Sandwich Spread of Life

When I stayed at my Grandma and Pap-Pap Romigh’s as a youngster, lunch time was my favorite meal. My Grandmother was a diabetic and had to eat regularly, so lunch was served promptly at noon. We always sat at the table, dishes were set in quaint style, and the Virginia ham and cheese placed on a platter. The freshest white bread was always used, crisp lettuce, and neatly sliced tomatoes. I stacked all the fixings between the slices of bread, but what really made the sandwich delightfully tasty was the sandwich spread which I thought could only be found in Grandma’s fridge. The special mayonnaise spread melded together all the flavors in my mouth and my taste buds would anticipate the next bite with eagerness.

How long has it been in your Christian walk since your heart thirsted for Jesus with eagerness? How long has it been since you open the Bible and spent time in His word? How long has it been since you took the time to pray sincerely with adoration to a Father who longs to hear from you? How long has it been?

Maybe God seems so far away, because you have distanced yourself from Him. He sets the table for you everyday as my Grandparents did for me. He showers us with the smallest details of His glory such as waking up for a new day. He says,

“I’m here.”

Yet you threw the covers off in anguish because morning had arrived too soon and your husband forgot to set the alarm. He tried the giggles of your children as you slumbered to the coffee pot, but you didn’t hear Him. You just grumbled because there was no cream for your java. Then the race began to get the children ready, to get you ready, and then conquer the quest of the day. All the while He kept whispering,

“I’m here…..talk to me… I long for you today…”

You just kept going. He provided a rain the night before which made everything look so green and full of life. He put the lilacs in bloom and made them fragrant for you to smell, but you didn’t even notice His perfume. He sent many smiles your way, but no smile was returned back from you. Then He attempted to get your attention with the beautiful sunset. It was a barrage of majestic colors ranging from deep orange to brilliant purple. This would surely get your attention and remind you of the Savior, even if the day was almost ending. No, you just thought of tomorrow and missed his knock on your door once again. Yes, He set the table for you. He made everything appealing to get your attention, but Jesus wasn’t important. He was at the bottom of your list. You went to bed earlier than expected…….tired…….irritated…… and angry you hadn’t accomplished enough during the day. You couldn’t sleep well. You kept waking up with thoughts racing through your mind about the list you had already prepared for tomorrow.

Let me tell you a little secret. If you’re in the presence of the Lord everyday in prayer, reading His word, in thought, and in deed………it’s the sandwich spread of life. Remember, the sandwich spread made the sandwich with all the fixings just meld together in my mouth as my taste buds anticipated the next bite with eagerness. You already know and believe in Jesus (the sandwich and all the fixings), but being in His presence(the sandwich spread) on a daily basis makes life meld together with a peaceful contentment that can only come from knowing and loving Him.


“Come near to God and He will come near to you.” James 4:8


“Sense”sational Thought for Today...
Take five minutes today and the rest of this week to just sit in quietness. Don’t read the word of God or pray during the five minutes. Just sit and think about Christ. Let God through His Holy Spirit reveal to you His agenda for your day or for your tomorrow. After doing this for a week, increase the time spent in a quiet moment with Jesus. It will change your life and bring peace and contentment.

A Prayer for Today...
Let me walk with you this day my Lord. Help me to see you always…even in the simple things. Please bring to my attention the beautiful gifts you give in the laughter of children and the smile of a friend. Make my heart desire you…thirst for you…long for a quiet moment with you. Amen.

Chains Loosed, Freedom Abounds

My friend was excited yesterday because her mother was coming for a visit. It brought such pleasure to my heart to see the spark of joy in her eyes and the bounce in her voice as she eagerly anticipated a chance to catch up with the one who held her in the womb...her mother. I only stayed a short while and as I traveled back home in the car my mind wondered what it would be like to joyfully anticipate my mom's arrival for a visit.

O how I long for a mothers love. I want to imagine the touch of pure joy upon my face from the stroke of her hand and sweet eyes of adoration that pierce the soul. Despite this deep longing within, I have to find the joy, have peace, and understand what I am to learn from my Heavenly Father in the midst of the pain.

This I know...MY JESUS LOVES ME and I have felt the touch of the Master's hand! He has blessed me with three wonderful gifts in my children. He has entrusted me with their care for they truly belong to Him. My children will know the touch of a mother's love upon their cheek. They have already seen the eyes of mom's adoration piercing their hearts with praise. They know they are loved not just by me and their father, but more importantly by Jesus. The generational chains have been loosed and freedom does abound and the vicious cycle has been broken! Praise be to God!

A Kiss Before the Womb

As the pastor prayed over the anniversary couple, he requested they be blessed from eternity from which they came until eternity to which they will return. Most people probably heard this spoken the same as I, but maybe none other than myself have pondered this thought since.

Why can’t I remember eternity from which I came or does the Lord give me glimpses and I miss his sweet message of love and adoration? Jesus also came from eternity, has returned, and sits at the right hand of the Father. Did God hold me sweetly in His arms and kiss my forehead before placing me in my mother’s womb? After all, God tells Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5,

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,…”

He must have known me as well! He must have known you!

Think me a fool for my thoughts…than a fool I am for the sake of Christ and loving it!

Prayer at the North Window

I have been wrestling with God these past couple of weeks wondering why he has not brought us a buyer for our home in Iowa. We moved to Pennsylvania this summer and bought our current home in July. We have been making double mortgage payments now for seven months and as you can expect, it has taken a toll on our finances.

I am determined even more so to continue in earnest prayer and ask the Lord to send us a buyer. So much so, I have dedicated myself to at least one time per day kneeling or laying prostrate at the north window of my home in prayer over this matter and many other pressing issues concerning family, church, and our country.

Why the north window? I'm not really sure, except to me...north...is where heaven's home is for this earthly vessel of mine. It is the closest spot in which I look upwards and seek my God. I will wrestle with the Lord my God as Jacob did and I will not quit asking until the Lord returns a blessing unto my family, church, and country.

Will you join me at the north window and wrestle with God for issues of great need in your own life, for your church, and for your country? Why not? You can never go wrong with prayer!

A Cord of Three Strands

We all seek purposefulness in our lives. This desire for purpose within all of us is fulfilled to some degree by the job we hold or a title we have achieved. But what happens when our assumed purpose has driven us to the likeness of a dog that chases his tail, spinning oneself to dizzy state of unawareness and futility.

It seems unjust when failure strikes because we have worked so hard to produce an outcome of success. However, we must remember, failure is success turned inside out. Babe Ruth struck out many more times than he actually hit home runs, but is known as one of the greatest hitters in the history of baseball. So we must never, never, never quit as Winston Churchill once stated for we never know when or how success will appear had we stuck it out!

Unfortunately, defeat will come with taunts and lies from Satan who tries earnestly to make us believe we can never make a difference in a world which boasts in its evil ways. Fortunately, the victory is alreaday ours through Christ Jesus. So let us keep up the good fight as Paul tells Timothy and lift the chin of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ with encouragement for one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves, but a cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

Why is it so hard to love our family well as compared to others in our lives? I struggle with this question often, but especially around the holidays. I ponder how I should act and what I should say even with simple phone conversations. It causes me great stress and burdens my heart to the point at which my inner spirit yells a blood curdling, "RETREAT!". An about face withdraw seems to be my best defense against a good tongue lashing towards others who, in my eyes, truly deserve the harsh treatment of honest words!

In the agony of my defeat, I become quiet almost to the point of silence. I withdraw and hold my weapon clenched behind my teeth with lips sealed. Unfortunately, I can not hush the random thoughts of anguish and hurt which swirl within my mind. So many "whys" get asked bouncing between the right and left brain followed by tears of pain. Have I once again expected more from others than what is able to be given? I wish the word "expect" could just be dropped from the whole English language.

I don't like disappointments, but life is full of them. I dislike greatly the walls we build to protect our hearts, but everyone of us does it. A negative word is never forgotten, but we have all done it to another. I guess these three things are why I'm holding myself back from visiting family. I don't want to be a disappointment, build walls, or speak a negative word. I figure time heals all wounds and in time I will get past the anger and be able to love well again. The best medicine for a tongue that wants to lash out is to stay away from that which arouses the tongue to anger, pray, and seek the face of Jesus.

My Grown Up Christmas List

This is mine and my husband's favorite Christmas song! Click the link below and have a wonderful Christmas!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvuTHCLB3o0

Hush My Child...Love Jesus

Hush now do you hear me sing,
I sing to you a song of peace.
The day comes near,
When I was born,
To quiet the ache of the soul.

Hush now do you hear me sing,
I sing to you a song of joy.
For though I was born,
That I might die,
Hope arose from behind the stone.

Hush now do you hear me sing,
I sing to you a song of love.
Sing back to me my sweet child,
There is no greater gift I should want,
Than for you to believe in me and rejoice!

Do you hear him? He is waiting and longing to sit awhile and talk with you. Slow down from the hustle and bustle of this Christmas season...just five minutes...and let Christ sing over you! Let him renew you with his peace, fill you with his joy, and lavish you with his love!

Click Below Link and Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/v/Z_ypUnnqr8Y&autoplay=0

All Paid Up

As I shopped for groceries, my son asked if he could have a small chocolate milk as a treat. I put it in the cart with the rest of our things and began to check out. The chocolate milk was the first up and the cashier asked if we wanted it left out. Of course my son wanted to carry it so the lady put a bright orange oval sticker on the container of milk. In bold black letters was the word PAID.

I didn’t think much of it at first, but as we left the store my son stuck the sticker on the palm of his hand. He chuckled and said,

“Look mom I’m paid for.”

I glanced down at his hands and my mind immediately flashed to Jesus on the cross. As we walked out to the parking lot and the misty rain hit our faces, I agreed with my son. I told him he is paid for…. by the blood of the lamb. Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sin so that we might find freedom in Him. He paid a debt he did not owe all because he loves us!

So remember this Christmas...Jesus came that He might die...die to give us life!

Play Your Drum

It was evening, but the sky was bright, lit by an amazing star that brought brilliance and joy to the darkness. The sound of a baby’s coo from the manger’s straw floor and the sight of a man and woman gazing in wonderment made the night glow even brighter.First, cattle appeared, then goats and sheep, followed by shepherds from the fields. They came…they bowed…they wept kissing the baby’s hand and the mother’s cheek.

The boy watched from afar between the rails of a fence. His drum and drumsticks, the only thing he owned, lay quietly beside him as he continued to watch unknowingly the event of a lifetime. He witnessed others come and set gifts down as they bowed before the babe. The little drummer boy was so intrigued and wanted so much to get a little closer. Hours had passed and now sitting beside his drum, he came to the exciting conclusion that this child must be a King. This child, he thought, must be the one his grandfather had told him about…the child that would come to save the sin sick world.

O, how he wanted to get a glimpse of the baby, but he had no gift. How could he walk up to a King and have no gift to give? His chin collapsed to his chest and he closed his eyes in utter disappointment of not having something fitting for a King. His eyes felt wet and when he opened them a tear drop raced down his cheek. He raised his hand to wipe the tear and the sound of his drumsticks rolling off the top of his drum caused him to look at his only possession.

“My drum…I’ll play my drum for the one who will save me!”

He picked the drum up, slung it around his neck, and stood tall clasping a drumstick in each sweaty hand. He took a deep breath and began to play, prrrr rump pa pum pum…his feet began to move and march in military style…prrrr rump pa pum pum…those who were standing…those who were bowing…the animals and the baby’s mother looked towards the small boy. The sound of his drum echoed sweetness to all! Tears flooded the drummer boy’s face, but he dared not stop giving the only gift he had to offer. It was all he had to give his King!

Will we as God’s children choose to get off the fence and give back to our King the gift He has given us as the little drummer boy did? Will we be bold enough to put Christ back into Christmas and march to the beat of a different drum by using our God given gifts to echo the sweetness of Jesus to those around us? Do you fear your Lord enough that you dare not stop giving the only gift you have to offer? If you feel you have no gift to give, share the one gift that has been given to you…the story of Jesus Christ!