If Only

 



Wagon Loaded with Flowers By: Dee Kamp

 

If Only

     Recently our neighbor called asking us to watch for a package to be delivered and said, “Would you sign for it and keep it with you until I can pick it up later this evening?”

     “No problem!” we both declared. For helping out this kindly neighbor was our delight.

     Later in the day my husband caught the delivery man, signed for the small, but rather heavy box, and brought it on home. We set it on the kitchen counter for our neighbor’s return. But we were to be very surprised by what was in that box and by her reaction when she came to pick it up!

“How can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him?

And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him?

And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?

And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?

That is why the Scriptures say,

“How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” Romans 10: 14-15 NLT

 

     At the knock on the door that evening we let our neighbor in and as we handed her the package, she just stood there frozen in place. All was quiet as she stared down at the package in her arms, and then―she began to weep!

     We were caught off guard by this emotional demonstration and I quickly threw my arms around her wondering what on earth was in that package!

     She clung to the box, put her head on my shoulder and cried harder as she said, “These are my mother’s ashes. She just passed away in Arizona last week.”

     Many times I’ve been frustrated with thinking of the people I could reach if only. Then God reminded me to look around right where I am. Here was a woman with a heavy load to carry back home. Now was the perfect time to share the Good News of how much Jesus loves her and how He will be her the strength to carry all her burdens.

    When I whispered the Good News, her story of hope, she gave me a big smile.  

    Sharing the Good News with another is like one person helping another discover a way to carry a heavy load.

“If Only” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© March 31, 2014

In the Garden of Our Cares



Our Spring Garden by Dee Kamp

In the Garden of Our Cares

In the little sanctuary of my back yard garden I weed with burning purpose. I know it’s a necessary task to keep ahead of the weeds, but my mind keeps wandering over the weeds of concerns growing by the moment in my heart.

 

I stab hard with my trowel into the deep rooted weed that’s crowding the strawberry plant. I visualize digging out a deep rooted worry in my heart threatening to squeeze out my joy and hit my worry button.

 

In that moment I hear the soft whisper of God in my heart saying, “Its prayer and faith, not trowels that rid weeds of anxiety and find peace in the garden of your heart.”

 

“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.

They will soar on the wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,

 they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31 NIV

 

As if on cue something makes me look up in the bright blue sky. And there gliding majestically above me is the most beautiful bald eagle! The sun highlights his brilliant white head. He is the image of elegance and power at the same time. Now I smile as I witness the sun making his wings appear to glow.

For those who see God everywhere, all the time, these are the moments when you know He has sent you a hug. You are reminded of the promises and truth of His Word.

Thinking of things which are above lifts the cares from one’s heart. In these moments a confident knowing about God's beautiful character is instilled in one’s heart.

God is for us, He is always with us. We are never left alone to dig out and weed out the garden of cares in our heart.

 

“And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings,

Bear you on the breath of dawn,

Make you to shine like the sun,

And hold you in the palm of His hand.”

—African Song

 

“In the Garden of our Cares” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© May 20, 2013 (re-posted March 27, 2014)

Not Look Down at our Feet

 

 

Look Not Down At Our Feet

“Uh huh, no looking down at your feet now. Lift your head up and look straight ahead of you," said the nurse holding on to me.

”Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.

 Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path.” Proverbs 5:24-25 NLT

 

Recently this was my experience and when the nurse said to fix my eyes on the way ahead I thought instantly of how God’s Word said exactly this

Sometimes we find, even as adults, we need to learn how to walk all over again.  Many of us can relate to that moment of unbelief shortly after a surgery when the nurse says with gusto, “It’s time to get you up and go walking!”

When I was looking down at my own efforts to make each foot move ahead I would get dizzy and become unsteady. Re-learning to walk, taking new steps outside our comfort zone and experiencing brand new circumstances in life can pull us quickly off balance. But if we fix our eyes on God, then our feet won’t falter, and faith will lead the way.

 God promises to walk every step of the way with us and provide whatever we need to get us there if we’ll look up to Him and not down at our feet.

“Not Look Down at Our Feet” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© March 26, 2014

Note from Dee

Photo by Dee Kamp



"For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth

 to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him...".

2Chronicles 16:9 NIV

 

 

 

Just a note to say may you be blessed by His grace and mercy today and to let you know I'll be back on here soon. Its necessary that I will be away from my computer for a few days. What a delight it is to hear from you and to share the goodness of the Lord each day.   Dee

Thought for the Day



Thought For The Day

This is a wonderful thought for our day: Every morning we can begin by leaning our arms upon the windowsill of heaven and then gaze upon our Lord. Then with this vision of His love for us still in our heart we can turn strong and face the day.

“We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield.

In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.

 Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone.”

Psalm 33:20-22

 

Prayer: “I need Your strengthening Lord, and it is so reassuring to know that even when I forget to call to You, Your eyes are always upon me. Thank you Lord for the hope I have in Your unfailing love.

 

“Wonderful Thought For the Day” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© March 14, 2014

Life is a Surprise Soup de Jour

Woodland Waterfall by Dee Kamp

Life is a Surprise Soup de Jour

            I gaze at the menu at the new restaurant I’m at and smile at the menu’s clever words “surprise soup de jour today”.  Jour is the French word for “day” and I am wondering what surprise soup of the day in my journey  that the Lord has in mind for me.

“Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth! Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.”

 Isaiah 43:19 NLT

 

            The journey of life is a daily-ness of the trip, the step-by-step process of transitions, twists and turns. But we don’t walk it alone, a pilgrim in a foreign land with no direction or plan. God has a plan and we can trust on Him to hold our hand and get us there. 

            As I ponder God’s Word today and wonder not what’s in the surprise soup at this restaurant, but what surprises does God have for me. And if I am reluctant and afraid to trust Him, will I then miss something wonderful He has in mind for me?

            God calls to us, His beloved, not just to safeness but something much higher, always forward, always upward.    

            One of the great mysteries of God it seems, is that He will choose the most unpromising and unlikely places along our way in which to reveal Himself in might and power to encourage us to keep going forward.

            Life is a soup de jour all right. But this we can depend on, God, our Creator, knows every ingredient it contains. He has everything we need to get there, every twist and turn, even when a little extra hot spice in our soup surprises us. For this we know, there are no surprises for God.

 

“Life is a Soup de Jour” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© March 13, 2014

There Is No Fence Strong Enough



Sheep in Spring Valley by Dee Kamp

There Is No Fence Strong Enough

            In his book How a Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, Phillip Keller describes a sad scene of the neighboring sheep who were so poor in health, hungry and ill cared for. Phillip’s sheep took much time and patience and constant care but he loved them, understood them and they were well-tended sheep. He was their good shepherd.

            When Phillip would go out to fields to tend to his sheep he felt so sorry for the ill tended sheep of his neighbor. They were often seen leaning against the fence staring across with longing at his pasture to have what his sheep enjoyed every day. The neglected hungry sheep were always trying to come through the fence or try and break it down.

 

         “Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.” Psalm 100:3-5 NLT

            Jesus is our Good Shepherd and we are his well-loved, well-tended sheep. There are many who wonder about the joy we have, the hope and love of Jesus that shines through us.         They are the sheep on the other side of the fence feeling unloved and abandoned.

            It’s the truth we can share, that its belief― its faith in Jesus that tears down walls and knocks down all fences.

            Jesus is waiting for the unloved, broken hearted sheep to come to Him. He is yearning to wash them clean, tend to their broken hearts and lead them to green pastures and rest beside the quiet waters to live in peace with Him forever.

            Blessed be our Shepherd! Blessed be our Gatekeeper who waits with open arms. There is no fence strong enough to keep His love away.

 

“There Is No Fence Strong Enough” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© March 12, 2014

 

 

 

Switch Off the Worry Button



 

 



Switch Off the Worry Button

            I’ve learned there is big difference between time well spent planning and wasteful times worrying. Plans put in the hands of God are guaranteed to wash away all anxious thoughts and worries.

            “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God and above all else and live righteously and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”” Matthew 7:31-34

                        Satan is able to switch on that worry button in our minds faster than we realize. Jesus reminds in this Scripture to switch that worry button off and switch our thoughts instead to trust all things to our Father in heaven.

            Planning and thinking things through can alleviate worry. But when we let worry take over our thoughts it will always make it difficult to trust in God for all we need. Giving our plans to God draws us into a closer relationship with Him.

            Careful planning is thinking ahead about steps, schedules and appointments and then trusting God’s guidance in all of it. Worry is a negative thought in our mind that puts a heavy burden on our heart. But when we trust all things, big and small to the Lord, He will sustain us, and guide us.

             

Are you burdened with a load of worries and cares?

Do the things on your heart seem too heavy to bear?

Count on God to provide all you need, then worries will fly

And you’ll be singing His praises as all the days go by

 

“Switch Off the Worry Button” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© March 11, 2014

Peace to the Rescue





Peace Comes to the Rescue

            I couldn’t get the poor panicked dog running wildly in circles about our large fenced yard. He was in a mess of fear and panic. He had slipped in through the driveway gate and now was racing around trying to find a way back out to the road and back to his home.  He couldn’t see I was the one to come to his rescue.

            “I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 15:27 NLT

            Peace is our amazing gift from the Father and is our confident assurance that His peace is for us in any circumstance we may find ourselves facing.

             With Christ’s peace we have no need to fear the present or the future. Fear, uncertainty, and doubt may come at the most unexpected time and we can feel as confused and lost as that poor pup in my yard.

             But when we call out to Jesus, His peace will move into our heart to calm us down long enough to see He has sent someone to our rescue. Its peace that comes to our rescue.

            It took a bit of waving my arms and carrying on to get the dog’s attention but when I did he stopped and stared with big wild eyes at me and then he became calm as can be and just sat down. I calmly spoke to him and I lead him back through open gate and to his home once again.

God’s peace is our sure thing

When we are in a mess

 He calms us and shows us the way

No matter how we are put to the test.

 

“Peace Comes to the Rescue” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© March 10, 2014

Her Name Was Abigail



Sparrow Singing by Dee Kamp

 



Her Name Was Abigail

            Her name was Abigail. A beautiful young woman who was well respected by others, but married to an impatient, ill-tempered man.  Abigail was very sensible, capable and a good communicator with the ability to see the big picture beyond herself.

             The Abigail of whom I write today is from a wonderful story of a woman in the Old Testament, 1 Samuel 25.  Because of Abigail’s quick thinking when she was greatly challenged, she saved the people of her village. Her husband had been rude and unjustifiably mean to David and his men.  Her swift action and skillful negotiations kept David from taking vengeance on them all.  

            “David replied to Abigail, “praise the LORD, the God of Israel, who has sent you to meet me today. Thank God for your good sense! …..Then David accepted her present and told her, “Return home in peace. I have heard what you said…” 1 Samuel 25:32-35 NLT

            Abigail, the woman whom God had chosen specifically, displays a pattern of right behavior in an unfortunate circumstance. Here dozens of vital question are answered by Abigail’s example. She could not possibly have known that thousands of years later people in similar circumstances would become more than conquerors because of her. But God knew.

            We all love happy endings, and God blessed one for Abigail. Her mean, contentious husband died of natural causes and David remembered her and fell in love with her. When he heard she was a young widow he came back and took her as his beloved wife.

            Her lesson teaches us to never let the bad disposition of one hinder the devotion and grace of the other. Never let difficulties of our home, workplace, or any place we live lead us away from God’s throne of mercy and His righteous desire for our lives.      

“Do not step down to the level of your circumstances, but lift them to your own high calling in Christ.” ―Joyce Meyer from her quote in- The Everyday Life Bible

“Her Name Was Abigail” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© March 6, 2014

Master Weaver



Photo by Dee Kamp

 

Master Weaver

            Jesus says today, “The pattern has been made, the design is being created. You are being woven into a beautiful fabric that is interwoven with unbreakable fibers of My love all through you.

     Nothing can separate my love from you, we are woven as one.  I am the pattern for your life, I am the Master Weaver of your life. I am the thread that binds, I am the Creator of your unique beauty.”

            “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow-not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or the earth below-indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 NLT

 

“Master Weaver” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© March 5, 2014

The Beauty of Psalm Twenty Three



Spring Valley Sheep Farm by Dee Kamp

The Beauty of Psalm Twenty Three

              Before I face each day, before I come face to face with another, I find my peace, my joy and new strength when I come face to face with God first.

            Often I find myself reciting the twenty third Psalm. And to my surprise, and delight, it speaks something new to me each and every time that I do.

            Psalm twenty three is a beautiful word picture of who God is, and all He is able to do for us who trust in Him.

            So today I share one of King David’s most well-known songs inspired by God. One least understood or appreciated by those who see the words but don’t hear the music of God’s pure love flowing out to touch our hearts in His beautiful and mysterious way.

            Hear God speak into your heart through His Word and by His Holy Spirit as you read these timeless words again. And may the beauty of the Psalm twenty three bless you in a new and refreshing way today.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want;

He makes me to lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalm 23:1-6 NIV

 

“The Beauty of Psalm Twenty Three” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© March 4, 2014

 

 

Children Let Me Lead the Way

 

 



Photo: Lambs by Dee Kamp

Children Let Me Lead the Way

          I watched with tenderness as the mother of three little ones strived to keep them close and make their way through the enormous crowd of people after the local parade. I was following and I could see the children starting to get frustrated and even afraid. They were beginning to tug against her in a senseless effort to find their own way.

       But then the mother stopped no matter the pushing crowd, stooped down and I heard her say, “Children, let me lead the way”. With that the children’s head’s popped up and they let her lead them to a safe place where they could stop and rest.

            Our frustrations and fears are but shadows that drift before us trying to confuse us and make us stumble along the way. But we can be assured that when we lift up our hearts and look to Jesus, He is able to shine His brightness, give us hope and lead the way to find our rest.

            He says to us each new day, “Child, let Me lead the way”

 

“Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:

The faithful love of the LORD never ends!

His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness;

his mercies begin afresh each morning.

I say to myself,  “The LORD is my inheritance;

Therefore, I will hope in him!”

Lamentations 3:21-24

 

“Children Let Me Lead the Way” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© March 3, 2014