Memorial Day Repeat

I hope you don't mind I am reusing last year's Memorial Day post, and I added the poem I have posted in the past as well.

What does Memorial mean? 

1 : serving to preserve remembrance : commemorative. 

2 : of or relating to memory. (Merriam-Webster.com)

Today,  in the United States, we celebrate Memorial Day...a day that was set aside to honor those who gave their lives in service to our Country.  Wreaths are placed on memorial stones, flags lowered, poems read, Taps played and gun salutes fired.
Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the military personnel who have died in the performance of their military duties while serving in the United States Armed Forces. The holiday is observed on the last Monday of May. Wikipedia

I have blogged about the day in past Coffeetime With a Dear Friend posts; Bucket Full of Grace (2020), Lord Bless (A Reminder) 2019, Lord Bless (2018, 2017)

Today, as we celebrate and honor those who have sacrificed on Memorial Day...I am going to go in another direction with the word "memorial"; "Of or relating to memory"  

As we read scripture, there are many who gave their lives in the "battle" to advance the word of Christ.  His followers, disciples, were martyred.  Stephen, Andrew, Peter and other names down through out the ages.

📖While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:59-60

Of course the One that comes to mind most prevalent is Jesus Himself.  He died so that we could have eternal life, so that our sins would be forgiven, and so the Holy Spirit could come for each one of us.  

📖  “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 

John 14:25-26

 When Christ walked the earth He was able to talk to crowds but there were limitations of what His earthly body could accomplish.  it wasn't until He gave His 

life that there were no limitation, no boundaries, (short of our refusal).  Once His death and resurrection were completed the gift of the Holy Spirit was able to happen and every individual  believer was able to have that indwelling.

We as believers can never forget what was done for us.  To memorialize what He has done we need to tell our story; what Christ has done for us, to pass on the words of Christ. MEMORIZE His word, it is another way that we can remember what He has done for us. 

Giving our lives as living sacrifices allows us to be living memorials as well.

📖 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship Romans 12:1

However there is a BIG distinction; Memorial Day we honor the dead ....and I have talked about the martyred for Christ...Christ died.. BUT He LIVES!  Because Jesus conquered death itself ...and we have the victory!  THAT is our story and what we want people to know!!

📖 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.  If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 1 Peter 4:13-16

                                                          Lord Bless 

Lord Bless the memories

of those who have given their lives in service to our country

Lord Bless the soldier

at their post, where ever that may be

Lord Bless the families

who are left behind to continue on with their lives

Lord bless the ones

who carry the scars as a reminder of their sacrifice

Lord Bless those

who have been and are prisoners to an enemy

Lord Bless the children

who hold a picture of the man they call their Daddy

Lord bless the wives

who sleep alone,

Lord Bless the parents

Lord Bless the children
who hold a picture of the man they call their Daddy
Lord bless the wives
who sleep alone,
Lord Bless the parents who wait at home  

Lord Bless them,

the men and women

who have dedicated their lives

to protecting what we know as our country,

our freedom, our home;

the United States of America

  

Tracey J. Thompson

©5/27/06

Photos by Rachel Ramsdell Photography

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Still Celebrating!

Sharing CoffeeTime with my hubby this morning

Today marks a big day!  Well...at least my husband and I think so!  Today we celebrate 35 years of marriage! 

I felt I couldn't NOT have it be a part of what I share today.

However, I remembered doing something similar sometime in the past...so I went back searching and sure enough...it was on our 30th!  There are some good truths in it ..so with a bit of adjusting I am going to recycle and rework (new words in green) and repost 

"A Marriage Celebration"  originally posted May 23, 2017

As I have been making preparations to celebrate 35 years of marriage today I began thinking about how I could impart my wisdom to you!  HA! Still no wisdom to be found....but I can share with you a few thoughts God has shown me through this journey, this institution that He created!
The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
 The man said,

“This is now bone of my bones
    and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’
    for she was taken out of man.”

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Genesis 1:18-24

35 years is worth celebrating!  But don't we celebrate each year of our anniversary...don't they even have "gifts" for each year...
1st year - paper
2nd year - cotton
...
25th - silver

30th - pearl
etc etc

I checked again and 35 is coral...interesting! (Something living,  but to give as a gift it must die?? Possibly another blog idea!)

Jesus told a parable in which heaven was like 10 virgins waiting for their bridegroom.  Matthew 25

and Jesus refered to Himself as the bridegroom when His disciples were questioning Him about who was fasting and who was not...
 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast. Mark 2:19-20

John the Baptist also referred to Jesus as the Bridegroom.
 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.”
John 3:27-30

SO He is our Bridegroom....we are to prepare ourselves for Him as we do for something as special as our wedding day. And His voice should fill us with joy!  How exciting that we BELONG to Him!

Shouldn't we celebrate that "marriage"!  That we, as believers, are the Bride and He is our Bridegroom!
Our Bridegroom has shown us what Love really is, we can Trust Him, He will never fail us! He can take care of ALL our needs.
 Isn't that worth celebrating!

One passage that God has used with me over the years is from Philippians 2
and to me it is a perfect model for a marriage relationship.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

As a husband and wife....we are made of the same flesh, we are both created in His image, but one must be willing to be humble, so that both can be raised up and God glorified!

If we can have the attitude of Christ in ALL our relationships, how much more content would this world be! 

Celebrate your marriage today.....but more than that celebrate the fact that you have a Bridegroom that loves you and has all the best for you!

IF you don't know this Bridegroom I talk about please email me ....or ask someone who has a relationship with Christ.  BEST decision you could ever make!

It is a "marriage" made in Heaven

🙏My prayer today is that you know the Bridegroom❤

The Squeaky Wheel

 In my prayer time the other day I was praying the song; "I Love You Lord

And I lift my voice to worship You Oh my soul rejoice. 

Take joy my King in what You hear, may it be a sweet sweet sound in Your ear"  as I do often...it says what my heart wants to say, it settles my spirit before my God.

As I was praying the thought comes into my mind..."I pray it is a sweet sound and not a  squeaky wheel,  you know...those wheels the furry rodent pets run in...like their mini treadmills.   Movin' movin' movin'!  Squeak, squeak, squeak. 

I have been so busy lately. .. as my Wednesday Blog can attest...

But it struck me...does God hear what I intend to say or is my running on the "wheel" too noisy?

📖 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

📖 Be still before the Lord

    and wait patiently for him;   Psalm.37:7a

I am not saying all we are doing is wrong, and that being busy goes against God and His word.

We are to work and labor, doing all things for His glory.

📖 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, Colossians 3:23

But we must make sure that when we take our time to be with Him...we make sure to step off "the wheel".

📖 But if you do not obey the Lord, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors. “Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes! 1 Samuel 12:15-16

We don't want all our busyness to drown out the worship of our Savior. To be too busy to settle our hearts and be still before Him.

📖 Come, let us bow down in worship,

let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;

for he is our God

and we are the people of his pasture,

the flock under his care. Psalm 95:6-7

AMEN!!❤

Too Funny

Beautiful flower contributions from Leah's Garden 

Sunday was a busy, beautiful Mother's Day, celebrating with family!!💗

Monday was busy and beautiful too, celebrating with family our youngest grandson's third birthday (where does the time go?!)  🥰

But I knew I was going to post the message I shared at church Sunday. ..Simple, just copy my message and paste here... just need the computer I use for church...no problem...however, I realized I left my computer at church!  

I then thought, alright I will post a link to the Sunday's service and people can watch the message and the whole service.

BUT I hadn't uploaded the video yet (our "AV GUY" wasn't able to be there"  Thank you Pat for what you do!!) 

So Tuesday I thought ...maybe I shared it some Mother's Day past...I will search my blog, and do a rerun if it was a few years ago.

First blog on the list; Mother's Plant the Seeds Of Love....even using the same title picture I used this past Sunday. The date... Mother's Day 2021!!

I have to laugh ...otherwise I would be scared...my kids quote Golden Girls Dorothy " Shady Pines Ma, Shady Pines!!"

Why is this funny to me?  

"We plan, God laughs!"

"Mann Tracht, Un Gott Lacht” is an old Yiddish adage meaning, “Man Plans, and God Laughs.” Despite our most careful planning, the Road of Life is unpredictable. We might have driving and destination strategies but scenic new vistas might beckon us or unforeseen roadblocks can deter us." (https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/our-emotional-footprint/201602/man-plans-and-god-laughs)

📖 In their hearts humans plan their course,
    but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9

📖 Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
    but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21

So.. good plans ...but here it is Wednesday and I am just posting 

Here is the link to the Sunday service:

🎬  Mother's Day at Victory Baptist Church

Here is the link to last year's blog:

☕❤Mother's Plant the Seeds Of Love

You choose which you would prefer!

I am not sure what God's plan is...

Mine, obviously, was not what was happening!

God will use this...His timing...His plan!

🙏I pray you will be blessed by it! And allow for God's plan for you today❤

At the Feet of Jesus

 There is a song rolling around in my head;

🎵 We Fall Down. By Chris Tomlin

It brings to mind Mary, of Mary and Martha fame.

📖 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”  “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10:38-42

One of the lines in the song is; "we lay are crowns at the feet of Jesus".  Tomlin has said in an interview he was inspired by Revelation 4 for the words to this song.

📖 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: 

“‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’who was, and is, and is to come.”

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

“You are worthy, our Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things and by your will they were created and have their being.” Revelation 4:8-11

Revelation is filled with John's vision of heaven

But my mind went to Mary...she laid it all down when she sat at His feet. The worry about the preparation of food and the home and the being hostess, even about being "politically correct " as women did not typically sit with the men as they were listening and being taught. 

What about us...do we fall down at His feet...do we throw our "crowns" at His feet, the many hats we wear? Employee, boss, caregiver, friend, sister, brother, child,  grandparents, parent, especially "mother" as we head towards Mother's Day.  Do we lay down all that goes with each title we hold.

Do we lay ALL that before Him...because the only way we can truly experience "the greatness of His mercy and love" is to come fall at His feet as a child of God. ..no matter what else we are in this life ...our identity must first be in Him.

🙏 I pray you fall down at His feet today....as nothing else but His child and experience His mercy and love...as you sing Holy Holy holy is the Lamb❤

Thoughts About A Donkey

That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you. Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road. Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again. Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times? ”Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now. ”The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” “No,” he said. Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown. The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it. ”Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back. ”The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials. When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory. Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?” “Well, I have come to you now,” Balaam replied. “But I can’t say whatever I please. I must speak only what God puts in my mouth. Numbers 22:20-38

Balaam chose to disobey God's direction. 

The donkey, in what would seem, typical donkey fashion was refusing to cooperate and do what the man had planned

But the donkey saw what Balaam couldn't. 

1. 

If you had a donkey I am sure you would get frustrated and angry with it at times, but if it started speaking to you...would you continue to be angry or get angrier???  I can't imagine I would...shocked, amazed,  maybe even fear, but angry...I don't think so.

2.

Balaam's anger, at that point, seemed to have taken control and even something as shocking as a talking animal didn't make him stop and think.

Angry that his plan was being interrupted, He knew that he had made a choice to leave outside of the plan that God had directed. Angry enough that he said he was about to kill the donkey in rage.

3. 

Balaam argues with the donkey!  It seems absurd, first of all not to be shocked that your donkey is talking to you, but being angry, stubborn and prideful enough to then argue with it!

I think I might have either looked around for Candid Camera, or fallen on my face and prayed to God wondering what was happening,

Sometimes don't we have a plan in mind....and we head in that direction? We stubbornly refused to move to the right or left...."This is what I want, what I planned." 

We get angry when things hinder that plan, maybe just anger with the situation, or maybe with the individuals who seem to be an interruption.

I don't want my stubbornness and pride to keep me from seeing an angel of the LORD!!

A lesson a long time ago is that God has my schedule, and my plans.

Not that I don't make lists and plans.  BUT I pray each day that I leave room for GOD. 

Now, I can get distracted completely on my own!  But there have been times when before "my list" even gets started something comes up; someone needs my help, a friend needs an ear or a shoulder, something that I know is bigger or more important than my list.

Take CoffeeTime, for example:

I planned on it being published every Monday morning, and look, today is Wednesday!

Sometimes I believe it gets published in God's timing, for whatever reason,  God can use it whenever I I get it out there, but I know that His timing is best!

Daily lists not touched because someone was in need before the first item was done,

Bible study lesson prepared for weeks before it was able to be studied, but discovering that was the exact time it was needed,

(added last) blogs being delayed so that a particular song could be shared with it!

To get frustrated and angry with the things that seem to pop up and block my way isn't productive and doesn't allow for hearing what God has.

The last statement in the passage... Balaam replied. “But I can’t say whatever I please. I must speak only what God puts in my mouth.

I believe Balaam got the message!  "I am only going to say what God tells me to!"

Today,

 I pray I don't argue with things that seem to block the plans that I have made.  I take a step back, pray and let God show me where He needs me to be, what He needs me to be doing.

As we  make plans, continually pray that God make His known and that ours are flexible enough to accommodate when God moves, and that we are humble enough to accept that God knows better than we do!

Before I finished this blog my brother-in-law shared this video with me (literally 5 minutes ago) and it just seems to flow with what is being said!  God's timing!

🎵 For Such A Time As This - Wayne Watson

🙏I pray that we are available for such a time as this❤

Nine Simple Words

He has risen.. and.. He is going before you.....

This small part of a verse spoke volumes to me the other day.

Matthew 28 (NKJV)

 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

The same account of what the angel said to the women at the tomb is also in Mark 16 (NKJV)

 7 But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”

The short section, nine words,  of the verse that jumped out at me is an amazing statement!!

Especially this Easter Monday..day after easter!

He has risen...He is alive and goes before us...anything we experience He has gone before and knows.

I know that in these verses the angel is comforting the women and wants them to do the same to the disciples..."He is alive and has gone on ahead of you...is waiting for you to come to Him."

To me, those few short words said to me/say to me...He is alive, the Savior I serve is ALIVE! He goes before me. Anything I go through He has been there already.

And that is amazing to me, a comfort, it is encouraging!

🙏I pray you find it the same!❤

He not only goes before....He also is with us...that is how our amazing God works!

🎵 Whom Shall I Fear Chris Tomlin