A Pile of Ashes by Sandra Drescher

It was late in the fall when I went camping with a group of friends. The only heat in our cabin was a fireplace. Before we went to bed, we built a big fire, which hopefully was to last all night. But in the morning, all that remained was a pile of ashes. By blowing on the hot ashes and putting small shavings of wood and pieces of paper on them, the fire was soon rekindled.

Jesus probably sees my life as a pile of ashes sometimes. In the ashes of coming to the end of my own resources, He breathes new life into me and rekindles my flame. My fire must not only last until the next morning, but for all eternity.

Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me go on and speak further to the Lord, though I am but dust and ashes (Gen. 18:27 LB).

Thank You, Jesus, for the breath of Your Spirit blowing in me. Grant that my flame will always be kindled for your ministry. Amen.

Happy Tuesday, my Friends!  Thursday’s a coming! Give Thanks!  Many, Many Thanks!!

Holy hugs, kt

Praying for These

Living for Others by Sandra Drescher

When my brother returned from visiting friends, he brought a recipe with him for homemade bread. He liked it so well that he wanted to learn to make it himself. His first loaves weren’t as good as those his friends had made, but he kept trying, and each time turned out better. Soon our family thought his bread was better than any other kind.

Doing good deeds is like baking bread. The more often I do them, the easier they become. When it becomes natural to do things for others, I can no longer be satisfied with living only for myself.

He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need (Eph. 4:28 NIV).

Thank You, Father, for the desire to do good deeds. Make them so much a part of my life that I would be uncomfortable not doing them amen.

AMEN and amen!  Couldn’t have said it better myself as we countdown to Thanksgiving Day!!  Remember Praying for These.

Holy hugs, kt

Monday, November 15, 2010

I hope you all have had a refreshing weekend. Jerry and I are a  bit puny with sinuses – scratchy throat, some coughing, all over yucky feeling. But the good news is we’ll get better! Like it or not our physical well being affects our spirits. It takes more effort to go the extra mile when you don’t ‘feel’ like going the first one. But we’ll leave that right there and move on.

Since I have few words of my own tonight … hard to believe I know; please enjoy with me a poem by Helen Steiner Rice, A Collection of Love Gifts (ISBN 978-1-59789-696-2)

Brighten the Corner Where You Are

We cannot all be famous or be listed in “Who’s Who,” But every person great or small has important work to do,

For seldom do we realize the importance of small deeds or to what degree of greatness unnoticed kindness leads–

For it’s not the big celebrity in a world of fame and praise, But it’s doing unpretentiously in undistinguished ways

The work that God assigned to us, unimportant as it seems, That makes our task outstanding and brings reality to dreams —

So do not sit and idly wish for wider, new dimensions where you can put in practice your many good intentions–

But at the spot God placed you begin at once to do little things to brighten up the lives surrounding you,

For if everybody brightened up the spot on which they’re standing by being more considerate and a little less demanding,

This dark old world would very soon eclipse the Evening Star if everybody brightened up the corner where they are!

Isaiah 58: (The Message) ^9-12“If you get rid of unfair practices, quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other people’s sins, If you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out, Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight. I will always show you where to go. I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places— firm muscles, strong bones. You’ll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry. You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You’ll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.

Physically thriving or striving to thrive, I am so grateful to be Yours. So grateful to call You, ABBA. So grateful for the work You are doing in Your Church. Grateful and looking forward to seeing what will happen next.  HOLY SPIRIT, I ask You to minister Your Word here to each heart.  And as Sula comes to mind, I pray for her, for You to comfort her and I pray You will prompt us who live close by to give her space and company as she needs. And I pray for Lenore. ABBA, You know the need there, You know the concern and I pray for some soon good news. And I am remembering our IDOK Troops for safety and protection, remembering too our Praying for These, and for Israel, and An Awakening for America and revival of Your saints — all this, ABBA, I bring in JESUS NAME. Amen and amen.

Holy hugs, kt

Post Script … a Reminder of our Second Give-Away. Click here to go to that post and make your comment for the drawing.  Drawing will be after 8:00 PM tonight (Monday).