I am later then usual this morning. I woke up in the wee hours of the morning wide awake, so I got up for a while and then went back to bed and slept in. The rest felt good.

I am attempting to do something I have never done before and I am channeling my Hebrew heritage, asked God if he could find my grandma up there somewhere and send her to me…I am making “Challah” for the first time in my life. I grew up watching grandma and now it’s my turn. Challah is a Jewish sweet bread that is beautifully braided and adorned with poppy seeds.

To be attempting this today makes me feel so close to those who came before me. The women of my bloodline who walked the path I now walk, and the traditions, lessons and steps my granddaughters will follow because of me.

1 Corinthians 11:2 ESV “Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.”

Is there a recipe or two your grandma used to make that you miss? It’s never too late; give it a try? Are you blessed to have your grandma still, cherish her and learn from her? That way, she will always be with you. My grandma was the best and I miss her everyday but today she and I are baking bread!

So, tucked in my cozy kitchen I shall walk a path my ancients did…I shall make the bread of our traditional sabbaths and celebrations. Wish me luck, and thank you for joining. 🥰

Mark 10:13-16 NCV “Some people brought their children to Jesus so he could touch them, but his followers told them to stop. When Jesus saw this, he was upset and said to them. ‘Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them because the kingdom of God belongs to people who are like these children. I tell you the truth, you must accept the kingdom of God as if you were a little child, or you will never enter it.’ Then Jesus took the children in his arms, put his hands on them, and blessed them.”

Were you loved as a child? Did you have the security of a parent or grandparent? If you had a need or want, was there someone in your world you could trust to supply and be there for you?

If your answer is yes, you are a bit ahead of the race because you already know how to trust. But, what if your answer was No!

What if your parent or parents weren’t there, whether physically or emotionally! What if your needs weren’t met? What if you sadly found yourself as a child in the parent role! What if you were lost or given away.

Did you know you are a child of God? Did you know that you are precious in his sight?

Isaiah 43:4a NCV “Because you are precious to me, because I give you honor and love you.”

John 15:9 NCV “I loved you as the Father loved me. Now remain in my love.”

So, maybe you grew up with this fantasy of a mom or dad, home, dinners at the table every night, schoolwork, baths, and bed. Mom sang in the kitchen as she cooked dinner and the bluebirds sang sweetly outside the window. Keep it pictured in your mind as that’s just the beautiful love our Savior has for you, and you and yes, even YOU!!!

Jesus speaks of us becoming like a child to inherit the kingdom; what exactly might that mean? To me, it means to trust him as a child does a parent or grandparent. To look to him for your needs, guidance, counsel, and most of all, acceptance and love. If you weren’t raised with a model mom or dad, let me surprise you with the knowledge that none of us were. We all had parents that are or were human. They made mistakes just as we do and or did raising our children.

If you put your trust and life in our Father In Heaven’s hands, you will not be disappointed, nor will you ever walk alone. You will finally have that parent you always dreamed of, someone or at the very least something you can trust with your whole heart. The Bible is the word of God, and God’s word never returns void. Open the pages and receive the best hug ever!!!

Isaiah 55:8NCV “The Lord says, “My thoughts are not like your thoughts. Your ways are not like my ways.” Isaiah 55:11 NCV “The same thing is true of the words I speak. They will not return to me empty. They make the things happenn that I want to happen, and they succeed in doing what I send them to do.”

Old Testament, Deuteronomy 31:6 NCV “Be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid of them and don’t be frightened, because the Lord your God will go with you. He will never leave you or forget you.”

New Testament, Hebrews 13:5 NCV “Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. God has said, ‘I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.”

John 1:12-13 NCV “But to all who did accept him and believe in him he gave the right to become children of God. They did not become his children in the human way-by any human parent or human desire. They were born of God.” (Spiritually)

Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. You are one of those children! Be blessed by that and have a wonderful day. Thank you for joining me. 🥰

As you know, I am coming away from an ice storm and five days of no electricity. I discovered that I was not given the gift of service, at least not the benefit of the helping hand kind. I find this embarrassing and suffered spiritual guilt.

A neighbor down the road whom we do not know came over after day one and asked my husband if she could borrow one of our generators for a few hours? My first reaction was “presumptuous,” followed by thoughts that we are instructed to lend and help, followed by the scripture where Jesus warns us always to be ready; yes, it’s for his return, but it’s practical advice nonetheless. Serious spiritual warfare erupted within seconds in my brain.

I was bothered, prayed and asked for forgiveness at my hoarding selfish response and attitude. I talked to my daughter about this and was reminded that He gives to each of us our gifts and callings.

Yet, at this very same time, I have a group of gals that I share online time with, and they are from one end of the United States to the other, one in Ireland and one in Canada. That day one of our TX gals had water pipes burst and I sprung into action, started a pipeline, contacting, making sure she had help, ready to get ahold of my Galveston church to contact Houston church. I had everyone on high alert just in case.

1 Corinthians 4-6 NIV “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works in all men.”

My daughter reminded me that it’s good that I’m aware of my shortcomings and can pray about them, and to remember how the Lord uses me. We all have our gifts.

If we all made casseroles, we would have no teachings by our pastors. No praise and worship music by the writers and the singers. We wouldn’t have devotionals to read and learn from, and we wouldn’t have my husband, who loaded a pick-up full of dry scrap wood for two single moms who only had wood heat amid our storm.

Appreciate the gifts God gave you and use them for his glory. Don’t beat yourself up for the gifts you weren’t given, and always pray for the areas where you can become better.

As always, thank you for joining me. I hope you are blessed and can be a blessing. Have a great day! 🥰

I am a person who has routines, and I don’t adapt to change well. I found that by the fifth day of no electricity, I was starting to unravel. As I was making the bed yesterday, appreciative of the fact that I woke up to heat, I found myself still bogged down in my funk.

So I sat down on the edge of the bed, looked out the bedroom window between my favorite two trees and said a prayer. A short prayer asking the Holy Spirit to fill my spirit and to remove the sludge I was feeling.

I’ve spoken before of the songs we grew up singing in Sunday school; well, right after that prayer, I hear, “He’s got the whole world in his hands.” I sing this childhood song in my head as I finish making the bed.

Getting ready to take a shower and the song has gone from “He’s got the whole world in his hands” to “He’s got my world in his hands, he’s got my whole world in his hands…from there, verses went to my children in his hands, my children and their children in his hands. He’s got my marriage in his hands, my health in his hands, the list went on as I sang and danced in the shower, the hot water cleaning my skin as the Holy Spirit cleansed my soul. He’s got my world in his hands.

It’s an easy song and a catchy tune; make it yours. Satan hates it when we praise God, and nothing makes his darkness flee faster than humming a bar or two of God’s love.

So simple it sounds stupid…it sure worked, though. Be blessed today, be a blessing and thank you for joining me. 🥰

As I sit here this morning, in my favorite spot, under my favorite light, drinking my favorite coffee and reading my favorite book, I am touched by this Scripture.

Mark 1:40-41 NCV “A man with a skin disease came to Jesus. He fell to his knees and begged Jesus, “You can heal me if you will.” Jesus felt sorry for the man, so he reached out his hand and touched him and said, ‘I Will.’ ‘Be healed!’ Immediately the disease left the man, and he was healed.” (other translations read; “He felt compassion for the man”)

There are a couple of things to take away from these two verses. The first is; “He fell to his knees and begged Jesus.” Have you ever hurt so bad, needed so desperately, or worried so intensely that you have gotten on your knees, tears rolling down your face, and begged for his help?

Second; The man said to Jesus, “if you will, not if you can but if you will. He believed that Jesus could indeed heal him and was politely asking if he would be so willing. Jesus’ response makes me feel warm and fuzzy and brings a smile. I Am Willing!!!

Do you have a need, care, a disaster, a hope, or a dream that causes emotions to boil inside you, fearing an eruption at any time? Take them to the cross! Get down on your knees and open your heart to the one who loves you more than you can know or understand.

He is willing, are you?

I am so happy to be back in sunshine. No, not my weather but my heart and this place with all of you. Thank you for joining me this morning; it’s good to be back!!! Be a blessing and be blessed! ❤️🥰

We are still without the conveniences we are used to, working out a system but far from normality. Services are limited to portable devices and mechanics. Praying for normalcy soon. Take Care!

We still have I electricity or internet. Blessed because my husband was a Boy Scout and he’s taking good care of me. The power outage is so wide spread there is n estimate of return.

We are camped in a comfy bedroom and warm. Please pray for those who aren’t as fortunate that our power is restored soon and heat returns.

Talk to you soon. Be blessed!!! Be Safe!!! Be Warm!!!

No cell service. Small amounts of internet due to a jet pack. We have a generator and an electric heater to run from time to time to ward off the cold. Feeling blessed amongst the trials. Stay warm and safe it’s a mess out there!

I’m sorry but I don’t have electricity or internet…outage reported. Return of electricity not expected until tomorrow after 3 p.m.

Prayers for any and all who are in the same situation. Stay safe!