Even though the truth is I never understood the song “Tin Man” by the music band, ‘America,’ and the words have some pretty poor grammar, my favorite line is, ‘Oz never did given nothin’ to the Tin Man that he didn’t already have.’ I think everyone remembers Dorothy and her three companions going to Oz. Oz really didn’t give them anything except the realization of what they already had. The brain, the heart, the courage.

Courage. The Word tells us, ‘For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.’ (2 Timothy 1.7.) There is no time for casual faith. The Word tells us, ‘The thief comes, to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’ (John 10.10) What thief and what is he stealing?’

The thief is our enemy – the devil. The thief takes our hope, our life, our happiness, our loved ones.. and so on. Jesus came to give life and gave us the power to overcome the evil in our world. Jesus gave us the power to help those around us, but we need to be aware and we need courage. Abraham had courage. Genesis 14.14-16 says, “When Abraham heard that his nephew had been captured, he armed …. 318 trained servants …and pursued the enemy….and he brought back all the goods and also brought back his kinsman..and his possessions, the women and …”

This is one of my favorite examples of a believer hearing his family is in trouble and he ‘goes and gets them.’ This speaks to me to pray for God to use me to fight the devil (and a great big fight it is sometimes) and ‘get my family’ back. We are in battle every day. Prayer and putting our faith into action is how we have the courage to rescue our loved ones. Luke 19.46 says, ‘(Jesus) said to them, “My house will be a house of prayer…” ‘

It is my heart, and the Heart of the Father, for God to do a miracle for everyone in my family and everyone I meet. Others have tried to convince me that in order for people to have prayers answered, the person being prayed for must be ‘willing’ to receive a miracle. That may be true and it may not be true. I read in Joshua 2.13, where Rahab asks for her family and states, ‘and save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all they have and deliver us from death.’ AMEN. She prayed for her loved ones and her prayer was answered.

Also in Esther, I see her, her uncle Mordecai, and all the Jews fasting and praying for God to intervene. They were ordinary people who became heroes to those they loved. I am ordinary and believe that for ‘such a time as this’ (Esther 4.14) God has called me to pray and fast for my kindred and everyone I come in contact with.

The Bible tells of healing that happened when fathers and mothers asked for their children. Jesus did not ask if the recipient was ‘willing’ to receive. (as in Matthew 8.5-13 as Jesus responded to the Centurion.) This compels me to have courage and  be bold in prayer and hold nothing back. It compels me to ask that the ones I love have healthy relationships, be happy in life, be well, have healed hearts and minds, have good lives, strong positive behavior patterns and leave the old destructive lives behind. I pray they be delivered from death. I pray they live and not die because my Savior died for all these things.

These are not the words of lifeless idols, these are the Words of the Living God to us.

Have courage! We have been endowed with it by our Heavenly Father.

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Could you image a war without any weapons? Kinda comical actually. Sadly, we live in a world inventing more and more devastation producing weapons and every good soldier knows they need weapons. In a perfect world we would never need or use weapons, but in this imperfect world, that will never be. Our enemies will always be prepared for battle.

We not only face the possibility of physical war, we face spiritual war every day. Sometimes we think our battle is against a certain person or circumstance, but there are unseen forces that are against each of us and the ones we love. The Bible tells us this in Ephesians 6.12 – ‘For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the (tyrannies), against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.’

In Sun Tzu’s well known book, “The Art of War,” he describes many things to prepare for actual war, but I know another Book that tells me the true art of war. Isaiah 54.17 promises believers that ‘no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from Me,” declares the Lord.’ We are victors in Christ against every attack or unsettling circumstance we face. But we need to be informed.

The Bible assures us – ‘For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds.’ – 2 Corinthians 10.3-4.

I always wondered exactly what are our weapons? They are prayer, faith, obedience, repentance, praise and worship, the Word of God, the blood of Christ, the Name of Jesus, thanksgiving, the Truth, our salvation, forgiveness, fasting, our confession of our faith and love for God and more. (in no particular order). These are our weapons against defeat, depression, loss of hope, lack of employment, sickness, anything that is against us.

Daniel faithfully prayed three times a day and discovered why there was a delay in the answer. “And [the angel] said to me, O Daniel, you greatly beloved man, understand the words that I speak to you….for to you I am now sent….Then he said to me, Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind and heart to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come as a consequence of [and in response to] your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief [of the celestial] princes, came to help me, for I remained there with the kings of Persia.”  Daniel 10.11-13. Now, I may not know who all the princes and kings are in this passage, but I do know they are enemies and it looks like there was quite a battle before Daniel’s prayers were answered. 

Ephesians 6.10-18 tells us, ‘Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes…so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.’ Be prepared. 

Evil is real and all around, God is real and all around and Greater than anything in the world against us. I John 4.4.

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I had the best Grandfather in the entire world. I know some would like to challenge me on that, but they would have quite the contest to think there was ever or ever will be a better Grandfather in this world. He only had an eighth grade education, but my Grandpa was the greatest man I ever knew. He was the smartest and kindest and all round most wonderful Grandpa ever. He taught me many things and he taught me by example that you never don’t take care of family.

My Grandfather took a trip to Europe once. It was pretty amazing really. He had never been on a plane before, but he flew to New York City and then on to Europe. When he came home, he was so excited to tell us about the trip that he spent the next twenty years telling us about it over and over again. I am ashamed to admit that I once thought if I had to listen to another story about Europe, I would fall over and die on the spot. Now, much time has passed since I lost my dear Grandfather and I wish more than anything in the world I could sit on our front porch, share a Whopper from Burger King, and I could listen to him tell me over and over again what he saw and how much he enjoyed on his trip to Europe.

It is because of my Grandfather that I was able to attend nursing and veterinary school. He was my rock. I lived with him as he took care of everything while I studied and dreamed and finished my education. I was younger then and my heart wanted to have a family of my own. There was a time I told God I was upset to have be taking care of my Grandfather when I wanted a family of my own. I heard the Lord whisper to me, “he’s taking care of you.” Looking back, I wish I could tell him how much I miss him and how grateful I am for all the care he took of me. Sometimes we do not see the reality of our lives and I did not see it then, but I do now.

Five years ago, I moved to Florida to spend time with my brother. During that time I have come to know what a precious gift it is to give the ones we love our time. I have always been in a hurry to work and do things. I have few regrets, but the one I do have is not spending more time with the ones I love. Now, I have the wonderful blessing to share time with my older parents. I think what a wonderful blessing it is to have our loved ones with us for a very long time. I consider it an honor and a privilege to be with them. I consider it my blessing to care for what they need me to do for them. I will have memories I will cherish forever for the time I spent with my Grandfather, my brother, my parents, and all those I love.

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A friend once gave me a mug as a gift with the words, “God Danced the Day You Were Born.” This gift was meaningful because it came at at time in my life when I was uncertain of my value as a person. The words on the mug were based on the Bible verse, Psalms 139.14 -“I will …. praise You … for the (awe filled) wonder of my birth!” 

The world idolizes fame, fortune and beauty. It makes me wonder exactly what makes us valuable? One of the saddest moments in my life, but should have been one of the happiest, was the day I graduated from veterinary school. I thought this accomplishment would make me feel important and valuable. The truth was when the lights were out and there was no one to pretend to, I felt like a nothing and a nobody. The truth was, I was no particular ‘body.’ I came from a blue collar family that did average jobs and lived in an average neighborhood, and we were unnoticed by others for the most part.

As I struggled with the question, ‘was I valuable’, others thought I ‘had everything.’ I was a registered nurse and just graduated as a veterinarian? They looked at me as if I had the whole world. But deep inside, things were not okay. These things did not make me feel like my life was valuable. Then, the answer came to me from God’s Word. The answer is that I am valuable because I am me. Sounds so simple, but I had spent a life time being a ‘human-doing’ to make myself valuable, when I was a ‘human-being’ and was valuable to God because I was His and He made me. Human-doings spend their time frantically trying to make themselves approved, lovable, etc. This is exhausting and I don’t think it really works. Human-beings are just that – being human.

I know many people who feel their lives are meaningless and some feel worthless. This hurts my heart badly because I felt that way at one time and am blessed to have been able to realize and accept that my Heavenly Father values me above anything monetary on this planet. I am more valuable to Him than all the homes, cars, boats, treasures collected, or anything in this world. He finds me and you HIS most precious possession. (Exodus 19.5)

It matters what we think of ourselves. If we feel our lives are worthless and others’ lives are  worthless, then we act like it and do self-destructive things or things to hurt others. These only further lead to feelings of worthlessness and it is a vicious cycle. We need to get off the hamster wheel and believe what God has said about us. He loves our brown eyes, blue eyes, curly hair, strait hair, short stature, chubby physique, our sense of humor, and whatever else makes us, us. He danced the day you and I were born. He was there and excited to welcome us to life. He finds us valuable. We do not have to DO anything, all we have to do is BE us.

Yes, I believe we do things as Christians in response to the great Love we have received in Jesus, but that is not where our value is, it is just in being us.

My prayer today is for all to know how special and valuable they are.

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When I lived in Ohio, I admit I never drank the daily recommended eight eight ounce glasses of water.  However, in Florida, it seems I cannot get enough. The temperatures and humidity cause insatiable thirst and water is welcome and refreshing. I do get my eight eight ounce glasses a day now. Something that seems so inconsequential, but is monumentally crucial.

Water also makes me think of other things. I am blessed to have many FB and other friends who are doing great things for God. Some are pastors, some are missionaries, some care for orphans, and many others are using their gifts for the Kingdom each and every day. Sometimes I sit and think of how I would like to do so much for God. I think of orphan children I would like to make sure are fed and loved and know they are special. I would love to tell others the truths He has told me. I would love to pray for others I have never met. God has meant so much to me for over forty years and I wish I could give Him just a fraction of what He has given me. I realize I just have a small life. I wonder what I can do for God?

One day God showed me. I shopped for my brother when he was too weak to shop himself. Without letting him know, I removed those hard to remove covers over the tops of his orange juice and lemonade bottles. You know the ones. I knew he was weak and removing them was difficult for him. One day, he caught me removing the tops. I was expecting him to be uspet because he was very independent. He said, “I forgot to thank you for doing that.” I knew he realized I was trying to make things easier for him. Not only did I shop for him, I washed clothes and spent time with him – letting him talk and feel important and valuable. Now, to tell the truth, no one  in the world would consider this important, but I think God does. Matthew 10:42 tells us, “… and whoever gives one of these little ones … even just a cup of cold water because he is My disciple, they will not lose their reward.”

A cup of cold water. Everyone can give a cup of cold water. A smile to those around us, a hug to a struggling friend, a cup of tea and company to a widow. An encouraging word to a friend. We all have a cup of cold water. Look for the opportunities every day. I know they are all around. God is watching and He sees everything we do – even if just give a cup of cold water in His Name.

Our friends and family need us to love them and do what we can to make their lives better.

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Well, it is officially Fall. Many of my friends love the change of seasons, and, like clockwork, time marches on. The days are slowly getting shorter. Some in the North will be enjoying cooler weather with leaves changing to bright yellows, oranges, and reds. I have memories of the Amish in Ohio making apple cider and as I drove the country side in Ohio a few days ago, I saw pumpkins being harvested in the fields. Along with the pumpkins, it is also harvest time for all the crops for farmers.  The land will lay silent again until next Spring. Even with all the wonderful Fall happenings, there will be the knowledge of impending Winter. Brrrrr.

I, however, being back in Florida, will still be seeing Palm Trees this Fall. Am so blessed. I have plans be on the rivers in warm, but not scorching temperatures, boogie boarding the waves in the ocean before it cools, and perhaps a trip to the Florida Keys. There is an  imperceptible change of seasons in Florida. Still lots of sunshine and just a little less humid. I must admit, I do not miss my Ohio winters, but I do miss the Fall in Ohio. I loved caramel covered apples, fresh vegetables, and the cooler nights. I liked the feeling as if it’s the end of a very long day – the feeling that everything is going to go to sleep soon for a little while as we endured the snow and cold and looked forward to the Spring – when everything comes back to life again.

This year, I will have traveling friends seeking relief from their colder climates. We have so much planned I think they will want to stay forever. Thankfully, hurricane season will be ending soon – hopefully without any storm activity. I hope your Fall is filled with lots of fun activities and family. I hope you enjoy the apples and fresh vegetables and all the things you and your family do each fall. Enjoy every moment!!!

Another of my very favorite things about Fall is Thanksgiving. Giving thanks is something I do daily, but even more so during this season of thanks and preparation for Christmas again. Oh, how I love this time of year! Have a great Fall!

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I am a terrible cook, but I love to eat. Especially good food. Especially when someone else is an excellent cook and has prepared something wonderful. Sometimes when I eat, I am so full I do not think I will ever eat again – or at least not for the next few days. But,  in a few hours, I am hungry again.

I am reminded of the beloved Lord’s prayer that asks God to ‘give us this day our daily bread.’ (Matthew 6.11) When God’s people wandered in the wilderness, they were given daily manna – the bread from heaven (Exodus  16). Just as we need our daily bread to sustain our bodies, we need are daily Bread of Heaven to sustain our spirits and give us life. Each day we need a fresh encounter with God. Just as we cannot rely on yesterdays meals to sustain us today, we cannot rely on yesterday’s encounters to be all we need from God. God wants to do a ‘new thing’ for us each and every day.

Elizabeth Taylor played Velvet Brown in the movie, “National Velvet.” In the movie, she feels guilty asking for ‘more.’ She feels she is asking for ‘more than her share.’ I think as believers, we imagine we can exhaust God’s good will and His answers to prayers. Another day, another miracle I say. It is impossible to exhaust Him or His resources.

The Bible tell us ‘the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning, great is His faithfulness’ (Lamentations 3.22-23).

I love the words to the poem made into song by Annie Johnson Flint “He Giveth More Grace.”

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercy;
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limit; His grace has no measure.
His pow’r has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!

I am so thankful for a God that has endless resources and He giveth and giveth and giveth again. He is our Loving Heavenly Father Who wants to supply our every need and be everything to us.

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I recently posted a video of a mother otter teaching her young one to swim. We frequently see otters in Florida and they are excellent swimmers. I always thought it came naturally to them. Apparently they need swimming lessons. It has always been a thing to me that children learn everything from us as parents and adults – good or bad – and that moms and dads hold their children’s hearts in their hands.

When I lived in Ohio, I did not have exposure to poisonous snakes, alligators, black bears, panthers, or other dangerous critters I see in Florida. There are black bears as close as West Virginia, but that was not close to me. In Florida, I have been excited to see the bears. No one else seems to be excited. I discovered they like garbage.

Each evening, my dog, Rudy, and I have a little routine. We go to a nearby dollar store for my one sweet treat of the day – my diet allowing – some water, and sometimes other supplies. One visit, I took him around the building to potty. Suddenly, a huge black bear torpedoed into the nearby woods and a baby scrambled up a tree. I was excited and went into the store to announce what I saw. The clerk shrugged her shoulders in disinterest and said she was aware of the bears. She informed me the moms give a signal to the little ones to climb a tree when danger is near. I never considered little me and Rudy danger.

The next night my dog and I went to the store as usual. The clerk asked, “Did you see the bear again?” with a smile on her face. I know she was mocking me, but I told her how I was so amazed about it, that was why I made such a big deal about something so mundane to her. Sort of nice she remembered us.

The next night we went to the store, we looked for the bears. None in sight. At the check out, I talked about them with a new clerk. She told me there is a mom bear with two cubs. As we talked, she said they were a problem because they came to get into the garbage. Then she shared how one day, all three bears carried bags of garbage into the woods. The mom had a very large bag and the two cubs had smaller bags. That’s a funny story. We laughed and I could only image this adorable sight. I asked if she took a picture. She said ‘no’ but wished she had. Me too.

Nature has a way of showing us how mothers teach their children everything. The Bible says, “Train up a child in the way they should go and even when they are older they will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22.6) Teaching children about the Loving, Living God is the most important thing we will teach them. It is an overwhelming responsibility at times, but we have their hearts in our hands already. Teach them well!

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I love this painting. It is pure chaos. Just like life sometimes. I know people who seem to claim they have an answer for everything. I, however, am not one of them.

I am not certain how this happened, but recently I engaged in debate with two friends about who has experienced the most struggle in life. Weird debate, right? Both shared their stories with me and I wept. I lost the debates. It amazes me how those around me are brave enough to continue each day despite the hardships they endured as children and young adults. Stories of loss of parents through suicide, abandonment as young children, physical and emotional abuse, and more.

Sometimes people  feel there is no God because of all that seems to be wrong in the world. I admit I don’t have all the answers. I don’t think anyone will ever be able to make sense of things that just don’t make sense.

I don’t have an answer for why children get cancer, why mothers die young leaving their families, why houses burn down or floods happen. Why children are abducted, why murder happens as well as war. Why we choose to persecute those not like us. All the things that don’t make sense in life do not shake my belief in a God that loves us and promises to give beauty for ashes. (Isaiah 61.3) I have always held the opinion we have the opportunity to make our pain our pathway to God. I believe we can know Him a way we would never have been able to know Him without the pain that seems to be destroying our happiness.

In the midst of everything, He is always the Answer to everything. Even what does not make sense. He is still Good and Loving and Able to get us through everything and make us able to help those around us. I realized those that struggle with diabetes campaign passionately about diabetes. Those that have lost a loved one to Alzheimer’s passionately campaign for this disorder. Why does it take pain to move us to help those around us? I am not certain, however, the truth is I am passionate about the struggles I have faced in my quest to help those that also struggle with the same.

In the Bible, Job demands to talk to God. Job wants to tell God how unjust He has been and how the suffering has been greater than he was able to bear. God does talk to Job and gently asks Job if he created all we see around us? Are we smarter than God? No. He put all the world together, He knows all the past, present, and future events, He created the horse and the whale, and He is smarter, kinder, more loving, more creative, more everything than we can ever be. In the end of all things, we will understand. I suppose at that time, explanations will not even be an issue any longer.

I do not want to be accused of peddling easy answers to difficult questions, but for now, I pray we put our hands in the Hand of the Living God and continue to walk through each day, giving Him our struggles, our dreams, our happiness, our everything. We can trust the Man Who died for us so we can have beauty for the ashes we feel have come to us in this life.

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