Sometimes it's difficult to be thankful for the circumstances surrounding us, isn't it?  Those circumstances can include a relative, a friend, a weather forecast or a health condition.  But in the midst of a trial how do you stay positive?  How do you keep the words of your mouth sweet and encouraging for others?  Well, you can't...not of your own power.  That's when you reach for the Word of God and pray.  Pray and linger over the scripture and just listen.  Listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit as you meditate on the words He speaks to you through the Bible. 

In Psalm 18, beginning in verse 30 it reads, "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless.  He is a shield for all who take refuge in him." Continuing in verse 36, "You give me your shield of victory; and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.  You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn."

There are so many wonderful blessings given to us in these two verses.  First, God reminds us that His way is perfect...His word is flawless...meaning, we can't go wrong listening and obeying His instructions.  Then scripture reminds us that God is our shield!  If we take refuge in the Lord, if we stand behind our Almighty Father, His shield will protect us from any flaming arrow that is shot in our direction.  Then we are told we will be victorious...God's right hand will sustain us...then those loving words that models the action of a parent towards a child...."you stoop down to make me great."   God, the Creator of heaven and earth, will stoop down....wow....to make me great?

Then the final blessing....God will broaden the pathway we walk so even our ankles will not turn on the journey.  Personally, this means a lot to me since I was a kid that was always turning my ankles growing up on those rural graveled roads and driveways.  I can visualize God taking out the gravels that slow me down so I can walk upright, not fearing the dangers on the pathway that would harm me.

So, I pray you will have a day full of the blessings of God.  I pray you will realize God is your SHIELD, His Word is FLAWLESS, He is our REFUGE, through Him we are VICTORIOUS, He is our SUSTAINER, and He is our LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER, who stoops down to make us great!  God bless, my friends!

Well, hopefully this marks the first day of a week filled with sunshine and better weather.  I am praying this is true for all of us regardless of where we're hanging our hats today!  I have been busy with posting Bucket List comments and learning so much from God's Word.  It's the only book I know that keeps on giving and keeps on teaching no matter how many times you read the same page or passage!

As I have mentioned before, I appreciate your prayers for my mom.  She's home, but feeling tired and weak.  I'm sure that's normal after almost an entire week of an IV and being treated for an infection.  I continue to worry, of course, but God is good and although I wanted them to have a nice two-week break from the winter weather this year in Virginia, I'm sure God has a purpose in it all.  "As for God, his way is perfect...He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him."  Psalm 18:30, 36 

Have a wonderful day in the Lord, my friends!  God bless!

Wow, what a day!  Gary and I attended another local church, Colonial Baptist, this morning,  Wonderful sermon...still reminds me of the church where I grew up as a child.  I think the reason I feel this way has to do with the number of senior citizens involved in churches in the Venice area.  Older adults love the old hymns, the King James Version of the Bible and services that linger.  Next week, however, we are attending church with Gary's cousin and family in Sarasota.  We are enjoying experiencing all the adventures of worshipping with the family of God. 

I finished the devotional thought for the week on the legend of St. Valentine.  I hope you enjoy it.  Then I began the comments for the Bucket List Bible Study.  Sundays are beginning to be busy days for getting my website ready for the week!

I hope all of you are doing well.  There is a rumor that the cool weather might move out of this area this week.  I'm certainly going to enjoy that break, if it comes.  Please stay safe and let me hear from you!  My mom was discharged from the hospital today!  Please continue to pray for her to regain her strength....it's been quite a week for her.  God bless!

Ever wondered how you keep your mind dwelling on the "sunnyside" of life when circumstances aren't so sunny?  This week has been one of those series of days when the sun has disappeared behind the clouds....symbolically and literally. 

What keeps us from hiding our heads in the sands to block out the disappointments of life?  The faith that is built on the ever present Rock of Jesus Christ.  When we look around and always find someone is experiencing worse roadblocks than have been hurled at us and we begin to feel ashamed to be complaining...that's part of the solution. 

Remember, the sun will shine again, illnesses will be healed whether eternally or earthly, the rain will cease, the warm breezes will blow and peace will again be felt.  So whatever this past week has brought into your lives, remember that Jesus loves you and the Creator of heaven and earth still sits on the His Throne surrounded by majesty and truth.  Use times as these to sit at the foot of the Cross and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit whisper, "For I know the plans I have for you....plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

My sincere thanks for all of you who have been praying for my mom.  She is still in the hospital, but her health is improving.  Remember tomorrow is Valentine's Day....do something "sweet" for one you love....whether a spouse, a relative or a dear friend.  God is love and He wants us to "pass it on"....God bless!

I came across a couple of nuggets in my enormous "bag" of scrapbooking items.  The first one was written on a card that I treasure which reads "Never underestimate the wonderful things you're capable of...the impact of your dreams and ideas, your uniqueness, and all you have to offer.  Never underestimate the special person you are...and what you can become."  I especially liked this sentiment since women have a very hard time believing in their self-worth and uniqueness.  However, with the help of "girlfriends" we are reminded over coffee and conversation that we are beautiful, needed and precious to God and to each other.  This card struck a cord in me and it was written on the front of a high school graduation card! 

The second little nugget was a line written on a card I received from one of my dear girlfriends in Virginia.  I always loved these words.  It says, "A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words."  With aging relatives and seeing the impact of memory loss in lives today, isn't it comforting to know that a friendship can comfort and remind us of days gone by even when we're struggling to remember the events of today?  

So this is my blog for today.  I am full of gratitude and appreciation for my girlfriends.  Those who have encouraged me, comforted me, undergirded me in times of trouble, held my hand and prayed me through times of illness and spanned my life from birth until today.  God is so good.  God bless and have a wonderful weekend!

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21 

My thanks and deepest gratitude for your prayers for my mom.  She is currently in the hospital diagnosed with a severe urinary tract infection.  With an IV administered, the doctors are "flushing" out her system and she is receiving excellent medical care.  My brother and his wife took my dad home last night to rest and, after speaking by phone with Dad with morning, he seems to be doing fine and was to go back to the hospital today.  My mom will be staying in the hospital for several days as the doctor wants to make sure the infection is erased.

My parents were to fly down to Florida on Saturday and that trip will be delayed.  We are praying they will be able to make the trip within a week, but we'll see.  For now, we are very thankful everyone is safe and finally we hear today the roads in Lynchburg are clearing and maybe the snow is gone....Pittsburgh, I hear, is another story.  Hit from the south with snow, today the snowfall is coming from the north...a lake effect precip.  I know everyone is going crazy being indoors for so long....and the schools....well, it might be a long June for everyone.

Hopefully winter will soon be over.  God bless, my friends!

Hi, my internet buddies.  Well, this morning I received word from my dad that my mom got sick during the night and they are headed to the emergency via the ambulance.  Sometimes when it rains, it pours.  My aunt's viewing is tonight and the graveside services are tomorrow and my mom is in the hospital.  I'm praying it's nothing major.  After all, my mom is 87 years old and to process the death of her sister is hard, I'm sure.  My mom comes from a strong line of women.  She is one of four girls.  The oldest, Edna, lived to be almost 90 (a few weeks shy of her birthday) and now mom's recently deceased sister, Rene,  just turned 90 the end of December.  Mom is next oldest and then she has a younger sister, Ruby.  My Papa was a tobacco farmer and since he had no boys, these girls helped him in the fields in Virginia. 

One of my sweetest memories lately of my mom and her sisters was a few years ago on my mom's birthday in April.  I took the four of them out to lunch to celebrate.  I had a blast with these women.  They so enjoyed being taken out for lunch and they were so cute in their discussions.  It was one of the best things I ever did....and I have a picture th

So, I'd ask for your prayers during this time.  I'm 12 hours away and I have felt torn more than once with the distance I live away from home.  But to tell you the truth, the main lesson I've continued to learn....make memories....lots of them while your relatives and friends are living.  Once you receive word they're gone your chance at a visit, a call, a card, or lunch out is no more.  Take care my friends....thank you in advance for your prayers.

Well, friends....do you know how difficult it is to facilitate an internet Bible study when the internet is down????  Well, that has been my experience this morning,.  Gary also has shared in those frustrations since his tax business depends on the waves of technology!  But God is good, we got through until we replace our wireless "box", I believe the terminology is "rooter"?  Anyway, I'm happy to report my internet work is almost done for the day.

Yesterday was a wonderful day of worship with our new friends at South Venice Baptist Church.  It honestly reminded me of days gone by at Flat Creek Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virignia.  They use the old hymnal, the service took a while and the Lord's Supper was performed like I remember long ago....first the bread was served and then everyone sat down and ate and then the "wine" was served and the same thing happened.  The congregation was basically older, as in 70's and 80's, but there were young people around. 

There was a gentleman that welcomed us (and many, many people did welcome us) and as he shook Gary's hand, he reached over and shook my hand with his left hand....and he commented, "I'm using my left hand, but that means it's coming from my heart!"  How incredibly sweet!  And one of the women that welcomed us introduced herself as Virginia.  As Gary asked her how long she had been going to this church, she proudly replied she was a charter member.  Of course that opened the door for Gary to ask her if she knew Mary McCreary, one of our lovely senior members in our church in Pittsburgh.  In fact, Mary told us about SVBC.  Don't you know Virignia shared that Mary had been her SS teacher years ago!  What a very small world.  Virginia was delighted to hear Mary is doing well.  God is good, isn't He?  He provides Christian fellowship no matter where we are!  

I would ask that you remember my Mom and her sister, Ruby in your prayers.  Their oldest sibling, Rene, passed away on Sunday after encountering a sudden and fatal stroke.  Rene had just celebrated her 90th birthday on December 27th.  Mom's oldest sister, Edna, passed away a couple of years ago a few weeks shy of her 90th birthday.  These girls were daughters of a tobacco farmer and having no brothers they worked the fields with my Papa Cundiff.  I would appreciate your prayers for them in the coming days and that the weather will allow the arrangements to take place without delay.

HI friends, today Gary and I are headed to South Venice Baptist Church.  Recommended by one of our folks in Pittsburgh who previously lived here, we are excited to venture out and meet some fellow Christians while staying in Venice.  We have already discovered an Italian dinner being given at the church on the 14th with a special guest that will not only speak, but sing.  So, we continue to explore and enjoy....may all of you be able to travel to your churches with all the snow blanketing the mid-Atlantic region.  If not, have your own service...read God's Word, sing and give a word of testimony aboout the Lord's goodness and protection!  God bless!