Dear Christian Community, Family and Friends:
I am requesting prayer for the family and friends of Mrs. Thelma Traylor Seale, who went home to be with the Lord on January 25, 2008.
Mochadot
Thursday, January 31, 2008
In Memory of Thelma Traylor Seale - Beloved Matriarch
Dear Christian Community, Family and Friends:
I am requesting prayer for the family and friends of Mrs. Thelma Traylor Seale, who went home to be with the Lord on January 25, 2008.
Mochadot
Happy Birthday, Daddy
Daddy would be 87 today if he had lived. It's been 11 years and it still feels like yesterday. I know he is in a better place, but I still miss him dearly.
I love you, Eddie!!
Mochadot
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Goats and Fattened Calves
Written and Submitted by Mercelle in Colorado
Goats and Fattened Calves
If you've ever read the Prodigal Son, like I read it, you probably could relate to the older brother who felt as if he had done everything to earn the Father's love and felt jilted when he learned that his younger brother had returned after being among swine to be greeted with open arms, a new robe, a ring, and a huge feast. How could this be you might wonder? The point being that you have always been with the Father and everything he has is already yours (it is ours). You, like I, just got it twisted and thought we needed to do something to earn the Father's love and there is absolutely nothing we can ever do to earn HIS love. HE just loves us, a very simple concept but hard for to grasp.
Remember, the older brother was even willing to take a fattened goat? He said something like you never even gave me a goat but you gave him a fattened calf. He was willing to settle for a goat just to get the Father's love because he had been working so long for it, trying to earn it. But the Lord did not give him a reward for his works. if HE did, he (the older son) would be no different from a slave. We don’t need to earn the Father's love, we just need to accept it. Remember, in the beginning he divided the inheritance among both sons? Yes, he gave to both of them freely, but the older one thought he had to work to prove his worth. He did not! The Father loved them both.
Now before I talk about the younger brother, let me share something I learned. Fattened calves were used or kept in the event that royalty came by. Only wealthy individuals back in the day had them. They would be used for a feast if someone of royalty or nobility should come by. They were not used at other times for the sake of throwing a party. Only the highest of the high would get to eat the fattened calf.
Oh yes, now let's talk about the swine the younger brother began living with, and feeding, and eventually eating with. Swine are not clean animals. Imagine a wealthy Hebrew young man from "the right kind of family" living among swine. Hello, that's a no no. That would be considered the lowest of low. Some of us have to get to the lowest of low before we return to the Father. Thank God, HE is willing to accept us with open arms, give us his many blessings, and sacrifice HIS fattened Calf for us.
Now, let's get back to our story and what else I have learned. The very best the Father gave to the young son. He (the young son) needed a sacrifice, bloodshed for his filthy living. So the Father gave of HIS very best to save him. He (the younger son) needed to be saved. God has given us HIS very best, HIS son Jesus Christ and sacrificed him to cover our sins (our filthy living). Our sins have been covered with HIS blood- the very best, what is only fit for royalty was given to us.
I learned that I was willing to settle for a goat in an attempt to earn the Father's love. I worked so hard and miserably failed so many times trying to earn the Father's love (like the older son). I did not need to earn it. I was always welcome to the best (everything he has is mine) but I got derailed and settled, even living among the swine (like the younger son). A prayer was offered on my behalf today that whatever was blocking me (probably through self preservation) be removed so that I could truly experience the Father's love and how I should be loved as HIS daughter. Don't settle for second best when the Lord has only the greatest blessings for HIS children.
I pray, Father, that all who read this will be able to recognize your very best for them. I pray they will accept your free gift of LOVE which is the very best and return to you. Amen.
Goats and Fattened Calves
If you've ever read the Prodigal Son, like I read it, you probably could relate to the older brother who felt as if he had done everything to earn the Father's love and felt jilted when he learned that his younger brother had returned after being among swine to be greeted with open arms, a new robe, a ring, and a huge feast. How could this be you might wonder? The point being that you have always been with the Father and everything he has is already yours (it is ours). You, like I, just got it twisted and thought we needed to do something to earn the Father's love and there is absolutely nothing we can ever do to earn HIS love. HE just loves us, a very simple concept but hard for to grasp.
Remember, the older brother was even willing to take a fattened goat? He said something like you never even gave me a goat but you gave him a fattened calf. He was willing to settle for a goat just to get the Father's love because he had been working so long for it, trying to earn it. But the Lord did not give him a reward for his works. if HE did, he (the older son) would be no different from a slave. We don’t need to earn the Father's love, we just need to accept it. Remember, in the beginning he divided the inheritance among both sons? Yes, he gave to both of them freely, but the older one thought he had to work to prove his worth. He did not! The Father loved them both.
Now before I talk about the younger brother, let me share something I learned. Fattened calves were used or kept in the event that royalty came by. Only wealthy individuals back in the day had them. They would be used for a feast if someone of royalty or nobility should come by. They were not used at other times for the sake of throwing a party. Only the highest of the high would get to eat the fattened calf.
Oh yes, now let's talk about the swine the younger brother began living with, and feeding, and eventually eating with. Swine are not clean animals. Imagine a wealthy Hebrew young man from "the right kind of family" living among swine. Hello, that's a no no. That would be considered the lowest of low. Some of us have to get to the lowest of low before we return to the Father. Thank God, HE is willing to accept us with open arms, give us his many blessings, and sacrifice HIS fattened Calf for us.
Now, let's get back to our story and what else I have learned. The very best the Father gave to the young son. He (the young son) needed a sacrifice, bloodshed for his filthy living. So the Father gave of HIS very best to save him. He (the younger son) needed to be saved. God has given us HIS very best, HIS son Jesus Christ and sacrificed him to cover our sins (our filthy living). Our sins have been covered with HIS blood- the very best, what is only fit for royalty was given to us.
I learned that I was willing to settle for a goat in an attempt to earn the Father's love. I worked so hard and miserably failed so many times trying to earn the Father's love (like the older son). I did not need to earn it. I was always welcome to the best (everything he has is mine) but I got derailed and settled, even living among the swine (like the younger son). A prayer was offered on my behalf today that whatever was blocking me (probably through self preservation) be removed so that I could truly experience the Father's love and how I should be loved as HIS daughter. Don't settle for second best when the Lord has only the greatest blessings for HIS children.
I pray, Father, that all who read this will be able to recognize your very best for them. I pray they will accept your free gift of LOVE which is the very best and return to you. Amen.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Full Bloom - In God's Time
Everything has a season. The weather has been so rainy, cold and quite frankly, depressing.
However, 'This too shall pass,' and the rain will dry, the sun will come out and the plants, flowers and trees will bloom again.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
The Four Blessed Looks
1. Look back and thank God.
2. Look forward and trust God.
3. Look around and serve God.
4. Look within and find God!
(Author Unknown)
2. Look forward and trust God.
3. Look around and serve God.
4. Look within and find God!
(Author Unknown)
Friday, January 25, 2008
The Love of the Lord
The LOVE of the LORD
Even when we don't and can't see how God is going to accomplish HIS plan, HE is still going to accomplish HIS plan. When we are so angry, we want to scream, God still loves us. When we can't image him loving us, HE still loves us. When we question HIS love for us, HE still loves us. When we can barely get up and function, HE still loves us. I want to know the Lord most intimately. I have struggled with this and even questioned HIS love for me, or HIS plan for my life. I ask for agreement in prayer from all those out there who understand the LOVE Of the LORD.
(submitted anonymously
Even when we don't and can't see how God is going to accomplish HIS plan, HE is still going to accomplish HIS plan. When we are so angry, we want to scream, God still loves us. When we can't image him loving us, HE still loves us. When we question HIS love for us, HE still loves us. When we can barely get up and function, HE still loves us. I want to know the Lord most intimately. I have struggled with this and even questioned HIS love for me, or HIS plan for my life. I ask for agreement in prayer from all those out there who understand the LOVE Of the LORD.
(submitted anonymously
Thursday, January 24, 2008
I Was Reminded Today That God Made Cousins, Too :)
"My dear cousin has been helping me through a difficult time. I am grateful for all of the wonderful angels God placed in my life, including my cousin. She has always sent the Word or encouraging words to me. She recently sent this song to me. I hope someone else will be blessed by it."
Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.
Refrain:
God will take care of you,
Through every day, o’er all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.
Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you.
All you may need He will provide,
God will take care of you;
Nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you.
No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast,
God will take care of you.
Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.
Refrain:
God will take care of you,
Through every day, o’er all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.
Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you.
All you may need He will provide,
God will take care of you;
Nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you.
No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast,
God will take care of you.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
True Friends Are Like Diamonds. . .
Precious, But Rare. . .False Friends Are Like Autumn Leaves, Found Everywhere (author unknown)
Here's to true friends!
Love,
Dot
Monday, January 21, 2008
Happy Birthday Dr. Martin Luther King
Happy Birthday To You! Happy Birthday To You! Happy Birthday.
We've come so far. . .yet so far to go. . .keep the dream alive.
We've come so far. . .yet so far to go. . .keep the dream alive.
Behind Every Good Man. . .RIP, Mama
Circa 1966 - Linda and Mama at the Grand Canyon. Can you imagine a man driving across country from California to North Carolina with three women in the car!!!
Saturday, January 19, 2008
God Made Sisters
I thank the Lord for my two wonderful sisters. I have been away from this blog for a long time. Mama passed away and I have felt very sad. However, when my sister emailed me this picture, I thought about how my mama and daddy will always live on in our hearts and memories.
Aw, what sweet memories these were.
Photo circa 1957
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