Thanksgiving with The Simpkins
This year I was invited out for thanksgivings. It was such a blessing. I heard the most wonderful blessing over the food, I had ever heard. Maybe I just payed more attention, because it came from a 90 year old. I have the pleasure of spending time with a couple who have been married for 70 years. They taught sunday school for over 50 years. What a blessing.
The family wanted to capture this moment, because it might not happen again. When Mr. Simpkins began to bless the table, 2 members recorded it with their cellphones. It wasn't' Father thank you for this food we are about to recieve. It was every bit of 5 minutes. Any other time everyone would be upset at having cellphones out at the table. What came across my mind was just how many tables had Mr. Simpkins blessed. there's 365 days in a year; do the math. It came so naturally. He was talking to his father and friend. I could tell that he has a relationship with our heavenly father, and this was a continous conversation that goes on all during the day.
His wife tells a story, that they never missed church for any reason unless they were sick, until recently. They don't get out much anymore. What dedication. Every once in a while Mrs. Simpkins still has sunday school in her home. She tells a story that she couldn't have taught sunday school without the presence of the Holy Spirit. She talked about preparing herself though reading scripture and fasting. It's a blessing to be in the presence of Elders. Thank you Jesus for the saints before, now, and after me. I pray that you use me for years to come, just as you did Mr and Mrs. Simpkins.
I'm sitting here on my computer, and it's Saturday night. I start going thru communities I've joined. Someone is speaking on John 15:12.
All week long I've been thinking about the importance of God in your life, family, and friends. I have a friend I met through volunteer work. She is in her 70's and devoted her whole life to serving God. We both like to sew. She told me one day that there was this program that she didn't want to get in because she didn't want to hurt anyone. I got to thinking: if it have not been for people like her, I would have left church a long time ago. I would have settled to worship in my house. I've been praying about this for some time. When people first enter the church they are babes in faith. Their not ready for strong food, they are still drinking milk. We have to rely on the spirit to guide us, so we can guide them. There was a time when I almost left the church, because of criticism, rude remarks, etc. God had his hand on me and I kept coming back, but I have seem people just walk away. I always tell people to pursue scripture and your life will illustrate the fruits.
Galatians 5:22-23
New International Version (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Without these you see the flaws, but with these you see the person. I'm still praying for people who have been hurt in the church to come back.
Without these you see the flaws, but with these you see the person. I'm still praying for people who have been hurt in the church to come back.
Good-morning, afternoon, or evening-what ever time of day it is; may it be blessed and used to glorify God. Everyday I weak up and seek God's will, just like so many others. This time God uses my senses. He causes me to hear-listen for him- in everything. Step out in faith from what I cannot see, and believe. He said I want you to stop talking so much and be a good listener. Then use the words I give you.
Just the other day I received bad news on the telephone. God said pay very close attention and you will have the answer. She went into her problem and I listened, then I said a few word and that calmed her. To make a long story short, God showed me that listening is very important. I listened to her and I listened to God. Lest I say God blessed 2 people, who were ready to give up. The lady told me today that God is good all the time. The other person was talking about suicide and before the day was over, was about to smile. He said you really pray. I said no we prayed.
After all way over I started to ponder. A word that God spoke to me more than once, as I sat and thought about these people and how I have been in there shoes. I looked up the word ponder in my concordance. Almost 20 years ago I met a lady who was very obedient to God. She came to my house with The New Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible. I was just a baby christian, so I looked at it and was amazed at all the words, and said thank you. Now when the Lord gives me a word; my eyes go straight to it. I found the word ponder in two places.
Proverbs 4:26 Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established.
Proverbs 5:6 Lest you ponder her path of life-Her ways are unstable; You do not know them.
All the Lord ask me to do is LISTEN, be OBEDIENT, and BELIEVE. Need I say everyone received a blessing. Please listen for God today. It may be through someone, something, or directly to you. When you hear him use that experience to glorify him. Thanks to everyone who prayed for me; I heard him. A friend said to me one day," nothing is wasted. Everything-trade, experience- you will eventually use." Amen.
The lady I helped, I could not judge because I had been somewhat where she is. Needless, to say there were some areas that seemed a little gray. My blessing is I don't have to understand, for God to use me. He understands.
