Author Archives: Blanche

An Attitude Not Just A Day??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #157

24 Friday Nov 2023

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A heart of faith, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, All About Jesus!, Almost But Lost, Amazing Grace, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Thankful, Thankfulness with joy!, Thanksgiving, That They May Know

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An Attitude Not Just A Day???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #157

I just want to share with you today a reminder that “Thanksgiving” isn’t just a day, but an attitude of the heart!  We don’t just thank God once a year at our house, but we praise HIM each and every day—throughout the day!  My heart overflows with gratitude to God for my salvation—that Jesus loves you/me so much that HE came to earth, took on human flesh and blood, lived a sinless life, not just to be an example but to BE the “Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world”; HE took away that sin at Calvary for every man, woman, boy and girl who will come to HIM in repentance and faith in HIS substitutionary, atoning sacrifice!  HE is THE “way…truth…and life”, the only way to God The Father!

“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

How can we not praise HIM for that gift, that love, that faithful promise to walk with us every moment of every day!  I’m grateful for that continually, not just one day a year.  If you know Jesus, won’t you praise and thank HIM today and every day that HE gives us?  If you don’t know HIM, you can know HIM, He came to die for YOU!

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20

Jesus is worthy of our praise and gratitude!  So let’s work on our “attitude of gratitude”; for we can be “humbly grateful or grumbly hateful”!  The choice is yours but choose wisely, there is a test!!!

Let’s join the Psalmist in our praise and thanksgiving today and every day throughout the year!

“O LORD,

truly I am thy servant;

I am thy servant,

and the son of thine handmaid:

thou hast loosed my bonds.

17 I will offer to thee

the sacrifice of thanksgiving,

and will call upon

the name of the LORD.

18 I will pay my vows unto the LORD

now

in the presence of all his people,

19 In the courts of the LORD’S house,

in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem.

Praise ye the LORD.”  Psalm 116:16-19

And as you praise God, remember to pray for the “peace of Jerusalem”, for her redemption “draweth nigh”!

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

they shall prosper that love thee.”  Psalm 122:6

Amen and Amen!!!

Thanksgiving Blessings!!! A Word from THE WORD!!! #156

20 Monday Nov 2023

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, A Father's Love, Choose Gratitude and show it!, Choose you this day?, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Gratitude to Generosity, Greater is HE that is IN US!, Thankful, Thankfulness with joy!, Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving Blessings!!!  A Word from THE WORD!!! #156

“O come,

let us sing

unto the LORD:

let us make a joyful noise

to the rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come

before his presence with thanksgiving,

and make a joyful noise

unto him with psalms.

3 For the LORD is a great God,

and a great King

above all gods.”  Psalm 95:1-3

 I pray that your time of Thanksgiving will include the greatest gift of all, the love of God toward us in sending HIS SON, Jesus to be our redeemer, savior, and LORD!  May God’s blessings rest upon you and yours as you take time to express your thanks in various ways.

May I just offer a few reminders of some things that could make your Thanksgiving special:

Share with someone in need out of your bounty (whether your bounty great or small

Call a friend or relative and tell them how thankful you are that God placed them in your life—

Hug your loved ones one more time, you never know when it might be the last hug—

Do something special for your spouse that doesn’t cost money, their favorite dessert, an unexpected massage, a surprise trip to see the sights or visit a friend—

Offer to help an elderly neighbor with their decorations—

Call or write someone who was a blessing to you or for some almost forgotten long ago kindness, you could make their day—

Tell your parents, children, friends and loved ones near and far that you love them, and then LOVE THEM—

Gratitude and kindness are contagious, spread them around!!!

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD,

all ye lands.

2 Serve the LORD

with gladness:

come before his presence

with singing.

3 Know ye that the LORD he is God:

it is he that hath made us,

and not we ourselves;

we are his people,

and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates

with thanksgiving,

and into his courts

with praise:

be thankful

unto him,

and bless his name.

5 For the LORD is good;

his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth

to all generations.”  Psalm 100:1-5

May you have a blessed and joyous Thanksgiving season with family and friends.  God bless you with joy and laughter!

Amen and Amen!!!

The Blessed Gift Of Tears??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #155

16 Thursday Nov 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, Tears, Testing and Trials?, They that sow in tears...., Weeping Tears.

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The Blessed Gift Of Tears??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #155

I know this may seem like a strange subject in considering being thankful and grateful to our God, but for many it will hit a note of familiarity, for tears truly are a language that God understands; for HE made us with the ability to cry, and I praise HIM for it.  Yet often we suppress the natural gift of tears, we don’t want to have a ‘blubbery face’ showing in public; we don’t want people to know how we really feel; we don’t want others to know how badly we are hurting; and reasons that we don’t have time to list.  I have long had a problem with ‘tears’ but not in the sense you might think, I didn’t have any grandmothers growing up, for they both died before I was born, and I only had one grandfather still living, but he lived way out in the swamps on a bayou in Louisiana, and we didn’t see him very often for my dad was in the Navy and we moved a lot.  But when I was in about the 4th grade we were living in Mobile, AL (which I still call home) my mother heard that her dad was not well and she made a trip to see him and brought him home with her to live with us—and that was a precious time for we children, as we had never had a grandparent involved in our lives.  He was funny and told us stories, he sassed my mother (which amazed us, for we sure dared not!), and was just a blessing to us.  Well, he died after only a few short months with us, and we traveled back to Louisiana for his funeral and burial in the family cemetery there.

At the funeral, I was stricken with sorrow and started to cry but I had no hankey or tissues and didn’t want to embarrass myself with that ‘blubbery face’, so I learned my first lesson in “stuffing” it; and it’s a lesson that showed back up throughout my life.  But we must understand that God gave us tears as an outlet, a cleanser for the soul, if you would; a mechanism to relieve our grief, fear, sorrow, anger, joy, and frustration—an ‘all-in-one’ safety trigger.  But of course we intelligent humans do our best to short-circuit God’s goodness, and this is just another one of those foolish attempts to be “smarter than The Creator”! God gave us tears to bless us, to relieve some of our suffering and the results of being ‘fallen man’!  Let’s consider some things that scripture reveals about tears, and maybe, just maybe, we’ll learn to appreciate them more, and use them wisely!

“Thou tellest my wanderings:

put thou my tears into thy bottle:

are they not in thy book?

9 When I cry unto thee,

then shall mine enemies turn back:

this I know;

for God is for me.

10 In God

will I praise his word:

in the LORD

will I praise his word.

11 In God

have I put my trust:

I will not be afraid

what man can do unto me.”  Psalm 56:8-11

Oh, to remember the goodness and faithfulness of our God.  Job in the midst of some of the greatest trials ever, kept declaring his faith in God—despite the questionable help of his “friends”!

“Also now, behold,

my witness is in heaven,

and my record is on high.

20 My friends scorn me:

but mine eye poureth out tears

unto God.”  Job 16:19-20

Sometimes our tears come on the behalf of others—those who are in trouble, in deep need of God’s help—when we can do little else but pray and weep!  God hears, sees, and knows!

“They that sow in tears

shall reap in joy.

6 He that goeth forth and weepeth,

bearing precious seed,

shall doubtless come again

with rejoicing,

bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:5-6                   (Sheaves being the harvest of the labor of tears!)

One of my favorite books of The Bible is the book of Jeremiah—the ‘weeping prophet’!  Why the weeping prophet?  For a lot of reasons, but mainly because he loved his people, and while he faithfully proclaimed God’s warning of coming judgment if they would not repent (much like where we are today, perhaps?) and the response was at the most, negligible, and came with ridicule, torture, pain, and a grief that we can barely understand.  Yet, God promised Jeremiah that there would be relief—a relief that he wouldn’t live to see, but a relief and restoration of Israel that would come.  May we be found as willing and faithful as Jeremiah to proclaim truth even when it brings tears, grief, heartache, or ridicule!  God IS faithful and HE knows your pain, your heartache, your sorrow for the sin of our nation, the tears that we shed in prayer for HIS provision, and revival!  So, my friends “weary not in well doing”, but press on faithfully and let those tears flow when they need to—don’t suppress the feelings that God has given you!  HE IS coming to redeem HIS own, and HE will wipe away the tears that we shed before HIM!

“Thus saith the LORD;

Refrain thy voice from weeping,

and thine eyes from tears:

for thy work shall be rewarded,

saith the LORD;

and they shall come again

from the land of the enemy.

17 And there is hope in thine end,

saith the LORD,

that thy children shall come again

to their own border.”  Jeremiah 31:16-17

Amen and Amen!!!

 

Gratitude Spills Over??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #154

13 Monday Nov 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, A Form of godliness?, Blessed by God, By His Grace, Confidence, Don't Wait, Faithful Follower, Follow Jesus, Forgiveness, Giving and Sharing, Giving or Getting, Giving Or Taking?, God's love, God's measure isn't ours, Good Neighbor, Good Stewards, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Greater is HE that is IN US!, Jesus IN You!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Living Right, Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

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Gratitude Spills Over??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #154

For the rest of this month (unless I change my mind!!) I want us to focus on God’s goodness and our attitudes; for sometimes we just take God’s goodness for granted and forget to thank HIM or share HIS goodness with others, Paul says it better than I could.

“Let him that stole

steal no more:

 but rather let him labour,

working with his hands

the thing which is good,

that he may have to give

to him that needeth.

29 Let no corrupt communication    

proceed out of your mouth,

but that which is good

to the use of edifying,

that it may minister grace

unto the hearers.”  Ephesians 4:28-29

 Paul calls believers to live and behave like believers—those who “were” thieves were called to (in Blanche’s paraphrase) “get a job and work diligently to provide for one’s self and have to give to those in need”!  Our actions and our words have an effect on those around us—especially those ‘little people’ who follow us around and learn from our behavior and actions way more than they learn from just our words!  Are we teaching our children and grandchildren about gratitude—about sharing what we have—about looking to Jesus instead of the world—about giving more than receiving?  The truth is that we are teaching them every day, whether we are paying attention or not!  Paul’s admonition to live holy, faithfully, and generously is a call to each of us!  It compels us to hear and obey the call of Jesus to “do unto others” as we desire to be treated.  Small words but a giant obligation to reject the “ME” mentality of the world and share the “others first” love of Jesus!

“Jesus said unto him,

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God

with all thy heart,

and with all thy soul,

and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it,

Thou shalt love thy neighbour

as thyself.”  Matthew 22:37-39

When the “love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost…” (See Romans 5:1-11) it ought to spill over on all around us!  An outflowing of the gratitude that we feel for the “gift of God” (Romans 6:23) which is eternal life in JESUS!  Are you shining for Jesus or hoarding everything to yourself?

Paul shares more in his letter to the Colossian believers; may we willingly and gladly heed God’s Word to our hearts?

“Put on therefore,

as the elect of God,

holy and beloved,

bowels of mercies,

kindness,

humbleness of mind,

meekness,

longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another,

and forgiving one another,

if any man have a quarrel against any:

even as Christ forgave you,

so also do ye.

14 And above all these things

put on charity,

which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God

rule in your hearts,

to the which also ye are called in one body;

and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly

in all wisdom;

teaching

and admonishing one another

in psalms

and hymns

and spiritual songs,

singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed,

do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”   Colossians 3:12-17

May we truly be fountains of blessing to those around us, taking every opportunity to share not only Jesus, but the material resources that HE has blessed us with to those around us in need, as God leads?  We are to be wise and generous stewards of God’s blessings, not greedy, selfish Scrooges!  How will God assess our gratitude quotient?  Let’s be one of the ‘overly generous’ ones, not the selfish ones!  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test!

“But this I say,

He which soweth sparingly

shall reap also sparingly;

and he which soweth bountifully

shall reap also bountifully.

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart,

so let him give;

not grudgingly,

or of necessity:

for God loveth a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able

to make all grace abound toward you;

that ye,

always having all sufficiency in all things,

may abound to every good work:

9 (As it is written,

He hath dispersed abroad;

he hath given to the poor:

his righteousness remaineth for ever.”                              2 Corinthians 9:6-9

May we be known for our gracious, grateful, and generous spirit.

Amen and Amen!!!

A Grateful Life??? Really??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #153

10 Friday Nov 2023

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Father's Love, A Witness--Good or Bad???, Consider Your ways, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Gratitude to Generosity, Thankful, Thanksgiving, That They May Know

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A Grateful Life??? Really???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #153

 

Gratitude is an attitude, but it’s so much more and I just want to share a few thoughts in this regard.

“Serve the LORD

with gladness:

come before his presence

with singing.

3 Know ye that the LORD he is God:

it is he that hath made us,

and not we ourselves;

we are his people,

and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates

with thanksgiving,

and into his courts

with praise:

be thankful unto him,

and bless his name.

5 For the LORD is good;

his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth

to all generations.”  Psalm 100:2-5

The Psalmist paints an amazing picture here of our relationship to God—and that is the root of gratitude; so let’s peruse the things that make for a grateful heart, and a productive life lived for God’s glory and our ultimate good.

We are to:

       Serve God—with gladness not grudgingly—

       Seek HIS presence—with singing not selfish squawking-

       Remember—God IS GOD, HE made us—we didn’t do it–

       BE HIS people/HIS sheep—Stop butting heads—

       Come before HIM—with grateful praise—

       Show our gratitude with words of blessing—not vain ones!

When we practice being in HIS presence and spending time with our LORD, we can learn so much about gratitude, grace, love, and humility!  Our God is a good, good God, but how will the world come to know that when we won’t live like it!  We moan and complain; we let the glitter of the world blind us to HIS truth; we choose the world over our God, which breed the worst kind of discontent!  All this when we serve the most amazing, loving, merciful and truthful God—HE loves us so much that HE sent JESUS to be our Savior and Redeemer.  Just spend some time thinking about the price that Jesus paid for us and coming into God’s presence “with thanksgiving”!  I truly believe that gratitude breeds confident faith in the God we claim to follow.  May James’ words help us understand that our God IS totally trustworthy, and we can thank HIM in all things—knowing that we can ask questions, and God won’t get mad, but HE will lead us into HIS truth, if we can but wait on the Lord! (See Psalm 37:3-8)

“My brethren,

count it all joy

when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this,

that the trying of your faith

worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work,

that ye may be perfect (complete/mature)

and entire,

wanting nothing. (lacking nothing)

5 If any of you lack wisdom,

let him ask of God,

that giveth to all men liberally,

and upbraideth not;

and it shall be given him.”  James 1:2-5

May we live ‘gratefully’ before a world of greed!  They need to see JESUS IN US!

Amen and Amen!!!