A Whirlwind of Gold

Aspens in New Mexico by Dee Kamp

 

A Whirlwind of Gold

What a day it was to initiate the beginning of our dog sitting for Molly the pretty, well-loved Westminster Terrier. White and pristine, bathed, clipped and brushed to perfection I was a bit apprehensive that I could do as good a job of keeping her so well fit and cared for. I said a little prayer to the Lord for wisdom and the know-how to protect and care for sweet Molly.

As I stood on the country road surrounded by great maples and tall poplar trees I grumbled to myself at the time Molly was taking to do her business. Mercy me, it seemed she was smelling every single blade of grass. Why am I even out here on a day like this, I asked myself.

 “I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings…” Psalm 17:6-8 NIV

Suddenly I was caught by the power of an unexpected gust of wind. This storm was coming in fast. I felt it slam against us and the ground even seemed to shake as the trees shook andgroaned in it. I bent my head feeling the leaves slap and slip all over me. Molly and I became smothered in of leaves! I opened my eyes to discover we were in a whirlwind of gold leaves engulfing us and swirling about me head to toe! I ended up almost knee deep in them!

I held up my hands and laughed with glee. I felt as if God had just showered me in an expression of His golden love.

 I recalled what a wise woman said to me long ago, “When we begin to see God in the small things we will begin to see God in all the good things that comes along in our unexpectedly in life.”

There is a window in our heart in which we can always see God. Sometimes that window is not always so clear, and we’re not sure He’s near. But be assured He always is- and sometimes He may even come as a whirlwind of gold on a cool October day.

 

“A Whirlwind of Gold” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© October 27, 2016

The Nightshift



The Nightshift

Oh the joy of holding our great grandson yesterday who is just two weeks old. So soundly he slept that he was oblivious to the commotion of people all around us gathering to enter the sanctuary for church.  He even slept through worship songs sung full of gusto, of the shuffling of feet of the family members carrying him to the front to be dedicated to the Lord and never an eye flutter when the pastor’s deep voice prayed so beautifully over him.

I smiled at the thought of the brand new parents who were probably hoping for a whole night’s sleep too. I wondered to myself, which parent was on the nightshift last night-when in my heart I heard the Lord whisper, “I was, of course.”

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.”

Psalm 4:8 NLT

Sleeping like a baby is what we desire the most in those long nights when sleep won’t come. Who hasn’t wondered, did God really hear the urgency of my prayer? Is He working on it?

 What we can’t see with our eyes, we can be sure of in our heart―when it seems God is the quietest, He is quietly working on our behalf.

 In those times when sleep won’t come let us be surprised all over again and again to find that sleep comes as His peace fills us when we simply call out His Name in the night.

 We don’t ever have to guess who is on the nightshift watching over us. I am witness to this miracle many times and I can’t explain the peace that fills me, but I can declare with joy― its God! And I know God is on the nightshift once again.

 “Only God knows how long the night will be, but you can be absolutely certain that He is at work in the darkness. When you lay your head on your pillow tonight, cast your cares on Him and rest in the solid truth that He is working for your good!” Sheila Walsh, from 5 Minutes with Jesus.

 

“Nightshift” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© October 24, 2016

 

One of God;s Most Memorable Divine Appointments

 

 

One of God’s Most Memorable Divine Appointments

I was a little nervous, and way out of my comfort zone as I took a seat next to a stranger at the Christian Writer’s Conference in New Mexico years ago. The woman next to me had a warm smile and we naturally began to share what we were planning to write and hoping to publish. But what she shared from her heart next would change my life forever. It was one of God’s most memorable divine appointments!

 “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 NLT

The matter she shared should not have been a surprise to me, because over and over at this conference, God kept placing strangers next to me, at a meal, in a class, even in a line waiting for a speaker, who had just lost a loved one. I too had recently lost my son and could empathize greatly and I shared with them all God had done for me to help me through.

This dear woman tearfully shared how her brother had recently died from suicide.  She was heartbroken but saddened even more by how her family was reacting and suffering from it and they were not coping well at all.

Her smile lit up her face as she shared, “God put it on my heart to send them a daily word of encouragement, His Word in the Bible.  I sent out an email to my family, (who most don’t know the Lord), and asked if I could send a Bible verse a day to them that might encourage them.  I wasn’t expecting any replies, or if so it would be a no. But to my surprise they all said―yes! “

As soon as I got home I sent out an email to close family and friends (believers or not) and asked if I could send them an encouraging word from the Bible each day, and to my delight they answered yes! That’s how “His Hopeful Word Today” began, and ten years later is still going strong.

We can all rest assured of this truth- God will never run out of surprising divine appointments, He’s never at a loss for encouraging words from His Word. God will always provide for us splendid and divine opportunities to share His amazing love with others near home or far away.

“Because God is Creator, Lord, Savior, and Deliverer, he is worthy of our trust and praise. Because he is faithful and his word is dependable we can rejoice and sing, giving thanks and praise.” Author- Anonymous

“One of God’s Most Memorable Divine Appointments” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© August 16, 2016

When God Move You-You Better Hang On-Move Along

 

When God Moves You- You Better Hang On-Move Along



“The LORD always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does.

The LORD helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.

The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it.

When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.

The LORD is righteous in everything he does, he is filled with kindness.

The LORD is close to all who call on him in truth.

He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them.

The LORD protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked. “

Psalm 145:13-20 NLT

I’m still here! First I must share how much I miss sharing His Word with you daily like I have been doing for more than ten years now! But guess what? God is moving us on a new path, in a new way!

We are taken completely taken by surprise how fast it’s happening. I’ve always said, I love God’s surprises, ― and here comes more.

Prompted by the Spirit we listed our house for sale, with in mind to rid our lives of too much house, too much yard and too much stuff and free us up to serve the Lord. Within three days of listing the house for sale―it sold!

 We were shocked, but not surprised because when God moves you, you better hang on and move along. I won’t share all the details of things that are flying into place to get ready for this move, I’ll save those great stories of God’s divine appointments for later.

Though God is moving us along, we still stand on solid ground. He will always be our Rock, for our faith and hope is in Jesus Christ alone.

Our prayer is to be His hands and feet. It may be one on one, it may be in a group, or a helping hand with someone right next to us. It may be near home or far away. But I know- that I know, God has more stories of His glory to share, and I am excited to discover them and share them all with you soon.

For these busy- fast paced days I hope to be able to share a verse that touched my heart in hopes it touches you in a way only the Lord can do in His perfect love and timing.

 

“When God Move You-Hang On and Move Along!” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© August 11, 2016

 

 

Stay on the Path!



Path at Buschardt Gardens by Dee Kamp

Stay on the Path!

by Dee Kamp

 

“Child, for heaven’s sake stay on the path!” I heard a weary mother say to her very energetic pig-tailed daughter while passing me at the park. But what I heard next from the child’s emotional and exasperated response has stuck with me for years.

“Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.”

Psalm 25:4-5 NLT

The little girl who was about four or five years old, said to her mother with all sincerity, “Mommy, what’s a path?”

Are there days where you too not only can’t stay on path, but you aren’t even sure what a path is, where it leads, and how to stay on it?

You’re not alone. But unlike us parents who sometimes forgot to explain things to our children we assume they already know― our loving Father is faithful to give us knowledge and understanding just when we need it most. He is faithful, compassionate to direct and lead us whenever we call out to Him as His child in simple faith.

By reading the Bible and continually learning from it, we will gain the wisdom to perceive God’s direction for our lives.

We may be tempted to dash here and there, but when we are willing to seek God first, we will receive His specific guidance and He will explain to us what the path is with the ability and strength to stay on it.  Every park and path in life we travel, we have His promise we never, ever, walk it alone.

 “All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.”― Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Stay on the Path!” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© August 2, 2016

 

 

 

 

Songs from the Fire



Songs from the Fire

          Have you ever sat around a crackling, snapping campfire or in front of a fireplace and found yourself listening to the fire hiss and sing? The wood used for a good long-lasting fire is a big chunk of wood we call “the back log.” The rest is kindling which will burn up hot and quickly disappear.

            When the back log catches fire it often begins to make a multitude of melodic sounds. When the snapping and crackling of the fire slows down, there is a whistling, squeaking, even a flute like sound coming from the back log.

            Often the room grows quiet and everyone seems drawn to listen to its music, the songs of the forest fill the room. The log sings from the memories of the song birds in spring, the hoot of the owl at night, the flute like sound of the tree frog chirping after the rain. The log sizzles a song of when the high winds blew strumming their music through its branches and recalling too of the hissing snow in a harsh winter storm.

 

“But the people of God will sing a song of joy, like the songs at the holy festivals.

You will be filled with joy, as when a flutist leads a group of pilgrims to Jerusalem,

the mountain of the Lord—to the Rock of Israel.”  Isaiah 30:29 NLT

 

            It’s a writer’s fancy to hear songs of the forest singing from a sizzling log in the fire. But it is a bit of a parable of our lives. Each of us has collected many songs from our own lives over the years.

            Some of the best songs remembered and sung are the ones resulting from the times we were “in the fire”, of life’s trials. Some people may never learn to sing until the flames kindle a sweet memory deep within of how God’s love never failed them.

            It’s the songs from the fire that are most effective, most remembered, and most beautifully sung.

 

“Songs from the Fire” by Dee Kamp from Strength for Today, Hope for Tomorrow -by Dee Kamp

Joy is Like a Magnet

Anna's Joy by Dee Kamp

 

Joy is Like a Magnet

When I was very young and my family had all gathered together to celebrate a birthday for a relative, my cousin and I crawled under the table and when we thought no one was looking we popped out from under it to sneak candied roses from off of the cake.

We were certain no one could see us, that is until our grandmother put her head under the table laughing at us saying, “You silly kids, we wondered what was happening to those roses!”
When our grandmother shared what we had been doing, the whole room burst out in laughter. Oh the pleasure we had being around our grandmother who would show her love for us in many ways and always share her joy was in loving Jesus.

“…in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

Psalm 16:11 KJ V

 What a promise! Nothing on earth compares to joy that comes from God’s heavenly love. Joy is like a magnet to others, and this joy is not limited to exuberant children, or special grandmothers, but for all who believe in Him.

 People may spurn us, misjudge us and even oppose us but they are helpless to our prayers and helpless against the joy we feel knowing how deeply we are loved by God.

 

“Joy is Like a Magnet” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© July 13, 2016