Imparting Faith

When I woke this morning, I heard the news that George Beverly Shea had passed away. Hearing this kind of gave me a chill.

One of my mother’s favorite songs was ‘How Great Thou Art’ which is a song that Mr. Shea sang. I can hear her singing that very song in my mind now.

Some days, especially today, I miss her until I ache. I miss her loving ways, her precious smile, but most of all, I just miss my mama.

I miss her steadfast and unwavering faith in our Loving God.  I miss our daily ‘chats’. I miss her hugs, her encouraging words, … I miss being able to put my head in her lap and have her stroke my hair, soothing my fears.

I know that God has a special place for her.. and I believe that she is joining her voice with that of George Beverly Shea today… Lifting their voices in Mighty praise of our Savior…. and that gives me cause to Hope…

“For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and in your mother, Eunice, I am sure that it is in you as well.” 2 Tim. 1:5

My mother caught her faith from her mother and father… I can never Thank God enough that He chose her to be my mother.

“Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, How Great Thou Art! How Great Thou Art!

Happy Happy Birthday, Mama!

Stepping in the Light….

Recharging my Batteries!!

It seems that we have had a very long, dreary winter, Oh.. the weather hasn’t been that bad. We haven’t had the ice and snow that so many others have had.. if fact for the most part we have had a pretty mild winter.. but we have had some dark, cloudy, rainy days.  And seriously that has been good for our part of the country.. we needed the rain. It just seems we have been closed in longer than usual, which to be honest with you plays havoc with my state of mind. Yes, I know that it does the same to most of us.. the walls just seem to be closing in around us and we get Cabin Fever, BIG TIME!

Papa and I have been dealing with some frustrating issues, and now he is has a health issue and we are waiting for our doctors to decide how to proceed. It’s nothing earth shattering, just needs the right doctor’s attention, which we are finding often takes more time to be seen than ever before!!

So today, when we got up, the sun was out, the temp fairly mild, so I decided to take my cup of ‘Joe’ and sit on the porch in the sunshine!!

It amazes me each time how just those few minutes of quiet, solitude, and peace lifts my spirits. As I sat quietly on the porch, the world around me was alive with energy, and activity. The trees were filled with our beautiful little birds, and they were eating, singing, and calling out to each other.. the squirrels too were busy, digging up the ‘nuts’ they had stored away. The trees are awakening, and the grass, yes even the shrubs are sprouting, Yep, Spring seems to be on it’s way!

For over a week now the little finches have been fussing because there are no hanging baskets out yet for them to build their nest in… as that thought came to mind, a pileated woodpecker flew past and landed on a tree very near to where I was sitting… he called and called, then began to dance up the tree, eating as he did. In the distance I heard his mate call back. He continued his dance for a few more minutes then flew off to another tree in my neighbor’s yard, just as he did, she appeared, his mate.  She flew to the same tree he had just left, hmm, I think he must have told her.. ‘come over here, there are tasty treats in this tree.’. She too ate for a bit, then he called to her and off they flew.

Yep, that will recharge your batteries.. it seemed as if The Lord was saying, ‘See, Sharon, I take care of the least of these. How much more will I care of thee?”  Just another reminder of His Amazing and Almighty Love!  OH, the stories I could tell of how often He has comforted and cared for me!  I love sitting in the Sunshine, and soaking in The Son!!

Will you come join me… in the peace, calm, and quiet that He offers each of us????  Ahhh! Spring, ReBirth!!

In Him,

Always, Sharon

Celebrating KareBear

Our youngest daughter has many nicknames…

I call her Kay Kay… Her Daddy calls her Munchkin…

She is also called “The Snow Princess”

Have you ever known anyone whose Birthday Month just suited them to a T???… if so then you understand.. Our Baby LOVES snow… Last year she celebrated her Birthday in Minnesota! Sadly there was no Fresh Snow! But it Was Cold… she told us she had never been so cold in all her life!

But there is so much more to her than that!

These are some of the things that remind me of her….

But none more than KareBear! and if you know her you understand why! Yes, the Snow Princess is most known as Karebear… because though she loves SNOW… she has a very warm, loving, caring, giving Heart!

Friday’s Child is Loving and Giving… Born at High Noon on a Friday…

Yep, that’s Our Little Girl, Our KayKay, Munchkin, Daddy’s Little Girl.

“She Walks in Beauty as the Night.” Happy Birthday to our Special Winter’s Gift! Love you Baby!

Always,

Mommie… AKA… Mamacita

What is That In Your Hand?

“Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” Exodus 4:2

The Lord reminded me this week of a sermon I heard a few years back, given by David Ring.  You may not know anything about David, but I will tell you that he is a gifted preacher.  The other thing you need to know about David is that he was born with cerebral palsy.  It is difficult at first to understand him, but oh it is so worth taking the time.

I heard David preach on the verse at the top… when he read the verse, it sounded like he said a wad, and not rod, so after letting everyone have a laugh, he decided to call it a stick.

Today I read the devotional book that Dan I use, I was again reminded that God uses people that others might think are inferior.

A lay preacher with limited education spoke at a service using Luke 19:21 as his text:, “Lord, I feared thee for you are an austere man.” The preacher thought the text was referring to an Oyster Man.

He explained how a diver must grope in dark, freezing water to retrieve oysters, cutting his hands on the sharp edges of the shells.  Once he has the oyster, he returns to the surface, holding it in ‘his torn bleeding hands’… He likened this to Christ descending from heaven to this earth, in order to retrieve humankind and bring them back up with Him, to the Glory of Heaven.  His torn and bleeding hands are a sign of the value He placed on us.

At the end of the service, 12 people received Christ.

So today, I am thanking God that he uses ‘”ordinary people'’ and circumstances to bring Glory to His name.

So, I ask you, what is that in YOUR hand?  Is it a rod, a stick, a child’s hand, a computer?

“We are God’s masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Eph. 2:10

Father, I praise you that I don’t have to be perfect to be used by you.  Show me, Lord, just What Is In My Hand??

Experiencing Life… Together

                

When it all began……

             

We were just two young kids.. on a path that has lead to 45 years of Married Bliss…

                                                    

Well… we have shared Bliss and we have shared sorrow…but I believe that what has made it work is that we have Shared!  The BLISS and the Sorrow… and counted on Our God to sort it all out.

I have often heard it said that compromise is what makes marriage work.. but after all these years, I have come to realize it’s all about LOVE… lots and lots of Love.. Unconditional Love and understanding. Realizing that men and women are different…and accepting and embracing our differences in order to cooperate with each other as we walk this Path of Life together!!  Each partner bringing their gifts and talents to the partnership.. and embracing the gifts and talents of the other…we have become knit together for a Lifetime.

Easy??? Heck No!! but worth the love we share, the life we share… the loved ones we share…Yes!!

                              

and as I write this… many many memories come to mind, the good, the bad… the ugly… but all of this is a part of the story a part of Our Story..…part of our lives together.

We have learned so much and are still learning about how married life works…as we did the “Love Dare” together and Financial Peace.. we have been given true ‘nuggets’ to keep building our lives on…

Understanding that True Unconditional love is what it’s all about and why it is so Important in a Marriage relationship.

Partners for Life… Partners in Life…

and looking forward to many more years of

Life Together.

“Now these three remain, Faith, Hope and Love, but the greatest of these is Love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

I could write all of Chapter 13 here!!

Always,

Sharon

The Shelf

The toy sat of the self, waiting…. waiting and wondering, when it would once again be playtime.

I have watched Toy Story 3 so many times with my grandchildren, and often felt the pain of the toys.

To be shelved, stored away… most of us understand if only a little of their pain.

They were made to be played with… that is their purpose. To be put away and never used as they were designed to be… or worst yet to be tossed out like yesterday’s news paper.

We, you and I were made for a purpose… Each of us.. designed for a purpose… not always the same purpose… but there is a reason for every life and every stage of life.

This poem is from an elderly man in a nursing home…

Cranky Old Man

What do you see nurses … when you are looking at me?  a cranky old man… not very wise? Uncertain of habit with far away eyes.

Who dribbles his food and makes no reply… when you say in a loud voice.. I do wish you would try!

Who seems not to notice the things that you do.. Open you eyes nurse … you are not looking at me.

I’ll tell you who I am as I sit here so still… as I do at your  bidding and eat at your will. 

I’m a small child of 10, with a father and mother, brothers and sisters… who love one another.  A young boy of 16, with wings on his feet. Dreaming that soon now … a lover he’ll meet.

A groom soon at 20.. my heart gives a leap… Remembering the vows I promised to keep.

At 25 now, I have young of my own, who need me to guide and secure a happy home… a man of 30, my young grown so fast.. bound to each other with ties that will last.

At 40 my young sons are now gone and grown.. my woman is beside me to see I don’t mourn…

At 50 once more, babies play round my knee.. again we know children, my loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me, my wife now is dead… I look to the future and shutter with dread.

For my young are now rearing young of their own… I think of the years and the love I have known.

I’m an old man now and nature is cruel.. the body it crumbles,  grace and vigor depart.. but inside this old carcus,  a young man still dwells and now and again my heart still swells..

I remember the joys, I remember the pain…. I’m loving and living life over again.. I think of the years, all too few… gone too fast. And accept the stark fact that nothing can last.

Can you hear the cries of his heart?… a feeling of loss…  he seems to be saying.. “what is my purpose now?” As I grow older, I am more and more aware that my purpose has changed…

No longer the daughter, the young wife and mother, I no longer work outside of my home.… I am now wife.. mother and grandmother… yes… this is a big part of my purpose..but I’m sure that I am not the only one asking… the question that is ever before us as time marches on…

“What is my purpose?”

Always,

Sharon

Celebrating With Papa

                             

Our Children call him Daddy, our grandchildren call him Papa. But I call him Sweetheart, Best Friend and the Love of my Life……

        Then…….                   Now….

This man is my husband of almost 45yr., but he is more than that to me, to our family, to his friends….

He is my husband, my love, Daddy to our children, Papa to our grandchildren, teacher, counselor and friend to many.

He is wise beyond his years, (always has been), funny, fun loving. He is Husband, Daddy and Papa beyond compare, kind, considerate, compassionate, loving, gracious and giving.

And today is his 65th Birthday… so won’t you please join me in wishing him the Happiest of Birthdays????

Happy Birthday, My Love!!!! and many, many more!!

                     

Always,

Sharon