Doses of Faith

 My mother was beautiful.  So, I thought.  I dreamed of growing up to look just like her.  She was tall and perfect.  At least in my eyes, she was perfect. I noticed how men turned to look at her when we walked pass them on the street.  Also, my mother had an inner beauty.  It was how she loved and cared for others. She always had enough at meal time for anyone dropping in unexpected.  She made dresses for many girls whose parents could not afford to buy them a pretty dress.  Even as her physical beauty faded due to scleroderma, her inner beauty was still there caring for everyone. I believe my Daddy saw that inner beauty in her the first time he looked into her eyes.  It was a double date.  It was a blind date and Mama was not his date.  Mama told us the story how they met many times.  She worked at the Dime Store in Timmonsville.  Her friend met her after work.  They walked across the railroad tracks to the oth...

 As I was thinking about November birthdays this morning, I was remembering those who are no longer with us.  My parents were a sweet pair.  My last memories of them are from 1986.   It was a cold winter, and my father was working in Rock Hill to earn money to make ends meet.  He was a farmer and close to bankrupt in his eyes.  Many farmers were losing their farms due to the droughts of 1980 and 1983.   However, he wasn't like other farmers.  He didn't buy a new truck every year, and he put aside a percentage of his profits to purchase seeds and supplies for the next year.  He did not borrow money for living expenses.  His burden was my mother's high medical bills.  So, in 1986, he worked during the winter months with a construction company. He left early on Monday mornings with a bag of groceries and a cake my mother baked.  After a day of work and a shower, he always found special love notes in his pockets from my m...

  Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; but the Lord searches the heart.   (Proverbs 21:2 NKJ)        Isaac, an accountant, could not make ends meet.   He wasn’t making enough money to cover his living expenses.   He saw the vast riches of his employer and felt like he was not being paid enough.   Since his employer trusted him with his finances, he decided it was time to make up for his lost wages.   His reasoning was that since he was earning the money, it was acceptable to change the books.      He didn’t consider it wrong to show that the Gas Company paid $500.00 instead of the $1000.00.   Instead of recording the $100.00 the Flour Company paid, he recorded $80.00.   Isaac considered his actions acceptable.   He considered himself a just man because he was taking what he felt belonged to him.   In addition, he liked having the big house and nicer things.    ...

  “Let the beauty of the Lord of our God be upon us, let him establish the work of our hands; yes, establish the work of our hands.” Psalms 90:17      This summer I have enjoyed the many hummingbirds attracted to my flower garden.   I haven’t been able to count how many.   They are in my front yard and back yard.   Without planting the seeds, watering the plants, and nourishing the blossoms, the yard would have been void of colorful blossoms for the hummingbirds to feed themselves.        This morning during my morning prayer, I looked up to see a hummingbird at my window over the flower box.   I thought about the work it took to establish a garden for the hummingbirds.   It reminded me of Psalms 90.   We have work to do, and I want God to be my guide and establish the work of my hands.  

                Be still and know that I am God.      I will be exalted among the nations,      I will be exalted in the earth!   Psalm 46:10           The simple sound of "Be Still" seems so impossible in this world today.  Is there any place where we can be still?  The busy parents with the bustle of keeping up with their children dream of a quiet and still moment.  The student rushing to classes, studying, and trying to have a social life wonder is there a place to be still.  Even, for those who are alone, their minds may not give opportunity for a dedicated silent moment.              The silence gives us rest which gives the body, soul, and mind time to rejuvenate and renew.  You need to stop at some point to examine your purpose.  You need to find that place where you can be still.  We all don't have a l...

      During the last four presidential elections, I was dismayed with what people will believe.  They don't like the candidate, so they make the decision to believe every lie and spread it on social media.  After the first go round, I stopped posting anything.  Someone told me concerning a false post, "She is a good Christian and would not post anything that isn't true."  Well, she did.  I chose not to argue, but I do wonder what will happen next and consider the consequences many will suffer.       While reading Proverbs 14, I see the scorner, the prudent, fools, the simple, and understanding.  After reading through, verse 12 stands out: ' There is a way which seems right to man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.'  The scorner, the prudent, the fool, and the simple consider their way to be the right way.  Is it?        Is it our responsibility to dwell on anything more than we...