Month: July 2018

In Due Time

Published on by pmclead12 Comments

‘In Due Time’ seems to be my summer-time theme. It started at the writer’s conference in June as a phrase repeated by several speakers and then picked up by the group of fellow writers I had the pleasure of hanging out with. All of us are praying that ‘in due time’ our work will be published.

While visiting my son in July, I was praying for my daughter-in-law’s salvation. I was asking God to send someone who she would listen to when His answer came quite clearly, “In due time.” I had to smile. His peace then came over me with such completeness, the worry and anxiety washed away.

Of course, it’s not a new phrase. We usually call it God’s timing. God’s timing is just one of those things I don’t believe we will ever come to understand, not here on earth anyway. Ecclesiastes 8:6 tells us, “For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a man’s misery weighs heavily upon him.” The King knows the exact time and procedure needed for every situation. Even when we are in the middle of an unfortunate circumstance,  we don’t have to know or understand what God is doing about it. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. (Isa. 55:8) We couldn’t understand if we tried and I’m beginning to think it’s a waste of our time and energy.

I believe our job in the situation is to trust Him and rest in Him. I like the way the Psalmist words his prayer in Psalm 131 (The Message).

God, I’m not trying to rule the roost,
    I don’t want to be king of the mountain.
I haven’t meddled where I have no business
    or fantasized grandiose plans.

2 I’ve kept my feet on the ground,
    I’ve cultivated a quiet heart.
Like a baby content in its mother’s arms,
    my soul is a baby content.

3 Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope.
    Hope now; hope always!

Oh, that I could be this way and not meddle in God’s business and try to hurry things along or figure out a way to fix a problem I’m facing.

Learning to wait for His timing, His ‘in due time’ is not always easy. What a blessing He offers, that we can cuddle us in His arms and be content and wait. And look, we can wait with hope, hope now and hope always!

Anyone else waiting for His timing? What Scripture do you go to while you wait?

 

 

What a day!

Published on by pmclead7 Comments

“Mom. Mom. Guess what I got to see today?” The words came flying through the phone after barely saying hello. Continue reading “What a day!” →

Thirsty?

Published on by pmclead1 Comment

It’s forecast to be another scorcher today but hopefully not like Monday’s temp of 108! Summer here in Texas can be brutal especially with no rain in sight. The plants are taking a beating and we’ve got to be careful to water our pets and livestock. We should be drinking even more water than usual. It’s a dry and thirsty land.

We don’t function well without many long cool drinks of water and our souls don’t either. Sometimes I think we forget to water our souls with living water. I know that I can be going along just fine with a little glass or a sip now and again but then dehydration sneaks up on me and I find myself confused, frustrated, and not doing well at all.

All it takes to get things running smoothly again is getting myself to the source, God’s Word.  He wants us to come to Him, read His Word and be filled to the brim. He wants us to be like the deer in Psalms 42, panting for the water, the living water only He can provide. In verse 5, David reminds of what he would do, “Fix my eyes on God – soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God.”

Stay thirsty for the Lord, just don’t wait until you are feeling the effects of dehydration to know that you’d better get yourself to the source of living water. Fix your eyes on God, praise Him, and He’ll be putting a smile on your face again in no time. For, He is your God!

Have a blessed day and start it off with a l-o-n-g cool drink from your friend, the Lord.

Something New

Published on by pmclead3 Comments

Happy Monday Everyone. Vacay was great and now I’m back home with just a few weeks before heading back to school. Hope your summer has been going great too. Thank you for waiting on me!

Many new ideas and changes for the blog and the ministry have been underway since my last post and I want to share one big one with you today. After a whole lot of prayer about this, the name of the blog will change from Patti With an I to Gold Star Momma. We’re hoping the name change will enable the blog to reach more people and continue to make a difference.

Those of you who have subscribed to the blog need not do a thing, the post will continue to come through your e-mail like always, just with a new name. Those of you who haven’t click the ‘follow me’ button on the blog, please do! Starting very soon there will be additional info that will only go to subscribers, including cool giveaways! So pass the word and have your friends join us!

Thank you very much for following my blog. I so appreciate your wonderful comments and conversations, it’s been amazing to see God working through this. I can’t wait to see what He has in store for us in the coming days.

Continue to stand firm in the Lord.

Blessings!

Vacation

Published on by pmcleadLeave a comment

I’m grateful for my family and while on vacay in California visiting them, you probably won’t be reading much from me! I’m watching this kiddo building circuits! Have a blessed 4th of July! Hug your kids more than enough!

Let Them See Jesus

Published on by pmclead2 Comments

Have you ever been put off by a fellow Christian’s behavior?  Maybe someone who teases past your comfort point or one who is just a bit too sarcastic that it makes you feel uneasy? When that happens, sometimes we might not stay around them long enough to see the heart of the person, to see Jesus in them.  

Recently I met someone whose teasing sense of humor was relentless, and I noticed that I steered clear of him every time we were in the same room. Not until he spoke to the whole group and shared his love and compassion for people through Scripture did his true heart shine through. Then, no matter how much teasing followed, the truth in his heart could not be overshadowed. He didn’t change, but my attitude toward him certainly did.

It was like those hidden picture pages in the children’s magazines. You know, the ones that have you looking for hours for a silly toothbrush in a drawing of a library, and you cannot find it until you do. Then, you can’t not see it. Once I saw Jesus in this gentleman, I couldn’t not see it, no matter how silly his jokes or how endless his teasing, Jesus shined through.

I hope people can see Jesus in me. I wouldn’t want the way I act or the things I say to get in the way. I’m afraid there have been times that my sarcasm has come through much louder than my Jesus. Hopefully, as I’ve gotten older and maybe a bit wiser, that happens far less often. A quick review of James, Chapter 3 is always a good idea! That tongue can certainly get out of control sometimes.

What do you think? Do people see Jesus in you clearly or do they have to get passed your humor, sarcasm, or something else to see Him?