Success...

I recently went to a craft fair and sold Sunny books and plushies.  That evening, my husband asked me "how I did". I knew that he meant financially and was hesitant to give him hard numbers. Not because I didn't have any but because I knew that in his mind, the dollar amount would signify the level of success I had had. But I see things differently... 

I went to a craft fair a few years ago; I met someone who asked me if I would read at her elementary school for World Reading Day. I happily agreed and the next spring Sunny and I went and spent the whole day reading to hundreds of kids. I sold lots of (pre-ordered) books & plushies, and actually met the mayor of Fort Worth! It was a wonderful experience. There was a little girl there who was afraid of dogs, and after her interaction with Sunny, went home and told her mom all about it. Her mom wrote me an email and said she had cried tears of happiness and said that Sunny had changed her daughter's life.

I've come to believe that the people whom I meet and interact with at my booth are there by Divine appointment. You never know how a casual encounter talking about Sunny in the books is going to lead to another venture. One lady told me on Saturday that she's with a rescue group and she's going to find out if she can include the books and plushies in the Welcome basket that goes to new adopters!  What a blessing that would be!

I want to be able to see other things from that Kingdom perspective. Not hard numbers and dollar signs, but see everyday encounters as Divine appointments. I don't know if I'll ever make a lot of money from the books and plushie, but I know that the lives that have been touched far outweigh the monetary value.

Success comes in many forms. My sweet Sunny will continue to touch lives in the years ahead and especially with the third book that is forthcoming. I can't wait until I can share it with everyone and hear about how it's blessing children's lives. That to me... is success! 

Blessings to you on this day in His name!!!

Unopened gifts

 We have a granddaughter who will be a teenager next year. We've delighted in her from the day she was born and in her earlier years, she'd come out to our house and upon seeing me from the car, would bounce up and down in her seat and exclaimed "Nonnie! Nonnie! Nonnie!" 

It's been a long while since she's come out. Both with her school/activity schedules, we've seen her but not out here. I've invited her but she's declined my offer. I don't know if she knows that Sunny passed last February, or that we have had a new puppy since July. We know she'd love to meet him, but we're not going to cajole or coerce her do something she doesn't want to do.

It pricked my heart last time she said she was "too busy". The sentiment that went through my mind was "it's your loss." Not because we are that scintillating to spend time with 😉, but I knew I had things that I wanted to share with her that she wouldn't receive.

I thought of how many times the Lord has wanted me to "come over and spend time" with Him, or imagine that He had something new or wonderful to share with me or show me, but I was "too busy". 

He's not going to cajole or coerce me, either. He wants me to want to spend time with Him of my own choosing. It is absolutely "my loss" to neglect that precious communion. 

And yet He continues to "bid me come" and walk in the garden with Him. Oh, how He loves you and me.

Blessings to you in His Holy and precious Name!  

The least of these...

I had a friend in college who knew every name of every 'worker' there. Every kitchen aide, every dorm housekeeper. She knew them by name, and their stories. She knew their kids names. 

I saw them as the dorm housekeeper. 

She was an evangelical, born again, charismatic believer... and I had just met the Lord.  She was warm, effusive, alive. She was such an example to me. 

To the least of these.... 

She taught me that every person is loved by God and that everyone has a story. 

I went to pick up my "Blessing Box" at our local food pantry tonight. Upon seeing me, the man there said, "Where you been??!!"  

It touched me as I realized that he remembered me (personally) and had noticed my absence. I thought of my college friend, and thought that he remembered me, but I didn't even know his name. She would have not only known his name, but what was going on in his life, and made him feel so special by her words. Without knowing it, she is an inspiration to me even after all these years. 

To the least of these... Lord help me remember that You love every last one of us and that each one is cherished by You... Lord let me be an instrument of Your peace.... 

I love You, Lord.. 

Faithful

 A friend met up with someone that I have known for 35 years, but haven't seen in 25. She saw him this weekend. I sent her a text and said, "I don't know if you are going to see him again, but... I used to listen to Bob Mumford and Derek Prince tapes (in the 80's!) - I don't remember which one, but one said something I never will forget.

 'If (he) ever saw someone whom he hadn't seen in a long time,  he would just want to know one thing. Was that person still following the Lord?' 

The most important thing...

So I said to my friend, "If you see him again, tell him - "Yes, yes I am. I love Him with all my heart, strength, mind and spirit. He is the Light of my life and the Rock of my soul." 

I bless the Lord with all my soul. He is the reason I live, and the breath that flows through me. Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy Name. Psalm 103:1

 

Meat or milk?

1 Cor 3:2   I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, for you were not able to consume it. Indeed, you are still not ready.

Hebrews 5:12 For although by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone teach you the elementary principles of the actual words of God, and you have some to need milk and not solid food. 

I had a conversation recently with a friend and this verse came up. I said, "I think we are in a generation that wants appetizers and dessert."  

I pondered my statement in the hours that ensued ... do we want the finger foods, the easily handled & eaten?? The "light" versions... and then the sweet stuff? The benefits, the blessings?  What about the meat? The part that is heavier, harder to digest, must be chewed... Do we seek that? 

Paul said to the church in Corinth that they weren't ready for the "good stuff"; the meat! Wouldn't you rather have the meat than the finger foods and the sweet desserts? Are we ready for that? The writer to the Hebrews said that although the people *should* have been ready for solid food, that they weren't ready for it, and needed milk! Ugh - my mind and my spirit war!  My spirit says yes bring the meat and yet is that my mind? Paul had a similar conflict. His spirit and his mind (and his will) sparred constantly (Romans 7:15-23). This passage addresses the sin nature that warred within him and the spirit nature that desired to please God. 

I want the "meat" and not the "milk"! Lord, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me! I desire the "meat" of Your word and Your Spirit. Challenge me and do not let me be satisfied with "milk'. I allow and give leeway for Your Holy Spirit to do His work in my life so that I can receive the "meat" and be spiritually mature to "chew" on it. 

I love you Lord and You are the Lord of my Life. Have Your way with me. I trust You and give you my all. 

 

 

Words matter...

 I recently listened to a podcast in which the woman talked about the words we speak. I was really challenged in my spirit to examine the words that I speak. Do they bring life or death? Build up or tear down? 

I thought, what if I went a whole day (hey, ya gotta start somewhere!) and did not say anything unless I could back up my words with Scripture? No idle words! It would force me to "take every thought captive" as Paul talks about... 

I was in a church service...probably almost 30 yrs ago... and a guest speaker went to the pulpit and just started speaking. "Grace and peace to you from God our Father." He proceeded to speak for several moments, and I quickly realized that he was speaking the beginning verses from one of Paul's letters to a church (take a peek at Col. 1!). He spoke them (the verses) so conversationally, it didn't seem he was "reciting Scripture". He was speaking as though he was reading a letter out loud, which of course, he was! It was so powerful and left such an impression on me, I remember it to this day. 

Makes me think of the verse I posted in one of the pictures. That we can be speaking to one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs! Our speech can be seasoned with grace. 

What a challenge. I know it can be done! I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength 😇 I just know how that pesky flesh is!! 

Grace and peace to you from God our Father. ❤🌸😇