. The way light can push back darkness 152. Seeing relatives again 153. New traditions 154. A house that doesn't leak 155. Expectation 156. Clouds at dawn 157. Naomi, a rock 158. Things made from the earth 159. Neighbors who take care of your dog until you find him 160. A house full of laughter 161. Stacks of dirty plates 162. Safe trips home 163. The "fancy" dining table full 164. Digging Christmas ornaments out of their boxes 165. Living in freedom in the United States 166. Living in freedom in the kingdom of God 167. Walking 168. Warm clothing 169. Wandering in the woods 170. Wisdom in unexpected places 171. Whipped cream on chocolate 172. Worship 173. Babies learning to walk 174. God can use anything for his purpose: a star, a donkey, me 175. A forty year milestone Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lo...

The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving." -H.U. Westermayer The most detailed description of the "First Thanksgiving" comes from Edward Winslow from A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, in 1621: "Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, among other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed upon our governor, and upon the captain, and others. And although it b...

No one escapes this life without some bumps (or canyons) in the road. We are assured of trouble...everyone, saved and unsaved alike. Jesus tells us "in this world you will have trouble, but be brave! I have defeated the world." (John 16:33 NCV) My sister and friend is in a battle right now. She has fought for months; surgery, treatments, chemotherapy. One would think she would look weary, defeated. She has exploited this evil, this vicious blackness, slapping Satan's face with it, upgrading it for the glory of God. She continually praises God for His healing, points others to the great Healer. She chose to stay in the background before. Now, with joy and thanksgiving, she tells multitudes about His love and power. There is something about her that cannot be explained with mere words. Always beautiful, with flawless skin and a smile that could light up a room, she's different now. She glows. She radiates the glory of God. Is it God's peace? Is it the innumerable pr...

Worship is loving, being thankful. Worship is spontaneous, voluntary. It's not a science. Worship is not something that can be taught or learned with theories and formulas. We can't train for it, we can't buy it. If worship doesn't ignite and expand in the heart, it's not worship at all, but something man-made, not God-made. The first disciples worshipped. Can you imagine what it must have been like when Jesus walked the earth? When word spread of his miracles, they ran to Jesus for help, bringing the lame, the blind,the mute, the discards of society. Jesus healed them. The crowds gasped, astounded, confused about how this was happening, but knowing God was among them. They worshiped Him. They didn't call a committee meeting to decide proper methods of worship. They didn't wait until Sunday when they had on their best clothing. They probably didn't worry that they were outdoors and in public. It really didn't matter to them that there were unbeliever...

The wonder of continued blessings.... 126. Warm air from vents 127. Advent 128. China full of coffee 129. Little acts of kindness that are so big 130. Promises kept 131. Ancient things that are still useful 131. Seeing a sister at church after a long illness 132. Having a student ask if I could teach what they're taking next semester 133. Found treasures in old boxes 134. Little girl eating pancakes 135. Teenager working earnestly on a book she is writing 136. A season to remind us to be thankful everyday 137. Leaves falling like rain 138. Finding new beauty after change 139. Honey 140. New neighbors 141. The way a tiny candle can change a whole room 142. The best department head ever 143. First-born son is such a good daddy 144. Baby boy found his soul mate 145. Debbie 146. Dreams 147. Ding-dongs 148. Determination 149. Dancing 150. Distortion, different but beautiful Since you are God's children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, and the Spirit cries out, ...

Pancakes are perfect for Saturday breakfast, especially when made by Poppy (aka Buck, the best pancake maker in the universe) and Amanda. Are you hungry yet? Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his loves endures forever . Psalm 118:1

It would have been easy for her to do nothing. At six weeks old, she caught a cold that led to inflammation in her eyes. A doctor prescribed mustard plasters for treatment. The treatment blinded her. When she was eight years old, she wrote: Oh what a happy soul I am, Although I cannot see; I am resolved that in this world Contented I will be. How many blessings I enjoy, That other people don't; To weep and sigh because I'm blind, I cannot, and I won't." She later remarked: It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me. She also once said, "when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior!" It is estimated she wrote 8000 hymns in her lifetime....

Do you have people around you that are indecisive, maybe a little "wishy-washy"? Have you sat in a restaurant with them, starving, while they tried decide what to have for lunch? Have you had to wait, knowing you were going to be late, because someone couldn't decide what they are going to wear? We all make multiple decisions everyday, some good, some not so good. Our communication with God is vital in decision making. In Isaiah 30:21, He promises that whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it'. We just need to ask. Decisions, large or small, can be life-changing; we need to ask for God's wisdom in all things. James 1:5 promises if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. God chose Joshua to lead his people, first as a servant to Moses, then marching to the Promised Land and the Battle of Jeri...

We all have those days. Days when we are overwhelmed, thinking that our work is not really going anywhere. Days when we wonder why we even bother to show up, to keep trying. Days when we fall into the enemy's trap, struggling, thinking we will just stay in bed because what we do doesn't matter anyway. Perilous thinking that needs to be renewed, readjusted, relabeled. It matters to Him. I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less. A body isn't just a single part blown up into something huge. It's all the different-but-similar parts arranged and functioning together. If Foot said, "I'm not elegant like Hand, embellished with rings; I guess I don't belong to this body," would that make it so? If Ear said, "I'm not beautiful like Eye, limpid and expressive, I don't deserve a place on the head," would you want to remove it from the body? If the body was all eye, how could it hear? If all ear, how coul...

Running over with blessings... 101. Getting out of bed 102. A new generation 103. Unexpected gifts 104. Good neighbors 105. My sister Gena who is struggling 106. Seventy degree days in mid-November 107. Laughter shared with friends 108. The sound of leaves crunching under my feet 109. The comfortable hum of electronics 110. Seeing people come into the kingdom 111. Seeing God work changing old bones into life 112. Wedding vows and promises 113. Flowers hiding from the frost 114. Being able to take notes 115. Permanent reminders 116. Craft shows 117. Anticipation 118. Blank days on the day planner 119. Sharing food 120. Secret laughter 121. Sage 122. School spirit 123. Soap 124. Scrapbooks 125. Sherlock playing on the deck Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18