Poetry & Prose ~~ "Beverly"

Whose name means

        dweller at the beaver meadow,

Walked into my life thirty-three years ago

        to say more than a mere hello.

Her sweet diligent spirit

        inside her five foot frame,

Keeps her working heartily

        as for the Lord without blame.

Green eyes portray kindness

        along with a gracious hospitality.

When you sit at her dining table,

        she treats you just like family.

Blessed to be a Christian from

        nine months in Lila’s womb,

Beverly remains rest assured

        during these days of doom and gloom.

She’ll be the first to encourage you

        to stay on the narrow road,

Leaning on your Lord and Savior

        will help to lighten your load.

We never encounter anyone by chance

        as God ordains every meeting.

My life has been enriched for decades

        by a blonde with a friendly greeting.

Our friendship was forged through

        laughter, prayer, and tears.

The Holy Spirit within us

        calmed all of our fears.

Thanks be unto God for His

        eternal gift of friends.

He has given us something

        that never really ends.

Happy Reading in Poetry's Presence.

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Answers in Faith ~~ "Be still, and know that I am God"

BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD

Many years ago, I was walking to the barn to tend to the animals.  A light snow had fallen softly on the ground.  I looked down and found a small bird lying in the snow.  I picked it up wondering if it was injured or maybe just cold.  I held it in my hand and tenderly stroked the bird.  He stayed still in my hand as I gently stroked his head, his wings and his tiny body.  

I sensed a spiritual moment happening as I felt the gentle touch of the Holy Spirit tugging ever so slightly upon the strings of my heart.  It was as if time stood still, and I felt the awesome presence of the Lord.   Suddenly the bird came to life and flew away.

What had just happened?  The whisper of the Holy Spirit spoke softly to my heart.  “Be still and know that I am God.  Be still and let me pour my love upon you.  You are like that fleeting bird, and you flee away when I get close to you.   I want to touch you, warm your cold heart, and let you know that I am here. I will never leave you or forsake you. Take time to be still, and let me love you.”

Our Heavenly Father wants to touch us with His love. But we, like that bird, fly away because we think we are too busy with too many things to do, too many places to go, too many people to see, too many responsibilities on our plate, too many, too many……….

Let us learn to be still before God and let His love envelope us and fill us with His Presence.


Contributed by Ted and written by Lesta of Heartsong Treasures. 

"God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling.

There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; 
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge.   Selah.

Come, behold the works of the Lord,
Who has made desolations in the earth.
He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.

Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!

The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge."  Selah

Psalm 46, NKJV

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Real Women - Real Answers ~~ Be A Memory Builder

Something a bit ironic happened to me this morning.   I was thinking of a topic that I could write for this blog post.  As I was getting a grandbaby ready for church, I thought of the other children in my life. Most of my own children are grown, with only two teenagers left at home.   However, I have had lots of interaction with the kids of our church.   We have had various youth groups through the ten years that we have been here including Vacation Bible Schools, Awana, and Sunday Schools. 

I realized the importance of this interaction one night at our Awana youth club when one of the 4 year olds in the class was examining a picture on the wall.   Softly, she asked me, “Who is that man on the cross?” I told her it was a picture of Jesus. She had such a somber look on her face.   “Why is he bleeding?”   We put aside any plans I had for that night’s class as I gathered the children around this picture that I was now holding in my lap, and we talked about the “man on the cross”.  I had always taught older children in a church setting. I realized now that I was with the younger children I was introducing Christ to some of them for the very first time!

The kids at the church run to me, hug me, and tell me about their weeks. “Miss Jo! I lost a tooth this week!”  “Miss Jo, I have been good for Mommy this week!” The kids in my Kindergarten to sixth grade class  visit with me about their personal interests which allow us to relate that to the gifts God has knit into them and how they can use it for His glory. I love observing as they discover the things they are good at and wonder how those passions will fit into their future.  

Let’s not forget the teenagers. Many of them are in our Civil War re-enacting group.  We can get into some deep conversations ranging from  the Word of God to real-life struggles.  We spend so much time with these kids, introducing them to their Creator, teaching them how to pray, and how to trust God.

Last week, I drove to the airport with one of the young moms in our congregation. Her five year old is in one of my classes.   He said, “Miss Jo, are we going to your house now because I sure would like to spend some time at your house?” His mom told him that we had better wait for the next week when his brother was out of school because it would not go over well if one got to come but not the other.   So I was able to share my day with these special kids in my life. 

I wonder sometimes if we are really making a difference.   I mentioned that something ironic happened this morning.   It wasn’t so much ironic as it was a confirmation. I heard a knock on my door. This is highly unusual at our country home and on a Sunday morning. I opened the door and I heard, “Are you not having services on Easter Sunday morning?” It was a boy (now almost a man) who was in one of our first youth groups when we came to the church. I am still in contact with his mom, but had not seen him for six or seven years! We visited for a few minutes while catching up on the happenings in our lives and walked down to church together.  After the service, this young man came up to me, hugged me, and said, “Thank you, Mama Jo. It was good to see you again.” My heart melted.

It made me realize that we have been handed such an awesome opportunity to impact the children around us. We are in a position that we can minister to these kids on a personal and spiritual level.  We are building memories for them that they will never forget.

Be a memory builder!

Follow JoEllen Claypool on her blog at http://joellen-love2write.blogspot.com/

Happy Memory Building & Reading!

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