New Post ~ Feb 18, 2012 ~ Springtime once again comes to Central Texas

New Post  for blog today~    Re-post of a Devotional I wrote on March 1, 2005 ~

3/1/2005

SCRIPTURE: SONG OF SOLOMON 2:11-12 NKJB

FOR LO, THE WINTER IS PAST, THE RAIN OVER AND GONE. THE FLOWERS APPEAR ON THE EARTH; THE TIME OF SPRING HAS COME, AND THE VOICE OF THE TURTLEDOVE IS HEARD IN THE LAND. INSIGHTS AND THOUGHTS: THIS MORNING AS I LOOKED OUT FROM THE KITCHEN WINDOW I SAW BRIGHT YELLOW MINIATURE DAFFODILS SPRINGING UP FROM UNDER THE IVY GROUND COVER. A DEFINATE SIGN THAT SPRING HAS COME TO CENTRAL TEXAS. THE TREES ARE BEGINNING TO LEAF OUT AND OUR STREET AND COUNTRYSIDE IS COMING ALIVE ONCE MORE. WHAT A GLORIOUS GIFT FROM GOD...THE SPRING SEASON THAT TRANSFORMS THE DREARY WINTER SCENE TO ONE OF DARKEST GREENS ALONG WITH THE PALEST OF GREENS AND THE BLOSSOMING OF THE BULBS FROM THEIR LONG WINTER'S NAP. IT IS SYMBOLIC OF HOW GOD CAN CHANGE CIRCUMSTANCES IN OUR LIVES THAT LOOK GLOOMY, GREY, AND APPEARING NEVER ENDING TO HOPE, JOY, AND ANTICIPATION OF ANOTHER SPRINGTIME. IT'S AS IF THE FOG HAS LIFTED AND SUNSHINE HAS RETURNED TO OUR LIVES WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THIS POEM WRITTEN BY HELEN STEINER RICE. THERE'S ALWAYS A SPRINGTIME AFTER THE WINTER COME THE SPRING TO SHOW US AGAIN THAT IN EVERYTHING THERE'S ALWAYS RENEWAL DIVINELY PLANNED. FLAWLESSLY PERFECT, THE WORK OF GOD'S HAND... AND JUST LIKE THE SEASONS THAT COME AND GO WHEN THE FLOWER OF SPRING LAY BURIED IN THE SNOW, GOD SENDS TO THE HEART IN ITS WINTER OF SADNESS A SPRINTIME AWAKENING OF NEW HOPE AND GLADNESS, AND LOVED ONES WHO SLEEP IN A SEASON OF DEATH WILL, TOO, BE AWAKENED BY GOD'S LIFE-GIVING BREATH. ALL WHO BELIEVE IN GOD'S MERCY AND GRACE WILL MEET THEIR LOVED ONES FACE TO FACE WHERE TIME IS ENDLESS AND JOY UNBROKEN AND ONLY THE WORDS OF GOD'S LOVE ARE SPOKEN. DEDICATED TO ALL WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES AND REMEMBERING THEM THIS SPRINGTIME. WRITTEN IN CHRIST'S LOVE, SHERI

Daily Bread of Life - Devotional: Summer Time in CA - Winter Time in TX - Feb. 2003

Daily Bread of Life - Devotional: Summer Time in CA - Winter Time in TX - Feb. 2003

Summer Time in CA - Winter Time in TX - Feb. 2003

I am re-posting a devotional I wrote in February 2003!  We have had a mild winter so far, 2012, but just as a reminder, we've had many winters that have been icy, snowy, and COLD!

One of my goals this year is to compile and get these devos I wrote between 2000-2006 published. One year of devotions, 365 days of the year, in a book!

Enjoy and see how things were in February 2003 in CA and in TX!

2/26/2003

Psalm 46:1-3

GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH AN EVER-PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE. THEREFORE WE WILL NOT FEAR, THOUGH THE EARTH GIVE WAY AND THE MOUNTAINS FALL INTO THE HEART OF THE SEA. THOUGH ITS WATERS ROAR AND FOAM AND THE MOUNTAINS QUAKE WITH THEIR SURGING. *NIV INSIGHTS AND THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS: This past week my husband and I made a trip out to the West coast to visit our son, daughter-in-law and grandsons. This time of the year, midwinter for us is an unusual time for a trip there...but...we were beckoned there with the lure of seeing the grandsons play their fun sports of B-ball and hockey! It was a fun time with them and seeing nearly a half dozen games of these precious young boys playing their hearts out to win and to not disappoint their doting grandparents. The weather was gorgeous, sunny, warm, and the beginnings of springtime showing with the budding fruit trees and flowers coming out in a mirage of colors...daffodil yellows, burnt orange-reds-purple bougainvilleas, fire engine red blooms in the scrubs and trees, sky blues of the spring bulbs....oh...so much more color and beauty of this country...INDESCRIBABLE! Our trip home was uneventful until we touched down in Texas. The ice storm of the year had just begun and we had a hundred miles to get to our home. The first clue was our car in the parking lot that was covered in ice and the doors wouldn't open and the windshield had several layers of ice on it! Our drive home took nearly 5 hours of creeping and crawling along the interstate highway. It was a tense time and I prayed many times for our safety and the safety of others traveling along side us. My husband, being the skilled driver that he is, maneuvered like he'd done this many times, without one complaint in those long arduous hours of 10-20 MPH and our vehicle fishtailing at times on the treacherous bumpy frozen ice. The windshields kept freezing over and we strained to see as the sleet continued to fall all those hours. It was God's protective hand over us and those out there Monday night that we didn't see one pileup or any serious accident! I thought as we drove and had plenty of time to pray and seek God's peace, that He truly is the God of refuge, strength, peace, and our ever present help in trouble. Although this experience is not one I'd like to repeat anytime soon, I truly believe it was an adventure with God, letting me know that He is in control of my life and trusting Him through it all was another of my greatest lifetime lessons. DEAR FATHER: THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH, IN OUR TIMES OF TROUBLE AND UNSURENESS OF LIFE. HELP US TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE ASSURANCE THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS WITH US, BRINGING THE PEACE AND CALM WE NEED IN ALL OF LIFE'S SITUATIONS. IN JESUS NAME....AMEN.

What To Do?

"If you want to know what God wants you to do-
     ask Him, and He will gladly tell you.
                      James 1:5

For  the past few weeks, I've been toiling with the possibility of a part time job.  It is tempting because of
the economic times and set backs in our financial goals to be debt free has not happened.  My hubby works two jobs and doesn't complain.  He wants to take care of his family and be strong and dependable for us.  That he has done for the past five decades and continues.  

This job opportunity is solid and the income depends on how hard I work at it.  The dilemma...many things in my life will have to be altered, and some most likely set aside for now.  One of my greatest passions since retiring two years ago has been...Luci, our service therapy Corgi! To train her and I to be the best team we can be to do this work.   And I know by God's blessing and favor on this volunteer service therapy job, I know that it is His plan and purpose for us.  That's one area of my life that I feel is secure as continues to bless others and bring joy to those who need it the most.  So I don't waver on that.

However, from years of past experiences of over commitment and being unable to say 'No' to many things that I said, 'Yes' to should be a constant reminder.  When one says 'Yes' to another activity, a job, and so on; a BIG 'NO' goes out to something else in their life...that's the law of physics!    One other point;  that for many years of my life, I didn't truly seek God's will, plan, and purpose for adding more 'things' to my life.  My spiritual maturity hadn't reached that level...and I suffered for trying to control my life...when all the time God was and is and always be in control of my life.  Just didn't know that for years.  Now that I know and am firmly convinced that in my decisions and choices, He must approve and tell me, 'Yes.' or  'No.'

So, as I ponder, pray, dig deeply into His Word, meditate, listen for His still small voice in times alone with Him, journaling thoughts and feelings and praising His Name...I am waiting Lord...for your answer...Is a bit more finances for our household more important than what I am doing and what I will be giving up?

In time, God's timing, I will know and when I do, it will be as clear as a crystal blue lake, with perfect reflections of everything around it...

Sheri DeLoach
Author
patent pending
February 3, 2012

Daily Bread of Life - Devotional: Epiphany Moments - 01.15.2012

Daily Bread of Life - Devotional: Epiphany Moments - 01.15.2012: Epiphany? What is does word mean to you? Have you experienced an epiphany moment? Have you wondered why people don't talk about their epi...

Epiphany Moments - 01.15.2012

Epiphany?  What is does word mean to you?  Have you experienced an epiphany moment?  Have you wondered why people don't talk about their epiphany moment(s)?  Many questions surrounding this mysterious word!

Several epiphany moments have happened to me and each one comes unexpected, yet welcomed and with great joy!  It comes in the form of a sudden realization that God has spoken to me!  In His way and His Time.

I was a pilgrim on 'A Walk to Emmaus' about 15 years ago with a large group from many churches at a church camp ground for the weekend.  Many friends had gone on the 'Walk' and I could see a change in their walk with Jesus.  So, I wanted to go ! A dear friend sponsored me and made all the arrangements for that weekend, no clocks or watches or cell phones allowed!

This spiritual retreat is structured with a time line that is followed exclusively.  There are small groups that one becomes a member for the weekend.  In these groups we are lead by an experienced Emmaus team member.  We become to know each other well through sharing our burdens, challenges, joys, etc., with one another.  We hear 'talks' on the five different types of GRACE by veteran Emmaus members throughout the weekend.  One of the great highlights of the weekend.

My EPIPHANY moment at this spiritual retreat came in the form of people I knew from our church who came for the Candlelight Service, the ending session of the weekend.  It was a complete surprises, didn't know they were coming until that moment when I looked out over the audience!  Candlelight burned softly in their faces and as I began to recognize each one and their joyful radiance...God spoke to me with a message of LOVE unexperienced until that moment!  My heart burned with sudden elation and unspeakable joy...tears flowed...and truly...this was an EPIPHANY moment...a spiritual marker in my life!

Spiritual experiences can't be explained...Since then my life has taken on a new direction for serving God through serving others.  GOD IS LOVE!

Written by:
Sheri DeLoach
Jaunaury 15, 2012
Hewitt, TX.
copyright pending

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day ~ 2011 ~

Christmas Day this year, December 25, 2011, fell on Sunday!  What a beautiful way to start this day when we celebrate and remember the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ!  We had only one church service that started at 9:30AM.  Kids were welcome and many came in their pajamas!  After the Children's Sermon, they left and attended a birthday party downstairs for Baby Jesus.

Christmas Eve at our church is a highlight of the Christmas season for me and many others.  We have two services because so many people come.  We chose the later one as many young families come to the early one in order to get home and get the kids in bed before Christmas morning!  And we all know what happens then:!  Santa Claus!

Back to our Christmas Eve, Candlelight service. the theme was "This Day is Born a Savior, of Virtue, Power, and Might."   It is complete with choir, a live program depicting the birth of Jesus, the Wise men coming to visit, bring precious gifts,  along with the Shepherds who had followed a star for miles and miles before finding baby Jesus at a stable with his parents, Mary and Joseph.  There was a multitude of 'dancing angels' of all ages, so beautiful as they sang praises to the "New Born King!"

Throughout the program, the story is told by grandparents to their grand-kids who ask many questions and the wise grandparents have the answers.

There is a tradition of one famous person coming each year to sing 'O Holy Night'...and this seems to be one of the best parts of the entire evening.  Many people had tears in their eyes when he finished his song...

In closing the program and evening, everyone is given a small white candle with a glass cup under it.  One person at the front of the stage lights his candle and leans over and lights the next person's candle, and so it goes...until the dark room is completely lighted with candles aglow.  The audience begins the closing song, "Silent Night" as we raise our candles high above our heads.  The feeling of joy is everywhere and we are overwhelmed with the story of how Jesus Christ came to this earth, born in a stable, worshiped by the Wise Men and Shepard's...and somehow this old story becomes NEW and FRESH again in our hearts.

Merry Christmas to All and to All goodnight!


©2011 Sheri DeLoach - article and photographs