signs ahead

As you travel this summer, far or near, take note of the road signs.  They offer true guidance and direction...for the road and for our life.

STOP        "Be still, and know that I am God..." Psalm 46:10               

YIELD       "...stand firm.  Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves

                     fully to the work of the Lord..." 1 Cor. 15:58

CAUTION  "Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls

                     around like a roaring lion..."  1 Peter 5:8

GO           "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations..." Matt. 28:19

ONE WAY  "Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always."

                 1 Chr. 16:11

The journey in life is long and at times uncertain.  Thankfully, the signs we need are plentiful.  

Father, may Your signs guide us through a safe, peaceful stay on earth.

we are loved and chosen by God,
may we live like we believe it,
veneal

Words to Live By... share

"One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed."  Proverbs 11:24-25

Summer days offer so many refreshing opportunities to practice this week's Word to Live By:  SHARE.   Maybe you've had a chance to pick your own blueberries or blackberries and seen the delight on the faces of those you shared them with. It's possible you have shared vegetables from your garden. Or perhaps you participated in an event where you shared your time or donation for a worthy cause. Hopefully, you find yourself sharing your days more freely with those you rarely get to spend time with when schedules are tighter. 

Regardless of how, when, or what you choose to share this week, you will surely notice that every time you share freely,  you will gain more than you give.  Every time you refresh someone else, you find yourself refreshed in return. God promises so in His Word.

Like my friend Libby did last week, ask the Lord to put someone in your path that He wants you to share with. May your sharing bless Him, others, and you!

Dalene Parker, guest blogger

Words to Live By: One Word a Week (SHARE:  pages 235-240)

https://www.facebook.com/weeklywordstoliveby/

forecast or fact?

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."  Hebrews 12:8

June 20th was the first day of Summer, but no one bothered to remind Ms. Summer of the official date.  She arrived in full blazing glory before her premiere date pounding numerous days with relentless sweltering heat.  Will the heat wave continue?  Will it leave early, since it arrived early?  The professional, trained weather forecasters are called forecasters for a reason.  They watch trends and patterns, but even with all their sophisticated, hi-tech instruments, it's an educated guess.  Is there anything can we rely on 100% of the time for accuracy?  

Thanks be to God, YES!  

On God we can. His love, grace, mercy, goodness and forgiveness start immediately when we become believers and is unending.  He is our one firm foundation, in an otherwise shaken and fallen world.  With God in our life, we can survive all trials, disappointments and heartaches. His Peace and Love soothe and heal hurting souls.  With God in our life, we can celebrate abundantly sweet surprises, accomplishments and joys.  His Peace and Love multiplies our blessings.

With God in our life, we are 100% taken care of at all times forever... that is not a forecast but a fact.  Thank You, Father.

we are loved and chosen by God,

may we live like we believe it,

veneal

we can all do it...

Jesus said...
"...What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Luke 18:27

Dalene Parker's post this week, reminded me of something very important. We all have the ability to dance thanks to GUIDance.

Guidance is a sweet twist of an acronym:  

God U and I DANCE

With the turns, twists, shakes, somersaults and moves in life, i know i am in need of divine guidance.  With God all things are possible, even dancing.  We can rest assure, if we slip, He will catch us every time.

we are loved and chosen by God,
may we DANCE like we believe it,
veneal

Words to Live By... dance

This week's Word to Live By is DANCE!   That word alone makes me smile, but any attempt on my part to dance usually makes me (and others watching) laugh.  I'm awkward and self-conscious, but I still love music.  Consequently, when I hear a good beat, my hands and feet start tapping or moving even if the rest of me doesn't know how to follow!

However, my favorite memories of "dancing" actually involve roller skating. My dad was an artist on roller skates. Every Friday night of my awkward early teen years, we spent at the skating rink. Daddy's graceful moves to the "slow dance" music would mesmerize the other skaters.  As his dance partner, I felt my clumsiness disappear as I held tightly to his strong arms and cautiously lifted one skate off the floor in keeping with the rhythm.  As my confidence grew, Daddy led me into spins and helped me skate backwards without worrying so much about bumping into someone or falling.

Maybe that's how God wants us to "dance" through each day-- holding tightly to His arms, following His lead, learning to lift our hands and feet, moving backwards or forwards with equal ease.  This week let's purpose to trust Him and enjoy moving alongside Him as he teaches us the next dance move!

Dalene Parker, guest blogger

can it be a happy day?

"As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him." Psalm 103:13

I panicked seeing the Father's Day commercial.  For a fleeting moment, i thought i had forgotten to mail Daddy's card. Then i had a rude reality awakening, and i remembered.  Daddy will not be looking for a card this year.

We experience first loves, first steps, first words... but not all firsts in life are pleasant, happy and exciting.  Following the loss of a loved one, all the first holidays without them is hard.  However, reflecting on our precious memories with them, we find reason to feel thankful.  When we experience a deep love for someone, it goes without saying, we also will experience a tearful heartache when we lose them.  And, i'll choose the pain of missing them tremendously every time over the emptiness of not ever knowing such a wonderful love.

If like me, you are facing a first special occasion without a loved one, you are in my heart and prayers.  I truly understand and share your hurt. And if you are one still blessed to have your daddy on earth this Father's Day, i rejoice with you.  May i urge you to hug your daddy tighter, laugh longer, talk more, gaze into his eyes one more time, and tell him how much you love him.  There is no way to prepare, understand or anticipate the loss when he is gone, but you can ease the grief, reduce regrets and increase your peace by loving on him while you can.

Instead of looking for a card, i think Daddy is tenderly watching me from Above in how i live.  It is my prayer he finds me loving more like him. Producing a life that reflects more of our heavenly Father and him will surely putting a crooked smile on his sweet, sweet face.

Thank you, Daddy, for loving me and our family and all your friends with your entire heart.  You are worth an endless sea of tears.

A good father makes for a happy, happy, happy heart... no matter where they are. 

we are loved and chosen by God,
may we live like we believe it,
veneal

are you thirsty?

"I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." Jeremiah 31:25

Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers; but i've noticed they can require constant attention.  With the recent heat, the basket on my porch is requiring daily watering.  It's amazing how they can look practically dead one minute, then shortly after a cool watering be fully revived.

I kind of feel like a withered basket case myself right now.  The end of school activities and other life events left me depleted, drained, draggy and thirsty.  In the heat of busyness, i've recognized a serious daily need for a drenching of Living Water.  A continuous, quiet soaking at His feet is needed for awhile for restoration and renewal... and that's okay with me. How about you?  Would you like to join us?

we are loved and chosen by God,
may we live like we believe it,
veneal

Words to Live By... relax

"You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing."  Psalm 145:16

For far too long, I have rarely allowed myself the luxury of relaxing.  There is always something that needs to be done or someone who needs attention.  And yet, I know the Lord means for us to have breathing room and thinking time.   "Hurry" is not in His vocabulary.  Therefore, as I reflect on this week's "Word to Live By," I will purpose to RELAX and truly enjoy every minute.  In fact, I'm going to start right now as I get in the car to head up the mountain for some "Girls Only" time with my cousins and my daughter.

May you, too, relax, as He satisfies your desires and meets your needs.

Dalene Parker, guest blogger

Co-author Words to Live By:  One Word a Week

Words to Live By... reach

"God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us."  Acts 17:2717:27

Well, friends, our summer break is finally within sight and within reach!  Woo Hoo!!!  How appropriate that our Word to Live By for this week is REACH.  Summer allows us to reach out to favorite people and places we have had little time for during the school year.  It also gives us time to reach for some goals we have put off until there's more opportunity (and fewer excuses!):  exercise, cleaning, reading for pleasure, maybe even taking up or picking up an old hobby for starters.  Whatever you reach for, may it be a rewarding, restorative season for you. 

Regardless of your occupation, may your summer season be a time where you seek the Lord more faithfully and bask in His presence more fully.  Though we do not see Him face to face, He is not far from any of us and we truly can reach out for Him and find Him.  Our ability to reach extends beyond our sight. 

Be blessed and keep reaching!

Dalene Parker, guest blogger

https://www.facebook.com/weeklywordstoliveby/

the final bell

As the final bell rings this school year, i join Paul in this prayer for you... my sisters and brothers in Christ.

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,  being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ... you all are partakers with me of grace.  For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:3-6, 7-8
amen. 

Thank You, Father, for Your unconditional love and for the gift of fellow believers.  We can always depend on You to cover us -- whether at school or beyond.

we are loved and chosen by God,
may we live like we believe it,
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

End-of-year parties are fun with a splash of sadness.  While all are ready for a break, some will be leaving for good.  Whether students or coworkers, empty spots will be filled by others, but the missing space in our heart for those leaving will remain.  The special love we have for a person is for that specific person alone.  We don't replace it, but we can grow in our love by including  others who enter our life.

Whether i continue to share devotions with you or not, or whether i know your face or not, i feel i know your heart.  We have shared much with each other this year… joy, hurts, frustration, disappointments, laughter, pain, anger, confusion, restlessness, sickness, loss and more.  Hopefully, during this time you have also felt the constant presence of God while witnessing how He guides us tenderly through hardships and trials and joyously through celebrations.  We 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!!

we are loved and chosen by God,
may we live like we believe it!

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