God's Hand Upon Me

 

 Pink Sand Sunset by Dee Kamp

 

God’s Hand Upon Me

 

I reflect upon my days of the year gone by

And what I continuously see

Is God’s hand upon me.

 

Spinning around in my mind are the days past

Good times, and sad ones too, but the vision that lasts

Is God’s hand upon me.

 

I wondered at the times of boundless hope to believe

I know the reason I felt so encouraged and free

Is God’s hand upon me

 

In those times I perceived being loved, strengthened and spry

I happily answered those who asked me how and why

It's God’s hand upon me.

 

Blessed New Year everyone!

 

“And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts,

 living within you as you trust in him…” Ephesians 3:17 TLB

Art of Faith

 

Art of Faith

 
Many of us love art and craft fairs.  I go to admire the talent and creations but also go for inspiration to re-create some artful beauty of my own. One I attended this year had a great deal of creative talent in many mediums.

 But what caught my eye and intrigued me was a framed work of art of words written in beautiful calligraphy of the Ten Commandments.

Then it came to mind that so often  what I have read that day in my Bible God will come forth in some way to give me one of  God's  important life lessons.

 

“When the LORD finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai,

 he gave him the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant,

 written by the finger of God.” Exodus 31:18

 

Since the day God first delivered His hand-carved edition of the His Ten Commandments, others have placed them as cornerstones on buildings, drawn and painted them into works of art, made them into jewelry, and sewn and woven them skillfully to be enjoyed. 

 My thoughts as I observed the lovely piece of art that day was my lesson from God on how His Word is intended to do more than decorate buildings, walls and hang as jewelry around our necks but recreate our hearts to be in the likeness in the beauty of His love, of His Son.

 The Word of God is not about the beauty we can create, but all about God recreating the spiritual art of great faith and beauty in us.

  “The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.” A.W. Tozer

 

“The Art of God’s Word” By Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© December 30, 2013

 

The Survival Kit List

White Water Lilly by Dee Kamp

 

The Survival Kit List

 

“Oh that junk drawer!” I bemoaned on a recent cleaning spree.  My big junk drawer is more like a time capsule. There are things stuffed in there from as far back as when my children were young!

 As I was about to give up sorting for the day I discovered a wrinkled up piece of paper with some typing on it.  My goodness, this was typed on my mother’s old standard typewriter! 

 I smiled as I read the title: List for the Survival Kit Bag. It called for a match, a tea bag, a starburst candy piece, a tooth pick and an erasure. I was quite sure this was not a list from the Red Cross!

The things on the list had a bit of humor and a lot of good merit. I realized that everything on the list for the survival kit could be found in God’s Word! So I re-wrote the list to fill a bag with little goodies and called it ”God’s Little Survival Kit”.

 

God’s Little Survival Kit

A MATCH: For when you feel in the dark to produce some light to remind you:

•  “I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.” John 12:46

A TEA BAG: For when you are weary to remind you to rest, and find His rest any time you need it.

• Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you we are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
•  Matthew: 11:28

A STARBURST CANDY: For when you need that burst of strength when yours is gone.

• “The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.” Habakkuk 3:19

A TOOTHPICK: to pick out the good qualities in others.

• “Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.” Colossians 3:14-15

AN ERASER: To remind you everyone makes mistakes.

• “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.”  Luke 6:37

A MINT: To remind you that you are worth a mint, a million even more!

• “What is the price of two sparrows-one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”  Matthew 10:29-30

 

God’s little survival kit is the Bible. It’s never out of date; it’s encouraging, dependable, applicable, and reliable. I’ve handed these little survival bags to friends, families and even strangers.

Feel free to copy the list and then fill up a little bag with these items and include others that come to mind too! We all need from to time a survival kit message.

 

“The Survival Kit List” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© December 27, 2013

The Image of Bethlehem

 

 

 

The Image of Bethlehem

The soloist on the stage at church that Christmas many years ago was singing the beautiful song “Mary Did You Know”. I looked over to my left across the aisle and saw a young mother with a smile on her face and tears running down her cheeks cradling her new born child. The image of Bethlehem came alive right before my eyes.

“…the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.

She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger…Luke 2:6-7”

 

Did Mary know her baby had come to save all sons and daughters? That He would give sight to the blind, walk on water and calm a storm with the wave of His hand? Could she even grasp that this small babe she adored was the face of God, the great I AM?

God trusted a peasant girl and a poor carpenter with His greatest gift to the world in a way we are able to understand and relate. Majesty cradled in the arms of a simple, humble woman. Holiness among the filth in a stable. Not wrapped in royal robes but in rags of swaddling clothes.

 God chose the simple and the humble to be the first witnesses to His presence on earth. He sent angels to waken sleepy shepherds in the fields to run and worship the Messiah born in a stable.

We can still see mothers today holding their babies close to them and remember all that God has done for us. And those who seek Him, though humble and poor in spirit, discover they are now the child being cradled in the loving arms of God.

“God walked down the stairs of heaven with a Baby in His arms.” Paul Scherer

“The Image of Bethlehem” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© December 23, 2013

Have A Blessed Christmas



 

 

HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS

May God fill your hearts with love and your lives with praise as we celebrate this Christmas.

May you find delight in Christ's birth and the joy of God's love and great blessings the whole year through.

What a joy it is to celebrate with you the miracle of the birth of our Savior, Jesus, who makes our hearts His home.

"I will praise You, O LORD my God,

with all my heart;

 I will glorify Your name forever.

Psalm 86:12 NIV

When Words Fail Us

Photo by : Dee Kamp

 

When Words Fail Us

 

It can happen to anyone, anytime. When our heart flutters, our mind spins, and our lips can’t form a single word in our greatest need to pray to God.  In this struggle of our silence who can help us?

 

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.

 We do not know what we ought to pray for,

but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit,

 because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”

Romans 8:26-27 NIV

 

We’ve all been there at some point in our life when we rush before God filled with a great need to share our hearts with Him. In our frustration even tears may begin to fall. We have no idea where to begin, how to find the words adequate to express what matters most, no idea of what to say all. That’s when the Holy Spirit intervenes on our behalf and we can be confident in Him.

 

The Holy Spirit knows the trials we face, and those of our loved ones that lay heavy on our heart.

How wonderful is our Lord! His compassions never fail. He hears the language of our soul, the deep desires of our heart―no words are required. Even when words fail us, God never fails to hear us.

 

Though life can make my words a mess

When I pray You always give me rest.

 

Holy Spirit reign supreme in my heart forlorn.

Speak for me when my heart is torn.

 

Holy Spirit, all divine,

Come dwell in this heart of mine.

 

“When Words Fail” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© December 18, 2013

Untraditional and Noncommercial

Dolls in the Window Photo by Dee Kamp

 

Untraditional and Noncommercial

Several years ago I was feeling a bit more down than usual over the strong display of commercialism over the true meaning of Christmas. Then suddenly I found myself witnessing a most untraditional, noncommercial way of someone sharing the real meaning of Christmas.  

"Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;

 He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous."

 Psalm 112:4 NKJ

 

He wasn’t sitting on a throne for children to climb up and onto his lap to have their pictures taken and then rushed away. He didn’t have a bell to ring, a bucket to collect donations.  No, he was simply strolling slowly up and down the main street of this small village town.

Yes, he was dressed as old St Nicholas in a long red robe. It was faux fur trimmed with a pointed hood made by his wife in the design from the “old” country he was from. He had a genuine white beard, neatly trimmed and was slim not one bit fat. His smile was genuine, his laugh sincere and truly jolly.

He had no bag of toys over his shoulder but rather pockets full of little wrapped candies, a ready hug for a delighted child, or the weary shopper who showed they needed one. He had a propensity for sitting down on the town’s bench to listen unhurriedly to child, adult, shopkeeper or street person.  

As I watched unseen from the window above, my heart was delighted by what I saw. I learned later the only promise he gave was the promise of hope God sent to all as a wee little baby born in Bethlehem.  

“The gift of time, the gift of giving another the feeling they are worthy is a gift that is timeless, a gift for all generations, a gift that is the truth of why God sent His Son.” ―Anonymous  

“Unconditional and Nontraditional” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© December 12, 2013

 

 

Linger Longer Lane

Photo by: Dee Kamp

 

Linger Longer Lane

There is a road not far from me named, Linger Longer Lane. Doesn’t that just pull at your heartstrings and make you want to get out of the car and walk slowly down the road? A road with tall evergreen trees with streaming sunshine through its branches. A place so quiet you really do want to linger longer there. A place where you sense God is waiting there just to be alone with you.

“O my darling, lingering in the gardens,

 your companions are fortunate to hear your voice.

 Let me hear it too!” Song of Songs 8:13 NLT

 

Oh how our Lord longs for us to linger longer with Him, to hear our voice calling Him and no other. Here in our secret place with Him we get a glimpse of the beauty and the power of His love.

Here we can share our most intimate and cherished moments with Jesus. He yearns for that personal relationship with us, no detail of our lives is too small and never too great for Him to hear.

Here alone with God we gain a fresh vision and inspiration of going forward on our journey in life which Jesus so desires for us. He puts all things in a fresh perspective, when we give it all to Him. He gives rest to our soul and peace in our heart that the world can’t give or ever understand.

We can know our Bible and memorize the Scriptures but until we are alone with God in our secret place, we will never know the power of God.

Does God send signs in our life? Real ones? I may never know until I get to heaven. But whenever I see the Linger Longer Lane sign I am reminded how precious it is to know I will always find Him waiting there just for me.

 “But until then, I will retreat to my secret place, a heartsick, lovesick bride who longs to behold her Bridegroom. I will purse Him with the intent of overtaking Him. I will exult in our quiet secret―the place of highest intimacy―for here I am joined to Him and we are one spirit.”―Bob Sorge, Secrets of the Secret Place

“Linger Longer Lane” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© December 11, 2013

 

 

 

  

A Light in the Window

Photo by Dee Kamp

 

A Light in the Window

I love to collect vintage children's stories. There is one in particular I like to pull out and read at Christmas, and this year perhaps to our great granddaughter Anna. It was written in 1871 by Louisa M Alcott titled “Aunt Jo’s Scrap-Bag”.

 "Tilly's Christmas" is the story of how one very well-to-do little girl was fussing about what she should buy so many on her Christmas list. Then she found herself pondering about her very poor friend. What on earth could a girl of so little means possibly give as gifts to others for this Christmas?

"The Word gave life to everything that was created,

and his life brought light to everyone.

The light shines in the darkness

 and the darkness can never extinguish it.”

John 1:4-5 NLT

When the two little girls next met the prosperous one asked what her friend had to give to others this year for Christmas.

“I like to have our light shine out in the evening, for the road is dark and lonely just here, and the twinkle of our lamp is pleasant to people's eyes as they go by. We can do so little for our neighbors, I am glad to cheer the way for them."

Her reply surprised her and a greater understanding of how a little consideration for others can be so great a gift to many.

Any random act of kindness is like a welcoming light in the window to family, friends and strangers! It may just be the first time anyone sees Jesus for the very first time.  

God will give a tug on our heart to remind us to let His light of inextinguishable love shine out through the window of our heart to others. There is no act of kindness too little and nothing at all kind hide God’s light which is able to reach far, deep and wide.

 “There is no place on earth so dark that the light of heaven will not come to it; and there is no spot of earth where God may not choose to raise a monument to His love.” ―Henry Drummond

 

" A Light in the Window" by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries,

 

 

The Delightful Receiver

Children's Christmas Tree Photo by: Dee Kamp

 

 

 

The Delightful Receiver

Knee deep in torn and ripped up Christmas paper, the three year old cried out in delight for the gifts she had just received.  But after opening the gifts, this darling child did something unusual and unexpected.

 “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT

One by one this child picked up her gifts started giving them away to those sitting around room. She was clapping her hands, jumping up and down calling out, “Presents, presents!”

We all tried to hand back her presents, but she would step back away and say “No! No!” She even began to cry when we insisted!

 “She’s all mixed up,” her big brother grumbled.

Then we finally understood what she was doing and waiting for, the joy on our faces at receiving the gift! When we each thanked her profusely we were rewarded with her infectious laughter making us all delightful receivers!

In her innocence, this little child understood the joy of giving, and the immeasurable pleasure in watching those who were showing their delight in receiving from her.

We are created in God’s image and we bring Him great pleasure when we show Him how delighted we are to receive His amazing gift of love- His Son Jesus Christ.

 

God’s gift of love is the perfect gift for all. Oh, if we could hear heaven sing with those sounds of joy when someone for the first time chooses to be the delightful receiver of God’s most precious gift of all- Jesus Christ.

"God, the Eternal God, is Love. Covet therefore that everlasting gift, that one thing which it is certain is going to stand, that one coinage which will be current in the universe when all other coinages of all the nations of the world shall be useless and unhonored."― Henry Drummond

“The Delightful Receiver” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© December 9, 2013

The Choice is Ours

Photo: Choosing the right path by Dee Kamp

 

The Choice is Ours

Honest questions, thundering statements, tender touches, tough love, that’s our God. Shaking every tree, moving every stone, seeking out the lost sheep in the valley and hills. He’s looking relentlessly until we are found

”For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:38-40 NLT

The choice is ours because He loves us. He will get our attention. Isn’t that evident in the Bible? He made a shepherd a king, a humble maiden the mother for His Son. He takes them from plowing the fields to planting His Word in the hearts of men. God is still moving in miraculous ways, seeking our hearts, not less than yesterday but more and more, tireless on and on today. 

Never pushing, but inviting with a gentle enduring patience. Step by baby step He leads us to the tender place in His heart. Leading and yearning for us to have a greater understanding of His miraculous unconditional love for us. God will never stop until He’s finished, never quit until our choice is made.

“…If there are a thousand steps between us and him, he will take all but one. But he will leave the final one for us. The choice is ours. ―Max Lucado The Gift for all people”

“The Choice is Ours” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© December 5, 2013

 

 

 

 

Our Best Day Yet

Photo by: Dee Kamp

 

Our Best Day Yet

A very common greeting today is, “Hello, how are you?”

I absolutely love the unexpected and uncommon answer to this very common question. And one gentleman who shopped at our little country store never failed to delight me by what he would say, “Why today is my best day yet.”

“In God we boast all day long, and praise Your name forever.” Psalm 44:8 NKJ

Today is our best day yet because, well simply said, we are still here! God has a plan for us. God has placed us at this moment where we are and who we are with for His eternal purpose in our lives.

Today is our best day because we are growing a little more in our faith, a little more in maturity and little more in our intimacy with Jesus.  

There may be some pressures today― but God creates beautiful diamonds from great earthly pressure.

There may be a trial by fire today― but God uses fire to purify gold.

 There may be some aggravation to rub us the wrong way today― but God uses irritants to create the rare and lovely pearl.  

God doesn’t make bad days and good days for us. God makes each day fit perfectly into His plans for us. He made this day in great hope we will trust it all to Him and it will draw us closer to His heart.

Today is our best day yet. Fore we are learning to trust in Him for everything and by everything we will bring glory to Him.

 “God doesn’t’ have problems, He only has plans.”―Corrie ten Boom

 

“Our Best Day Yet” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© December 4, 2013

I"ll Never Let Go!

 

I’ll Never Let Go!

The first time I went ice skating as a child my ankles were ridiculously turned inward to my body. My arms were flapping about for balance, and half the time my eyes were closed in anticipation of falling down.

“If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

 If I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.”

Psalms 139:9-10 NIV

 

But for this new event in my life, I had a very good friend and teacher. One who I knew would never-ever- let go of me.

Jesus is faithful all through our lives, but in those the times when we are thrown off balance to stand on our own two feet, we can count on our Friend Jesus to hold us up and never let go of us.

He’s the blanket for the comfort for our souls, and a pillow for our sorrows when the nights are long and cold. His arms are strong and sure where we will find rest and strength to skate around life’s crazy ice rinks. 

On slippery ice these days? Feeling weak in the ankles and wobbly on your feet? That’s when we’ll hear that still small voice in our heart say, “Take my hand, I’m your Friend and I’ll never-ever let you go.”

With faith of His love I know

I’ll hear Him whisper “I’ll never let go.”

Then clinging to His guiding hand

I’m confident in His strength I’ll stand

“I’ll Never Let Go” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© December 2, 2013