Morning Thoughts

Happy Friday. This is the day my trip begins. I have all my things together and I only need one thing from Walmart before I get on the plane this evening (which is pretty good I’m thinking!).  Yesterday, I happened to see an infomercial about a table for your back. The premise was to strap down your ankles and this table would turn you upside down. It is supposed to “decompress” your vertebrae so you have less back issues. Hmmm.   I kept looking at people with their feet in the air and thought. “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” Proverbs‬ ‭14:12‬ Don’t get me wrong—I don’t think the table is good or bad or leads to death, but I kept thinking it was a perfect picture of how confused we get at times. We get completely turned upside down in our thinking.  I’ve been studying Psalm 119 and the beauty and power of the Word of God. And, it seems I’ve had several conversations in the past few days about what we see as “acceptable” and co...

Happy Thursday to you. I’m packed and ready to go! I fly out to Connecticut tomorrow to spend the weekend with Braden (my grandson) before leaving for Israel on Monday. Does it get any better? Sometimes, we just get dunked in blessings. And sometimes, we wonder what’s going on and why are we under such oppression.  I saw something in my reading yesterday that I had not noticed before. In Luke 20, Jesus has been teaching in the temple and on the streets. The Pharisees and Sadducees had tried to trick Him in front of the people, but He just made them look foolish because He taught as no one had before. Consequently, the crowds around him had continued to increase. And when we say “crowds following Jesus” we are talking CROWDS. Like nothing movie stars or rock stars have ever seen—the Beatles had nothing on Jesus. But even as The Teacher is mobbed with people, He saw a little widow woman giving her offering. Even through the pandemonium, He didn’t miss this little lady. If you’ve ever...

Happy Wednesday. Well...the time is getting close! I leave out of here on Friday, and fly out of NYC on Monday for Tel Aviv. I’m so excited I’m having trouble packing. I’m going to try to post pictures on Facebook and on Instagram and I’ll do my best to write while I’m gone. When I do, I doubt I’ll have enough internet to be able to send it out directly but I should have enough to post on “My Story” on FB and on pamsmithhudson.blogspot.com.  We get excited about trips (well, most of us do)—seeing new places, new faces and new sights we’ve only read about. We live in a world full of wonderful things to see and very few of us will have the opportunity to even scratch the surface of what is out there. But even so, there is one trip that we all should be excited to take—our last one, the one that takes us home. I have heard “Everyone wants to go to Heaven, but no one wants to die.” Death is scary, but with the promise of Heaven so close, it certainly loses its power.  “We are con...

Happy Tuesday. I hope you had a great summer-kick-off-weekend. If you love summer as much as I do, I know you’re super pumped as it begins. We have also officially entered the wedding season. Last Saturday, I was able to attend an anniversary party for a couple that I love like parents. They have been married for 69 years and are so in love, it can just make you cry.  Among other things, they sang a couple of songs for everyone—“I Want to Stroll Over Heaven with You” caused my tears to run over. Can a couple be more blessed than to walk through life with the very one they want to spend eternity with? They don’t have a lot of money or a big house, but they have a family who is crazy about them and friends galore. But mostly, they have Jesus.  Dr. Tony Evans defines a Kingdom marriage as “a covenantal union between a man and a woman who commit themselves to function in unison under divine authority in order to replicate God’s image and expand His rule in the world through both t...

It’s the weekend and time to gather with fellow believers and worship the Lord our God. I watched a little bit of a show the other night called “Tyrant” about a Middle Eastern ruler of a Moslem country. This man was the president and a true tyrant, a bully. Obviously, the bad guy and someone Captain America would stand up to. He seemed to symbolize the bully and tyrant we face every day.  But alas, I’m not the Captain. Nor am I particularly strong—I couldn’t tear open a fed ex package the other day. I don’t have a six pack or “guns”, I don’t like pain and I steer away from any sort of confrontation. You could probably call me a wimp, a sissy. But according to scripture, I’ve been made more that Batman (or Superman or Aquaman). I’ve been made more than the Tyrant of Tyrants in this world. I’ve been made an overcomer in this life.  “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?...Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shal...

Happy Friday to you and it’s a very happy birthday for my granddaughter Gracie who turns 13 today. She is finally a teenager (she’s pretty sure she’s been cool for quite sometime, though!) Days, celebrations, rituals, ceremonies are all very important to us as humans. We like tradition and knowing what comes with all of it, like we will have a tree at Christmas and a cake and candles for a birthday. As I read recently, it makes us realize that joy is a discipline and celebration is an art.  God understood that rituals make us feel secure and help us to remember. That's why there are so many commands to celebrate in the Bible. Think of the Old Testament Law—God's people are told they must have a Passover feast, they must have a "Year of Jubilee," that they must have a day of Sabbath rest. The Psalms are full of exhortations to sing at the top our lungs and jam out on those strange instruments (like the psaltery whatever that is!).  “And Nehemiah continued, “Go and cele...

Happy Monday and Happy Memorial Day. So far I’ve had a packed-one—a Graduation party, a 69th wedding anniversary, a wedding, a baccalaureate and a graduation. And today, we will decorate the graves of our family members. I’ve heard that on Arm Forces Day, we remember our service folks in uniform; on Veterans Day we remember those who wore the uniform; and today, on Memorial Day, we remember those who never made it out of uniform. Regardless of what other things we do today, let us remember those who gave it all so we could be doing whatever it is that we are doing today. Our national “moment of remembrance” is at 3:00 p.m. when we are to pause one minute as an act of national unity.  Recently I read a Memorial Day address of Billy Graham’s from 1955, and I was so moved that I wanted to share part of it.  “As we think of the selflessness and heroism, we are reminded of the words of Jesus Christ who said: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his f...

Happy Thursday. Last night we had tornados all around us. Lots of power outages, several houses hit, and trees down all over. It was a bit disconcerting for a bit here with sirens going off and the air was so still. As it continued in it path, it caused 3 deaths in the county north and west of here. It was a brutal night. Now, flooding is causing all sorts of problems. In the last week, the areas here have received 7-15 inches. In the last three weeks, it’s been 15-20 and we could get up to 5 more today.  Storms. Whether they are weather-related or they are life-related, they can change lives in a few minutes. We can dread them, watch them, and fret, but regardless, if we are in the path, we are going to experience it because there just isn’t much we can do. And when they do hit, we can panic or we can rest In the peace of God.  It should be our constant prayer to ask the Lord for the grace to trust Him, but in the middle of a storm, we don’t always appreciate what trust can d...

Happy Wednesday to you! Is your week going well? This week, I’m exploring a few changes. I’m not sure I want to change—I like how things are and maybe I don’t want to mess it up. My friend Jamie says “I’m in a rut and I like it there!” I think the thoughts of change brings on fear of the unknown—we know how this is and we may not like it some other way. Regardless, change happens and it can be tough for us.  When I think about change, I remember God doesn’t and neither does His Word. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” ‭‭(Hebrews‬ ‭13:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬) That gives me great comfort.  “The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.”” Isaiah‬ ‭40:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬ It’s great to know that regardless of circumstance, our God and His Word are constant. It’s interesting to note that in this instance, the Hebrew Word for “stands” (qum) is actually translated “rise up.” And when John wrote several hundred years later that Jesus was the Word, he g...

Happy Tuesday to you. Here in Webb City, it has rained really hard and more is coming today. Things (including my yard) are flooded and soaked. There are flood warnings and several creeks and rivers are above flood stage already. We are ready for a little less moisture and a lot more sun.  As the rain slaps across the sides of my house and the lightening streaks across the sky, I’m very glad my house is built on a concrete slab attached by huge bolts. It was built wisely. I have seen some pictures of houses that were not built wisely and they slid down a hill or just collapsed during rainstorms.  ““Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and flood...

Good Monday! I hope you had a wonderful weekend and you were able to worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth at some point and were able to spend time with other believers. It’s amazing how it impacts our spiritual strength when we regularly connect with fellow believers.  I was doing planting a few flowers yesterday and I couldn’t help but think about the root systems and how they connect the plant to the earth. My beds have the black barrier on the ground with a layer of rock on top. So if I want to plant something, I have to move rock and cut a hole in the barrier to dig a hole. The barrier serves to only allow the good plants to grow—the ones we have cultivated for that spot.  Before, we were separated from Christ by the barrier of sin, but when we came to Him, He cut through that barrier and make a good place for us so that we could be connected to Him. And He promises us that connection would be constant.  ““Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain...

It’s the weekend! My family and I are having a weekend at the river. It’s a beautiful place and the weather is so far cooperating very well. We were out and about yesterday “in nature” but I was still shocked when I found a tick! No matter how perfect a place may seem, it comes with imperfections.  When Christ was telling His disciples “it’s about to happen” he left them with the gifts of Peace, Joy, and Faith which would be the strength for them to survive in a world that was anything but perfect.  ““I’ve told you this ahead of time, before it happens, so that when it does happen, the confirmation will deepen your belief in me. I’ll not be talking with you much more like this because the chief of this godless world is about to attack. But don’t worry—he has nothing on me, no claim on me. But so the world might know how thoroughly I love the Father, I am carrying out my Father’s instructions right down to the last detail. Get up. Let’s go. It’s time to leave here.”” John‬ ‭14...

It’s Friday and summer is just around the corner. Graduations, end of school parties, teachers counting down the days all signal that summer is almost here. My daughter (the high school teacher) has lamented that she’s sure her students haven’t retained anything this last month. That’s what Jesus said about his disciples the night he was arrested—they weren’t retaining much of anything.  “But the Advocate, 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. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” ‭‭John‬ ‭14:26-27‬ ‭NIV‬‬ Jesus was basically saying that “You won’t remember all these things I’m telling you but the Spirit will remind you later.” How great was that? That same Spirit that is going to fill them in the book of Acts will remind them of everything their Master told them.  On a night ...

Happy Thursday to you. I hope you’re doing well this week. While I was making cookies yesterday, I thought about ways to “change up” the basic chocolate chip cookie. Don’t we all get tired of doing the same things over and over? (Well, except for my friend Jamie!) We do like new and exciting because we get bored with tradition and we are pretty easily excited about something new and flashy.  The Apostle Paul warns Timothy though, to remember what he believed. Remember what you’ve been taught because although these false teachers might seem flashy and exciting and even progressive, they are false. Paul regards their ‘progression’ as moving away from salvation and towards greater ungodliness. He instructs Timothy to continue in the truth of the gospel.  “...Stick with what you learned and believed...There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or anot...

Happy Tuesday. Yesterday, my sister and I had to get a medallion stamp on a document. We went to the bank and showed lots of papers, our identification and our signatures. The stamp certified the document and made it a legal document. Without that stamp, our document would just be another piece of paper.  When we become a child of God, we are stamped with the blood of Jesus. It certifies us and gives us His name. Without that, we have no hope, no future. We must be washed in that blood or we are lost and simply talking about it or knowing about it just doesn’t cut it.  It’s amazing to me how many folks live without an authentic relationship with Christ, and maybe the bigger question is “Why would you want to?” How do you face the stress, the tragedies, the struggles without Jesus? Where do you turn when all else fails and you have nothing left? My heart breaks for those around me whom I know need that so desperately.  There are those who will try to tell you that Jesus d...

Happy Tuesday. Yesterday, my sister and I had to get a medallion stamp on a document. We went to the bank and showed lots of papers, our identification and our signatures. The stamp certified the document and made it a legal document. Without that stamp, our document would just be another piece of paper.  When we become a child of God, we are stamped with the blood of Jesus. It certifies us and gives us His name. Without that, we have no hope, no future. We must be washed in that blood or we are lost and simply talking about it or knowing about it just doesn’t cut it.  It’s amazing to me how many folks live without an authentic relationship with Christ, and maybe the bigger question is “Why would you want to?” How do you face the stress, the tragedies, the struggles without Jesus? Where do you turn when all else fails and you have nothing left? My heart breaks for those around me whom I know need that so desperately.  There are those who will try to tell you that Jesus d...

Happy Monday! I hope you had a great time this past weekend and enjoyed a wonderful Mother’s Day. My sister and I had our plans changed yesterday when I got a 6:00 am call letting me know mom had had a seizure and was being transported to the hospital. As Sissy says “You never know where the day will take you.” We both had big plans with our children, but alas, mom was definitely a priority. By afternoon, she was back home and doing much better.  “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs...It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. ” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:4-5, 7‬ ‭NIV‬‬ We can say we love someone all day long, but unless our love turns in to action, it isn’t a love that “never fails.” I was helping mom eat a cookie and while she was taking the tiniest of bites, I kept thinking “love is patie...

It’s Mother’s Day weekend and I sure hope if your mother is near, you will be able to spend some time with her. If she’s too far away, give her a call and if she’s passed, offer thanksgiving for her. If you don’t have a mother to celebrate with, find a mom or a special lady that needs some extra love this weekend - it will be good for you both.   “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-10 I love this passage from Paul. He’s on house arrest, chained 24/7 to a guard, and completely dependent on his friends for food. When he had been in Philippi peaching the gospel, he was not met with kindness but rather he was woefully mistreated. Yet, instead of bemoaning his current circumstance and recalling how awful Ph...

Happy Friday. Yesterday my sister and I spent most of the day taking mom to appointments. Before the day was over, Sissy and I were both wearing lead vests and holding mom so she could get an x-ray. You just never know where the day will take you, do you? Mom (in late stages of Alzheimer’s) requires care much like a toddler but for the most part is really sweet and kind to most everyone. She hasn’t forgotten her manners nor us she forgotten that she loves us. In a very real way, she is dependent on care givers for her wellbeing and stability.  God promises us that His Word provides our wellbeing, giving our lives stability. Since the Scripture is without spot or wrinkle, it is true throughout the generations. When we fear or give God the reverence due, we find ourselves working toward a better relationship with Him. That attitude of our heart seeks out a pure and everlasting relationship with the Lord and we want to please Him. Our respect for His Word, causes us to seek good choi...

Happy Thursday! I cleaned and scrubbed my house top to bottom the other day. The next day, when I walked into my bathroom, the sun was shinning through the window and lo and behold, my mirror was so streaked it was just pathetic. When I cleaned it, I thought I’d done a really good job-it looked perfect. But when the sun shine lit it up, it was obvious where I had smeared dust and missed spots.  God tells us that His Word, like the sun, illuminates and shines light on and in places where we thought looked pretty good. The holy words of God are so crystal clear that they bring light into the darkness and smears that exist in all of our hearts. God’s commandment wipes out darkness  “The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” Psalm 19:8b, ESV.  Commandments are orders or divine decrees—the things God insists that we do and keep on doing. The NIV translates “pure” as “radiant.” This is the idea of a complete absence of impurity. “...The commands of the Lord a...

Happy Wednesday! It’s mid week and I spend some time with my 7-month old grandson last night. His giggles just bring pure joy to my heart and I couldn’t help but think about the Psalms 127: “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!” Psalms‬ ‭127:3-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬ What joy children bring! God also promises us that His Word will bring us joy. His principles light the way through this dark world and carve a clean path through this tangled maze of life. That in itself is great cause for joy.  “The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart” (Psalm 19:8a, NKJV).  If you read Monday, you remember that the Word converts, Yesterday, it made us wise and today, it brings joy, causing our hearts to sing. How great is our God and His Word—we can be converted, wise and joyous.  Never do we ever have so much joy in this world as when we are l...

Happy Tuesday to you. I have a group of friends that meet regularly together—it’s kind of therapy and “we love each other and want to make sure we don’t lose touch with one another” group. We have decided we need a mission statement and maybe within that we can come up with a purpose for meeting. After laughing about that for a few minutes, i decided we should add a 10-15 minute Bible Study. Anytime we gather together is a great time for Gods Word to be shared and He offers us such great blessings from delving into those Ancient Words.  God gives us the promise that His Word gives us wisdom. Reading, studying and meditating on this testimony of God can take foolish, clueless people and make them wise to the point they are skilled in daily life.  “The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple” Psalm 19:7b, NKJV Don’t you love that He uses the word testimony? It literally means to bear witness. It’s as though God is giving a witness of His actions. God is giving a...

It’s Monday and a great day that the Lord has made. How many Bibles do you have? I have several as well as the one on my phone. I tend to shift from time to time which is my favorite and now, I’m reading out of my Archeological Bible that gives you background, history, cultural insight. I really enjoy that, but my favorite part is the cover says “Momma” because it was a gift from my kids. The inside says “From the best kids you are ever gonna have!” Which is a flip of what I told them when they weren’t too happy with me, “I’m the best Momma you’ll ever have!”  Isn’t it good to know that our Bibles are from “The best God” we could ever have? Or every want? Such a marvelous gift from the Father to give us His very thoughts. His Word is so full of promises and instructions that if we are using it as we should, all kinds of blessings result. The Bible tells us in multiple places about the specific blessings waiting for us in the Word.  “The instructions of the Lord are perfect, re...

Here we are at another weekend! And this weekend is Cinco de Mayo. Most Americans have no idea why we celebrate it, but we do. Parties everywhere, lots of tacos and guacamole. It won be long, in fact, soon, that we will have a real celebration. When we see the King, and prepare to leave this world, the party of parties will commence. On that day, we will leave everything we have behind and take only what we are.  ““Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that his return is very near, right at the door...However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!” Mark‬ ‭13:28-29, 32-33‬ ‭NLT‬‬ I don’t think we are often terribly alert for Christ’s coming. We go on with lif...

Happy Thursday. Yesterday, at work I sold an older man a pair of diamond earrings for his wife. He looked them over so carefully and we even looked at them under the microscope so he could see how they sparkled. Then he confided why he was buying them. His wife had gone in for surgery a few months ago and they had given him her earrings in an envelope to care for. And he’s misplaced them. He said he had “looked, searched, prayed” and still no earrings. So today, he just bought another pair!  “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭15:7-10‬ ‭NLT‬‬ I hate it when I lose things, I will search for hours or days. (I once lost a very nice ring that I pray...

It’s Friday! I hope you are ready for a good weekend and a time to worship the Lord in fellowship with other believers. I went to church last night—yep, Thursday Night Church. I am loving it. Last night, after church I was tired and ready to rest. When I get in bed at night, I start to sketch out some ideas for the next morning. But before I go to sleep, I take one last look at the time and calculate how much sleep and how tired will I be when I wake up? Probably because I’m really tired.  How do you get up? Early riser? Or do you hit that “snooze” once or twelve times before you crawl out of bed? Do you wake up slowly and chill a bit before you get up? Or do you bounce right up? I’m sort of a combination. Before you get up, do you orient yourself to the day ahead and line out all your calendar and tasks? Where does that newly awake mind take you?  I try (and only about 1/2 of the time remember) to quote Lamentations and meditate just a few minutes. “The faithful love of the ...

Happy Wednesday. Today is my sweet son’s birthday and like most moms, I’ve been reminiscing about his early years. He was such a sweet baby but he liked to be held. That was a challenge since I already had two little girls, five and three. But God is good and someone had given me one of those “new” packs that could carry a baby on your back or front. That was a game-changer for us. He was a baby who hated sleep, he was so afraid he was missing something—he started sleeping all night when he was four. But he grew up and now, he’s a Godly man, who loves his wife, pays taxes and has a little baby boy of his own—who hates sleep.  “But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless. When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomple...