Thought For Today

I am so glad that you have found this site and I hope you will find encouragement and joy as you read through my thoughts on God, family and life.

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Quick Prayers During Times of Desperation

James 1:19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.
I don't know how many times in my life I wished I had heeded these words. During these anxious moments, I have found it hard to become silent, but after speaking my mind, it became obvious later that I should have taken the time to calm myself before speaking. How many of us can identify with this? I now know that during those moments when I have said a quick prayer in times of stress, "Lord, please help me in this." I was not either given a chance to speak (which later allowed for a more helpful response) or a complete calm came over me at that moment of decision. Peace that I cannot claim, came over me.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

The Iris

Anne's favorite flower is the Iris. I asked her one-day why it was her preferred flower and she replied, "It was my grandma's favorite flower!"   Anne loved her grandmother very much. Anne would travel as a young girl with her grandma and grandpa Dalzell in their motor home when her grandparents went on evangelical trips.  They would hold revival meetings across the U.S. and Canada. Since Anne was home schooled, it was not an issue with her studies, she could take them with her, and her grandparents would teach her on the road.  I remember Anne telling me how the real life experiences changed her while traveling all over the U.S. and Canada. 
Anne’s grandma (Margie) was a gentle spirit; you could find her always busily preparing the next meal or when time allowed, reading a book.  Her love for service to others and learning never stopped even when she was in her late 80s. 
When traveling with her grandparents, Anne told me that they would many times be invited to people’s homes for dinner after the revival meetings.  Anne recalls eating at very spacious homes, rich with many luxurious things around them. While at other times, Anne knew that a particular family was going to short their food budget by inviting them over to their humble home.  She said that they would cheerfully give with joy, kindness and humility.  It was a lesson that Anne would take with her to this present day.  In retrospect, as a teacher, I have learned that many important lessons are indeed learned outside of the classroom. 


Now when I look at the Iris’ that grow in our garden, I see so much more than the beauty of the flower.  I believe that God gives us reminders like these, which help us to remember people and events that are an important part of our past and present, reminders that warm our hearts.  Margie’s legacy goes on past her lifetime into the hearts of her children, grandchildren and now great grandchildren, along with the many thousands of lives she touched when serving the Lord.  All of these things can now be seen in a simple flower, the Iris.

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Finding Our Way


Can you tell if the camera is pointing up or down the hill?  Life is like that at times.  We wonder which way we are going because we are floundering in our ways.  The demands of life seem to be pulling us in the direction that the day’s requirements are exacting on us.  At times, we feel that we have no control over what is happening in our life.  One minute we seem to have it all together and in the next we are falling apart.  So where does this middle of the road lie in our lives? Where the hill is neither too steep to climb nor too easy and we find we are heading down hill and lost?

Jesus said that he is the way, the truth and the life.  When we are lost and afraid by life’s circumstances, we have a guide who will help us find our way, Jesus.   The funny adage of men not asking for directions and not looking at the map just before getting completely lost has its merit.  We want to be right and feel confident about our decisions, but at times we have to admit that we are lost and need help. 


Are you lost today?  Do you need help?  Take time to ask our father for help in finding your way.  He is never too far from us and is always willing to listen and help.  A lifeguard once said that to help a drowning victim, he sometimes has to let the person struggle first, so he himself does not get pulled down by the panicked swimmer and both are drowned.  Jesus is just waiting for us to stop struggling on our own strength so he can help us.  Ask Jesus now for help, he is waiting patiently for you.