THE TREASURE OF A MIRACLE....or two or three.

Tonight I was looking at a photo another friend had placed on Face book. And it hit me, in a big way, just what a miracle this picture was. I was looking at three people who the Lord had miraculous either added to and/or kept in our world, for His honor and glory and also for our enjoyment.

Aunt Audrey (to me) was in the hospital (ICU and CCU) for an extended period of time and it is a wonderful answer to prayer that she is home, going for walks with her sweetheart, wordhipping in church and attending family get-togethers ….holding her great grandchildren with such a beautiful smile.

Sierra Anne is a wonderful addition to our family and a miracle in her own right. The Lord went before and prepared the way for Marc and Kristy to be able to foster and then adopt Sierra. She fits right in the middle of her two sisters who she loves and they love her.... and she fits right into our hearts too ( I am a blessed grandma!)

Third, is little Grace Victoria who was born many weeks before we thought she would be born …but she was born exactly when the Lord had planned for her to come into and “grace” His world. She had a long hard fight…and so did mom and dad…but she is cute as a button and a dainty little lady who has a smile that melts your heart. I finally got to meet her last week !

Praise the Lord, He had a plan for each one of these miracles and I am so privileged to be able to witness the blessing they are. Our world would have a blank space without each of them.

Jer 29:11 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

How wonderful is our Lord…he grants us miracle both large and small, if we can but open our eyes and see them.

Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.

He is the all-knowing, omnipotent God who knows exactly what we have need of before we even think or ask....He knows what is best in each of our lives.

Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us


Ps 55:22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

We can trust in the sovereignty of our God and His love for us…He cares for us as a loving Father cares for his children…what more can we ask for ?? How can we not see all the many miracles he performs in our lives and our world day by day?? How can we not see the many blessings he showers upon us ??

Psalm 33:18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love


Psalm 33:20-22 Our soul waits for the LORD, He is our help and our shield.
For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name.
Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, as we hope in You.

Psalm 62:5-6 My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.


Jeremiah 17:77  Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD.

Well tonight I could not help but see and say Thank you Lord…. Thank you for this Traceable Trustable Treasure. 

The Treasure of Encouraging Words

Tonight I was feeling a little ( no, a lot) down in the dumps…struggling with a few feelings …I called my best friend and sounding board but she was in the middle of a family game night (definitely did not need to hear my whining) So we agreed to talk tomorrow morning., but now I was feeling more down cause I had no one to listen to me (maybe a good thing )


Well, I was later playing Farmville on FB when I heard a pop and an IM note appeared…..a friend wanted a recipe from me and wanted to thank me for a meal I prepared for her family, etc. The conversation went back and forth and then….. .another note popped up from her that said “you are precious” ….ahhhhh…that comment just washed over my soul and I was smiling ….smiling from the inside out !! I wrote her back that lately I really didn’t feel precious and that her words of encouragement were just what my thirsty soul needed ! Isn’t that so like the Lord…I am sure he had been trying to tell me all along to get out of my doldrums and stop feeling sorry for myself because I am precious in His sight as well…..but since I wasn’t listening too well he sent a messenger to give me His message. And those words of encouragement touched my heart.

Sunday I was talking with a friend who mentioned that she needed to thank some people who send her cards during a recent difficult time in her life and I realized I (who make cards all the time) had not sent her one! I felt really bad about my forgetfulness…..but it wasn’t until I received this encouraging comment tonight hat I realized that what I was feeling was rather self centered …all about me and how I felt… Not about my friend….. who I had not helped with encouraging words, or how she felt.

So, late tonight I am asking myself a question…Do I bring sunshine or gloom with me when I walk into a room? Proverbs 10 :11 says “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life”.  Am I such a fountain ?? Are you ??

In the morning when we awaken lets ask the Lord to show us the “I spies” for today. We can ask him to help us bring sunshine instead of clouds. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus (Romans 15:5).

When we converse we make a series of choices about what to talk about, what memories to bring up, and what points to make …Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if any-thing is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Philippians 4:8). Lets actually think on these things today !!!

We need to learn to be self-aware….think about what we are saying before we say it. When someone is having difficulties , we should listen and speak with compassion that is real and heartfelt. [God] comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God (2 Corinthians 1:4).

I read a Bible study on this same topic and one of the personal applications at the end was to start an Encouragement Journal. People do “I Spy” Journals and Prayer Journals …which are very good ….but why not do a 6 week “Encouragement” Journal and each day write something encouraging you saw in some one else …..a Godly trait they exhibited that blessed you. Maybe a friend or your spouse or child or even someone you never see many good traits in .

Or you can keep a journal of the people you have encouraged each day ….Plan to be a encouragement to at least one person each day.  WHy not try it with me ??? We can encourage each other as we go along our way.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29).
May our Encouraging Words be truly Tracable, Trustable Treasures

The Treasure of our 5 Senses

Seeing that we just past the Easter season, I thought this topic fit right in….to go along with the candy we receive and share on Easter, the eggs we hunt for and find, the new clothes we wear, the marvelous songs that center on the cross and the resurrection of Christ, and the smell of all the beautiful flowers which are blooming so quickly now. How can we not be thankful to our generous Lord for all these blessings…and especially the blessing of our five senses which allow us to enjoy all these wonderful treats. God is so good to us, isn’t he? However, too often we tend to live for the gratification of our five senses without any thought of an intimate walk with God. Have you ever thought about how your sense of taste, touch, sight, hearing and smell could relate to your relationship with the Lord?

We were created by God as unique and wonderful creatures and everyday we are reminded of his presence through our five senses …taste, touch, sight, hearing and smell.

We have the wonderful sense of taste which we use to taste delicious roast beef dinners, smooth chocolate ice cream and spicy Mexican burritos. Oh, how very good these things are ! Yet there is a difference in what each of us calls tasty, isn’t there ? And in the same way that food nourishes us even though it is different; the Lord meets us in our needs, where we are and gives us just what we need…even though it may be different from what He gives our neighbor. This sense points us to the truth in the words of the psalmist….. “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him” Psalm 37:4 Yes, the Lord is good, all the time, the Lord is good.

Then comes the sense of touch when you can feel the wind blowing across your face, the refreshing snow falling, the warm rays of the sun and the softness of a new born baby. All these things are extraordinary but they pale in comparison to the touch of the Lord’s spirit on ours And as it is reiterated in the Message in John 3:5 “When you look at a baby, it's just that: a body you can look at and touch. But the person who takes shape within is formed by something you can't see and touch—the Spirit—and it becomes a living spirit.”

Now lets look at the sense called sight…..with our eyes we see the many wonders of God’s creation…the massive and strong Rocky Mountains, the bright and twinkling stars and heavenly bodies, the vast array of colors in the Autumn months and the fields of wheat and corn and all the colorful flowers of Spring. Yes these are all things of beauty but nothing is more beautiful than a clean heart and a right spirit which is filled with the light and the love of the Lord. 1 Samuel 16:7b For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” If we are to be used of GOD we need to be able to see more than what is on the outside.

Next comes the sense of hearing through which we hear the sounds of instruments playing music and people singing hymns of praise and worship to our Lord and Saviour. We hear the roar of a lion or tiger or the purring of a cat, the honking of horns in traffic and the still quietness of a sanctuary of prayer. WE hear a small baby crying, small children’s laughter when playing and our hubby saying ‘I love you’ softly at bedtime. Still one of the most thrilling things we are able to hear is God’s word being read. I think of how special it must have been for the disciples to hear him say “PEACE BE STILL” or how heart wrenching to hear the words “It is finished”. How blessed we are to have the Bible to read….for as we are reminded in Romans 10:17 ….. So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. And the wise writer of proverbs says Proverbs 23:19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.

Lastly comes the sense of smell or discernment. (which I am going to borrow from a lady named Tammy Melton) Have you ever said “something smells fishy” or “funny” or “nice” To be able to tell which it is…to discern, if you will,  you must have the sense of smell. Close your eyes and draw in the aroma….coffee in the morning, freshly washed hair, a powdered baby, your spouse’s cologne, a garden of red roses…or a newly sliced onion, a month old carton of milk, a nearby farm, or a surprise from your new puppy You use the sense of smell to discern if the aroma is pleasant… or not so pleasant. The same way we use God’s word to help us discern what is right and true vs what is wrong and untrue. 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.and Proverbs 3:21 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight.

Our physical senses are both intricate and awesome, but more importantly they can provide us with a mirror in which we can behold what each one means in the spiritual realm.  All together they provide a road map to a more intimate relationship with God.

God is immense, vast, and transcendent, but He is also intimate, close, and somehow knowable. And through the five senses we get to really know him. Oh TASTE and SEE that the Lord is good: Let’s allow him to TOUCH our lives, be our VISION and our DISCERNMENT. What a Truly Traceable, Trustable Treasure

The Treasure of Rest

       My past three weeks have been pretty busy. It started with the Ladies Retreat, where I for the first time in quite a while stayed up both nights playing games til about 2 am. Not a wise decision for me but a totally fun one !! Between the few jobs I volunteered to do to help with the retreat and the lack of sleep the prior week due to “whatever causes insomnia” I came home in need of rest instead of being rested. Even John admitted he was surprised that I laid down before I began unpacking for once !!

      We headed for St Joseph Hospital where we visited with John’s dad who had been hospitalized for an enflamed pancreas on Thursday and was in a lot of pain. There I got a chance to talk to the family and figure out what they needed me to do to help with transporting John’s mom to the hospital to see dad and then home. Plus going up to spend a day or two with my Mom who is improving but still house bound. I took John’s mom up to visit with my mom for lunch which was a fun day and combined two things for me ! And John and I tried to visit with dad even on the days I didn’t take mom over.

       As you can imagine I didn’t get too much chance to catch up on my rest…..but the Lord was so gracious to me. He provided such good short rest that I have felt GOOD instead of tired. And I know it was only through his mercy and compassion that it came about…..he renewed my strength just like in Isaiah 40:29 says He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength….and v.31 says But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

What a joy it was to be able to minister to John’s dad who has ministered to so many of us on so many different occasions. The Lord gave us the wonderful privilege and opportunity to read scripture to him, to pray with him and to talk with him.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain .

To be able to “rest” in the Lord is truly a Traceable, Trustable Treasure.

Psalm 23 1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.