is that a bow?

"You shall not pollute the land in which you live..." Numbers 35:33

She asked, "Why is there a bow on that leash?"

Surely she is not serious. Silence.
Oh-my! She is! Let me calmly catch my breath.

Then i responded, "It's for any presents we might drop off while on our walk."

Whether it's the heat or a house full of dogs, the exchange above brought laughter to my heart.  And when the giggles settled, i couldn't help but also see a lesson or two in it.  This summer God has shown me, if my mind is open to Him, He speaks continuously about issues surrounding me.

I am so grateful God created such a beautiful earth for our existence. But the abuse and neglect of the lands and seas are heartbreaking. What better present to offer Him in thanks for His creation than to care, clean and tend to what He lovingly provided for us.  And in light of the golden rule, shouldn't good stewardship extend to our neighbors by treating them (and their property) as we would like to be treated?

Give thanks, and may you have a bow-tiful day!

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

WTLB... taste

"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him."  Psalm 34:8

 

Summertime offers easy access to a magnificent variety of luscious fruits and vegetables.  Makes me thankful the Lord thought of giving us taste buds!

With each morsel I put in my mouth, I also savor the colors and textures my other senses enjoy.  

This week's "Word to Live By" is TASTE.  Whether you cultivate a taste for new cuisine or munch contentedly on a plain ol' sandwich enhanced by homegrown tomatoes, remember to thank the LORD for all the ways He provides for our delight and our well-being.

May you have the most tasteful week of your life!

Blessings,

Dalene Parker, guest blogger

Words to Live By:  One Word a Week  (TASTE: pages 265-270)

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

dog days of summer

"The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete." John 3:29

How are you surviving these "dog days of summer"?  Besides the saying defining the weather, it also correctly describes the status of my household.

With my daughter and her husband between Army duty stations, they needed temporary housing for their 2 indoor dogs.  Guess where they found it?  As parents do, we opened our arms and home to them.  But already having 2 dogs, doubling the dogs did not exactly double the joy for all.  While one joined us with little fuss, the other, well, let's just say living in solitary is a hard, sad thing for anyone to endure.

Changes in life and routines are met differently by people... and dogs. While one grand-doggie's attitude is oh!-i-love-new-friends and content, the other is i-don't-care-for-other-dogs and downcast. But one fact i know for sure, both of their joys will be completely restored when united with their parents.

Father, no matter where we are, whether we are going through the day in the company of others or alone, I pray the peace and comfort of belonging to You is enough to sustain us.  I am reminded, that on that glorious day, when we are finally united and home with You, our joy too will be complete. 

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

WTLB... lean

"This is what he showed me:  The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in his hand." Amos 7:7

Bible Gateway explains the plumb line referenced above in this way: "A cord weighted with lead that is used in building to check that vertical structures are true. It is used symbolically to refer to the divine standard against which God, the builder of his people, tests and judges them."  

I have so much respect for builders and craftsmen who check their work carefully to ensure structural soundness. Evidently, God expects His people to "build true to plumb" as well.  However, we may occasionally find ourselves leaning and on occasion, depending on our circumstances and stress levels, close to collapsing. Thank goodness, when God convicts us of a need to "straighten up," He also supplies the strength and the encouragement by which to get realigned.  

My cousin Bob pastors a church where members of the congregation feel free to offer heartfelt honest prayers.  One of my favorites was shared by an elderly lady who understood the challenge of remaining upright:  "Lord, prop us up on all our leaning sides."

I'm glad God wants us to LEAN on Him as well as the godly friends and family He provides to "prop us up on all our leaning sides." 

Have a "plumb" wonderful week!

Dalene Parker, guest blogger

Words to Live By:  One Word a Week (pages 259-264)

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

a full lake

"You have taken note of my journey through life, caught each of my tears in Your bottle..." Psalm 56:8 (The Voice)

The lake provided some much needed peace after a whirlwind couple of months. The tranquil beauty of contained waters reminded me of God... Maker of all things and our constant, abiding Comforter.

I could just imagine the shoreline of the lake as the outline of God's Hands... carefully holding each and every tear we've cried.  Whether tears of joy, sorry, excitement, anger, pain, delight, fright -- He has collected and knows the reason for each one.  Nothing, not even a single tear, escapes Him.

Thank You, Father, for knowing and caring for me so completely.  From You, i have no hidden joy or sorry.  You who know all, should be trusted with all i have.  Help me release any and all fears, doubts and troubles to you.   I want to rest in Your still waters of peace.

"Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit." Psalm 147:5

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

WTLB... count

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations, knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."  James 1: 2-4 (KJV)

On the rare occasions when my husband and I entertain friends in our home, we typically provide a delectable dessert.  But not this time. 

In an effort to lose weight and lower blood pressure, our friend Carla was counting points and her husband Ben was counting carbs. We didn't want to sabotage their efforts, so after a fun board game, we offered blueberries for her and mixed nuts for him. For beverages, he selected decaf coffee and she chose Tazo Lemon Loaf hot tea (zero points but oh-so-delicious!). No one felt stuffed or guilty, and we all left the table satisfied. 

I always want my friends to know they can count on me to support their health and wellness. Likewise, I am grateful for the many ways I count on them, especially for wise counsel and prayer support.

With all these references to counting, you may have guessed that this week's Word to Live By is COUNT!  Whether you are counting your blessings, your carbs, your points, or counting on a friend or family member for support, let's make a point of counting it all joy, knowing that once we get past the challenges, we will have gained patience--with ourselves and with others. 

Most of all, we rejoice that we can always COUNT on Christ to supply strength and encouragement for conquering whatever life throws at us.

Blessings,

Dalene Parker, guest blogger

Weekly Words to Live By   https://www.facebook.com/weeklywordstoliveby/

Words to Live By:  One Word a Week (pages 253-258)

are you packed?

"That you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

Getting ready for a long, extensive trip is exhausting and unnerving.  Let's see... shorts, shoes, shirts.  Packing consumes time... pajamas, meds, toiletries.  It requires planning... reading material, sunglasses, suntan lotion.  And no matter how many time i review my list, something always gets left at home... snacks, charger, hat.

Isn't is awesome to know the packing list for our final trip is light, simple and uncomplicated... just give me Jesus!  It requires one thing -- trusting our Father... as we confess and believe.  Our preparation time is spent in peace... just give me Jesus. 

With your packing complete for the golden journey, can you think of anyone who could benefit from your packing knowledge?  Share Him with someone today and lighten their load!

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

Words to Live by... barter

"Give, and it wil be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38 (NIV)

The "Word to Live By" this week is BARTER. My friend Mary just solved our pet problem of not being able to travel this summer by asking me to look after her dogs while she's gone.  

"Sure," I said. "Why don't we barter?  I'll take care of yours and when we need to go somewhere, you can take care of ours."  

Problem solved. Pets content. Minds at ease. Money saved. 

Bartering is a wonderful exchange system. Of course, the greatest bartering of all took place when God exchanged a clean start for my sin-wrecked heart for the blood of His Son Jesus. How can I ever thank Him for such a Gift?  The best way I know is to share Him with others so they, too, make make the barter of a lifetime.

Have a wonderful week of exchanges, giving and receiving that which you treasure.

Blessings,

Dalene Parker, guest blogger

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

Words to Live By:  One Word a Week (pages 247-252)

keep watching, more signs ahead

As our summer outings continue, so do His signs....

U TURN     "Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." 

                  Psa. 34:14

MERGE      "...encourage one another and build each other up..." 

                  1 Thess. 5:11

NARROW   "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to 
BRIDGE       life.." Matt. 7:14         

RIGHT TURN  "The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in

ONLY                  them..."  Hosea 14:9

CONSTRUCTION    "... He who began a good work in you will carry it on 
AHEAD                    to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phil. 1:6

WATCH FOR          "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is

CHILDREN                old he will not turn from it."  Prov. 22:6

No journey is too long or difficult with God.  We can rest in Him always, because He who is faithful will lead us home safely with His mighty signs of love.  

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

let freedom ring!

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1
   

May the bells of freedom be heard everywhere today!

For The One, and the many who died for my freedom, I humbly give thanks. What have I done to deserve such a sacrifice?  Absolutely nothing.

God, our ultimate freedom began with the sacrifice of Your Son for our salvation. You first determined us worthy to save, before we even spoke Your name.  Such a love I cannot fathom. Grace beyond measure. Mercy deeper than the universe.  I celebrate freedom and peace in You.

And to the many selfless soldiers who have and still do fight protecting my homeland, I salute.

I am thankful to be a child of God, and I am thankful to be an American. Long live the free and the brave. May His Peace reign in my heart always.

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

Words to Live By... clean

"For God is not a god of disorder but of peace--as in all the congregations of the Lord's people."  1 Cor. 14:33

I love God's sense of humor and His timing!  After four diligent days in the "dungeon" (our basement) sorting, organizing, and purging the last 20+ years of my teacher "stuff," I emerged to write this blog, not realizing until now that the "word of the week" is CLEAN!  In addition, today marks the first official day of my retirement from full-time teaching, so that's even more of a reason to CLEAN out the old and make room for the new.  Speaking of new, our puppy "Marshmallow" adds an extra opportunity for working the word CLEAN into my life and our home.  She keeps me moving trying to pick up (or prevent) her messes.

For those of you for whom CLEAN is your norm, I salute you.  But if you're like me and usually CLEAN only when company's coming or when disaster strikes, then activating this word provides a bit more of a challenge.

Of course, it helps to remember that God wants us to be orderly and at peace -- and CLEAN is a natural extension of orderliness, offering a sense of peace and welcome to all who enter.

As you CLEAN this week, may you experience a new level of contentment and rest. 

Blessings,

Dalene Parker, guest blogger

Words to Live By:  One Word a Week