pass the chips, please

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Some call me a tightwad, penny pincher.  I prefer to think of myself as a creative, wise consumer of goods. My favorite book of late provides hundreds of household uses for vinegar, salt or baking soda -- saving many $$.  I can't wait to try many of these ideas over the summer, despite the failing of my latest experiment.  The mayonnaise hair conditioner did not produce the smooth results i'd hoped to see.  It did make me hungry for a sandwich, though.

Not all we read is completely reliable or true.  Reading with a blinking yellow caution light is advisable.  Thanks be to God, His Book is completely reliable and 100% true.  His Words are pinned in love and blood for the sake of our lives.  We can read His Word with a steady green light and proceed ahead with confidence and peace in receiving His dependable guidance in living an abundant life.  There's no stopping God in loving us unconditionally with grace and mercy.

have a joy-filled day!

veneal

a farewell to some

since I have you in my heart…
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”  Philippians 1:9-11

Although, i might not know your face, i know your heart.  We have shared much with each other… joy, hurts, frustration, disappointments, laughter, pain, anger, confusion, restlessness, sickness and more.  Hopefully, during this time you have also felt the constant presence of God; have witnessed how He guides us tenderly through hardships and trials; and have experienced how He uses absolutely e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g for His good and His glory.

As God has seen us through all times, especially difficult ones, we have grown.   Grown closer to Him, closer to each other and closer to being who and what He designed us to be.  I pray He uses us as a magnet to attract others to Him and His eternal kingdom.  After all, isn’t that our true mission?

Thank you for allowing me to share Him with you.  May you enjoy the glorious “Son”shine with Him this summer as you find rest, refreshment and renewal in Him.

Glory be to God for all things!!

Happily His and grateful to be your sister-in-Christ,  veneal

a Mighty Word... and prayer

"I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."  Philippians 1:3-6

What a joy it is to share Him with you... yesterday, today and tomorrow.

veneal

can you carry this?

"And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple." Luke 14:27

The slumped shoulders and bent knees told much... they were students with a heavy load.  At school's end, students are weighed down with supplies, materials and projects to take home. Parents aren't around to help, and each student has their own load to manage.  One might even say, a greater weight signifies a stronger student with a firm commitment to school. Some walk light footed, some struggle under the weight, but they all eventually get home. 

As a believer, what do you carry?  Can others identify you as a follower of Christ by how you act? What you say? By what your priorities or goals are in life?
 
Lord, give me the boldness to stand up for You when all around me tells me to do what makes me happy.  I want to be identified as belonging to You by the choices i make.  Give me the courage and desire to live out each day with my love for You outweighing any obstacle or force in my path.  When i get home, i want to see Your smiling face.

have a faith-filled day!

veneal

a special Mighty Word

This is what the LORD says..."See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands..."  Isaiah 49:16


Live as if you are special… because you are!

veneal

where the wild things are

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8

Was she serious?? The last week of school is FILLED with special activities and programs. To settle students in the library, Ms. Berrie pulled a video to watch. The title could not have been more ironic or true. To most, Where the Wild Things Are represents a book; for teachers at year and wits end, it represents their class. Wild, antsy, and ready to go… they long to spread their toes into the summer season. Have they finished all their work and ready for the next grade? Teachers taught the necessary components, but the final result rests on the student’s commitment.

As we teach, remember we also are being taught.  Our Teacher provides us daily lessons and opportunities on exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit... love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  And then there’s the daily test on love…. loving God with all our heart, mind and soul; as well as, loving our neighbor as ourselves.  

Lord, i don't want to be a wild thing in Your eyes.  Help keep my focus and heart on You as the seasons of my life turn. Give me the strength to handle the wild things this week at school while not turning into one; i want to do abound in every good work.

have a peace-filled day!

veneal

me first! I can!

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send?  And who will go for us?'
And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'" Isaiah 6:8

In the realm of teachers, the chant is loud and resounding.  It’s the chant of the eager, the chant of the enthusiast… "me first!, pick me!, I want to!" Most times the shouts answer a response to a challenge or a chance to show their worth or ability.  But whatever the reason, there is more joy in trying, then fear in failing.

How about you?

When someone needs a listening ear...
When stale food is all that's left to eat...
When the pink slip is found in the envelope...
When a comforting hug is needed...
When the sickness doesn't heal...
When the physical abuse is obvious...
When the parent does not come home...
When the screams of anger won't stop...
When the homeless sits on the corner...
When the tears fall like rain...

When our Teacher looks down for an earthly helping hand, do you chant, “me first!, pick me!, I can!”?
May our joy in serving the Lord far exceed any fear of failure, mistake or embarrassment.

have a pick me-filled day!

veneal

a Mighty Word

"A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones."  Proverbs 15:30



A long face makes for a looooong day.  Turn the corners of your lips up to God.  Smile, it will do your heart good and others.

have a cheer-filled day!

veneal

choose... stars or arrows?

"Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, 'children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.' Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life." Philippians 2:14-16

Bouncing off the walls, tying shoes to the desk, crawling over bathroom stalls… clearly, it's the end of school. To create a manageable class, a 5-star program was devised to recognize practically perfect behavior. To set our "clients" up for success,a reward with clout was necessary... like candy.  Did it work?  Yes! Until the sweetness of the deal wore off this week.  Our 5-star classes dwindled to zero this week.  Alas, we can't afford a reward enticing enough to contain their excitement for summer. 

There is another Teacher desiring obedient students worthy of stars ...He's my Teacher and yours.  Father, Forgive me when distractions of the moment get to me, and off of You.  You constantly bless me with goodness in life... rainbows after the rain, the smile of a child... and i miss it while strumming my fingers thinking of what tomorrow holds.  How often do You try to get my attention with the beauty of a sunset or with the wind of Your Hand passing my face and i turn the other way?  The blessings of being Your child is sweetness enough to serve You daily.  I want to be a shining star for You and not a flaming arrow.

let's have a star-filled day!

veneal

may i have a Word with you, Mother?

"Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her... a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." Proverb 31:28.30

Mother’s Day, how was yours?  Mixed emotions describe mine. Being with my daughter and husband was incredible, but i missed the company of my sons and my Mother.  I did get to hear the voices of my sons, but not the voice of Mother -- silence is not always golden. So, in the silence of the afternoon, i turned to my phone to played one of my favorite games, Words.  Advertising for the game popped up suggesting to start a game with mom.  If only i could.  To share Words with Mother would be heavenly... Words  of love, devotion, joy, praise, goodness, and thanks. I think it was the Words of prayer to God, i really needed.

Father, if only my arms were longer... i'd reach up to the heavens, hug Mother and whisper Words of thanks to her.  Please hug her for me, tell her i love her and Happy Mother's Day. May i live to bring her honor and You glory.  When that awkward and lonely silence strikes again, help me remember to turn to You first. You have the true Words of life for me.  Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me; be my help. You turned my wailing into dancing...and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will give You thanks forever.

have a peace-filled day!

veneal

move!

"A patient man/woman has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man/woman displays folly." Proverbs 14:29

Agitated, sweat glistened on my face, as i sat and stewed in my car.  For months, i'd dealt with after school drivers sitting parked in the driving lane -- blocking rightfully parked cars, including mine. Trying to back my car out was routinely met with blind acknowledgment. As a result, not only were they waiting for their student, so was i!  As the days and my tension grew, i knew something had to change.  And change it did. Did i have words with them?  No; God had words with me.  So, i changed from my regular parking spot to another one.

In the midst of a problem, do you also find it easy to zero in on your first, quick solution? Lord, you know how many times i thought about jumping out of my car, stomping to the car at my bumper and telling them they needed to move!  Luckily, You kept my steamy head intact and in the car  -- saving me from saying too much with a bitter tongue.  I am grateful i finally heard You say to me "move!"  Help me to always slow down in a heated moment, to clear my head, and to listen for Your voice.  I pray to make the right move... and with Your guidance, i can.

have an ear-filled day!

veneal

WHAM! up side the head... again

Jesus said...

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” John 6:51

I never saw it coming, but i sure felt it. Intently searching for the MIA fish on the freezer’s bottom shelf, i was blindsided… WHAM!  A frozen loaf of bread came down from the very top shelf, "heel"-dived and hit me square on my forehead.  A little blood, a little knot and BIG embarrassment -- my attention instantly went up.  Bread… who would guess it could be  such an attention getter?

Lord,  my True Bread of Life, i know at times You have to bop me on my head to divert my attention and  focus back on You.  How easy it is to get distracted by my personal whims and wants, or to get caught up in frustrations and disappointments.  Help me remember at those times "i" am first in my thoughts, and not You.  I pray the hits from You come less frequently, as i celebrate Your unconditional love and grace to me each day.  May You always outweigh anything else in my life  -- I want to live for and with You.

Have a glory-filled day!

a Mighty Word

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deut. 31:8

Behind every cloud, the "Son" is still there and will burn the clouds away in His time.  Never, never does He leave us.  Look up and know He is there for you.

Thank You, Father.

veneal

there's a hole in my shoe

"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."  1 Corinthians 12:27

While out sick, three sub changes happened before one stuck.  The problem wasn’t finding  one qualified for my position, but satisfying more critical vacancies as they erupted at school.  Most anyone can fill my shoes behind the check-out counter in the Media Center – it doesn’t require brain surgery (although i have had it).  The truth is we all are replaceable in our job at work or on committees.  

However, in Christ we each have a job uniquely designed for us.  It's the job our Father tailored for us individually to assist in the growing of His Kingdom.  No one can do our part; it's ours alone.  We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.

Father, Open my ears to hear You and my heart to serve you.  Fill my soul with Your desire, as no one else can fill my shoes for the job You have in store for me.

have a soul-filled day!

veneal

a Mighty Word

"...pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." 2 Timothy 2:22

What you desire is what you worship, what you worship defines who you are.

have a blessing-filled day!

veneal

are you a farmer?

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us…” Ephesians 5:1-2

Did you know ice pops are delicious and can be worth hundreds of dollars!?  At 25 cents a pop… Ms. Red’s kindergarten class raised over $500 at their Freeze Pop Shop.  Under her guidance, the project produced much determination, energy and enthusiasm from the students.  Their motivation? Serving others by raising money for a class in a tornado-stricken school in Indiana.

Ms. Red and her aide, Ms. Joy, cultivated and planted seeds of gold in the class… a life lesson on loving and caring for others.  Book sense it good, but what we learn from the heart of others provides a lesson with eternal benefits.  Let's spread those seeds of love, kindness, goodness, and giving!  And watch our Father grow His children closer to Him.

Have a caring-filled day!

veneal

a Mighty Word... no lie

"Do not lie. Do not deceive one another."  Leviticus 19:11

“'They make ready their tongue like a bow, to shoot lies...they do not acknowledge me,' declares the LORD." Jeremiah 9:3



The only thing a liar brings to the table is a hand full of jokers.  And in most card games, a joker is worthless -- so it is with life too.

have a truth-filled day!

veneal

who's pushing you?

"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." Ephesians 4:29

"Stop pushing me!", she pouted.  But Tommy had good reason. The  teacher had come to collect her class, and Sally was facing the back of the line chatting with her friend.  After patiently waiting, for at least 4 seconds, Tommy nudged her.  Sally was turned around and too comfortable doing the wrong thing, and needed a push in the right direction.

It's easy to get turned around in the wrong direction in life.  Instead of building others up, shredding them to bits can be easier and more satisfying at the moment.  And gossip as opposed to prayer, can be the quickest words to trickle from our eager lips.

Lord, when i get turned around pleasing and serving myself and others before You, please have something or someone push me back in the right direction.  I want to serve You and bring You glory.

have a moving-filled day!

veneal

a Mighty Word

“…Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between His shoulders.”  Deuteronomy 33:12

Blades of safety and comfort… for you.

veneal