a life blessed

There has been a video passed around on social media since the recent shootings in Las Vegas by the title of 'Dear Hate' by Maren Morris and Vince Gill.  So very timely.  (Watch it below.) Dear Hate  The lyrics made me ponder a bit.  From where does this kind of hate come from...the kind of hate that causes one to snap and begin to plot and plan the demise of as many lives as is possible without even a second thought? ... The kind of hate that lies in wait to take the life of a God-appointed leader with the bend of a single finger?  Where does this kind of hate begin to take root? The line "you whisper down through history and echo through these halls..."  Then the one word itself...'whisper'..... This.  This is how it starts. A whisper. A whisper in one's mind, which turns into a thought, which then, when nurtured, becomes a stronghold. 'Hate' defined is ' an intense or passionate dislike ' and/or ' hostility '. The...

Every Wednesday night at church for the last 6 weeks, Todd has been facilitating a class by Andy Stanley called Life Apps. Sadly, we wrapped up this class with our last session on 'encouragement'. (I have LOVED this class, the people and the discussions we've had, and Todd & I have genuinely missed anyone who was not able to make it to every session!!) In this last session, we learned that, in conversation, there are (6) criticisms to every (1) encouragement. That is a stunning ratio, in my opinion. I have challenged myself today to reverse that ratio, and I have already failed. The words 'we must edify & build up' come out of my mouth almost daily and, as a general rule, I try to be a person who encourages. But have I really made a conscious effort to be intentional with my encouragement? This 'encouragement' session has made me try to focus more on the words that flow from my mouth. This is a good rule of thumb for everyone in ...

This image from 1 year ago popped up on my TimeHop today.   The caption beneath it was this scripture:   "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15). My quiet time today was spent in the Bible study 'Momentum' by Colin Smith, and I was given this same scripture in Romans.  I do not think this is coincidental, nor do I think it is by chance.  I think it was a reminder which was greatly needed in order to help me to not focus on myself nor on the circumstances that surround me, but to focus upward on God and to be aware of how I can walk in the Spirit serving others God places in my path. God's greatest command for us is to love God with all of our heart, soul, strength, and mind. God's 2nd greatest command is to love your neighbor as yourself. (Luke 10:27) Love. Love is the greatest of all these ...  "faith, hope, charity and love". True Love. True love is to be able to rejoice wi...

I love long drives on country roads; one of the benefits of baseball games away.  This showed up on my Timehop today, taken about 4 years ago. This view was on my way to Union City and is always a view I look forward to, especially at certain times in the evening when the sun cast its rays off the tops of the silos making them glisten like diamonds in the sky.  Country roads...Long drives...Wind blowing through the open windows...Music up loud...It's the simple things that can have the greatest impact.  These snapshots were taken on the way to Troy, TN this year.  Not the greatest in the world, but it's the best I could do while driving!  My grandmother & granddad, Mr.& Mrs. Kirk Morror & Oleta Clementine Frazier, had a weeping willow in their front yard. My mom & dad, Mr. & Mrs. Shirl Morror & Shirley Rose Lewis Frazier. also had one in the back yard in my youth.  Lightening struck & killed it at some point. ...

Well, the 'Raptor' finally shut down on us for good. Will cost more to fix it than it's worth.  For a true antique, and our having it 20 out of its 27 years, it has served us BEYOND very well.  I was expecting my oldest when we got it, and he is now 20 years old and soon to be 21! The boys are glad to see it go, even though this is the only vehicle they've ever known their dad to drive. And for that fact alone, I get a little teary eyed to see it go. I remember the boys so excited to wash it for Todd (when they were knee high to a grasshopper!)  I remember their s weet faces as they looked out of the back window, sitting on those little bench seats, smiling with their big grins, and waving goodbye as their dad took them to preschool and then on to 'big' school.  That turned into the dreaded look of doom on their faces knowing they would have to squish those long legs into that little truck and under all the book bags, satchels and Todd's baseb...

During my quiet time today, I read a good word in relation to the disappointment you might face with your world leaders. It was geared towards world leaders, but it is a good word for ANY disappointment we might face in any arena of our life. The following is an adaptation from this devo with words extracted straight from the reading mixed with my own gleanings: "WE HAVE MISPLACED OUR FAITH. Buried beneath the panic we feel due to the state of our 'world/church/job/life' is systemic disappointment. This makes us feel weak and pathetic, so instead of owning our disappointment - in our country, in our world leaders, in our church, in our jobs, in one another, and God help us, in ourselves - WE RAGE. Mad feels better than sad. It's painful to long, in the words of Hebrews 11:16, for a better country and embrace the hard, cold fact that we are strangers and exiles on earth (Hebrews 11:13). " Grieve, mourn, and weep, " James 4:9-10 says. " Turn...

In the book 'The Circle Maker', Mark Batterson speaks of the life of a carob tree, stating that we must have a carob tree mentality when praying, praying long and praying hard.   I did a bit of research on the carob tree, as I was intrigued by this.  The carob tree takes years to start bearing fruit, as early as 6 years, but it can bear fruit for up to 80-100 years. Although irrigation does help its production, it can thrive in dry areas.   In a world of instant gratification, we are not accustomed to bearing these times of drought in our lives.  We pray 'pop-up' prayers wanting them to be answered as soon as we finish praying. We pray, and then expect a "presto" answer as toast popping out of a toaster.   The truth is, "As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given" (Daniel 9:23), however, you may not see the answer for quite some time, maybe not even for years and years.  The ability to withstand these periods of drought is the s...