Meat for the Hungry

“In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes .” [1] God’s heart is b r e a k i n g and His Spirit is grieved over the tragedy and chaos this nation has experienced just in 2018. Some say from January 1 st to February 14 th there has been eighteen school shootings. Snopes website, quoting The Washington Post says, “No, only five” [2] . But even one is too many. My heart also breaks, not merely for the Parkland, Florida school shooting victims and their families, but for every school shooting victim since the first, Columbine. Last week this insanity came closer to home. A Jackson Middle School student shot himself in the school restroom and he has now succumbed to his wounds. At first the shooting was thought to be accidental, but later being labeled a suicide. Sadly, it seems the panic arising from the Jackson Middle School shooting may have spurred a social media threat to at least one of our local schools causing severa...

Consider all the scripture we so confidently stand on when we are healthy, job secure, and happy, does it hold true when we are sick, in need of financial aid, lonely and sad? If we are genuine believers, we know the answer is YES. Nevertheless, in the midst of trials, sometimes it’s hard to keep the faith and believe. I’m going through such a test right now. I have been diagnosed with Vertigo, a deep inner ear inflammation that causes dizziness and nausea. The ER Doc says it has to run its course. But when will that be? I’ve prayed for healing, yet I’m still waiting. I’m a busy, energetic, working woman reduced to lying flat in my bed and sleeping most of the time. I can’t serve the Lord this way and He knows it. I don’t know what to do and I don’t know when I will be better. I’m tempted to fear. But I know, deep down in my soul, God is good, no matter what. He has not given me a spirit of fear . No, He’s given me a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.  God loves me an...

Have you been n a u g h t y or extra n i c e this year? Will you receive a lump of coal in your stocking or everything you wished for? “You better watch out…Santa Claus is coming to town.” Remember, “He’s making a list; and checking it twice; gonna find out who’s n a u g h t y a n d n i c e …He sees you when you’re sleeping…knows when you’re awake. He knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake!” [1] Aww, C h r i s t m a s fun!  Interestingly, a few days ago I stumbled upon a website where you can actually ask Santa if you are on the “ N A U G H T Y o r  N I C E ” list.  Yes indeedy,  folks!  Step right up, because at: http://www.claus.com/naughtyornice/nn_hmpg2.php you will find Santa’s  N i c e -o- M e t e r .   By typing in your name and then clicking the “ASK SANTA” button, you can see where you stand on Santa’s N a u g h t y o r N i c e scale.

So THANKFUL for my beautiful Mom (center) and Aunts. Driving home from work Wednesday night before T h a n k s g i v i n g , my eyes caught the McDonald’s restaurant signboard. They were advertising a “Big Breakfast Thanksgiving morning.” A question quickly came to mind. “Who would go to McDonald’s for this big breakfast Thanksgiving morning?” I answered myself almost immediately, with an envious reflection, “Probably anyone who doesn’t have a ton of cleaning, cooking and baking to do.” I had worked late, I was tired, and a bit cranky. But then, my thoughts were on to something else. I think I reviewed all the ingredients I purchased earlier, making sure before I drove all the way home, I hadn’t forgotten anything. To me, T h a n k s g i v i n g has always been about thanking God for His blessings in my life the past year. However, this morning, I remembered McDonald’s sign and I got to thinking about the people who just might have attended the “Big Breakfast” feast. ...

Summer transitioning to fall gives me much more difficulty than any other seasonal change. I mean, winter to spring is a roller-coaster ride. I’m up when the air has warmed, but down when the skies darken and snow flurries return. Still, I know magnificent spring is only days away. Spring to summer is exciting and much easier. The warm weather just gets warmer. I bask the beauty of God’s handiwork enjoying intense sunlight and longer days. Fall to winter also doesn’t seem to affect me as much. I’ve already become accustomed to less daylight and cooler temps and, of course, holiday anticipation keeps me in high spirits. Nevertheless, when the shorter, gray days of fall appear, I feel gloomy and down. I become very introspective, thinking things need to change in my life, but not sure what or how they should change. Sometimes, I seem to disengage, just going through the motions of living. Maybe some of you are like me. And if so, what will it take for us to maintain li...

Pennsboro, West Virginia When I was young and still, as I am old, I am amazed by God’s creation, not only flora and fauna i.e. trees, flowers, and animals, but the sky above and the earth beneath.  And I’ve always loved different and unique stones. Some stones I’d find on my hikes were the white or “lucky” stones and others furrowed with colors of tan , brown , and orange , peppered with golden sparkles. Out the back door, through the pastures greeting curious cows as I walked, finally arriving in the small wooded area perfectly framed by our upstairs window. This was my special place. It was shaded, cool, and quiet. Yet, in spots, the sun broke through beaming its rays like lasers. There, some stones I found were green and almost appeared to be alive. But no, it was only moss. And rinsing them with pond water sometimes yielded treasures. Northeast Ohio sky It tickles me now when my grandchildren find stones and say, “Look, Grammy, isn’t is pretty?” For a momen...

Have you read the book of Jeremiah lately?  Last month the Lord led me to Jeremiah chapter five. I don’t remember what I was studying at the time or even the reason I was reading Jeremiah five, but when I read verse 22, my breath caught. I’m sure I’ve read Jeremiah 5:22 hundred times in my 30 plus years of walking with God, but that day was different. “Do you not fear Me?' says the Lord. ‘Will you not tremble at My presence, Who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it? And though its waves toss to and fro, yet they cannot prevail; though they roar , yet they cannot pass over it.’” [1] When I saw the portion, “…Who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass over it?” my mind immediately pictured the ocean at Sunset Beach, North Carolina, with its soft, white sand. As I stood there gazing across the seemingly endless blue-green water, I remember the squawk of the seag...