Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Wah-Wahtusi, Shoo-bop Shoo-bop! kids devotional
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Galatians 5:22 NLT
I have never been a good dancer, even in the 60s when I was a teenager my two left feet were the problem, but I still loved it. The Twist made popular by Chubby Checker, the Mashed Potato, Wah-Watusi, The Monster Mash, and the Stroll were popular at the Sock Hops that were the rage back then. Most of us would learn our dance moves from American Bandstand a daily program on TV that featured many bands singing new tunes. There in front of the black and white television, we would practice as we watched our favorite couples dance.
Do you know they danced back in the Bible times? The scriptures speak of this several times when describing a joyous time of celebration.
In Zephaniah, we find that the Lord God delights in us with gladness and rejoices over us. In the time of Zephaniah, when people rejoiced, dancing was always a part of it. So, the Lord actually dances as he thinks of you and me even now. Shouldn't we all feel joyful that our Mighty Savior loves us so much?.
For the Lord, your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”
Zephaniah 3:17 NLT
In Psalms, we are told to praise his name with dancing.
Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp.
Psalms 149:3 NLT
Do you show joy, one of the Fruits of the Spirit, when you think about God? Do you feel good when you sing and praise God? Do you ever feel like dancing?
Show joy as you live your life knowing that God sings and dances over you.
I think I might have sprained my back just writing about the Wah-Wahtusi, Shoo-bop, Shoo-bop!
Friday, July 24, 2020
Hankies and Hollerin’
I know that I am aging myself, but I am glad I was around when worship services were laced with hankies and hollerin’. Saints of old felt free to speak out as the Spirit lead them. Not that I am suggesting that for nowadays, but for me that was a rich time in our church’s history. Now some may even be wondering what in the world “hankies and hollerin’” has to do with worship, maybe you haven’t been in a service where the ladies waved their hankies and the blessed hollered praises to God sometimes interrupting the service. More often than not the Holy Spirit took over in those services where there was no need for preaching. I’ll have to admit there were times when I hoped the hollerers would be quiet when I had an unsuspecting visitor with me, knowing that some might be taken back. I have seen many jump out of their skin with the wind up of sisters and brothers praising the Lord. I remember the first time that Larry my new groom attended such a service. I was afraid he might have been put off by the preacher raising his voice to make a point but he found it to be more meaningful with the show of emotion as well as the freedom in worship. The older I got the more I appreciated these saints that expressed their worship in these lovely outbursts. I’m sure in churches today such freedom would not be tolerated and maybe rightfully so in some cases but my life is richer for having experienced the beautiful display of hankies and hollerin’! I’m a definite throwback from this era minus the hankies and hollerin’. I still like to raise my hand when I am blessed by the Lord and on occasion stand and share a testimony of what the Lord has done for me. Holy Spirit come to us as we worship however pleases you.
Thursday, July 23, 2020
The Dwelling Place
Dwell! Despair! These two words have been stirring in me for weeks. Through my studies, I had decided to choose the word “dwell” for my focus word in the days to come and have researched the word I would hold up as a guide for my life in the coming year. I love to dig for “hidden treasures” in the bible and I found plenty. Not only did I find verses with the word dwell in them I found a boundless number of verses that indicated a dwelling place in His love, His care, and His presence.
Dwell, according to the dictionary means to live in or at a specified place. I loved the synonyms for it which included abide, lodge, stay, hangout, or hang one’s hat on.
The definition gave me food for thought as I meandered over these meanings to my “focus word”. The first word I looked at was “abide” which was many times interchangeable with dwell in scripture. Reside, live and lodge fit the bill also when it came to dwelling in Christ Jesus for my well being and hope. I was particularly amused by hanging out and hanging my hat on the things of God.
While praying, I now often use the word dwell, as in, “Help me to dwell in your wisdom today, Lord”. “Take away the fear, I sometimes feel, help me to dwell in the shelter of the Most High.”
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 90:1
My heart was gloriously gladdened by the many verses that included “My Word”!
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
Psalms 84:1 NLT
Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.
Psalms 90:1 NIV
But then came another word into my mind and heart that caught me off guard. The word is “despair” or hopelessness. As I find myself looking at the world around me, I am amazed at the evil that besets us. Where once there was respect there is none, where there was beauty it is being destroyed and where there were signs of God, those signs have been torn down by the face of Satan. As I lamented and pined over the deterioration of my country the feeling of despair invaded my heart and very soul. I found myself no longer “hanging my hat” on His love, My dwelling place was in despair. How could this be? How could the enemy transform my thinking so drastically? As I ponder this dilemma, the Lord reminds me of who I am, not who the enemy says I am. The Creator says I am the daughter of the King! As I cry out to Him He reminds me that He is my dwelling place and I am to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and seek Him in the temple. Psalm 27:4, Psalm 84:1-2 reminds me that my dwelling place is lovely. My soul yearns even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh cry out for the living God.
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
Psalms 63:1 NIV
I still seek earnestly the Living Water even in this parched land. I will dwell in the refuge of His faithfulness!
DWELL is still a great word for this season of my life, I must be careful where my heart dwells in these trying times.
Saturday, July 18, 2020
Life Is Worth The Living
It’s comical what people say when you have a big family. Inevitably when I was pregnant someone would say, “You do know what causes that, don’t you” or “is this your last one?’ or the one that sticks out the most, is a person who told us it was wrong to bring kids into this crazy world. Unfortunately at that time, God was being taken out of schools, drug abuse was rampant and racial tensions were escalating. In those years, a gospel song came out written by Bill and Gloria Gaither entitled, “Because He Lives”. Gloria Gaither, having just given birth to her third child, testified that her heart was troubled for her newborn and the world that he came into. According to her recounting this period in her life, she said peace came into her heart one evening as she pondered the times, and replaced the fear as the God-given phrase came to her mind “because I live you can face tomorrow”. From this encounter with God, came the song. Peace replaces turmoil and fear as this song penetrates the hearts of believers all over the world. Because He lives I can face tomorrow.
After getting a full dose of the daily depravity of this world on social media, seemingly even worse than in the past, I came across this song once again. The words rang true in my soul, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow because He lives all fear is gone. Just as the promise of God’s love and care found in this hymn of the church encouraged us back then raising our family, now in our “golden years” His truths are still giving us hope as we watch these unsure days unfold.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
Psalms 23:4 NLT
The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?
Psalms 27:1 NLT
Friday, July 17, 2020
Cinderella?
Jeanie, Jeanie! I heard the voice across the supermarket but didn’t recognize it until she came closer. As I was dreading, the first thing she said to me was, “I didn’t recognize you” which made me wonder how she knew my name. Knowing this person, I knew this was code for, you have aged and not well or maybe it was a slightly disguised effort to denote the weight that I had picked up. No, no Jeanie, she didn’t…..! Oh, yes, she did! This woman has a reputation for spewing poison in the form of veiled kindness. I had fallen victim more than once. Why do some people feel a need to insult someone, even if it is backhanded and cloaked in sweetness? But wait, you see the insulting continued when the “wicked stepsister #2” came up to let me know she didn’t recognize me until she saw me from behind! What the heck does that even mean anyhow?
As I pondered this scene right from Cinderella, me being Cinderella, in this brief encounter I have to confess I didn’t hold much love in my heart. There was a lot of “how dare shes” and “who does she think she is” was a common theme in this oneway conversation. Then I was reminded, not by my fairy godmother but my Heavenly Father of an apology I had to make to a dear friend for something I said but I sincerely did not mean it the way it sounded. Ever been there? This dear one could have rejected my apology but in her grace-filled heart, she not only forgave me but told me she knew my heart was pure and would never hurt her intentionally. One of the greatest compliments I have ever received. Why had I not shown that kind of grace toward the women who had offended me? Today I went to the ball, clothed in God’s love and grateful for my sweet friend. The “wicked stepsisters” are forgiven even if they don’t know it. They will when the prince finds whose foot fits the glass slipper. I’m trying to visualize a size 9 in glass!
“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.”
Colossians 3:13-14 NLT
Thursday, July 16, 2020
Warrior Ethos
In the early 1970s my younger brother, Jonny was drafted into the Army for two years of service in the Armed Forces of our great country. At that time our country was fighting the Viet Nam War and in those days the draft was in effect which means that when a young man turned 18 years of age they were called up to join the military to fight for the United States. For those two years, they were the “property” of the US Army.
That was made clear in a story that my brother recently told me about the day Jonny was leaving for Viet Nam. Wanting to send him off in style, several friends along with my brothers went with him to the airport. As they said their goodbyes with many stories of their past antics and plenty of joking around they noticed a plane taxiing down the runway. Inquiring at the desk, what plane that was they found that all the farewell fanfare had caused time to get away from them and that indeed was my brother’s plane that had just left. The agent got on the phone while my brother waited anxiously. To everyone’s surprise, the great silver plane turned around just short of the end of the runway and came back to get my bewildered brother. He belonged to something bigger than himself. They had prepared a place for him so they returned to get him that he would not be left behind.
In these times of turmoil and heightened awareness of sin in this world, much has been said in Christian circles of the returning of Christ to take His children home. Experts have been watching the signs of the times for centuries and things according to some means the time is short for His return to gather His own.
Matthew 24:42 says, “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.”
In many ways, I long for His return but my heart breaks for those who aren’t ready. Those according to the bible will be left behind because they did not choose Jesus as Savior. The Army has a basic rule called Warrior Ethos which means they will not leave a fallen comrade behind to be taken by the enemy. In this busy world, I pray I do not fail to tell everyone about the returning Savior and what they must do to be saved. The day before Jonny died, I prayed with him and with trembling lips, he asked Jesus into his heart. I don’t know if he flew off to heaven in a chariot or perhaps a big silver airplane but I am sure he did not miss his flight.
Warrior Ethos!
Tuesday, July 14, 2020
A Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
I had a bad day today, a horrible, no good, very bad day! I can’t really say why but there it was practically the very moment I woke up today. Did you ever have a day like that? I listened to the drone of an expert spewing his “wisdom” about these times on my husband’s phone, only to have another one pop up on the computer with yet another view to sell. I am weary of this sinful crazy world.
All things are wearisome, more than one can say. Ecclesiastes 1:8
I was brought to an unusual book in the bible today because of something that keeps going around in my head. As I, like many others, have found themselves in a world of monotony during this time of first quarantine and now chaos and turmoil. I have recited the words found throughout this book, “Vanities of vanities, nothing new under the sun” or another verse says, meaningless, meaningless, utterly meaningless! The book is Ecclesiastes and it is said to have been written by Solomon, son of David. Some experts seem to think that Solomon was having somewhat of a midlife crisis. With limitless resources, Solomon had done everything he ever wanted to do, according to this ancient reading. He had pursued every interest that could entertain his mind good and bad but now he was saying it was all in vain or meaningless was his words.
My thoughts were focused more on the “nothing new under the sun” portion of scripture. I have found myself marking off weeks by when the garbage man comes every week which is on Tuesday, I figure out which day it is from the bold letters on my pillbox. I wash the dishes, only to find more dirty dishes. I launder our clothes only to find a hamper filled with dirty clothes. Look at what Solomon says about this in the first chapter of Ecclesiastes.
The sun rises and the sunsets, and hurries back to where it rises.
The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course.
All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full.
To the place the streams come from, there they return again.
All things are wearisome, more than one can say.
The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing.
What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 1:5-9 NIV
Sounds frustrating and monotonist doesn’t it? As I read through this book I just kept reading and hoping for a more positive ending. It was like staying up late to see if a bad movie would, in the end, turn out good?
For the most part, the words were sour and wearisome in themselves. I searched and searched for a happy ending and finally found in the last chapter of the book of little hope the wisest thing the son of David ever said;
Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 NLT
Somewhat anti-climatic but none the less true. We are all guilty of seeking things that give us pleasure in this life but what will count is our obedience to God and his plans. I found myself wondering why such a book would be in the bible, yet I couldn’t miss the parts that I could see myself in. Those things, those very human things that pop up if we don’t obey God and keep our ears and heart open to the Holy Spirit.
Now off to some happier scripture, Psalms perhaps, that can lift my heart on this horrible, no good, very bad day!
Saturday, July 11, 2020
Come And Dine
Come and Dine
With our renewed interest in our bird feeding this year, we have kept a close eye on our efforts. We have fed all kinds of birds this season, Baltimore oriole, Indigo bunting , and for a few days a dazzling rose-breasted grosbeak. Goldfinches have visited along with the garden variety of sparrows , house finches and our tiny hummingbird. There is one that we particularly try to entice to our feeders, the beautiful cardinal , but they don’t seem all that interested in our fancy food or feeders. They land in the trees near our variable buffet of goodies but will only partake on what is left on the ground. They pick through the shells that are already opened or grab an occasional loose seed that has been dropped during the voracious eating of our other feathered friends. As I sat watching the bird feeders this morning, I thought of this common yet beautiful bird dining on scraps instead of the feast before him. But then, I see myself doing the same thing. In my studying of the bible, I sometimes skim over the very real and promising words found there but soak up the scraps and ramblings that declare doom and gloom to our country and world. I rummage through the leftovers of the satan driven media only to chew on worry and dread as the world appears overrun by evil. My heart, as the bible says, is troubled and even my joy hangs in the balance. So what is there to do in this troubled world? I say as I would say to the beautiful cardinal, LOOK UP! Look up to God’s words of encouragement in what seems like a famine. There is a veritable feast of hope found there. We do not have to forage through leftovers but can dine on the “God Breathed” words found between the covers of the bible. But come hungry! There is a feast awaiting us if we come ready to be filled!
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.
John 14:1 NLT
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
John 14:27 NLT
But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
Isaiah 43:1-2 NLT
Sometimes the buffets at restaurants are not good for me because I tend to eat too much but the rich layout of morsels right from God’s own mouth is what we should be feasting on in these frightening times. May the God of hope fill you with hope this day as you sit with Him and dine!
You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Psalms 23:5-6 NLT
With our renewed interest in our bird feeding this year, we have kept a close eye on our efforts. We have fed all kinds of birds this season, Baltimore oriole, Indigo bunting , and for a few days a dazzling rose-breasted grosbeak. Goldfinches have visited along with the garden variety of sparrows , house finches and our tiny hummingbird. There is one that we particularly try to entice to our feeders, the beautiful cardinal , but they don’t seem all that interested in our fancy food or feeders. They land in the trees near our variable buffet of goodies but will only partake on what is left on the ground. They pick through the shells that are already opened or grab an occasional loose seed that has been dropped during the voracious eating of our other feathered friends. As I sat watching the bird feeders this morning, I thought of this common yet beautiful bird dining on scraps instead of the feast before him. But then, I see myself doing the same thing. In my studying of the bible, I sometimes skim over the very real and promising words found there but soak up the scraps and ramblings that declare doom and gloom to our country and world. I rummage through the leftovers of the satan driven media only to chew on worry and dread as the world appears overrun by evil. My heart, as the bible says, is troubled and even my joy hangs in the balance. So what is there to do in this troubled world? I say as I would say to the beautiful cardinal, LOOK UP! Look up to God’s words of encouragement in what seems like a famine. There is a veritable feast of hope found there. We do not have to forage through leftovers but can dine on the “God Breathed” words found between the covers of the bible. But come hungry! There is a feast awaiting us if we come ready to be filled!
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.
John 14:1 NLT
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
John 14:27 NLT
But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
Isaiah 43:1-2 NLT
Sometimes the buffets at restaurants are not good for me because I tend to eat too much but the rich layout of morsels right from God’s own mouth is what we should be feasting on in these frightening times. May the God of hope fill you with hope this day as you sit with Him and dine!
You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Psalms 23:5-6 NLT
Thursday, July 9, 2020
GOD WINS
Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Take a census of all the people of Israel—from Beersheba in the south to Dan in the north—and bring me a report so I may know how many there are.”
1 Chronicles 21:1-2 NLT
So what’s wrong with taking a census? Don’t we need to know what’s going on in our world? In 1 Chronicles 21, David called for a census of his people to determine his military might which doesn’t sound that out of order. The verse starts out by saying that Satan rose up to cause David to call for a census, so what was David’s motivation? If Satan has anything to do with it, it must be evil. Was it pride that caused David to act on Satan’s suggestion? Would it be bragging rights that he wanted or was it a lack of trust in God’s ability to keep Israel victorious? Either way, David moved quickly into the sin that the deceiver so convincingly presented to him.
As I scroll in social media or read headlines in the news, I see the war that wages there. It is war between good and evil many times. My heart rate increases and my blood pressure rises as I see freedoms that I have taken for granted being threatened, so I take a “census”. I look to politicians to solve the problems that plague this country instead of the One True God! I look to commentators and pundits for the truth when God himself is the only one who gives us the living water. When I flip to the last page of the bible, I find that God wins in the end so why am I so fearful? I love the last verses of Revelation that talk of Jesus coming again.
He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. Revelation 22:20-21
GOD WINS, NO CENSUS REQUIRED!
Tuesday, July 7, 2020
Eyes Of A Child
Genius! PURE GENIUS! I was impressed with our almost nine years old, grandson Kellan. He constantly writes “books”, hundreds of books. Some about superheroes, some about his cars, and some about movies he has watched. A few days ago he showed me a book that displayed his handiwork of cars that he had designed. He had not only drawn pictures of the back, front, and top of these cars but they were complete with stats on his drawings. I was amazed at his creative genius.
I loved seeing all these words and pictures that flowed from his creative mind but I was blessed by him and my granddaughter, Evie’s handwritten devotional writing. For the last couple of weeks, at different times I read my devotions to our four youngest grandkids I loved seeing their tender hearts toward God. There is something to be said of a “captive audience”. They loved the ones I wrote about them and they have given me much to write about. After reading one of my “stories”, Kellan and Evie asked me how to write a story about God. I gave them tips like, always start out with an interesting or compelling first sentence so the readers get a taste of what’s to come. I told them to think of a subject or occasion to write about and then find scripture to match the thought or in some cases, the other way around. God talks to me in many ways as I put together my writings. After a brief lesson, they both decided to write about their pets, Croghan a beautiful Persian cat, and Lola a sweet designer dog. Evie’s story that featured her dog Lola was about how she takes care of Lola and because of this care, how the sweet dog responds to her. As we thought of this we came up with a scripture about how God in his love takes care of her. We chose Matthew 6:30.
It is God that gives beautiful clothes even to the grass. One day the grass is growing in the field, but the next day people will cut it and burn it. God will certainly take care of you, much more than he takes care of the grass. You should trust him more than you do!
Matthew 6:30 EASY
Kellan’s devotion speaks of his beautiful cat Croghan who comforts him when he is sad or lonely. I was proud of some flowery words he threw in to describe the purring cat that climbs up beside him when he needs him. We picked out the familiar 23rd Psalm for his piece that spoke glowingly of his sweet cat. He liked verse 4 of the inspirational Psalm.
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
Psalms 23:4 NLT
Did you notice the two words in these verses, comfort, and care? Two words that ring true in all of our lives whether an adult or a child. What a blessing that even a child recognizes and yearns for these things and finds them in the Lord’s word. I pray that they are always drawn to Him for very real needs they may face in life as they live in a sometimes scary world.
As they grow into adults, my prayer is that they remember His words of comfort and care and maybe even remember the shared tips from their old grandma as they wrote their first devotional.
Saturday, July 4, 2020
You Bet Your Purdy Neck I Do
Kids wanted me to write devotional about them, here it is.
You Bet Your Purdy Neck I Do!
We have been blessed in the last weeks to spend a lot of time with our four youngest grandchildren in New York The song of these weeks for my husband, who many times sets the tune for our day even at home, was an old song that came out in 1950, “Bushel and a Peck” and was performed by such singers as Betty Hutton, Doris Day and the Andrew Sisters, which to many readers will not be recognized. For most of the week, we sang this lively tune to our grandkids as we hugged and kissed them. Unfortunately, we only knew the first lines of the song until out of curiosity I looked up the lyrics, thank you Google.
I love you a bushel and a peck
A bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck
The first line worked just fine since we wanted to convey, in a whimsical and silly, way our deep love for them. The dictionary states that this term usually emphasizes how much someone loves another. That’s certainly true for these old grandparents and has been since the first grandchild came into our hearts and lives. The song goes on to use other idioms like, “a barrel and a heap” and my favorite line, “You bet your purdy neck I do”! A doodle oodie ooh doo doo!
The Bible tells us in so many ways how much our Heavenly Father loves us. I have yet to see one “Doodle Do” in scripture but I do find that God loves us and shows us in many ways. In Zephaniah 3:17 it says that our God rejoices over us with gladness. I can just see the happiness in His dancing eyes as He quiets us with His love. And don’t you know, He actually sang over us, loudly, the Bible says! My heart rejoices at this thought.
You bet your purdy neck I do!
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
Zephaniah 3:17 ESV
You Bet Your Purdy Neck I Do!
We have been blessed in the last weeks to spend a lot of time with our four youngest grandchildren in New York The song of these weeks for my husband, who many times sets the tune for our day even at home, was an old song that came out in 1950, “Bushel and a Peck” and was performed by such singers as Betty Hutton, Doris Day and the Andrew Sisters, which to many readers will not be recognized. For most of the week, we sang this lively tune to our grandkids as we hugged and kissed them. Unfortunately, we only knew the first lines of the song until out of curiosity I looked up the lyrics, thank you Google.
I love you a bushel and a peck
A bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck
The first line worked just fine since we wanted to convey, in a whimsical and silly, way our deep love for them. The dictionary states that this term usually emphasizes how much someone loves another. That’s certainly true for these old grandparents and has been since the first grandchild came into our hearts and lives. The song goes on to use other idioms like, “a barrel and a heap” and my favorite line, “You bet your purdy neck I do”! A doodle oodie ooh doo doo!
The Bible tells us in so many ways how much our Heavenly Father loves us. I have yet to see one “Doodle Do” in scripture but I do find that God loves us and shows us in many ways. In Zephaniah 3:17 it says that our God rejoices over us with gladness. I can just see the happiness in His dancing eyes as He quiets us with His love. And don’t you know, He actually sang over us, loudly, the Bible says! My heart rejoices at this thought.
You bet your purdy neck I do!
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
Zephaniah 3:17 ESV
Thursday, July 2, 2020
Put on Your Unicorn Helmet
Put On Your Unicorn Helmet
Ta-Da she said with great flair as she appeared at the door.! Harper Jean our pintsize grandaughter stood covered head to toe with protective gear to save her from bruises, scrapes, or broken bones as she flies down the driveway on her little bike with training wheels. She had just gotten the gear in the mail, even though her dad had ordered them weeks ago. They were pretty pink to match her pretty pink personality. As happy as she was to get the pads to cover her arms, elbows, and knees she abandoned them pretty quickly. The next day I found her protection heaped in a pretty pink pile, lying on the floor.
As we try to protect our kids from injury, God tries to protect us also from the schemes of the devil with God’s special Armor. Ephesians 6:10-17 tells us about each piece of armor he wants us to put on. It is not concrete driveways that bruise us as believers but evil powers that are in this world of darkness. Our struggle, according to Ephesians, is not even against flesh and blood but against the forces of evil. Yet so many times our armor can be found flung in a corner and not being used while the devil has his way with us. Verse 14 tells us to put on the belt of truth. The belt of truth is like it sounds, it is truth. Like the belt held up the armor of the Roman soldier, truth is what holds our spiritual life up and together. Next would come the breastplate of righteousness. The Breastplate protects the heart from wrong, thoughts, and wrong living. We are to live a “right” life. The feet should be covered by the readiness of peace, the peace we need to stand firm for the battle. Of course, the soldier would need a shield to protect them from the fiery darts of the devil, and this shield is called the shield of faith, which stops the plans of the devil. Faith in our God is what separates us from the world. We need the helmet of salvation which is the Good News of Jesus crucified and the amazing sword of the Spirit which the bible says is the Word of God.
When I shove any of these parts of my God-given armor to the side I am left defenseless against the attacks of sin. Negative thoughts can invade my unprotective mind, temptation penetrates my heart, and causes darkness to replace the light that I had been given. When I neglect the Sword of the Spirit, the bible I grow farther away from my First Love.
I laugh as I watch Harper Jean riding her bike at top speed with those little legs flying to keep up with her older cousins and big brother. Her blond hair blows from under her unicorn helmet protecting her beautiful head. Praising God for the beauty my eyes behold in a unicorn helmet.
A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle, you will still be standing firm.
Ephesians 6:10-13 NLT
Put On Your Unicorn Helmet
Ta-Da she said with great flair as she appeared at the door.! Harper Jean, our pintsize grandaughter stood covered head to toe with protective gear to save her from bruises, scrapes, or broken bones as she flies down the driveway on her little bike with training wheels. She had just gotten the gear in the mail, even though her dad had ordered them weeks ago. They were pretty pink to match her pretty pink personality. As happy as she was to get the pads to cover her arms, elbows, and knees she abandoned them pretty quickly. The next day I found her protection heaped in a pretty pink pile, lying on the floor.
As we try to protect our kids from injury, God tries to protect us also from the schemes of the devil with God’s special Armor. Ephesians 6:10-17 tells us about each piece of armor he wants us to put on. It is not concrete driveways that bruise us as believers but evil powers that are in this world of darkness. Our struggle, according to Ephesians, is not even against flesh and blood but against the forces of evil. Yet so many times our armor can be found flung in a corner and not being used while the devil has his way with us. Verse 14 tells us to put on the belt of truth. The belt of truth is like it sounds, it is truth. Like the belt held up the armor of the Roman soldier, truth is what holds our spiritual life up and together. Next would come the breastplate of righteousness. The Breastplate protects the heart from wrong, thoughts, and wrong living. We are to live a “right” life. The feet should be covered by the readiness of peace, the peace we need to stand firm for the battle. Of course, the soldier would need a shield to protect them from the fiery darts of the devil, and this shield is called the shield of faith, which stops the plans of the devil. Faith in our God is what separates us from the world. We need the helmet of salvation which is the Good News of Jesus crucified and the amazing sword of the Spirit which the bible says is the Word of God.
When I shove any of these parts of my God-given armor to the side I am left defenseless against the attacks of sin. Negative thoughts can invade my unprotective mind, temptation penetrates my heart, and causes darkness to replace the light that I had been given. When I neglect the Sword of the Spirit, the bible I grow farther away from my First Love.
I laugh as I watch Harper Jean riding her bike at top speed with those little legs flying to keep up with her older cousins. Her blond hair blows from under her unicorn helmet protecting her beautiful head. Praising God for the things my eyes behold.
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