The Beautiful Lake Tahoe!

LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8:9, NIV)

Today's blog post is a continuation of our April roadtrip!

From Carson City to Tahoe, we experienced...more...snow...in April, I was shocked!

A lot of snow...in April. Did I mention I was shocked...as well as grossly underdressed!

My girls screamed, "What do you do when you are find yourself in a snowstorm?! Have a snowball fight, what else?!" So...we did!

Well...they did, while I hid out in the van...with the heat on high...dressed in layers.

In Tahoe, we stayed at the magnificent Marriott's Timber Lodge, located in the "Heavenly Ski Resort" area. Walking into the reception area we were immediately greeted by a roaring fireplace. Off to the right of the reception area was the next best thing to said roaring fireplace...the Cub House...for kids! Complete with crafts, toys, birds, fish, and a climbing wall! 

Our suite included a washer/dryer and yes, another roaring fireplace as well as an oversized jacuzzi tub. Our Marriott stay was very enjoyable. The grounds were beautiful and the staff was very friendly and helpful. The Heavenly Ski Resort area is full of fun shops, tasty coffee houses and restaurants. When we left Hawaii for this trip, we knew three things. When we were leaving, where we were spending the first night, and when we were flying home. We quickly discovered we had not allotted enough time for Tahoe and our next destination. We also discovered will definitely be spending more time in Tahoe!

If you find yourself in Tahoe, do not miss out on the Emerald Bay. It is one of the most beautiful places on earth! Why use words when pictures tell it all!

Lord God, it is no wonder to me why the Psalmist sang, "LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth"! When I sit and take in the sights, sounds, and smells of your creation, I too sing, "LORD, our Lord, how Majestic is Your name in all the earth"!


Tomorrow: Yosemite...and I don't mean Sam!

Wait Patiently Upon the LORD

Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD. (Psalm 27:14, NLT)

God has given me two of the most precious little granddaughters, Caley and Eden. They are very sweet natured, giving, and loving. (Proverbs 22:6)

Last weekend, Eden (five years old) did a quick survey of the gifts currently under the Christmas tree and discovered there were no gifts with her name on them. She took her concern to her mother and the conversation was overheard by her older sister, Caley (nine years old).

Three days later, Caley decided to take matters into her own hands. She took some of her own money, made an envelope, and put it under the tree so that her sister would have a gift under the tree because she didn’t want her sister to have to wait any longer.

I'm sure we can all agree, this is one of the cutest things ever!

I haven’t talked to Caley about this situation but I am sure she knows (through experience) her parents are going to insure gifts are under the tree for her sister when timing allows. 

I have information that Caley and Eden doesn’t have...Eden's already has gifts. They are hidden and waiting for a specific time. Their parents have already provided. (Daniel 10:12)

Caley acted with a giving heart and pure motives but once I learned what she had done, it occurred to me I have:

• decided I waited long enough for my Father to provide and took matters into my own hands. 
• waited a "few days" for my Father to provide and decided it was an acceptable length of time to wait, and I “provided” instead of waiting on Him.
• jumped the gun and provided for someone and then wondered how I “came up short” and realized waiting on my Father to provide for them would’ve yielded  a much larger blessing...for both of us. 
• been a Champion Rescue Ranger and do something to change situations myself in my life (or the life of someone else) which instead, created a setback.

All those times were birthed out of a giving heart and pure motives but God is God. (Deuteronomy 10:17) I am not God. Wisdom waits patiently for the LORD. (Psalm 27:14) God has a plan, a perfect plan. Part of that perfect plan includes His perfect timing...not our timing. His ways are higher than our ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9)  

It is true that God uses us as part of His plan but wisdom is being led by His Spirit (Galatians 5:16-17) and doesn’t interfere with, delay, or interrupt His plan. Being a “Champion Rescue Ranger” doesn’t help us or the person we set out to rescue. As we practice waiting on Him, and being one with Him, we will wait when it is in His timing to wait and we will provide when it is in His timing to provide. Sometimes, “in the wait” is where we grow, change, and draw closer to Him. We do not want to skip that critical step.         

God has information we don't have. He already has gifts for us and they are good and perfect, hidden and waiting on His perfect timing!  (James 1:5) 

Father, thank You for Your perfect plan for our lives and thank You for Your perfect timing. Your Word says, if we lack wisdom, all we have to do is ask You for wisdom. Right now, in the name of Jesus, please give us the wisdom to know when to wait and when to act. Our heart’s desire is to give and to help and to encourage but most of all, we want to stay in alignment with Your perfect timing. Every day, help us become more and more like You!

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. (Provers 22:6, NKJV)

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9, NKJV)

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. (Romans 8:14, NLT)

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28, NLT)

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Romans 8:14, NLT)

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5, NKJV)

Words...I Have None...

Except to proclaim: O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name throughout the earth! 

(Psalm 8:9, GWT)

This is not a crooked horizon, the slant is a road :)

 

Jasper National Park, Alberta Canada

One of the most spectacular places on earth!

Success!

Last November, during a mainland trip to Missouri, we accompanied family and friends to the Sight and Sound Theatre in Branson and watched Joseph. The depiction of this classic was phenomenal!

Since that time, Joseph has been on my mind a lot. The bible tells us about the struggles Joseph faced. I wrote about that in a previous blog post, "In the Crack." You can read it at the link below.

http://keytovblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/in-crack.html

While studying Joseph, I also learned he:

• Was successful in everything. (Genesis 39:3)
• Was handsome and well built. (Genesis 39:6)
• Shown faithful love by God. (Genesis 39:21)
• Was the prison warden's favorite and successful in prison. (Genesis 39:23)
• Was made ruler of Egypt, second only to the king. (Genesis 41:40)
• Got married. (Genesis 41:45)
• Became a father, twice. (Genesis 41:50)
• Walked in unprecedented forgiveness. (Genesis 45:15)
• Gave his family the best. (Genesis 45:18)

Did I mention, he went from prison to being second only to the king?
Joseph was so successful in everything he did because the Lord was with Him! (Genesis 39:2)

The Lord is with us too! (Zephaniah 3:17) As we study and meditate on His Word we will prosper and have good success! (Joshua 1:8 NLT)

My prayer for every reader today is to prosper as their soul prospers and to have good success in everything they set their hand to in the name of Jesus!

Please make this confession with me today!

Father God, I thank you for always being with me! I thank You for never leaving or forsaking me! Thank You for teaching me Your Word and giving me a heart to meditate on it day and night! It is because of You that I prosper in every area of my life! I thank You for my successful life, I know all good things comes from you!

He Used Me

And the King will say, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” (Matthew 25:40,NLT)

We purchase all our totes and drawstring bags from Totally Totes. They provide excellent customer service and high quality products. Please check them out at this link.

https://www.facebook.com/totallytotesmissouri

I recently purchased a tote from a line they call, “Jesus Tote”.

While at a restaurant, the LORD drew my attention to a certain woman and said, “Give her the Jesus tote.” My first thought was, “I don’t even know if she is a believer.”

I got up from our table, approached her, and said, “God wants you to have this tote.” She started weeping and said, “My bible bag is so tattered and worn out.” I smiled and said, “Not any more, God just gave you a brand new one.”

Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.  I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me. My bible tote was tattered and worn out and you gave me a beautiful one of the best quality available!

Ok, I added the last part but God is so amazing! She needed her bible bag replaced so her Heavenly Father provided according to His riches in glory!

I'm so thankful He used me!

A Kiss for Payment

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1  Thessalonians 5:18, NLT)

Since my girls were babies, in return for me doing something for them or giving them something, I asked them to give me a kiss for payment. It has become our way of saying thank you. 

For example, when they asked for a cup of juice, or when I helped put their shoes on, I'd smile really big and say, "Kiss for payment!"

This morning, I was deep into a pile of work when my youngest handed me a baby doll and said, "Mommy can you please help me with this?" As soon as I heard her little voice say  "Mommy", I stopped everything and gave her my full attention. She was having a problem with her baby doll's dress and needed help untying a knot. After untying the knot, I smiled and said, "Kiss for payment!" That just never gets old!

I love it when they come to me. I stop everything when I hear their voice. Hearing their little voices call me by name is one of the most precious sounds in the world. Then when they smile really big and give me a kiss, I cannot even put it into words. Their thankful hearts is one of my greatest blessings of all. 

How much more, does our Heavenly Father love it when we go to Him?

 (Jeremiah 33:3)

How much more, does our voice make Him stop just to listen to us? 

(1 John 5:14)

How much much more, does He love hearing our voice call Him by name?

 (Romans 10:13)

How much more, does it bless Him to experience our thankful heart?

 (Psalm 103:1)

How much more, does He love to receive a kiss for payment? 

(1 Thessalonians 5:18)