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Sweet Sunday Scripture – One of these days…

But let me tell you something wonderful,
a mystery I’ll probably never fully understand.

We’re not all going to die—
but we are all going to be changed.

You hear a blast to end all blasts from a trumpet,
and in the time that you look up and blink your eyes—it’s over.
On signal from that trumpet from heaven,
the dead will be up and out of their graves,
beyond the reach of death, never to die again.

At the same moment and in the same way,
we’ll all be changed.

In the resurrection scheme of things, this has to happen:
everything perishable taken off the shelves
and replaced by the imperishable,
this mortal replaced by the immortal.

Then the saying will come true:
Death swallowed by triumphant Life!
Who got the last word, oh, Death?
Oh, Death, who’s afraid of you now?

It was sin that made death so frightening
and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage,
its destructive power.

But now in a single victorious stroke of Life,
all three—sin, guilt, death—are gone,
the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank God!
1 Corinthians 15:51-57 (The Message)

What we live for and deal with in this world,
and what this world is full of
is NOT all there is to living.

One of these days, we’ll hear that trumpet sound,
and what we’ve longed for will happen…
We’ll see Jesus face to face!

Hang in there, friends! Hang on to God’s Word.
We’re not home, yet!
But we will be… one of these days!

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Dear Nancy in NC – or "How to Get into God’s Word"

Dear Nancy,
I sure do hope you don’t mind me answering your comment in this public way – but it was such a great question, and I don’t have any other way to reply. Your comment both touches my heart, and makes me excited for you – because, from experience, I know that if “getting into God’s Word” is what you really want, you’re positioning yourself to be incredibly blessed by Him!

Before I get too far ahead of myself, here is Nancy’s comment / question:

“I have followed your blog for a while – you are such a blessing to me. I want to get to know God better. People tell me to “get in the word”. Please help me, where do I start, is there a book, bible study I could use? Happy belated Mother’s Day to you. Nancy in North Carolina”

We’ve all either been where Nancy finds herself, or are right there with her, or will wonder the same things one of these days when the Holy Spirit draws us to go deeper into God’s Word.

Of course I don’t have all the answers, but I’m glad to share what I’ve found to be true. So to you, dear Nancy, and to everyone who reads this post, I pray that the Lord will use these feeble words to pour some wisdom over your searching heart(s) – which, btw, is very beautiful to Him. 🙂

Two different “thoughts” on how to “get into God’s Word”:

1. Getting into God’s Word through a Bible Study book

I love Bible Studies of every kind. I have shelves full of them, and a stack I want to complete this summer. But there is one study book that I think covers every basic piece of information on getting into God’s Word. It’s called Living God’s Word by Waylon B. Moore. (I don’t think he’s kin to Beth.) ((The highlighted link takes you to the book on Lifeway’s Online Bookstore in case you want to order the book for yourself.))

Living God’s Word is divided into 6 weeks, with daily lessons for each day. The lessons aren’t hard and are very practical. I learned things from that study that I use every day in my daily quiet times. It was one of those “life impacting” book studies for me, and I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to learn how to “get into the Word.”

2. Getting into God’s Word – using only God’s Word

Although I just recommended a Bible study book, I don’t think that is the only way to study the Bible. If you and I are Christians, with the Holy Spirit residing in our hearts, we have the Teacher, Himself, living within us. John 14:26 promises, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

Friends, if you have given your life to Jesus Christ, the same Holy Spirit that lives in Beth Moore lives in YOU! The same Holy Spirit that lives in Joyce Myers lives in YOU. The same Holy Spirit that lives in Billy Graham, or in any incredible Bible teacher is the same Holy Spirit that lives in YOU – and He will teach you just like He teaches them!

Of all the many methods of studying God’s Word, here is one very simple way He has shown me that can get one started. You just need an open heart, a Bible (I would recommend starting with a Bible that is easy to understand – like the NIV or Holman Christan Standard, or even my favorite, The Amplified Version), some paper, a pen, and the Holy Spirit.

Start by praying Psalm 119:18, “Open my eyes that I might behold wonderful things in Your law.” James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” Begin your Bible study time with asking God for wisdom, understanding, and the ability to see the incredible things in His Word. He will be faithful to show you!

Then read His Word. A great place to begin is the book of John, or Philippians, or Proverbs, or James, or whatever book the Lord leads you to – since you’re asking for His wisdom.

Read until some kind of response is provoked within you. It might be two or three verses, a whole chapter, or just one phrase of a Bible verse. It’s important to keep what you’re reading in context – in other words, don’t just pull one random verse out of a chapter and focus on that. Start at the beginning of the book of the Bible you are studying through, and truths will eventually fit together. The moment something stands out to you, stop reading.

Write that truth down in your own words. Optional: If you have the time and a Bible concordance, you may want to use it to learn the meanings of the major words in that passage. You may also want to look up other scriptures that contain those same words and write them down on the same page.

Answer this question: What is the Holy Spirit revealing to you about your life, your thoughts, your actions, or reactions? Do you need to know something? Thank Jesus? Confess something? Change something? Stop something? Start something? Whatever it is, write that down also.

Ask the Lord for help to obey what He has shown you to do in response to this truth from God’s Word.

Then, obey it. When you obey what you know from God’s Word, He will begin to reveal new and deeper things to you through your time in His Word. You will be amazed at the growth in knowledge and intimacy with Jesus that you will enjoy.

If you write these things down each time you study, eventually you will have a journal of your journey with God through His Holy Word. A blessing and a testimony to His faithfulness through His Living and Breathing Scripture.


O.K. This was long – but I’m praying for all who read this, and am asking the Lord to convict all of us about being in His Word on a consistent basis. No matter what method we use to study it, His Word is life and breath to His children!

Nancy, I pray that this gives you a place to start, and that the Lord overwhelms you with His presence as you get into His Word!

Friends, how do YOU get into God’s Word? Please leave a comment and tell us what works for you. 😉

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Shelia’s Potatoes – delicious potato casserole

Good morning~ I’m participating in Tasty Tuesday today at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam. There are lots of delicious recipes linked up over there, so you should definitely check it out. 🙂
This recipe is a favorite of our family’s. It’s not at all “Weight Watcher’s approved”, but it sure is delicious! We serve it when we have a crowd because it makes a lot.

New Potato Casserole (or in our house, known as: Shelia’s Potatoes)

1 bag of New Potatoes (or red, or white, or whatever you can find.) 🙂
2 Cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
2 sticks butter or margarine, melted
1 lb. cooked bacon, crumbled
2 bunches green onions, chopped
1 bottle Ranch Salad Dressing

Boil and half or quarter new potatoes. Place in 9 x 13 pan. Top potatoes with chopped green onions. Sprinkle cheese on top. Pour over above all the melted butter. Then top with the crumbled bacon. Cook at 350 degrees until bubbly. On top of hot casserole, pour the Ranch dressing. The trick is hot potato casserole and cold salad dressing.

Hope you enjoy! 🙂
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Random thoughts on this past Mother’s Day

So many things are running through my head as I type this… But at the top of the list is my gratitude to the Lord for two amazing gifts He has given me: the gift of my mom, and the gift of allowing me to be a mom.

My mom… I hardly know what to say. She is what everyone wishes their moms could be. She was a hard working home maker who loved us through her words, her hugs, her lap, her cooking, sewing, clean laundry, clean house, her support, and her help in every way. She and my dad were great parterners, best of friends, and wonderful parents. My dad is with Jesus now, but I’m so thankful to still have my mom as a huge part of my life. She is not only my mom, but also my friend. I pray that we have many more years of friendship ahead of us.

Being a mom…When James and I first married, I was very sick, and we were told that we shouldn’t have any children. (For the whole story, see my testimony on my side bar toward the bottom.) However, our Lord had different plans – and I’m so glad that He did! He gave us two children within 21 months, and life has wonderfully never been the same!!!

The kids gave me my Mother’s Day gift before supper on Saturday night, and when we were saying the blessing, one of the children thanked God for healing me and letting me be able to do the things I needed to do in being their mom. I didn’t even know that they thought about that, but I couldn’t agree more!

I talk about my children a lot on this blog, but today, I simply want to say how very proud I am of both of them. I see the Lord growing and molding them into the young adults He has designed them to be, and it is a privilege to be their Mom.

Nathan, our 12 1/2 year old.

Abigail, our almost 11 year old.

As I think about my mom and being a mom, I can’t help but think about my precious beautiful grandmothers, who are now with Jesus. I say this with true gratitude: God blessed me with an incredible herritage, and both moms of my parents loved and served the Lord and their families until the days they died. I’m missing them a lot this weekend.

Another thought that runs through my mind every Mother’s Day is how different this day would be if I couldn’t have had children, or if the Lord had given us babies to love, and they were no longer with us. I know so many women in these two categories, and know that this time of year is very hard for them. I read this blog post via Rocks in My Dryer on Sunday, and was so blessed by the honesty of this grieving mom on Mother’s Day.

There have been a lot of women who have poured into my life, and as I think about them this weekend, my heart is full. My Aunty Bibby is one of these women. She didn’t have children of her own, but loved and treated my brother, sister, and me as if we were hers. She provided for my dance lessons, prom dresses, fun weekends at her house, and lots of experiences she wanted to make sure I would have. On this Mother’s Day, I honor you, too, Aunt Bibby. I love you. Thank you for pouring into my life.

What a privilege it is to be a woman… To have the opportunity to pour into the lives of others~ whether or not we’re the official “mom”.

To all of these women in my life, I arise and call you blessed.

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Cheers to all you Moms!

Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, “I’m tired, and it’s getting late. I think I’ll go to bed.”

She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day’s lunches, rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning.

She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the washer, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button. She picked up the game pieces left on the table, put the phone back on the charger and put the telephone book into the drawer. She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry.

She yawned, stretched, and headed for the bedroom. She stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the field trip, and pulled a textbook out from hiding under the chair.

She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store. She put both near her purse.

Mom then washed her face, brushed her teeth, and filed a jagged nail.

Dad called out, “I thought you were going to bed.” “I’m on my way,” she said.

She put some water into the dog’s dish and put the cat outside, then made sure the doors were locked and the patio light was on. She looked in on each of the kids and turned off their bedside lamps and TV’s, hung up a shirt, and threw some dirty socks into the hamper.

In her own room, she set the alarm; laid out clothing for the next day, and straightened up the shoe rack. Then she made her to do list for tomorrow and said her prayers.

About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular,”I’m going to bed.”And he did…without another thought.

Happy Mother’s Day, ladies! Cheers to you for all you do!
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