How many times have you gone astray because you were relying on your own self-reliance instead of taking your troubles to God.

                                                             

                                                                                 

                                                          God Speaks Loudly

Psalms 46:10

Be Still and Know that I am God

This is a rainy, foggy and cool day, but must I live up to my promise that no matter what I will walk the beach every day.  This day will be no exception.  For some reason walking the beach in the fog, cold and mist is very different than walking in the fog, cold and mist in Midwest, here I don’t seem to mind it.  Today I reflect on the fact that I am hearing God speak to me loudly but what is He saying, do I hear it correctly? What in the world does He want me to do with His Word? Confusion, turmoil, restlessness and questions without answers abide in my soul.  How do I restore my soul? How do I soothe my anxiety? How do I begin to search for the answers?  How do I maintain my health? I want answers and I want answers right now! Wow this day has brought out so much in my being.  Is this the cleansing of my soul? Where do I begin my new journey?

Throughout the Old Testament, God spoke clearly to His followers but not without sending them out into the wilderness to search for the answers and to purify their souls.  Moses was sent wandering in the wilderness, Abraham faith was tested, Jonah had to live in big fish and Noah had to float in a Huge boat with many animals for many days!  God spoke loudly to these men and expected them to “Be Still” and know He was God.

How many times have you gone astray because you were relying on your own self-reliance instead of taking your troubles to God. Did you pray before the decision was made or listen for the Holy Spirit to speak to you? I believe that God speaks through His people not only in ancient times but He speaks loudly today. A person may be placed in your life revealing to you the answer your have been seeking or in silence and prayer the clear answer may come to you. All you must do is to be still and listen--- Are you listening?

This rainy day walk was exactly what I required to see clearly and hear what God wants me to do.  Who would have imagined that God would use a rainy foggy and cold day for me to see more clearly? TOTT

Prayer: Lord may I plant my life in Thee so deeply and firmly that whatever changes life brings, my life can continue uninterrupted, strong, bearing fruit for You. May every decision and hope find its growth in Thee. 

 (Daily Family Devotions *)

 Copy write by daily family org.

Commitment for today: Pray and quietly listen for God’s response. It will come to you; Trust Him.

The ocean is a constant occurrence of high tides, low tides --- much like life itself.

The Ocean

Psalm 118:24

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

I send you greetings from Seabrook Island, South Carolina where I am blessed to live.  This is one of my favorite places on earth where the ocean is constantly glittering like diamonds afloat and the dolphins gleefully glide through the surf playing the game “Where will I surface next!” The Sea Gulls laugh out loud providing entertaining music from the air and the Pelican formations are a sight to be seen as they gracefully soar over the waves. One can't over look the fascinating Skimmers as they glide skillfully just over the water for the catch of the day.  As each wave laps in, it forever reconstructs the seascape --- shifting the sand to new formations and bringing in a constant pattern of change. The ocean is a constant occurrence of high tides, low tides --- much like life itself.

Life too, is filled with eddies that create modifications of our very being. We ride the high tides in our life that make us feel like one could walk on water but unfortunately in life we also experience riptides where we literally feel ourselves drowning.  During this time we may feel as if the sand is shifting underfoot or the undercurrent of the water is pulling us swiftly out to sea.  So what do you do when the sand shifts and the undercurrent is sweeping off your feet?

  You worship passionately! First you pray for the Holy Spirit to be your advocate uplifting and guiding you to solid ground. Second, you believe in the Grace of God knowing that He alone is the source of strength that will bring peace and serenity to your soul.  Third, be cognizant of the Grace given to you through accepting Jesus Christ as your Saviour. In His death and resurrection you are offered forgiveness of your sins so you may have eternal life. The "Good News" is God loves each unique human being: He loves you no matter what!  TOTT

   Prayer:

May the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord makes his face shine upon you and give you grace.  The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Amen

Commitment for today: Is it time to start seeking the power of the Trinity? Is it time to stop rejecting the promises offer through Christ? If so, act upon it.

Laura Krumwiede Scott remembers 1st Lt Joel Gentz on the anniversary of his death.

In remembrance of 1^st Lt Joel Gentz

Who served the United States Air Force Proudly

Written by Laura Krumwiede Scott

As Life happens, there are many times that make you say, “Wow I have to be strong and I have to get through this one.” In my life there have been many occurrences that made me grow up. Most of the hard times I held my mother’s hand through it but this particular time I was the one holding a hand to give strength.

My best friend, Kathryn lost her husband in the Afghanistan War only a month after Joel was deployed.  It was such a heartache and so painful to hear that he had died. As soon as I heard I wanted to be with Kathryn and hold her hand to give her strength.  I realized that she was surrounded by people who loved her and people who would comfort her.  My time to be with her would come.

Flying to Indiana for the funeral was surreal trying to realize a friend had been killed and it was Kathryn’s husband. I was anxious as I wondered IF I had the strength to be strong for her through this awful time. I wondered if I would fall apart when I saw her---I didn’t want to do that! I wanted to be strong. I had to be brave as she took me to buy her dress; to make decisions about the funeral; and to sit and talk about all the memories.  I didn’t think about the funeral I just knew I had to remain steady through it for Kathryn. I was very honored to sit next to Kathryn in the front row of her husband’s funeral. She had tons of supportive people around her but she chose me.

I remember sitting in the front row staring at the coffin covered by an American flag and listening to the song that had been sung just two years prior at their wedding. There were no words I could say just simply hold the widow’s hand and so I did.  I held it through the service, the playing of “Taps,” “Amazing Grace” and through the slide show of Joel’s life on earth. I knew my presence wasn’t what she really wanted; she wanted her husband’s hand.

There are many people going through different struggles some big and some small. Regardless of the severity of the problems, people need someone to “hold their hand.” People need to realize that sometimes to get through a situation one must have support.  Seek out friends, family or even counseling to get you through hard times.

Yes, Kathryn has moved on with her life but with much support from family, friends and even strangers as she tries to sort out the death of her husband, trying to understand the senseless of his death. May God bring peace to us all.

TOTT Today: Golden Retrievers and their GOLDEN MOMENTS.

TOTT Today: Golden Retrievers and their GOLDEN MOMENTS.: From Detroit, St Louis, Chicago to Seabrook Island we have experienced those called "Golden Moments."  ...

Golden Retrievers and their GOLDEN MOMENTS.

From Detroit, St Louis, Chicago to Seabrook Island we have experienced those called

"Golden Moments."

                                   A righteous man regards the life of his animal.
                                                            Proverbs 12:10

There is a pounce that shakes the bed; a wet kiss is freely offered; and I am aroused into reality that my lovable eighty-five pound Golden Retriever Moses has issued my wake-up call. He is my happy-go-lucky guy whose fun-loving personality is contagious, as people always want to stop and give him pat or a scratch behind the ear as he leans into their affectionate touch.  This is the personality of a Golden Retriever that I have loved through the years while raising four of them.  As puppies, they are irresistible fluffy rag mops always ready for cuddling and eventually growing into obedient and mellow adult dogs that are faithful to his or her master to the end. Wait a minute, did I say obedient and mellow?  Hold on a minute, what about those moments when their happy–go-lucky persona over rides their thought process? Or when their sassy attitude will torment you to point of just wanting to scream?  These are occasions that I affectionately call “those golden moments.”

     Our present Golden Moses has provided a few moments of his own.  He is a lover boy but frustration can abound when this “Big Guy” acts as if he is a defiant frat boy.  He loves to roll in anything from the sandy beach covering his whole body with sand to the unspeakable animal poops and is proud to wear the scent.  As a puppy his big game was rolling in mud holes in the yard to the point of being incognito. Asserting his happy-go-lucky personality, one day he decided to prove his manly physique by moving the woodpile one by one across the yard. Only problem he forgot to restack the wood. Of course, he continues to provide “golden moments,” as he tries to live up to his frat boy rank.

     I cannot fail to mention the moment of complete frustration when 15 minutes before a Christmas party our Golden decides to run around the yard like a bat out of Hades dashing through the decorated bushes and comes out wearing the Christmas lights. There I stood in my silk party dress and high-heeled shoes trying to decide whether to cry or laugh, I chose the latter.

    Finally, there are poignant  “golden moments” that touch deep into the soul. Such a moment happened with our dog Sunshine. She was my daughter’s so called dog and we got her when Laura was ten years old. At that time Laura asked, “How long will Sunny Live?” I promised she would see her graduate from college and Sunshine did. Laura had a love/hate relationship with her. Sunshine loved to torment her by stealing her clothes and running rings around her or jumping on her as Laura screamed, “Mommy get her off, I don’t like this dog!”  As they both grew older, Sunshine mellowed becoming a constant comfort and loyal buddy to Laura particularly through Laura’s kidney cancer and recovery. Sunny spent her time attentively by my daughter’s side as if this dog knew it was her personal mission to see Laura through this awful period. Sunshine often placed her head on Laura’s lap giving her a smile that only a Golden can offer saying “ Please get well and will you forgive me for all the times I tormented you?” --- a peace offering that quickly makes those “Golden Moments” melt away.

TOTT

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for our opportunity to care and to oversee  the beasts and animals of the earth. Our pets bring great joy into our hearts and it is our hope we can care for these wonderful companions  to the best of our ability.

Amen.

Commitment Today:

If you don't have a dog or cat, donate time, money or energy to a animal shelter.

Little did they know the power and the spunk that this simple bucket-style red hat has just given this elderly woman---it is her symbol.

The Red Hat

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you were ever you go.

Joshua 1: 9

NKJV

Her knees are so feeble and her hips not squarely fitting her body causing her gait to be slow and even laborious. She knows the challenge it will be to walk down the wooden steps for a beach walk. The undertaking of this walk will cause every muscle and bone in her body to ache as she completes the mission at hand. It is a task that will take much fortitude but she wants so much to stroll the beach one more time. So they flop her “red hat” upon her head for protection from the sun; carefully she places her body into the convertible; and the crew speeds towards the beach.  Little did they know the power and the spunk that this simple bucket-style red hat has just given this elderly woman---it is her symbol.

God is with us where ever we go. He knows your needs and will work in you and through you. He sees our weaknesses and gives reassurance to us to get through the challenge.  He feels our fears and offers to empower us. The God of All will give us strength to climb any mountain, ford any stream or even the task of ambling down the stairs of the boardwalk. There may be obstacles to keep us from clearly seeing the pathway but the Almighty expects us to be strong and of good courage.

The beach walk is accomplished and the old lady returns to the cottage with a smile on her face and the satisfaction that she has walked the beach, stairs and all. She knows where her strength always come from---The Almighty! The woman places her red hat on the hat rack, never again to wear it but leaving it behind as a symbol of determination, true grit, and courage --- This is how my mother has lived her whole life. TOTT

Dear Heavenly Father,

I want to thank you for my mother. Please bless my mother filling her with your Divine Grace.  I pray for all the mothers in my life asking you to guide and bless them. I praise You for my motherhood.  It is a blessing to be a mother. Amen

Commitment for Today: Mothers are such a blessing, pray for your mother and tell her how much you love her on this special Mother’s Day

I am back with a dog Adventure---Ears Just a Floppin"

                                                       Ross Parry HRPets Best.

Ears Just a Floppin’

Hebrew 11: 1

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

NIV Bible

His ears were flopping in the gentle wind as the old red pickup truck sped by me. Don’t know if he had been on an adventure or going to one, but it made me laugh to see that big red bloodhound positioned perfectly in the bed of the truck sniffing the marsh air like he was the “Top Dog of the Marsh.” His snout pointed upwards baying at the sky---here I am. He definitely did not have a care in the world just faith that wherever his master was going, he was going too.

We too are on a journey that is directed by our faith.  Faith sometimes is the hardest concept to grasp on to. Where does it come from? How do I see it? How can I have faith going through the misery of life?  As in the scripture suggests with our faith comes hope and the certainty that God will provide our pathway. As Christians we are taught to have faith, as it becomes our passageway to our eternal life. Faith may be blind to the unbeliever, but to the believer it is knowing that Our Master will bring us a peace of mind as we travel the broken road of life.

Just as that ol’ bloodhound had complete trust in his master to get him to his next destination so must we have faith that Our Master will deliver us to our eternal home. Let us grow our faith in God and remember the ultimate sacrifice Jesus gave for us.  And as for that dog in the red pickup truck, I hope his ears are still a floppin’ in the gentle wind. TOTT

O Forgiving and Loving Father,

  We all want to be believers that Faith alone will achieve our finally destination of eternal life.  Our prayer today is one for hope and peace as we continue to try erasing our doubts about our faith. Continue to guide and direct our lives.

Amen

Commitment for today: Read the Bible to expand your faith and belief in God and Jesus.