Fear disappears when we see the large wings!

"In the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge".... Psalm 57

Every felt a little scared? Maybe over the economy? or Work? or Family Relationships? or Sickness?...there are a great deal of things that can scare us in life. I found this story and it helps to encourage us in times of fear...

I was on a crowded plane about to take off in a raging thunderstorm. As we cruised down the runway, a bolt of lightning lit up the darkness, shining on the plane’s silver wing and on a memory from another trip.

My husband and I were on a second honeymoon to Bermuda.  On Sunday, we went to a small church near our motel. During the service,the minister introduced his mother who’d recently moved from the United States to live with him. He invited her to come forward and say a few words and sing a special song.

An elderly woman, frail and stooped, made her way slowly to the pulpit. I strained to hear her. “I’d never flown before I came here a few weeks ago,” she said in a thin, reedy voice. “But it was the only way I could be with my son and his family. When I boarded the plane, the kind stewardess helped buckle me into my seat. My heart pounded like it would burst. But then I looked out the window and saw this big silver wing. It called up the words of an old hymn, reminding me under Whose protection I was kept.”

And now, on this dark and stormy flight, with the plane feeling as fragile as a toy, I remembered:

Under His wings I am safely abiding.
Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,
still I will trust Him; I know He will keep me.
He has redeemed me and I am His child.
Under His wings, under His wings, who from His love can sever?
Under His wings, my soul shall abide, safely abide forever.
Almighty God, as I lift my eyes to You, I soar above the storm.

By Shari Smyth

God has big wings...may we never forget on whose wings we truly fly! You know I love ya, Don

Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times.

-Romans 12:12 (TEV)

I have learned that my physical well-being is much improved by taking my doctor's recommendation and faithfully doing exercises to strengthen my body for 15 minutes each day. Devoting a small portion of each day to this routine has made a major difference in my quality of life.

This small discipline has also made me more aware of the value of Christian disciplines. I realize anew the importance of spending time each day in Bible reading and prayer. I am able to think deeply about the people on my prayer list, and I try to keep in touch with them regularly. Sometimes a word of encouragement can show someone that we care and may be what that person needs to hear right at that moment. This is one of the reasons I blog and find other blogs such an encouragement.

Another discipline of the Christian life is knowing that I need to seek help and advice when problems arise. This discipline holds true in my spiritual journey; talking with a friend and sharing problems and joys makes both of us grow spiritually. Just as beginning my day with my exercises has improved my life physically, so the time I spend in devotionals has strengthened me spiritually.

Stay strong, stay in the Word, and remain faithful and Jesus will bring new mercies every morning. - You know I love ya - Don

WORDS affect our worship!

"The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver." - Prov. 10:20

^"The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." - Prov. 18:21

My mom used to say to us when we were children, "If I was not a Christian and I saw how you are acting, would I want to become a Christian?" She had high expectations of us and for that I am very thankful. One of those expectations was in our words. What sort of words proceed from our mouths? Words that encourage, words that inspire, words that are positive and faith filled, or words that pull down, words that criticise, or words that are negative! We must realize that what we allow to reside in our hearts will eventually come out of our mouths. Matt.12:34......"For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."

It starts with our thoughts – whatever thoughts we take on board and accept as truth, will become a part of our lives. The foundation we build in our own lives, will be the foundation we pass on to others. If we build thoughts of negativity into our lives, we will build negative words into our children. If we build criticism into our lives, our conversation with others will be based on criticism.

Some people, as soon as they open their mouths, speak negativity and criticism. I don’t want to be one who sits in the seat of the scornful. It is easy to fall into a habit of being a faultfinder where we seem to always major on the faults instead of the positive elements. This can become a pattern in one’s life. When others are being critical, do we join them in their criticism? Paul says to the Ephesian church in Ephesians 4:29 – “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.”

You and I have so many opportunities of speaking into people’s lives - opportunities of speaking spirit and life to our children, our grandchildren, our friends, our partners, the man in the street, and our neighbors. The question is, do we seize the opportunity? King David said “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be pleasing in your sight O Lord”.

"Lord, help me to think about the words I allow to proceed from mouth. Help me to guard my heart so that what I speak brings healing, strength and growth to people's lives. Help me to draw away from those that are bitter and critical and let my words be sweet and those that will build up and edify. Amen."

You know I love ya - Don