Random Thought Friday

Spring Flowers are Blooming!

~ Do you 'dream' at night? I do, and some of mine have been not so nice lately. It was upsetting to me, I wake asking "what does this mean"? Are you trying to tell me something Lord? Etc, etc, etc. I did realize though that dreams are not reality. If fact, when I woke up this morning after a not so nice dream, I prayed. I gave it to the LORD and proclaimed the 'truth' to my own heart. GOD knows. HE cares. HE is for me. The Bible tells me so! Don't let a bad dream ruin your thoughts or torment you!

~ I am a journalizer. I love to journal. I not only journal, I like writing down lists. I have lists of lists. Pretty funny. I have prayer lists, books read lists (wish I had started this one a great deal earlier!), quotes I like, letters sent to people or desire to send to people, Bible verses I am memorizing, answers to prayer, character list (ones I am praying for myself), places to visit (near and far), friends to encourage, Sabbath list, word studies and the list goes on.Keeping a little book in your purse helps remember quotes etc. Do you journal? Tell me about it!

~ Did you know you can go into the Library and talk to one of your librarians about books? (some are more 'willing' to chat than others) Now that is a novel idea! Really, we are in our library so often that I have come to know 2 very well. If you like a certain author (say Francine Rivers--my favorite!) she can print out a list of authors of the same genre for you to try. It really works. I have found many many authors I didn't know about by this method. Try it out with your children. You will be amazed!

~ Our whole family opts out of TV for books. Not that we don't watch TV (ESPN---what can I say?) just that books take you places!!! I grew up in a family that didn't read much. Boy, what I missed out on!!! I have my awesome husband to thank for turning me into a 'book woman'! He bought me my first real 'book' back in 1971. We lived in Bad Aibling, Germany with no TV, no friends yet, and he worked 12 hours a day, six days a week. The name of the paper back book? It was "EXODUS" by Leon Uris. I loved that book. I may go back and read it again this summer just to see. We were overseas with no library, so it was a challenge. He was up to it though. He joined me in a Mystery Book Club in the USA and they sent me 4 books a month for a very cheap price (cheap paper too). The bug bit and I have been reading ever since!!! How grateful I am for a really great Library-- FREE! FREE! What books do you like to read? The options are endless!

~ Speaking of books ~ THE BEST BOOK ever is the Bible! I read through the whole Bible every year now. I used to use 'McCheyne's' but now I use 'Discipleship's program' (they have 3 different ones). When my children were little, I read my Bible but not systematically. I usually read one Proverb a day and then just hit or miss as I was led. Now, I see the wisdom of having a 'system'..... reading it is the important thing. God loves us. He wants to reveal himself to us. He does that through reading the Bible and praying. I have the habit of not reading anything else until I have met with HIM! I am glad! I have had my struggles in this as I think every believer has at one time or another. Pursue it....it is so worth it!

~ Rainy here yet the grass is looking sooo green and spring really has arrived. Our lovlies are popping up all over the yards here in Maryland! Thank YOU Lord for flowers and bushes! YOU are good and give us good things!

~ I am so happy to have my hubby and son back form Mexico. It was wonderful in Mexico and they have shared so many wonderful stories and pictures of our dear ones in Mexico. What a privilege to be apart of all God is doing in Chihuahua.

~ My closets are looking good. I am very proud of our 'coat closet' ~ the only closet on the main floor. It has margin now. It is organized and looks very nice! I de-cluttered it and got rid of stuff~ taking things to 'Tabitha's House', our local thrift store that ministers to abused women. Nice! Makes me smile! It is funny how getting rid of stuff makes one feel 'lighter'---true for you too? My mission continues.......

Ending with a question. What song do you sing, hum or rattle around in your head as you work?

I love to sing although not very well. I am a very good 'hummer' though. I hum all the time!

Five of my (work) favorites are :

"Love Lifted Me"

"You are my Sunshine" (I learned this one from Dave many moons ago)

"Count your Blessings"

"At the Cross" (I don't sing it slow....I speed it up--that is okay you know)

"If You're Happy and You know it" (Kids song)

Humming right now, Lynette

Food for Thought:

I am reading a really good book now.

a SHELTER in the time OF STORM by Paul David Tripp

~meditations on God and trouble~

I am not in the midst of a storm right now. Yet I know that storms hit all of us. Storms are part of living here on earth in a fallen world. If you are like me, you like peace. I know I love sunsets, clear skies and sunshine. God gives those to us all the time. Yet because we need water, we have storms. God knows what is good for us, we do not.

I have grown so much due to storms. I am grateful God ordained storms for me, as I have seen HIS love manifested in the midst of such storms. His presence, his love, his nearness has been so vivid and real in the middle of such storms. His forgiveness in my 'kicking against' the storms. I have learned much about my GOD in the midst of storms, much more than in the sunshine and blue skies kind of weather.

This book is a drink of fresh water to a thirsty soul. This well written book is about Psalm 27 and insights about not only the storms in your life, but where to find shelter and treasuring the true treasure.

Can one Psalm really change your life? It can if you dig deeply enough! 52 meditations (some are poems he wrote) on Psalm 27 ~ Good reading for Sunday devotions or in the evenings anytime.

When troubles come knocking (and they will) , do yourself a favor and read this book. You will not be sorry ~ I promise! This book will help you find your refuge in time of need!

Daughter of the King, Lynette

Love is......

Love Is......winter together!

As a High School student I was growing up in Los Angeles, California. The LA Times was the newspaper my parents subscribed to back then. Each day in the newspaper the "Love Is" cartoon was published. It wasn't on the funny paper page but in section A. I know, because I looked for it each day.

Over the years, my honey and myself have off and on collected "Love Is" cartoons, books and articles. I still like them. When the cartoon first began the little people were naked. Like Adam and Eve. The sayings were so cute and vulnerable and innocent. Everyday little sweet 'thinkings'.

I have bought the book 3 times, since our dogs seem to like to eat them. I guess I leave them in the wrong places. My fault.

I was just recently thinking 'love is' so much more. God's love is real. Honest. Truth. He tells me that there really is 'truth' and the truth will set us free. YES!

I still like to send 'love is' cartoons to my sweet hubby every once in awhile. I may stick one in a book he is reading. Put in a pocket or stick on a mirror. It brings a smile to him and to me. Remembered days gone by.

Yet, real 'love is' is God's kind of love. How grateful I am for HIS love. The REAL LOVE. Sacrifice, forgiveness, faithfulness, love, gentleness, loyalty, compassion, help, mercy, justice, hope.....the list goes on and on and on.

So when you think of 'love is' what comes to your mind?

Loved by the King, Lynette

Parenting 101

I am still learning and growing as a parent and Grandparent ~
Summer time is a great time to read GOOD BOOKS! If you want to read a really really and I mean REALLY good book filled with Gospel Hope.....I have a superb recommendation. Here is a quick quote from the book~

Our Hope

Each child whom God gives us is a special blessing from him. He blesses us not only with the child but also with the promise that when we need help, we can always "with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:16}. God has promised that he is "faithful, and he will not let you be temped beyond your ability...." (1 Cor. 10:13).

We have great hope not only in God's provision of daily grace to help us, but also from the help that is in God's Word. The Bible was, among other reasons, "written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" (Rom 15:4). A recent television commercial claimed that " children do not come with an instruction manual." Well, that simply is not true. The Bible does tell us what we need to know, and God will give us supernatural help to be faithful to God's Word.

The above quote was taken from Chapter one. At the end of each chapter are questions. A couple questions from Chapter one (there are 8) were:
~How does the goal of being faithful differ from typical goals of parenting?

~ What do you think has been your main goal as a parent?

~What would you say it means to be faithful as opposed to perfect? How does progressive growth (sanctification) fit into parenting?

~ How is God using your children to sanctify you?

~Who gets the credit for any faithfulness on your part and why?

Wow....all good questions each of us should consider! This book is full, dealing with all stages of parenting! I think every parent will benefit!

The name of this book?
The Faithful Parent by Martha Peace and Stuart W. Scott (Forward by Tedd Trip) R&R Pub.

Happy Reading and Growing in the Lord ~ Let me know if you read this book ~ I would be interested in how God uses it in your life!