Reach Out And Touch

Most of us remember the line from a phone company commercial of several years ago..."Reach out and touch someone". They probably didn't realize how important that line really is...


Several years ago I received a gift. My husband brought it back from one of his speaking trips. It has always been our laugh that I'M the one who usually gets a gift for HIS preaching! Well, that hasn't happened in a long time so...I guess those lovely days are over.

Anyway, what was I writing about? Oh yes, a gift. My gift on this occasion was one of those lovely touch-lamps. You know the kind, right? You touch it once to turn on the light...

touch it a second time to make the light brighter...

                                   ...and a third time to make it even brighter!

It was only a year or so ago that I realized only the touch of human skin would make the light come on. I tried to turn it on when I had gloves on and it just wouldn't work. So I got curious and touched it with a warm cloth and it still wouldn't work! Only the touch of my skin would do the trick.


I don't think I need to explain much here to tell you the beautiful illustration this brought to me: the importance of the human touch. It is an amazing thing. The love and affection, importance, respect and "you're worth something" message it transmits is not something we should take lightly...whether we're giving or receiving this beautiful gift. A hug, a handclasp, a pat on the back...these and many more are message-bearers to those around us that we care about them.


"Reach out and touch someone" is not just a classic commercial line for a phone company, it should be one of our daily goals!


"And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid."
  (Matthew 17:7)
"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another."
  (Romans 12:1)

Pass The Bread, Please

Saturday. This is my day to make bread.            The most-eaten food in all the world is bread. Statistics show that rice, wheat and corn are the three grains most eaten by humans. Bread is made from those grains...which proves my first statement, don't you think?Wheat has the highest amount of vegetable protein of any grain-except for amaranth, which I'd never heard of. You find out interesting facts when you research!

Bread is my favorite food. That does not come as a surprise to those who know me. But, sadly, I have to limit my consumption of bread for it is also, um, well you know what bread does. It makes one gain weight pretty quickly and easily! When I was 13 I helped in the school cafeteria that year we lived in Tennessee. They let the workers eat the leftover, huge, yummy, southern biscuits. Ohhhh...! I grew to weigh...well, let's just say, more than I should have for a young teen girl. In fact, I didn't weigh that much again until my first pregnancy!

I can't have all this talk about bread without showing a couple pictures of Brazilian breads. The one on the left is pão francês (french bread) and the other is pão de queijo (cheese bread). The hot, fresh version of these just can't be beat and are the ultimate in bread temptations!

I make homemade bread at least once a week because it's cheaper, because it tastes better and because it has healthier ingredients than what I would buy in the grocery stores. You'd think I would own a bread machine but I've never really wanted one for the simple fact that I know I would eat too much bread. If I ever get arthritis in my hands...well, I would then consent to having one given to me for Mother's Day. *smile*

 

     Let's get a closer look at those rolls...I mean, just look at those pieces of goodness coming through! 

Knowing how basic and important bread is to people around the world, it's no wonder that Jesus referred to Himself as the Bread of Life!

"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life:

he that comes to Me shall never hunger;

and he that believes on Me shall never thirst."

(John 6:35)

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Music For A Monday Morning

I don't know much about this singer but I came across this song today. It was a lovely little pink rose to begin my day!

Motherhood

What is it about mothers? The person that she becomes at the birth of her first child, the emotions that well up within her at the sight, thought or mention of her children, the satisfaction she has when she has "finished" her work of rearing her children...nothing compares to this, no one else experiences this, nowhere will you find its equal.

For sure, fathers have their own thoughts and feelings as they consider their offspring. But they are obviously different for they have a different relationship as well as different responsibilities in regards to their children. I don't know...I'm just expressing my thoughts here. I'm trying to figure out the grandeur of being a mother, why Mother's Day is SO celebrated or why there is this mysterious bond between a mother and her child.

The photo above is of my mother-as a baby and as a great-grandmother. I'm sure that baby never dreamed that one day she would have so many offspring, people that would bring multiplied blessings to her!

Of all the things that I have done in life, none have given me such great joy and satisfaction and completeness as that of being a mother. Thank You, Lord, for giving me my mother and for making me a mother. There are no words to adequately express my gratitude. I'm thankful that You know my heart.

"Honor thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." (Exodus 20:12)

Resurrection Morn

Christ's birth, life, death, burial and resurrection (THE Gospel!) has been more outstanding in my heart and mind this year, for some reason. What assurance and joy it brings to those of us who truly know Him as our Savior and Friend! There are no "ifs", "buts" and "maybes" in our faith (or religion as some of you might call it). That's because we base our beliefs on God's Word, the Bible. Why add to or take from the Truth? Why believe the words of man or tradition or your own untrustworthy feelings and opinions? Personally, I much prefer the Words of the One True God. Period!

Come, my reader, join me in latching onto His Words, embracing His love, believing in His Son and claiming His promises! Let us rejoice more than ever before on this day, this wonderful Resurrection Day of celebrating Life from God!

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he who believes in Me will live even if he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.

Do you believe this?"

(John 11:25-26 - NAS)

Jesus Died For You

                                     

He died for you. Oh, praise His Name!

He died for you, His love proclaim.

He died to save your soul from sin,

He died that you a Heaven might win.

                                                                    

He died for you, His name adore,

Go tell His love from shore to shore.

Proclaim the message that He gave;

Go tell the world that He can save.

(photo above: internet)

He died for you, lift up your voice!

Make every nation to rejoice;

For many souls have never known

A Savior they can call their own.

He died for you; He is your friend.

And He will keep you to the end.

There is no other Name so sweet;

Oh, come, and worship at His feet.

He died for you; He bore the pain,

That you might always with Him reign.

Each day believe; oh, trust Him more!

Soon you'll meet Him on Heaven's shore.

-© Hilda O. McMillan

 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in Him

should not perish but have everlasting life."

(John 3:16)



Scenes In A Country Garden

God gives us His creations to make our own creations.

Scenes like these make me smile for the beauty in them!

I can hear this tree stump talking, can't you?

                                     Was there ever a prettier cabbage patch?

Flowers like this would make ANY ol' gray picket fence beautiful!

                        Stark beauty which needs nothing else. But it doesn't stand alone...

It has friends nearby!

"...whatsoever things are lovely, think on these things."

(Philippians 4: 8)

The Excellence Of The Devoted Life

I love to read biographies. Not only do I simply find PEOPLE interesting but I can learn so much from their lives! I just finished a biography about the life of Robert Jaffray, a missionary to China of several decades ago.  The author of this book is one of my favorites. He writes in a way that flows smoothly, looks at things from a different angle and holds the reader's attention. Here is an excerpt from this book:

"The life of a consecrated man is never his own. To sit back in selfish composure and plan his future is never given to him once he has made the great committal. He is at the call of Another, and at any time he may receive orders to pick up and move on. This is one of the penalties he must pay for the high privilege of serving God, and if seen from a low point of view it looks like a hard and unsatisfatory way to live.
But the truest appraisal of a way of life is always made from the end of our days. Who that has placed himself at the disposal of God and the human race has ever been sorry at the end of his life that he did so? Not one, and that is the best argument for the excellence of the devoted life."

(A. W. Tozer-"Let My People Go")

"What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

(I Corinthians 6: 19, 20)

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

I have heard this expression of "here today, gone tomorrow" more than once recently. Friends or family members of friends pass away.  Tragedies around the world suddenly and unexpectedly snatch people away from their loved ones. These things leave us shaking our heads as we attempt to cope with such sadness...either for ourselves or for our fellow human beings.  It really does seem like "here today, gone tomorrow" sums up most of human life, does it not? One never knows when they are going to breathe their final breath!

So how is this a blessing? you may be asking. Can death be a blessing, a gift from God? Ah, my friend, it all depends on whether one is personally acquainted with Him, the One who gives life and determines when each life shall end. If we have believed in God's Son, Jesus Christ, and have placed our lives into His care for safe-keeping then, yes, death is a gift from Him! For then we will be absent from this sad and sinful world and present with Him in the glorious home He has prepared for us in heaven. Is not this a blessing?!

"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
(I Corinthians 15: 55-57)

Look Around

                                                   Look around and thou shalt see

Many beauties meant for thee.

Thy Creator shows His power

                                 

                                                                       ...in every

                                                                      ...single

...little

...flower.

"O Lord, how manifold are Thy works! in wisdom hast Thou made them all: the earth is full of Thy riches." (Psalm 104:24)

My Faith Has Found A Resting Place

My faith has found a resting place,

Not in device nor creed;

I trust the Ever-living One,

His wounds for me shall plead.

I need no other argument,

I need no other plea;

It is enough that Jesus died,

And that He died for me.

Enough for me that Jesus saves,

This ends my fear and doubt;

A sinful soul I come to Him,

He'll never cast me out.

                                                                                                                                                                       

My heart is leaning on the Word,

The written Word of God,

Salvation by my Savior's name,

Salvation through His blood.

My great Physician heals the sick,

The lost He came to save;

For me His precious blood He shed,

For me His life He gave.

                          -Eliza Hewitt

      

                        

"For we which have believed do enter into rest." (Hebrews 4:3)

(As I finished writing this post, this very song began to play on my online radio, Abiding Radio. Talk about emotion! I believe the Lord was giving not only His approval but also reinforcing the truth of His Word in which I have rested my faith.)

Extra Special Blessings

The Lord delights in sending us sudden, unexpected blessings into our lives, perhaps for no other reason than that He loves us and wants us to enjoy the life that He has given to us.

Yesterday we were riding out into the country and suddenly came across some patches of pink flowers, perhaps some sort of day lily, a bit unlike the surrounding vegetation. We could NOT resist stopping to take some pictures! 

  

A closer look...Beautiful, no?

  

"Delight thyself also in the Lord and He shall give thee 

the desires of thine heart."

(Psalm 37:5)

Perfect!

It was beautiful today...

blue sky, clear air, sunshine,

and a perfect temperature of 72.

It just has that look and feel of Fall coming around the corner,

which it certainly is, in just four more days!

I might be a tad prejudiced,

but some of my plants are perfect, too.

Like this one in a hanging basket...

Look at the little purple flowers at the end of some of the vines

(click on the photo if you're past 40, ha).

"Perfeito!" 
Do you want to see another

perfect little hanging basket?

I know you do...

Well, not everything in my world is perfect.

There are certain burdens, problems and challenges around me.

And, for sure, there are many people in distant

and not so distant places that would not consider

their lives to be perfect right now in any sense of the word.

But one day the world of those who believe,

  love and obey Him will be completely perfect,

 for we will be with the One who is perfection Himself.

He has prepared a perfect place for us

and I am perfectly sure that it will one day be my heavenly home.

"But the path of the just is as the shining light,

that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."

(Proverbs 4:18)

"He is the Rock, His work is perfect..."

(Deuteronomy 32:3)

A Prayer For Japan

In light of the current tragedy of the earthquake and tsunami which hit Japan, I would like to share this touching and powerful prayer by John Piper that I read today...                                                                                                                     

 A Prayer For Japan

Father in heaven, you are the absolute Sovereign over the shaking of the earth, the rising of the sea, and the raging of the waves. We tremble at your power and bow before your unsearchable judgments and inscrutable ways. We cover our faces and kiss your omnipotent hand. We fall helpless to the floor in prayer and feel how fragile the very ground is beneath our knees.

O God, we humble ourselves under your holy majesty and repent. In a moment—in the twinkling of an eye—we too could be swept away. We are not more deserving of firm ground than our fellowmen in Japan. We too are flesh. We have bodies and homes and cars and family and precious places. We know that if we were treated according to our sins, who could stand? All of it would be gone in a moment. So in this dark hour we turn against our sins, not against you.

And we cry for mercy for Japan. Mercy, Father. Not for what they or we deserve. But mercy.

Have you not encouraged us in this? Have we not heard a hundred times in your Word the riches of your kindness, forbearance, and patience? Do you not a thousand times withhold your judgments, leading your rebellious world toward repentance? Yes, Lord. For your ways are not our ways, and your thoughts are not our thoughts.

Grant, O God, that the wicked will forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Grant us, your sinful creatures, to return to you, that you may have compassion. For surely you will abundantly pardon. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus, your beloved Son, will be saved.

May every heart-breaking loss—millions upon millions of losses—be healed by the wounded hands of the risen Christ. You are not unacquainted with your creatures' pain. You did not spare your own Son, but gave him up for us all.

In Jesus you tasted loss. In Jesus you shared the overwhelming flood of our sorrows and suffering. In Jesus you are a sympathetic Priest in the midst of our pain.

Deal tenderly now, Father, with this fragile people. Woo them. Win them. Save them.

And may the floods they so much dread make blessings break upon their head.

O let them not judge you with feeble sense, but trust you for your grace. And so behind this providence, soon find a smiling face.

In Jesus’ merciful name, Amen.

(John Piper)

Flower In A Vase

I love to stare at this picture

and laugh at the way the water magnified my fingers.

Do you like my little flower vase? I do.

I found it in the trash...

one of those not-needed things

 my husband was throwing away.

*smile*

Observing The Weather

To give you a break from flowers...

Some of you know that I like to observe the weather. Nothing compared to how a certain brother of mine is, I'll have you know, but the temperature, precipitation, clouds, wind, storms...wow, what a fantastic demonstration of God's creative power!

My Dad used to go outside during storms and just admire the wind and lightning and rain...and we were right there by his side, learning to do the same. Only many years later did I discover that my mother had a certain fear of storms but she somehow managed to hide that fact from us. She said she didn't want us to develop that fear, too. What a wonderful Mom!

For those of you who also enjoy weather, here is a little "thingie" that shows our current weather as well as the forecast for the next few days...for what it's worth.

Curitiba, Brazil Weather Forecast

"Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did He

 in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.

He causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth;

He maketh lightnings for the rain;

He bringeth the wind out of His treasuries."

(Psalm 135: 6,7)

Growth

I love taking pictures that show growth. Remember my post about my white, orange and red roses? I was kept busy for several days, taking picture after picture of these beauties. I think my husband raised his eyebrows a tad at how much of my time was consumed with SO many photo shoots and working with photos on the computer. Oh well. But instead of posting several, I made this one collage of the three roses.
(Don't forget that you can click on the picture to enlarge it.)

If these were running for beauty queen I would never be able to decide which one should win! Each one is beautiful for its own reasons.

Growth is important for all living things. Physical and spiritual growth is important in the young AND the old. Growth is a sign of life! I can not think of growth without remembering a verse that I memorized as a child:

"But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen." (II Peter 3:18)