God Bless Our U.S.A!

Tags

blessing, Declaration of Independence, Fourth of July, gratitude, Independence Day, providence, Under God

This weekend we celebrate the Fourth of July or Independence Day! Friends and families gather to commemorate the birth of our nation. U.S. flags are proudly displayed, parades feature patriotic themes, and we even dress in combinations of red, white and blue. This past week saw Britain voting to exit the European Union and regain the freedom to be autonomous. Two hundred and forty years ago, our country declared its independence from England, making a similar choice.

As we gather, we need to remember that the Declaration of Independence closed ” with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence …” That protection is still needed. We need to express our gratitude for that continuous blessing and pray that God will favor us in the future. Perhaps Psalm 33:12 is the best directive as we move forward. It proclaims “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen as His heritage.” Like the Hebrew nation, chosen by God, we must remember our God. 

Join me as we “pledge our allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” We need to remain DEPENDENT upon God and follow His guidance for the future of our country. Include Him in your celebrations this weekend!

Celebrate Life!

Tags

blessings, Camera Day, chocoholic, Christmas, Helen Keller's Birthday, Hug Your Cat Day, National Chocolate Pudding Day, National Orange Blossom Day, National Sunglasses Day, Paul Bunyan Day, Resurrection Sunday, special days

It seems like there’s a day  for celebrating just about anything in our great country. Not too long ago, it was “Hug Your Cat Day.” This led me to wonder if there was a special honor assigned to each day of the year. Imagine my surprise when I ran a search and discovered that there were many celebrations designated for each day, depending on the website accessed. You can even pick a day and begin your own festivity.

Monday, the 27th,  was National Sunglasses Day as well as National Orange Blossom Day and Helen Keller’s Birthday. Sunday, the 26th, was National Chocolate Pudding Day. I don’t know how that one escaped me, a chocoholic! Today, June 28th, is Paul Bunyan Day. Maybe I could write an original tall tale to commemorate that. Tomorrow is Camera Day and a good excuse to take even more pictures than usual.

You may ask “How does this theme fit a religious post?” Well, I’m getting there. We have a day for celebrating all our favorite things or hobbies. In addition, some sites give you the opportunity to begin a new festive theme day. Our focus is supposed to be on God and Christ Jesus every day, but we only really celebrate Christmas and Resurrection Sunday. We make mention of Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Pentecost to name a few. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if, as we celebrate secular days, we praised God for having provided us with the freedom to do so? Without Our Heavenly Father, we would not exist nor have the opportunity to acknowledge the blessings of chocolate pudding, sunglasses and orange blossoms.

Celebrate the love of Our Father God, His Son, and the Holy Spirit. Celebrate each and every day as a child of God and a brother of Jesus. Praise His Holy Name and thank Him for EVERYTHING. Celebrate His love for us.

 

In Search of Peace

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.

Ever feel lost or in danger of sinking as situations arise that try your patience? Lately I’ve been assailed by negative feelings toward a neighbor. At times, I’ve almost wanted to pack my bags and leave home. My husband and I had a peaceful existence and suddenly it’s not like that anymore. How wonderful it would be if we could relocate to a remote desert island! Leave behind the world and it’s distractions and live in a bubble. Perfect peace, but not very feasible or realistic to say the least!

As a Christian,  I know I should feel joy and peace in all situations. In light of my eternal home, why do I allow minor problems to get under my skin? Because my focus is shifting from Christ Jesus, the Word, and prayer. When I feel myself slipping into a place of disruption and unrest, I need to go to the Lord in prayer and search His Word. When I do, I find the peace that can never be taken from me.  My balance is restored as I meditate on His Word and am reminded of His many promises. I am assured a permanent home in eternity as a child of God! How blessed I am! I may be in the world, but I don’t have to be of the world. God’s strength will carry me through any problem along with His armor (Ephesians 6:10-18). My peace is secured by my Father’s love for me. Rest in His love with me and be renewed! Perfect peace is found not in the world but in faith, steadfast belief, devotion, and loyalty to our God.

Summer Is Here!

Tags

staycations, summer, summertime, vacations

Psalm 74:17  It was You who set all the boundaries of the earth; You made both summer and winter.

Genesis 8:22 As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.

Yes, today marks the official beginning of summer! It’s a time for enjoying the outdoors more, be it in the mountains, on the plains, or on the beach. Children are free from their studies and families enjoy taking vacations, even staycations, together. Meals are served outside and grills are fired up. We lay about inside to recoup from the heat in air conditioned splendor or take to hammocks and porches in the shade. As the old song went “Summertime and the livin’ is easy.” Yes, we let go of schedules and with longer days have more leisure time it seems. It’s time to treat ourselves to fun after coming out of the winter doldrums, to travel, relax and be lazy.

Now comes a sticky question? Where does God fit in your summertime plans? Do you vacation from Him, from His Word, from church, from Sunday School? Most churches see a reduction in regular attendance during the summer. Some reschedule service so families can get it “out of the way” and go boating, swimming, fishing, whatever suits their fancy.

The two bible verses I shared mention summer and also serve as reminders that God created this beautiful world in which we live and He is in control. He never vacations from us. He’s always there, but it’s up to us to stay in contact with Him. Take His Word with you wherever you go, and stay in touch with Him. You will be blessed beyond any expectation you might have. Take in all He has to offer and reflect His love to others. Your light will shine along with the sun!

 

 

Honor Thy Father

Tags

Apalachicola, Army Air Corp, carpenter, Daddy's girl, Father's Day, Hofstra University, honor, Moncks Corner, World War II

My thoughts this year as Father’s Day draws near have surprised me! I have always been a self-proclaimed “Daddy’s girl.” I just really never gave the reasons for that fact much thought. As an only child, I was extremely close to both my parents but always wanted to bask in my Dad’s love more than my mom’s. Maybe that was because my mom was always at home and readily available, but in looking back over some important events in my life, I can see why my adoration for my dad grew and grew. As an adult, he was there for me more than my mom was.

When I graduated college, Dad and I drove together to the ceremony with my mom and her parents coming separately later in the afternoon. I can still remember listening to Glen Campbell sing “Wichita Lineman ” as we drove to the Hofstra University campus. How proud I was to arrive on campus with him by my side!

A few years later I had moved to an apartment about fifteen minutes away from my parents’ home. The first time I tried to clean my oven there I made a gross mistake and inhaled the fumes from EZ OFF . It was my dad who came to my rescue and cleaned up my mess. I was astounded since I’d never known him to do kitchen work before this incident. Yes, Dad loved me and wasn’t afraid to show it.

Fast forward a few years to when I suffered the loss of my first really serious love.  I called home in tears, truly hysterical. Dad came to get me and bring me home to recover. There was no criticism, only compassion and sympathy. I felt safe and protected while I healed emotionally and prepared to face the world again.

The next year, 1975, I moved to Apalachicola, Florida. It was Daddy who drove me and my two cats to our new home. This was a serious sacrifice on his part, since he didn’t like cats and they meowed for hours on end during the two days we journeyed in my little Camaro. When I planned a move to my home in Moncks Corner, he’d made two trips from New York, one to help me locate the right house and the next to help me move my possessions. He stayed to work on my backyard and I always held the two weeks we shared during my move to Apalach and then the week in Moncks Corner in my heart as gifts that were priceless. The best gift ever was when he decided to move to South Carolina after my mom passed away. Those last three years of his life, even with the ups and downs we survived emotionally, will always be the best gift Daddy ever gave me. Yes, I was Daddy’s girl!  So, this Father’s Day I take time out to remember him and share some of his legacy with you.

My dad, Peter Sven Almind, was of Danish descent. He was raised in a family with two brothers and three sisters. Dad’s in the middle of the photo below along with his brothers,  John, on the left and Carl, on the right.

Born in 1919, he was 22 years old when World War II began. Drafted to serve in the Army Air Corp, he was sent to work with chemical warfare, stationed in London, England for three years.

 

Upon returning home in 1945, he married my mom and devoted his life to work as a carpenter. He built the home in which I grew up in North Merrick, NY and helped Jim and I when we built our home in Conway. Although in his 80’s by then, he still wanted to  be involved in our project.

This is too brief a picture of the man I called “Daddy” and then “Dad,” but I honor him this Father’s Day by sharing these memories with you and thank God for having had him as my father. I was truly blessed!

 

---

 

Publish

Categories & TagsUncategorized

Featured Image

SharingFacebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, Tumblr

Post FormatStandard

More Options

Born in 1919, he was 22 years old when World War II began and was drafted to serve in the Army Air Corp. He was assigned to chemical warfare and served three years in London, England.

United We Stand!

Tags

Charleston A.M.E. church, divisiveness, Flag Day, freedom, massacre, melting pot, Orlando, patriots

The tragedy in Orlando has impacted our country five days before the first anniversary of the Charleston A.M.E. church massacre and two days before the celebration of Flag Day. Our country comes together when faced with such devastation. The divisiveness of political rhetoric is no longer the media focus or ours. We recognize that we are all Americans, proud of our heritage and freedom. We become united in our desire to do something in response to such evil. We pray for the victims’ families, for the survivors, for the first responders. There is a common desire to do something to show our outrage for the action and, in contrast, our love for one another. The lines of people volunteering to donate blood speak volumes. We are the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and that is the image we must reflect to the world and hold in our hearts.

Our country is a melting pot! As U.S. citizens and patriots, we must remember the words of Mark 3:25 “And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.” This same concept is referenced in both Matthew 12:25 and Luke 11:17. Tragedy unites us once again. We must stand united, “one nation, under God”; otherwise we will fall!

A Lesson Learned in the Garden

Tags

fruits of the Spirit, gardening, Mexican hydrangea, patience

Our South Carolina home sits on land that is a challenge to my gardening skills. Much of it is quite sandy and, even with topsoil added, it drains very quickly and is not conducive to plants that I have cultivated elsewhere. When I heard of the Mexican hydrangea and its ability to spread rapidly over an area, I knew I would give it a try. Three summers ago, I planted my new treasure and waited to see if it would be successful. It didn’t do much the first year, but it came back the next summer and three new shoots appeared close by it. Last summer, a few more plants appeared in late spring and I was happy that it was thriving, but I doubted it would ever bloom. Imagine my surprise this year when I noticed three blossoms developing on the plants! As these blossoms get ready to bloom my joy continues to grow also. My Mexican hydrangea is a  keeper!

My patience was rewarded. This caused me to think of that very quality, actually a fruit of the Spirit, which I need to cultivate in myself. Our Heavenly Father is forever patient with us. Help me, dear Lord, to be as patient with others as You are with me. Empower me to hold this scripture from Colossians 3:12-13 in my heart: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another …” May I grow in patience and bloom for others to see Your love through me in Jesus’ name, I pray. AMEN

Being Persistent

Tags

dedication, Orchard Oriole, persistent, prayer

We’ve had a visitor appear daily at our dining room window over the past few weeks. She is very persistent and wants something. At times she moves on to our bedroom window and the knocking continues. She is quite determined and doesn’t seem at all fazed that we ignore her. I wish I could invite her inside, but she is one of God’s creatures, an Orchard Oriole, and belongs outside, free to roam and enjoy life.

Her appearance and dedication to this task led me to reconsider my attitude toward prayer and my service to the Lord. I thought of Matthew 7:7-8, beginning “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Often when I pray and present a request to our Heavenly Father I mention it and then let it go. I don’t expect an immediate response and realize that the answer may be yes or no or not now, but I don’t persist in my request. I have a tendency to give up or decide that maybe what I’m asking or doing isn’t in God’s plan for me. Perhaps I need to be more like our little bird and just keep knocking until the Lord reveals what He has in store for me.

Put On A Happy Face!

Tags

children of God, happy face, morning, rejoice, smile

Psalm 118:24   This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Each day we awaken to a fresh beginning, an empty slate on which to plan our activities! How much better it is when we face the new morning with a smile. Troubles may be surrounding you, but look around at the beauty of God’s world!  God has smiled on you this day. He loves unconditionally. Bad things may happen but we, who are children of God, have his blessings showered on us daily. Share His love by offering a smile to all you meet. It will make your day and theirs so much better.

Share your love

Make a happy face

 Imagine God’s joy

 Love others as yourself

 Even unto enemies

So,  greet one another with a smile!!!

Beginning Again!

Tags

Friday the 13th, hope, omens, Renewal

“Hope springs eternal in the human breast.” Alexander Pope

My blog has been hibernating for the past six weeks or I guess that I have! Now that’s backwards, since spring is supposed to be a time of renewal! Well, here it is Friday the 13th and I have felt led to re-enter the world of sharing my thoughts. Friday the 13th means nothing to me since as a Christian I am not superstitious! God is in control of this world, He loves me and as a believer in His Son, Christ Jesus, I am His child. How truly blessed I am. Each new day begins like a blank canvas that can be filled with beauty if I but keep my focus on my God! May you all be filled with His love and hope for the future also.

Don’t worry about stepping on that crack or having a black cat cross your path! We have four black cats and are blessed by their presence. Forget about bad omens and look to Jesus. He died for us because of His love for us. We don’t need good luck; we have our Father’s love surrounding us. For it is written in Romans 8:28 ” And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”