Bless the Lord

Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Psalms 103:1,2

This was a weekend of delights and blessings. Camping, playing in the water and tubing, Deep Creek was a refreshing and delightful trip with the grand kids. It was also a place where blessings were frequent. 

I sat in the truck resting after two exhausting trips down Deep Creek. It was beginning to drizzle rain. A young African American couple came down off the trails to their car parked beside us. I heard the young man say, "I just want to thank you, Lord." His wife then sang, "I just want to thank you, Lord." They cranked the car and drove off unaware of how their thankfulness had blessed me. The trails they had just finished were short, but steep with waterfalls. I knew what they were thankful for. God's creation is not only beautiful, but quieting and restoring. 

I got out of the car and crossed the road to watch the tubers on the creek. A little fellow about 2 walked holding his daddy's hand. His little life vest was almost bigger than him. Daddy was carrying their tube. 

"Daddy, I love you," the boy said.

"I love you too, Little Buddy," his dad replied as they walked on toward the waterfall to put in. 

Just a quiet moment between father and son, but so powerful. 

What powerful, quiet moments has God given you this week? We'd love for you to share in blessing the Lord. 

Hey Kids: 

It's almost school time again. What blessings has God given you this summer?

Can you use those times to bless the Lord in your conversations and writings about your summer. 

You might want to keep a small pocket size notebook to jot down great memories, so when the time comes and you just can't think of anything to write about, you will have a pocket full of blessings. 

One last quote from Saturday night around the campfire. 

Papa: "If y'all would just throw a quilt over me, I'd just sleep here tonight."

Chandler, he's nine: "The raccoons would pick food out of your teeth all night." 

It had nothing to do with blessing the Lord, but laughter is a gift from God that blesses. 

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

Gail

That's Gross - or Is It?

While visiting my grand kids up the mountain this week, their gentle old dog began licking my ankle. Earlier this week, I had been bitten by fire ants while working in the garden. Beau, their dog, was meticulously licking my ant bites that were now open and itchy. I didn't want to be mean, so I tried just stepping away. He wanted to follow, so I had to go farther than he wanted to walk. Gross, right? 

This wasn't the first time I had seen dogs lick human sores. I remembered the story of Lazarus (Luke 16:21), I wrote about last week. The poor man who lay at the rich man's gate had sores licked by the dogs. It made me wonder why dogs would do that and what were the benefits or risks. 

Google always seems to have the answer at our fingertips, so I "googled it." It seems the practice of using dogs to heal wounds originated in Egypt, not that dogs hadn't always licked. In Biblical days, dogs were not man's best friend. They were basically a nuisance, but I wondered if the dogs actually soothed and helped Lazarus. Did God send the dogs to comfort him by licking his wounds? 

It seems saliva, yours, mine and the dog's, contain antibacterial qualities which may keep down infection. The dog's rough tongue cleans away dirt and debris that may cause infection. There are other helpful things in dog saliva, but read on.

There are people who GOT infections from dog licks, so all is not well. I guess the point is, there were no antibiotic medicines before WWII. God created a world to work in cinque - together. Many of "the old folks" practiced wild crafting - gathering medicinal herbs.

Medicines are a gift from God. I'm not questioning that. I'm just amazed how He made a universe to work so perfectly in cinque that it actually survived and thrived for approximately 6000 years. Amazing!! 

What unique and amazing things have you observed that made you wonder - "How does that work?" - "Why did that happen?"

Hey Kids: 

Remember those ant bites? There's a plant growing in your yard that helps with the burn and itch. It's also good for poison oak/ivy and bee stings. 

It's called plantain. No, it's not a banana plant.

photo thanks to pixabay.com

It's easy to find. Just crush the leaves and rub them on the bite or itchy spot. Ahhhh, comfort. 

What other plants or animal oddities have "the old folks" found helpful?

Ask them about yellow root and spider webs. 

 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Genesis 1:31

We would be blessed if you shared your findings and photos. 

Blessings,

Gail

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Just a Cool Drop of Water

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6 KJV

Here in the Upstate, the heat has been almost unbearable with temperatures near 100 degrees and no rain for weeks. The ground is parched red clay with cracks gaping for any drop of moisture. When I took fresh water to my chickens, I stood and watched as panting chickens dipped their beaks into the cool water, raised their heads, stretching their necks, allowing the drop to slide down their thirsty throats. Yes, the drop. Have you ever noticed that a bird or a chicken can only take a tiny drink? It made me think of the story Jesus told of the rich man and Lazarus.

It seems the rich man had it all, nice house with a gate, nice clothes, plenty of food, probably even had a cook. Comfortable life I'd say. But there was a poor man named Lazarus, who lay outside the rich man's gate. He was covered in sores. He just wanted to eat the crumbs that were swept from under the rich man's table. What's more, the dogs came and licked Lazarus' sores. One day Lazarus died and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man died too. The Bible says in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments. He saw Abraham and Lazarus. He begged Abraham, whom he called Father Abraham, to send Lazarus just to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool his tongue because he said, "I am tormented in this flame." 

That's a hard thing to read, but Jesus didn't tell it as a parable.  I think maybe he wanted to spare the rich man's family from the knowledge of their kinsmen being in the flames of hell. Jesus used Lazarus' name, maybe to comfort his family that Lazarus was in Paradise. But what was the difference in the lives of these two men? Was the rich man selfish, mean, hard to get along with? Probably not. Was Lazarus extra good in some way? No, "there is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10.) Sooo, why did God make a difference?

The rich man, since he knew to call Abraham, Father Abraham, I would say, he was raised as a good Jew. Probably attending synagogue regularly, giving a tithe of all he had, and probably did some praying. Jesus told of another rich man, a Pharisee, who did exactly that.(Luke 18:9-14) He went to the temple to pray, but his prayers were just bragging on himself. The publican who came to the temple to pray, stood off and beat his chest, begging God to be merciful because this man knew he was a sinner. 

The difference between the rich man and Lazarus? - Lazarus had asked God for mercy and forgiveness. The rich man's good works hadn't gotten him anywhere but in the torment of flames.

It's a hard question for me to ask you, so I know it's a hard question to ask your own family. But, where would you be if you died tonight? 

I pray you'd be in heaven.

Gail

Hey kids:

I know as a child it's hard to imagine dying, but death is all around us. 

It has been so long since it rained here, that my garden is dying. 

My green beans feel dry and tough, like leather.

The pollen the bees carry to my squash die in the heat, so there are no squash. 

Spend some time taking notice of how the summer heat and a cool rain affects the plants and animals in your neighborhood. 

Consider the mercy and forgiveness that Jesus, the Water of Life, offers to each of us. 

Has He made a difference in your life?

Give Thanks

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thessalonians 5:18

This week began with many reasons to give thanks; freedom, family, vacations, barbecues, and so much more, but there have also been hard, tragic things this week. I have seen thanksgiving even in the hard things. I've seen many people expressing their thanks to the law enforcement officers who risk their lives daily to keep us safe. I've seen the policemen go the extra mile to help those in dire circumstances. Through all the tragedy and heartache, there has been much giving of thanks. I am thankful so many have stopped and taken time to notice each other, lend a helping hand and say "Thank you". 

Hey Kids:
What are you thankful for this week?
Ask Mom or Dad for a calendar or make one on the computer. 
Each day write 3 things in the block that make you thankful.
You may have sad things happen this week, but there will still be a reason to give thanks. 
You may have funny things for which you can give thanks. 
At the end of the month, look back over all that has occurred. 
God's blessings will surprise you.

Hey Parents:
You may want to begin a journal of thanks as well. 
Ann Voskamp has a free list in her Joy Dare Collection for each day of the month. 
Perhaps you and your family can make a journal calendar together. 

Together, may we learn to give thanks in all things because this is God's will in Christ Jesus concerning us. 

Blessings

Gail

Almost Heaven

 

 

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38,39

This past week, we went camping in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As usual it was overflowing with people, but we were there for the same reason, to find some peace from the crazy rat race of work and cell phones and TV's and technology of every description that invade our lives every day. True, without technology, I wouldn't be able to share this with you, but sometimes you do need a break.

When you cross into the park, your cell phone immediately loses signal. It will search until all power is gone, which won't be long, unless you cut the phone completely off. Then to get your pictures you have to go through all the stuff to get it back on and to the camera. Whew! Word to the wise, pack another camera. We camped at Cades Cove. There are no electrical sites, except maybe the handicapped sites, another shut down of technology. I'm not sure if even the generator powered campers had the ability to receive TV and radio signals. Who would want it when you are surrounded by the glory of God's creation.

There is an eleven mile loop that takes you through forest and meadows and leads you to old cabins and trails. The traffic creeps along at ten to fifteen miles an hour with people stopping to view deer and bear. Pull offs are frequent for those wishing to get out and get a closer look or walk through cabins and along trails. You may be accompanied by fifty to hundred people but most speak in whispers, in awe of the beauty that surrounds them. Smiles greet you as fingers point out the wildlife across the meadow or up in the tree. I thought, this is almost heaven. There are no harsh words. There is no hurry. There is no worry. That's probably why so many signs say stay fifty feet back from wildlife! We lose all fear. Peace and calm reign and you wish for the day to never end. 

The highest mountain in the Smokies is Clingman's Dome. For many years it was thought to be the highest mountain in the east until more accurate measurements declared Mt Mitchell the winner. There are also a significant amount of caverns under the Smokies. Most are not open to the public, but there are a few. We ventured into Tuckaleechee with an older guide who knew the cavern inside out. Though I didn't take pictures inside (I didn't know going in I could take my camera), the beauty and magnificence of the cavern was awesome. Stalactites and stalagmites, curtains of formations, underground rivers and a waterfall, amazement at every turn. Then he turned off the lights, but God was still there in the dark, the dark you could almost feel. Here in the Smoky Mountains, we could ascend to one of the highest peaks or descend in one of the deepest caverns. No matter where we were, we were never without God. We could pray at the heights or in the depths and God would still hear. We could still feel His presence. We still had His love. There is no escape from God or His love and why would you want to escape? It's because of His love we have the beauty of His creation. It's because of His love we have salvation through Christ Jesus. God is love (I John 4) in all He does. 

Blessings for a peaceful week,

Gail

Hey Kids:

God's creation is so amazing. Have you ever thought that God created all things because He loves us?  From the smallest atom to the tallest tree to the deepest cavern, we can see our amazing God and His love for us. 

Why not take a little vacation from technology this week and take note of something far more amazing - God's creation.

Take pictures or draw or write about something awesome.

Here's some hints to get you started.

Watch fireflies or lightning bugs as they begin their nightly dance. What makes them glow without burning up?

Listen for woodpeckers in search of food or building homes. Why doesn't his beak break or bend?

Check a flower bud for a few days to watch it as it opens. Does it twirl open or pop or slowly, slowly broaden its petals. 

Can you find a way to measure the tallest tree in your yard or neighborhood or park? 

What other things can you find that God has created to bless you with?

Please share your blessings in the comment section below.