A Tree and Fall

Posted on 30 Oct 2021 by Kathie Whitestone Thompson

Good Saturday morning!

Another week has zipped through our hands. I am wondering how much slipped by without its due notice. No doubt some. From my view vantage this morning I am noticing my parasol tree’s leaves have turned, mostly yellow now.

The sun is shy this morning and the temps are cooler. I think Fall is finally in the air here in LA.

Mainly, I’m just touching base and saying hello. I think I don’t have a lot to say these days.
This world is a mess but GOD is still good.
As beautiful as is my view from this desk I know life is hard and getting more — more what? What is life here? Oh yes — a vapor.

James 4:14 New King James Version
¹⁴whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. source

Listening

Posted on 25 Oct 2021 by Kathie Whitestone Thompson

I just want to say hello. I have nothing startling or even important to say – I think.

As I type I am listening to a sermon by Stephen Davey.
It is from the book of Jonah.

There is so much to learn from Jonah.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/32lG96vtoj6pieI1v0jPwm?si=Nb8XbynbR9q1kuNkkHwz6Q

As we listen, priorities are mentioned and how we can know what our priorities really are – we only need to answer a couple of questions.
Are you game?

A Riding Lawnmower

Posted on 15 Oct 2021 by Kathie Whitestone Thompson

Good morning.

As I sit before this screen, I think I shall be brief — time will tell. 🙂

Matthew 7:13 & 14 Complete Jewish Bible

¹³“Go in through the narrow gate; for the gate that leads to destruction is wide and the road broad, and many travel it;
¹⁴but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it. source

What is a gate?
And can we go through a gate?

Actually, we don’t, we go through the OPENING the gate provides.
A gate is a BOUNDRY. It’s a line drawn that we cannot cross UNLESS the gate opens for us.

So. Gate openings.

We have one in our backyard.
And it is a narrow one.
Someone wants a riding lawnmower. The thing is it can’t be just any riding lawnmower.
The proposed lawnmower cannot exceed a prescribed size. The dimensions must be just so and if not even if the gate is open the lawnmower will not go through.

The GATE of SALVATION is OPEN for EVERYONE but similar to the lawnmower, the prescribed conditions must be met or there is NO ENTRY allowed.

GOD has a prescription for LIFE, Life that we can have (enter, if you please) through the NARROW GATE addressed in Matthew 7:13 and 14.

What is GOD’s prescribed gate to LIFE?
Do you know?
Do you want to know?

Are you willing to look until you find the lawnmower with the right dimensions to fit through the gate?

Romans 10.

Your Pillow

Posted on 13 Oct 2021 by Kathie Whitestone Thompson

I am still in Psalm 34. I’ve been to some other places in Scripture as well but I keep coming back to Psalm 34.

Today it is this:

¹³Keep your tongue from evil
And your lips from speaking deceit.
¹⁴Turn from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.

¹⁵The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,
And His ears are toward their cry for help.
¹⁶The face of the Lord is against evildoers,
To eliminate the memory of them from the earth.

¹⁹The afflictions of the righteous are many,
But the Lord rescues him from them all. source

I’ll be upfront with you. Verse 16. I am eager for it!
But we aren’t there yet. We are closer than we were but we are not there today – perhaps soon!

So in the meantime, it’s the other verses I must concentrate on.
Evil x2. Deceit. Peace.
We are expected to keep our tongues from evil; our lips from deceit; turn from evil on every level and do good instead.
Isn’t it interesting that the next instruction is Seek peace and pursue it?
I submit to you that for us to seek peace, to pursue peace we MUST turn from evil AND do good.
That is not easy in this society BUT it is attainable – otherwise, we would not be instructed here to do so.

How is it possible? Philippians 4:13.

And verse 19?
Take that one to your pillow.
Don’t linger long wondering why did this or that happen to me.
The Righteous have MANY afflictions. It’s just a fact.
That’s what HE said.
BUT HE IS RESCUING US!!

Good night, Friends.
Have a lovely evening – Peace and Rest.

Front Burner

Posted on 9 Oct 2021 by Kathie Whitestone Thompson

Greetings, y’all!

It’s been a pleasant Saturday here in L. A.
Once again there is sunshine encouraging grass and trees to reach for the sky. Birds have sat in the Bradford Pear to sing a bar or two of praise; JT and I have offered some praise too. We have a few fewer things in the attic; a motor covering has been removed and while looking for parts we had a lovely conversation via telephone with a new friend States and States away. There’s bread rising soon to be baked and Somebody’s team kicks off in just a little while.

And as icing on the cake, I am still feeding on Psalm 34.

When did you last read this Psalm penned by David? A man with feet of clay – we all have feet of clay – we all have a story to tell. We all have victories and defeats but do we all consistently practice Psalm 34?

So far the first two verses are on my front burner until my serve improves.

1. I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
²My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad. source