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“ENCOURAGEMENT”

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 754

September 23, 2025///

The story I am going to share with you has an unknown author but a lesson that we can all use!

Put yourself in this situation!

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“Wishing to encourage her young son’s progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her. Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked NO ADMITTANCE.

When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted, and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy’s ear, Don’t quit. Keep playing. Then leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part.

Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child, and he added a running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was mesmerized.”

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May I look at a couple different ways we can look at this!

I was reading Romans 12 this morning, and Paul was writing about the gifts we are each given in our lives. Each of these are to encourage others and show our Saviors Love!

Just as the Piano Master took the opportunity to mentor a young boy by coming alongside him to help not to discouraging him, we can do the same to so many in our lives.

We can use the Love and abilities God has given us to save others from hurts and fears and turn what evil means for bad in their lives for good.

Instead of always telling those in our lives what they should do, we should be showing and exemplifying what they should do.

Who knows what would have happened if the Piano Master had acted with a request for him to leave. Maybe the young man would have been so embarrassed he would have given up piano completely.

Our actions have so much influence over each person we encounter! We must walk in the Love and Compassion of Jesus!

The second lesson in this story I want to share with you is looking at us in frightening situations.

Maybe we have passion for the talent and abilities, and ministry God has given us and find ourselves picking out our way, step by step just as this boy was picking out “Twinkle, Twinkle little star”, and others are watching, and the situation becomes a scary place.

Then Jesus is right there saying “DON’T STOP”! “KEEP DOING WHAT YOU CAN,” AND I WILL FILL IN THE REST”!

You are enough! You can do what God has placed you on earth to do!

It may be helping the youngest of us all or the oldest of us all do the simplest things. It may be feeding the hungry or praying for others or teaching, giving, smiling, speaking a word in season, or touching a child with your love and a “DON”T QUIT”!

I encourage you to read the 12th chapter of Romans and let the word encourage you in the things you can do, so we can all show the compassion and love of Jesus!

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Father, you help us in our time of need and encourage us with your word and your presence. May each one who reads this determine to help and encourage others in the difficulties of life! We can affect others for good even when we may be struggling ourselves. Lead us to overcome evil with good everyday of our lives! In Jesus name I pray! Amen!

Love, MeMaw!

“CONFIDENCE!”

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 753

September 16, 2025///

I sometimes see on the television a commercial about a GMC Truck.

The lead to the commercial is “Confidence does not come from within.”

Oh, I want to scream at the TV that confidence is absolutely from within!

Our confidence or lack of it comes from the belief (wrong or right), deep within us about who we are!

Are we pretty, are we smart, can we do what we desire, are we loved, are we good enough?

Some of that comes from the way we were raised, and some comes from the environment we are in, and that what others say is important. All that affects who we are deep inside!

But about a week ago we saw confidence in who he was, in action as Charlie Kirk shared and listened and debated on a college campus. Charlie Kirk lived and shared with a confidence of who he was in Christ and who Christ was in him.

You see it is only in understanding who we are created to be and taking on the mantle the Heavenly Father places on us, can we walk in true confidence that comes from knowing the truth that sets us free to be all we are created to be!

Charlie Kirk had surrendered who he thought he was to who he knew he was in Christ Jesus. Jesus makes us new inside and invades us with peace and joy and the confidence that our next breath could be in the presence of Jesus.

How about you this morning? Do you have the confidence that your last breath here will take you right into the heaven, to the presence of our Savior and Creator God!

Yes, evil took Charlie Kirk’s life, but God will take that evil and turn it around for the Glory of the Father.

Maybe you are saying to yourself “I don’t understand how that could have happened?”

When we have the confidence Christ gives, we can trust God’s loving nature even when we cannot see His actions!

The word has much to say about confidence and I will share just a few. Read them slowly and let the truth get deep inside you!

Philippians 1:6 (KJV) Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Proverbs 3:26 (KJV) For the Lord shall be thy confidence, And shall keep thy foot from being taken.

Proverbs 3:26 (TPT) because God is your confidence in times of crisis, keeping your heart at rest in every situation.

Proverbs 14:26 (KJV) In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: And his children shall have a place of refuge.

**This fear is reverence and honor!

Isaiah 30:15B (KJV)In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength:

Ephesians 3:12 (KJV) In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Look at Proverbs 3:26 above, in the passion translation. What should our response be as we face a crisis like we have faced this last week?

WALKING AT REST IN OUR HEARTS BECAUSE GOD IS OUR CONFIDENCE!

The confidence God gives cannot be defeat by evil!

The Apostle Paul said it well:

2 Corinthians 4:8 (KJV) We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

Why? Because our confidence is in Jesus Christ our Lord!

In what or in who is your confidence?

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Father, when we see evil, our hearts are moved with compassion for those who are affected. But we also, as your children, must consider why hate was in the heart of the one who carries out evil attacks. Our world needs to hear about the love of Jesus! Help each of us to walk in the confidence you give us. That is the confidence that will change the world for good! Thank you for the confidence you give! I ask in the precious name of Jesus! Amen!

Love, Me-Maw!

“TRUTH!”

Me-Maw thoughts

Number 752

September 9, 2025///

I have news for you!

The good news is that the bad news is wrong.

God is real, Jesus did pay the price and was raised from the dead. And when we receive that truth, we have new life/the real life in Him.

The earth is the Lords, and life is short, and eternity is long and our Faith in God or Lack of it determines our destiny.

There are still those who live their Christianity and show their love for God by their compassion and love for others.

There are churches who teach and preach the truth and choose good over evil.

We know there are still parents who teach their children the Bible and show by example how to live the best life by living for the savior.

Each of us know those who believe it is important to gather with other believers on Sundays to focus our attention on the God who loves us like no other.

Yes, evil may be abounding, but the Bible says, where sin(evil) abounds, Grace abounds more.

ROMANS 5:20 (KJV) BUT WHERE SIN ABOUNDED, GRACE DID MUCH MORE ABOUND:

Most of us have heard the phrase “Jesus said, I believe it, and that settles it!”

I am here to tell you that “JESUS SAID IT AND THAT SETTLES IT,” WHETHER WE BELIEVE IT OR NOT!

Our belief or unbelief does not change truth. We can believe our car will crank but if it is out of gas our belief is wrong.

We may believe we can jump off a building and fly, but the truth is gravity will pull you smashing to the ground.

We can believe our goals are right and will give us true joy and lasting happiness, but if we leave Jesus out of the equation, we will see it is a lie.

My question to you this morning is: “WHAT ARE YOU BASING YOUR BELIEFS ON?”

The culture we live in for the most part, promotes lies, but God’s word is truth, and the truth sets you free to be all God created you to be.

I challenge you to read the Bible, God’s written word, which shows us truth and shows us Jesus and shows us the way to live.

If you are not familiar with the Bible start in John in the New Testament. Psalms is also a good place to read.

Open your heart as you read and the truths will be evident to you!

I desire for each person I know or meet to know the truth. The truth gives you the Joy, Peace, and life that our culture and it’s thinking cannot give!

Let God’s Truth set you free. Even as Christians we sometimes get caught up in the pull of the society we are in.

We can live real life in Jesus as we walk in His Truth!

“WHAT ARE YOUR BELIEFS BASED ON???”

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Father, thank you for your word. Your word is truth, and the truth frees us from the lies of the enemy. The truth is we are enough in you and can do all things through you. The truth is you Love us like no other and will guide us every day! Help each of us to find truth in you and your word. I decree this in Jesus’ name! Amen!

Love, MeMaw!

“LABOR!”

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 751

September 2, 2025///

I am thinking about how each of us spent what is called Labor Day yesterday.

It is supposed to recognize hard work and jobs done well!

Some had to work as usual, some had picnics or celebrations with others.

Others worked on house or yard projects and others did nothing but take a complete day of rest.

We call our labor work, and our work takes many different forms from Moms and Dads to CEO’s.

We find our motivations as varied as the jobs we do. Each of us is gifted with special abilities that we can use to make life better for ourselves and others.

Our culture measures our performance with results. But what does God look at as we go about out daily task and jobs.

God looks at our heart, attitude, faithfulness, and integrity!

God looks at our motivation and He desires we do all we do as unto Him!

When we do everything in our lives as worship unto the Lord Jesus it changes the world around us!

1 CORINTHIANS 15:58 (KJV)THEREFORE, MY BELOVED BRETHREN, BE YE STEDFAST, UNMOVEABLE, ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN THE WORK OF THE LORD, FORASMUCH AS YE KNOW THAT YOUR LABOUR IS NOT IN VAIN IN THE LORD.

When this scripture refers to our labor in the Lord, we tend to think of ministry work, but I believe all our work, everything we do, is the work of the Lord when we do all we do unto Him.

If your heart is in right relation to the Lord Jesus and you realize every ability and opportunity you have affects others and shows them Jesus with skin on, it is all worship.

Obedience is worship and faithfulness is worship and if we release all we do to the guidance and leading of the Lord Jesus it is all worship.

Labor! Sometimes our labor may be hard and long, such as the delivery of a precious baby can be.

Maybe our labor is one of caring for the sick or making sure our children are clothed, fed, LOVED, and taking them to the places they need to be.

Your labor could be what you might consider the same old, same old!

I truly feel that what I am supposed to leave with you today is that all we do can be worship, because it is a matter of our heart.

Is our innermost being worshipping as we are thanking God for the privilege of serving Him in whatever place we are in and in whatever way we can!

God is doing a work in each of us to mold us into the image of the Lord Jesus. Jesus’ life was one of constant fulfillment of the Father’s will and that is what our lives should be.

Philippians 1:6 (KJV)Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

My prayer is that we will be moldable clay and do all we do as worship to the Creator God!

Isaiah 64:8 (KJV) But now, O Lord, thou art our father;

We are the clay, and thou our potter;

And we all are the work of thy hand.

I encourage you to try this truth for one day. As you do the things you need to do today, do it all as worship and praise to God from the heart!

Your day will be better, your heart lighter, and you will affect those around you with good!

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Father, I pray for each person who reads this. Let the truth of you will, your way, and your Love fill each of us. Impart to us the understanding the Christianity is a matter of the heart. And if our heart is filled with worship and praise to you, we are honoring you and fulfilling your will for us! Amen!

Love, MeMaw!

‘SEASONS!”

ME-MAW THOUGHTS

NUMBER 750

August 26, 2025///

As I will be turning 81 soon, I am thinking about how to navigate this season of life with grace.

When I look at the wrinkles and spots that multiply daily, I am thinking about the changes our body and mind go through as we mature.

The times I cannot seem to do what I need to do; I realize that life is always changing seasons!

At our recent women’s conference, the panel talked about seasons of life. The panel had mothers of small children and grandmothers. Obviously, the roles are different!

So how do we walk through each season with the Grace and Joy God intended for us?

First let’s think about the actual seasons of the year, Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter!

Spring brings new life, buds and blooms and warmth and more sunny days! We navigate this by planting flowers and maybe vegetables and spending more time outdoors and being able to dress lighter!

Summer brings hotter weather, longer days, time in the pool or lake, gathering the vegetables we planted, taking vacations, and all kinds of activities.

Fall comes with its array of colors, back to school happenings, ball games and cookouts!

Winter comes sometimes with a frosty roar and there is Christmas, New Years, resolutions, fire in the fireplace and later valentines and the soon coming of spring.

And then it begins again!

If we are caught up in what the next season will being or keep looking back at seasons past, we cannot be all we were created to be in the current season!

In the circle of life, we are born, become adults, mature adults, and seniors.

It is truly a circle of life.

Spring brings life and summer brings growth! Fall brings maturity and winter brings wisdom and warmth of home!

In every season of life there are different responsibilities and learning to be done but we cannot truly navigate to its greatest potential and joy any season if we do not recognize that season and rejoice in it.

If we get caught up in the next step in careers, who will be our life partner, our children or empty nest or grandchildren or beyond, that we cannot just settle down and enjoy the special attributes of that particular season we are in, we will never be satisfied.

If we do not recognize who made us and who has plans for each season, we will never be grateful for the things that time in our lives brings.

Our loving Father has made all good things and has made them for us to enjoy and that includes every phase of life.

What a blessing you can bring to others at every age and at every stage of this journey we call life.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV) To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Psalm 1:3 (KJV) And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,

That bringeth forth his fruit in his season;

His leaf also shall not wither;

And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

I encourage you to look at the season of life you are in and follow God your creator as He leads you in joy, peace, praise, and fruit of goodness where you are.

Worship the Father in all you do every day of every season of life!

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Father, I come in Jesus’ name with a thankful heart that you can use each one who reads this, wherever they are on this journey of life. As we live each day unto you and we release all we are and are not to you, you will show us great and mighty things every day we are on this earth. You are faithful, may each of us be faithful in all we do and let us do whatever we do with all our might! Amen!

Love, MeMaw!

“COME AND SEE!”

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 749

August 19, 2025///

Have you ever had a new house, a new car or redecorated or had a new addition to your family and said to people, “come and see this or him or her”?

What we are saying in that statement is you cannot comprehend this until you see it. Nothing is the same in pictures as it is in person.

As I was reading John one in the Bible this morning three verses griped my heart. I want to share what I have thought before but what stood out in stark reality this day.

Jesus had come as the expression of God’s Love for us and had reached the age of 30. He had just been baptized by John the Baptist and John declared Jesus to be the “Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world”!

Two of John’s disciples (or followers) heard John and followed the Lamb of God: Jesus!

Let us look at three steps to sharing with others!

John 1:37 (KJV)

And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

The first step: Follow Jesus, be interested!

John 1:38 (KJV)

Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

Look at this verse. They did not say “show us a miracle”, or “give us good jobs or things”, they said we want to just be with you!

That verse is packed with meaning. They desired only to be with Him where He was.

Do we desire just to be with Him? Or do we desire more what he can do for us rather than what He can do in us as we just spend time with Him!

Yes, Jesus gives us good and perfect gifts, supplies our needs and the desires of our heart, but is that the reason we want to spend time with Him!

Jesus wants us to “Dream Big”, and “Pray Hard”, but more important is that He wants us to just be with Him!

The second step: desire just to be in His presence!

John 1:39 (KJV)

He saith unto them, COME AND SEE. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

Then Jesus says: “Come and see”! and they spent the day in His presence!

Jesus says to us, come and see what I can do in you as you spend time with me.

The other side of that is expressed in the latter part of that chapter.

John 1:45 (KJV)

Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

Philip had encounter Jesus and wanted his friend to have that encounter.

Do we desire those we know to encounter Jesus? Do we tell them about the one who changed our lives?

John 1:46 (KJV)

And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, COME AND SEE.

Philip invited Nathanael to come and see. He did not argue about who Jesus was, he just invited Nathanael to come and see for himself.

We need to just show those around us Jesus and when they see Jesus they will desire to know Him more personally.

The third step: Invite others, to church, to a bible study, or just to know Jesus! And live a life that is an invitation to COME AND SEE!

However, we cannot invite others to COME AND SEE, when we have not seen the Savior for ourselves!

I invite you to come and see the one who KNOWS YOU BEST AND LOVES YOU MOST!

Jesus the Christ, the expression of God’s Love to all those who believe!

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Father, we come to you in Jesus’ name and desire just to see your Glory and let you change us on the inside where the real us lives! Bless each one who reads this and let them desire to see you through the Jesus the Savior of all who believe and receive! Amen!

Love, MeMaw!

“OPPOSITES!”

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 748

August 12, 2025///

As I was thinking about the “Fearless Women’s Conference” this weekend at Joshua’s Place Church, my mind went to opposites.

Fearful vs Fearless.

Faithless vs Faithful.

Joyless vs Joyful.

Mindless vs Mindful.

Comfortless vs comfortable.

Loveless vs love.

So, maybe I am getting carried away, but the thought is that every emotion or character attribute has an opposite. Oh, it does not always start with the same letter or have less or full attached to it, but it is opposite just the same!

Lack vs Provision.

Hardships vs Blessings.

Turmoil vs Peace.

Grouchy vs Loving.

Sour vs Sweet.

Stingy vs generous.

Failure vs Success.

Sad vs Happy.

The enemy tries to counterfeit the things of God. The culture of our world is set on things that are supposed to bring pleasure, satisfaction, or peace. But the things of this world, never satisfy.

There is a hunger deep inside every person who is born that longs to have a touch from our Creator God!

This comes from receiving Jesus Christ as our Savior by acknowledging the good things He paid for on the Cross and through His resurrection!

After receiving Jesus as Savior, the more we let His way control our lives we will be walking out the second part of all those opposites above!

They will not all come at once, but they will come as you draw closer to Jesus and His Love.

James 1:17 (KJV)

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

All the good things come from our Father God whether we acknowledge Him or not. All opposites of good gifts come from the enemy of all that is good and who wants to destroy good by evil deception which looks good.

I like to eat one banana every morning I have one in my kitchen. Sometimes they look perfect, but on the inside but there are bad places when they are pealed. Looks are not always correct. The enemy of good and right will deceive by making wrong look right.

Don’t fall for that. Trust the Lord God Almighty with all you are and all that is in your heart, and you will see the good side of vs come to dwell in your life.

I encourage you to repeat with me that you are each of the good sides of the opposites above.

I am FEARLESS, I am FAITHFUL, I am JOYFUL; and keep going down the whole list of good things and more that you think of.

Speak it as you go through your day. Good things in our life honors God and the better the good things, the more He is Honored!

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Father, thank you for the good gifts you give those who love you and even those who do not recognize good things are from you. Thank you more for the gifts deep inside us such as joy and peace and your love. May we walk in the good gifts from above and proclaim by those good gifts that you are a good, good, Father. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!

Love, MeMaw!

‘FREEDOM!”

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 747

August 5, 2025///

I read this last week on Franklin Graham’s Facebook page!

“While the news focuses on tariffs and other things, the world is strangely silent about the slaughter of Christians in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by Muslim jihadists.

Last Sunday, 49 people were brutally hacked to death with machetes during a church service in the village of Komanda—horrifically, 9 of those decapitated that day were children. Several other village children were kidnapped. Shops and businesses were burned. A survivor said there is “sadness upon sadness everywhere. Everything they had is lost…” Can you imagine the horror?

And this isn’t an isolated incident—it’s ongoing. Over 4000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria over the last year. In Sub-Saharan Africa, more than 16 million Christians have fled their homes because of the incredible violence. One person said, “The church is on the run.” Join me in praying for these Christians.”

I thought about this as I worshipped two days ago in our beautiful, comfortable sanctuary with awesome songs and screens of words and I prayed for the Believers all over the world that do not enjoy the freedom to worship as they please.

I began to imagine the horror of crazed people entering that place and killing, beheading, and cutting some to pieces.

WHAT A PRIVILEDGE WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY TO WORSHIP OR IF YOU CHOOSE: NOT TO WORSHIP.

Do we understand the privilege we have in the United States of America?

Maybe you are part of the ones who believe in God and His son Jesus and have confessed Him as your Savior, but various things have kept you from gathering with others to spend time focusing on the one who gave His life for us? You have drifted and you are disobeying the Bible that tells us to not fail to assemble with others.

We need the time to just focus our mind, will, and emotions on our savior and let the presence of God fill us and realign our desires to an eternal focus!

I believe if we truly understand what a privilege this freedom to worship is we would not take it lightly!

We would get planted in a local Bible Believing Church and stand fast in the liberty Christ gives us!

I believe those who find themselves in church regularly, would not be texting, thinking of what was going to happen that afternoon or the next day, but would set their minds on Christ and what he did for us on the Cross!

How focused are we when we walk in our churches to gather with others?

What is the reason we do not gather with other believers?

What if those choices were taken away from us?

Would we regret the casual way we treated church services or ignored them all together!

May we understand this Freedom was not free and others died that we can gather without fear.

That article just stirred me inside and as we examine our walk in the freedoms we have in this country, may we remember those believers around the world who give up everything to serve the savior.

Would we be so determined we would secretly meet in places that could be invaded just any minute? Is our faith strong enough to endure that kind of persecution?

Let us take hold of the freedom we enjoy and use it to it’s fullest to bring others to Christ!

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Father, my heart breaks for the Christians in other parts of the world who are suffering so much because they believe! I want to thank you from the depth of my heart that we can walk into the church of our choice and worship. I want to thank you for waking us up to the incredible privilege this is and let us not take it for granted! May each of us understand the strength that comes within us when we gather with others to focus our minds and spirits on our Lord God Almighty! In Jesus’ name I pray this! Amen!

Love, MeMaw!

“WORTH!”

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 746

July 29, 2025//

I read about a teenage girl in Zambia whose mother died giving birth to her. Her words broke my heart.

She said: “I’ve never known love my entire life. I have always felt like a mistake. Like it is my fault my mother died”

She shared living with her father’s constant resentment, she’d even attempted to take her own life in the past.

After hearing Metro Ministries lesson, “You’re not a mistake because God created you;” for the first time she knows real love, God’s love!

As my heart went out to her, I began to think about those who we know or see every day or somehow are in contact with.

How many feel like a mistake. That there is no reason to live, no one would really care if they were gone!

It may be that you feel less than enough or useless or that no one cares, or the guilt of things that are not your fault, or mistakes that you have made weigh you down until you believe the lie that it is of no use. I just need to give up and quit or destroy myself or so many other lies we tend to listen to!

There is a void deep within each of us that only allowing the Love of our creator God filling us deep inside as we realize that Jesus Christ died for us, will satisfy!

God created man and breathed life into Him. God created man in His image and desires for each person to have Peace and Joy that comes not through circumstances but through receiving the Love shown on the cross!

Drugs, alcohol, money, success, or nothing else will satisfy the longing that is deep within each person who has ever been born on this earth!

Are we seeing the real hurts around us that just a word could help!

Many children and adults, even in our local area are impacted daily by poverty and hunger, drugs and gang violence. Fear is rampant in our schools and there seems to be no safe places.

But may I tell you, Jesus Christ is our safe place! His presence gives us a feeling of security and self-worth because we know He helps us each day!

We cannot be with our children 24 hours a day, seven days a week all the time as they grow and then have families of their own!

But when we know we can pray and they are in the loving protection of a God that Loves them without condition, we can release each of them to His care!

What about you?  Do you know your worth?

Do you comprehend that you were created on purpose for a purpose!

May each of us who understand how much you love us, show that love by reaching out to those who think they are a mistake or that there is no way out of their situation and show them truth. You are the way, the truth and real life!

Matthew 11:28 (KJV)Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

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Father, in Jesus’ name I come! I ask you to help us to see the hurting and bound and oppressed and reach out to them with your Love. You give us real life, and you show us our worth! Let us be diligent as we go about our daily chores, to see others as you see them and not just the outward appearance! Your love can change the lives of the most hopeless. May we never forget that! Amen!

Love, MeMaw!

“NORMAL?”

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 745

July 22, 2025///

We were able to get back into our house last week after the repairs on the storm damage were mostly done! There are a few things they need to do but we are so grateful to be home!

I have said to others since we are back in our home that we are trying to get back to normal and some have said the same thing to me!

I think we have all heard the expression about things or people, that it or they are not normal!

I began to think “WHAT IS NORMAL!”

THE DICTIONARY GIVES THESE DEFINITIONS:

A: conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern: characterized by that which is considered usual, typical, or routine

B: according with, constituting, or not deviating from a norm, rule, procedure, or principle

C: occurring naturally

Looking at the definitions shows us several things!

The normal is conforming to what everyone else does or what is expected. Of course, we deviated from that in our lives with our own habits and actions which are normal for us or our household but may not be a habit or normal for someone else’s household.

For example, you may give your children an allowance or you may require them to do certain chores for it. Others may just expect their children to do chores because they are part of the family! But as far as the outside areas we are in, we conform to what others around us are doing, and we call that normal!

We wear normal clothes, carry the normal purse, bookbag, or briefcase and most try not to be different.

Some ridicule those who do not walk in what they think is normal!

But may I tell you God made each of us unique and it should be our goal to be all that we were created to be, and that does not fall into normal.

When we receive Jesus as our Savior and realize we were created on purpose for a purpose and begin to walk in that purpose, we most likely will not be considered normal!

We walk to the beat of a different drummer. We are looking at others and at the things we are doing from an eternal perspective.

When we live from an eternal perspective, normal does not appeal! We walk in the supernatural. We see lives changed and prayers answered!

We walk in peace when others are worried and fretful!

We consider others before ourselves and we show kindness wherever we are!

Those things are not normal in today’s culture. People are demanding their way and if you do not agree you are wrong. If it is not their normal, to them it is not normal!

But the Bible says:

Romans 12:2 (KJV) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We are to be transformed into a non-normal life of consecration to God!

To the Believer in Jesus, the normal is to be found in a good church on Sunday’s, to serve where needed and to treat others with mercy, love, and kindness!

Your daily routine contains some time to read the bible and pray!

The Christian Walks in Joy and does not put others down to lift their self-up!

When we look back at the definitions, we must understand that as a Christian we are conforming to God’s normal and the more we walk in God’s normal the more natural that is to us!

May we desire God’s eternal normal and lay aside the desire to conform to the normal culture around us!

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Thank you, Father, we can live every day in a way that gives you glory as we conform to your will and your normal or supernormal! Give each of us courage to be different when your normal does not fit what is happening. Give us Victory and show us the best way to live, love, and laugh, in your Joy! In Jesus’ name I pray! Amen!

Love, MeMaw!