I sit here this morning in the lounge of a cruise ship looking at the ocean, the waves, the distant shore. This is a journey. The captain and crew know where we are going. They are taking care of the arrangements, giving us an exciting day, new things to see and experience. This is an adventure and I look forward with expectancy. What wonderful things, sights, experiences will today hold? I trust the captain and crew to make it fantastic.
Life is a journey, a voyage too. God is my Captain. I look forward with expectancy. Maybe a few rough waters now and then but no worry, the Captain is in charge. He will take care of me. What does today hold on my journey? What does he have planned? I don’t know what will happen, but I know he has my best interest in his plans. I can trust him completely, and I can enjoy the journey.
January, 2010
Donna S. Thomas
Monday, February 1, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Hi God
Hi God!
Thanks for opening the door to heaven for me God. This is certainly different than I ever expected. You are amazing and here I am getting to talk with you? I just don’t understand it. I must be dreaming because surely it isn’t me, just an ordinary human being getting to see you and even having a conversation with you. May I call you Father? I did that in all my prayers so will it still work up here? Okay?
Father, I have a lot of questions but my first one is this. You are the creator of the world, no the whole universe. You made all the planets and stars and every thing. And then you made the world. Just look at it with all the mountains, valleys, trees, flowers, plants of every kind, hundreds of different animals, and the wonderful beauty of it all.And then you made Adam and Eve and all those other people we have read about.Right now there are over six billion people all over the world. I can’t even conceive how many that is.
Okay here is my question Father. Why when you are so awesome and so powerful and so majestic, why do you the creator of the universe care about me, one little human being? I am just one little person among all of those billions and yet you talk with me, you care for me, you have a special plan just for me, and you make special things happen for me. So Father, this is my question, Why do you care so much for me?
Wow! Am I ever amazed at the attention and care you give me. This is amazing. You, the creator of everything, care so much for me. Wow!
You said you knew us in our mother’s womb too. (Psalm 139:13)You said you have your plan for me.(Jeremiah 29:11) You said if you turn to the right or the left your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way. (Isaiah 30:21) And now that I am a widow I can claim you as my husband. (Isaiah 54:5) I can look back over my life with total amazement of the many ways you have cared for me, led me, and had me do things I would never dream.
Yes, God…Father, and what a privilege to call you Father, why do you care so much for me? Your care and love is beyond comprehension. You are wonderful. I praise you and worship you. Thank you, thank you for being my Father, my God!
Thanks for opening the door to heaven for me God. This is certainly different than I ever expected. You are amazing and here I am getting to talk with you? I just don’t understand it. I must be dreaming because surely it isn’t me, just an ordinary human being getting to see you and even having a conversation with you. May I call you Father? I did that in all my prayers so will it still work up here? Okay?
Father, I have a lot of questions but my first one is this. You are the creator of the world, no the whole universe. You made all the planets and stars and every thing. And then you made the world. Just look at it with all the mountains, valleys, trees, flowers, plants of every kind, hundreds of different animals, and the wonderful beauty of it all.And then you made Adam and Eve and all those other people we have read about.Right now there are over six billion people all over the world. I can’t even conceive how many that is.
Okay here is my question Father. Why when you are so awesome and so powerful and so majestic, why do you the creator of the universe care about me, one little human being? I am just one little person among all of those billions and yet you talk with me, you care for me, you have a special plan just for me, and you make special things happen for me. So Father, this is my question, Why do you care so much for me?
Wow! Am I ever amazed at the attention and care you give me. This is amazing. You, the creator of everything, care so much for me. Wow!
You said you knew us in our mother’s womb too. (Psalm 139:13)You said you have your plan for me.(Jeremiah 29:11) You said if you turn to the right or the left your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way. (Isaiah 30:21) And now that I am a widow I can claim you as my husband. (Isaiah 54:5) I can look back over my life with total amazement of the many ways you have cared for me, led me, and had me do things I would never dream.
Yes, God…Father, and what a privilege to call you Father, why do you care so much for me? Your care and love is beyond comprehension. You are wonderful. I praise you and worship you. Thank you, thank you for being my Father, my God!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
This poem below of Longfellow is so pertinent today and every day.
I look at what he is teaching and know he is right on.
Life is real and that is why we need Jesus.
Life is earnest and it takes all that is within us to keep our eyes on the eternal life with God. We are here for a season and we must choose to make the best of it by eternal standards, not cultural standards. Read on and choose for yourself. May God bless you this day and every day.
"Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each tomorrow
Find us farther than today.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting
And our hearts though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled dreams, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world’s broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no future, howe’er pleasant!
Let the dead past bury its dead!
Act, act in the living present!
Heart within, and God o’erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us , then be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait."
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
I look at what he is teaching and know he is right on.
Life is real and that is why we need Jesus.
Life is earnest and it takes all that is within us to keep our eyes on the eternal life with God. We are here for a season and we must choose to make the best of it by eternal standards, not cultural standards. Read on and choose for yourself. May God bless you this day and every day.
"Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each tomorrow
Find us farther than today.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting
And our hearts though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled dreams, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world’s broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no future, howe’er pleasant!
Let the dead past bury its dead!
Act, act in the living present!
Heart within, and God o’erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us , then be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait."
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Spell Check, hum...
Do you have spell check on your computer? Do you like it? For me, it is indispensable. I simply can’t get along without it. Just now, as I wrote indispensable, it showed me I didn’t do it right. Of course, sometimes I’m on a roll and don’t want that red line under it to show up. Unfortunately it doesn’t know how I feel or if I have time to pay attention to it. It is just always there ready to help me. But it won’t correct it for me if I don’t ask it to either.
Does this bring to mind some other things than spelling? It does to me. When I was growing up my mom and dad where always there to check on me, only it was my life, not my spelling. They were indispensable in helping me get the right answers for growing up.
Can you put God in this position? I can. He is there to show me when things aren’t quite right. He doesn’t yell or scream, just that red line under the wrong answer. If you want to know how to spell it right, ask “spell check.” If you want the right answers for problems or situations in life, ask for “God check.” He too is there all the time just waiting to help in every situation. All you have to do is ask him. And he is available to all whether you have a computer or not.
Of course we could go one step further. If i wont let it gve me teh rite answr, it will leve me a lone. The choice is mine.
Does this bring to mind some other things than spelling? It does to me. When I was growing up my mom and dad where always there to check on me, only it was my life, not my spelling. They were indispensable in helping me get the right answers for growing up.
Can you put God in this position? I can. He is there to show me when things aren’t quite right. He doesn’t yell or scream, just that red line under the wrong answer. If you want to know how to spell it right, ask “spell check.” If you want the right answers for problems or situations in life, ask for “God check.” He too is there all the time just waiting to help in every situation. All you have to do is ask him. And he is available to all whether you have a computer or not.
Of course we could go one step further. If i wont let it gve me teh rite answr, it will leve me a lone. The choice is mine.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Psalm One
Praise the Lord.
Oh Lord, my Lord,
how awesome are your ways.
How precious is the relationship you have given me.
It is beyond my comprehension to know that you
have chosen me.
You, oh Lord, have made me your child and given
me your blessing; I am chosen, I am honored.
You have given me special assignments to do for you.
How awesome. How wonderful.
You prepare the path before me.
You order my steps.
You enable me to bring others into a knowledge
of you and a desire to do your will.
How precious you are to me. How blessed
you are to me.
I will praise you with all my soul, all my heart,
and all my strength.
How wonderful that you walk with me each day.
Oh lord I praise you. Oh Lord I love you.
Oh, make me useful to you today, this day.
My Lord and my God.
Praise the Lord.
10/8/2009 DT
Oh Lord, my Lord,
how awesome are your ways.
How precious is the relationship you have given me.
It is beyond my comprehension to know that you
have chosen me.
You, oh Lord, have made me your child and given
me your blessing; I am chosen, I am honored.
You have given me special assignments to do for you.
How awesome. How wonderful.
You prepare the path before me.
You order my steps.
You enable me to bring others into a knowledge
of you and a desire to do your will.
How precious you are to me. How blessed
you are to me.
I will praise you with all my soul, all my heart,
and all my strength.
How wonderful that you walk with me each day.
Oh lord I praise you. Oh Lord I love you.
Oh, make me useful to you today, this day.
My Lord and my God.
Praise the Lord.
10/8/2009 DT
Sunday, October 4, 2009
My Reward
What a great time I had last Thursday. It started with a phone call from a young lady saying she wanted to have lunch with me right now. You know how that is. I already had plans and didn't have time for this. But I put them aside and met her at Panera's. Actually she met me because when she saw me coming, she ran out to greet me. She was filled with excitment and joy because of what she was doing.
Yes, the day before she had run into a refugee family with a four month old very sick baby girl. She works in a children's hospital and was assigned to care for this baby. But she couldn't talk to the mother as she knew no English. The Dad and another child were there too but no English. Then she remembered what she had been reading. And this is where I get my reward. She had been reading my latest book, Faces in the Crowd. It teaches you how to see these internationals, how to have compassion for them, how to start a conversation, and move it on to a relationship. So that is where she started. She had compassion. Actually that probably wasn't hard when she found out they were refugees, had no money, no other clothes, no coats to help them in the cold, and very little food for their table. Plus their baby was so very sick too.
First she used the hospital resources and found a translater. What a blessing that was because now she would hear who this family was, where they had come from, when the baby got sick, and what their needs were. As the translator was revealing the circumstances, her heart took over and she wanted to do everything she could to help them. First of course, the baby, but also the other child, and the Mom and Dad. She had been on a mission trip to Kenya a couple of years ago and here this family was a refugee from Africa, actually Eritrea.
Today was her day off and she had been to Wal Mart to personally buy some clothes for the baby and for the little boy. But she couldn't stop and soon had her cart loaded with things she knew they needed. She was so excited to be doing this and as she was checking out she told the clerk who these things were far. Well, the clerk got excited too. The lady behind her in the check out lane over heard the story and came closer to hear it all. At the point the clerk said, "I want to help too. If you'll come back when I get a break, I'll give you some money to get more things they need." Wow! She was shocked and surprised. But there is more. The lady behind her said she wanted to help too and handed her some money to buy some of the other things that were on her list. Now you know why she was excited. This was plain FUN and it was doing what a Christian is supposed to do. She had never dreamed she could do something like this. And the story goes on.
A friend heard about it, invited her over and gave her a coat for the Mom, sheets, a blanket, and towels. Another friend handed her cash again. So off she was back to WalMart to get some food, and other essentials for this refugee family. She got the translater to go with her to take these gifts to the family and they were so very surprised and honored. Of course, they fixed some food for her. Well she didn't know what it was but knew it was their way of saying "Thank you."
The next day she called me again. Excitment was in every word as she took the story on to the next level. Now she is inquiring at some churches to see if they are willing to take responsibility for this family. She certainly isn't through helping them and she is enjoying every minute of it. She has a whole new outlook on life and what possibiltities the Lord has given her and the excitment of what he just might have ahead for her. Now she is noticing the internationals she encounters. Now she is anxious to be a 21st century disciple of Jesus Christ and follow his teaching and instruction. Now she is rejoicing in the opportunities the Lord had for her and the Lord has ahead for her. One happy young lady and all of 24 years old.
You like that story? Jesus would probably tell you, "Go and do likewise. I'll be right there with you."
Blessings,
Donna
Yes, the day before she had run into a refugee family with a four month old very sick baby girl. She works in a children's hospital and was assigned to care for this baby. But she couldn't talk to the mother as she knew no English. The Dad and another child were there too but no English. Then she remembered what she had been reading. And this is where I get my reward. She had been reading my latest book, Faces in the Crowd. It teaches you how to see these internationals, how to have compassion for them, how to start a conversation, and move it on to a relationship. So that is where she started. She had compassion. Actually that probably wasn't hard when she found out they were refugees, had no money, no other clothes, no coats to help them in the cold, and very little food for their table. Plus their baby was so very sick too.
First she used the hospital resources and found a translater. What a blessing that was because now she would hear who this family was, where they had come from, when the baby got sick, and what their needs were. As the translator was revealing the circumstances, her heart took over and she wanted to do everything she could to help them. First of course, the baby, but also the other child, and the Mom and Dad. She had been on a mission trip to Kenya a couple of years ago and here this family was a refugee from Africa, actually Eritrea.
Today was her day off and she had been to Wal Mart to personally buy some clothes for the baby and for the little boy. But she couldn't stop and soon had her cart loaded with things she knew they needed. She was so excited to be doing this and as she was checking out she told the clerk who these things were far. Well, the clerk got excited too. The lady behind her in the check out lane over heard the story and came closer to hear it all. At the point the clerk said, "I want to help too. If you'll come back when I get a break, I'll give you some money to get more things they need." Wow! She was shocked and surprised. But there is more. The lady behind her said she wanted to help too and handed her some money to buy some of the other things that were on her list. Now you know why she was excited. This was plain FUN and it was doing what a Christian is supposed to do. She had never dreamed she could do something like this. And the story goes on.
A friend heard about it, invited her over and gave her a coat for the Mom, sheets, a blanket, and towels. Another friend handed her cash again. So off she was back to WalMart to get some food, and other essentials for this refugee family. She got the translater to go with her to take these gifts to the family and they were so very surprised and honored. Of course, they fixed some food for her. Well she didn't know what it was but knew it was their way of saying "Thank you."
The next day she called me again. Excitment was in every word as she took the story on to the next level. Now she is inquiring at some churches to see if they are willing to take responsibility for this family. She certainly isn't through helping them and she is enjoying every minute of it. She has a whole new outlook on life and what possibiltities the Lord has given her and the excitment of what he just might have ahead for her. Now she is noticing the internationals she encounters. Now she is anxious to be a 21st century disciple of Jesus Christ and follow his teaching and instruction. Now she is rejoicing in the opportunities the Lord had for her and the Lord has ahead for her. One happy young lady and all of 24 years old.
You like that story? Jesus would probably tell you, "Go and do likewise. I'll be right there with you."
Blessings,
Donna
Monday, September 21, 2009
A Question
I have a question now for about anybody. It certainly gets their attention and makes them think. I didn't think it up or plan it either so I'm giving the Lord credit for putting it in my mind. It's one you want to answer yourself and then you can easily use it for others. Want to know what it is? It is simply six words, "what is your purpose in life?"
Today I was at my doctors office and I asked him that question. It certainly got his attention. He stopped what he was doing, looked at me, and said, "That's a great question. I like that. My purpose is to help people and enable them to have a good life. I know I can do this because the Lord has placed me here. I also want to live a good life and be a good father to my children. Yes, that's my purpose and I want to do what the Lord has in store for me." He went on to say nobody had ever asked him that question before.
So now I am asking YOU that question. What is your purpose in life? so you have fifty or twenty years ahead, what do you want to do during that time? Get your pen and paper and write it down. You can't start this any younger and you do have a future ahead. Make it worthy. Be a blessing. See what you can do with the Lord's help and guidance. Why not? You only travel this road once and this is your time. He did tell us in Jeremiah 29:11 "I have my plans for you,..." and in Isaiah 31:21 "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way; walk in it'"
Okay, what is your purpose in life?
Today I was at my doctors office and I asked him that question. It certainly got his attention. He stopped what he was doing, looked at me, and said, "That's a great question. I like that. My purpose is to help people and enable them to have a good life. I know I can do this because the Lord has placed me here. I also want to live a good life and be a good father to my children. Yes, that's my purpose and I want to do what the Lord has in store for me." He went on to say nobody had ever asked him that question before.
So now I am asking YOU that question. What is your purpose in life? so you have fifty or twenty years ahead, what do you want to do during that time? Get your pen and paper and write it down. You can't start this any younger and you do have a future ahead. Make it worthy. Be a blessing. See what you can do with the Lord's help and guidance. Why not? You only travel this road once and this is your time. He did tell us in Jeremiah 29:11 "I have my plans for you,..." and in Isaiah 31:21 "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way; walk in it'"
Okay, what is your purpose in life?
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