Maturing in a Godly Manner with gratitude and grace. Enduring the last cold months of winter without despair!

Winter doesn’t seem so bad if you can spend your time in Sunny Florida.  If you can't make it there, you can sit in a recliner beside a roaring fire in the fireplace and have no urgent outside errands that would require you to drive there on icy roads.  However, even a short walk to your curbside mail box can be dangerous if the pathway to get there is very slippery.

How can one be content in the dark days of late winter? It  helps to concentrate on the fact that November, December, January and now February have come and gone.  And, if according to our weather forecasters, or a groundhog, March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb, winter is on its way out for this year at least.  This is my 91st winter and I have never seen a year when we have not been rewarded by April Showers bringing in May flowers.  And believe it or not, with no help from a specific rodent nor an all knowing weather forecaster!  Why is it so hard for most people to give God the credit He deserves for the change of seasons?

The year I moved back to Ohio from the sunny South, 141 inches of snow fell to the ground that winter.  What a welcome back home!  Maybe this winter hasn’t been so bad after all.

Matthew 24:20  And Jesus said to His disciples,“And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.”  

Song of Solomon 2:11, 12 – “For lo the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.  The flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing is come, And the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.” 

Weather was also a factor when Jesus walked on this earth. Can you imagine living in those times without all of the perks we have?  No snow blowers,  nor plows to clear the way.  We probably need to get out our shovels and start to work without whining.  God has put all of the seasons in place and we need to accept that fact with love and grace.  Let’s face the facts that one future day in eternity we will live in a perfect environment.  But as you look around you will realize that “We are not there yet.”

Praise the Lord for all of His many blessings to us,

Even as we endure walking in the snow and slush.

 Spring will come as it always does,

And we can again put away our coats, boots and gloves.

Summer will follow with warmth from the sun,

Paul’s advice in Phil. 4:11-13 should be followed by everyone.

Philippians 4:11-13 – “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:  I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound.  Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both  to abound and to suffer need.  Result: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  

God is our protector and provider, so we can relax and go wherever He leads us.

Thank you for reading this,

Great Granny Witt

Maturing in a Godly Manner with gratitude and grace: Letting problems lead to intolerance of others!

My intolerance of others comes to the forefront again.  I thought I had overcome this sin pattern from my high school days, but obviously not!  I have again found out that my arrogance can breed intolerance.  

My recent medical problems resulted in my almost continuous contact with personnel in the medical field.  There were many incidents where they billed me personally for medical fees already covered and reimbursed by my Health Insurance Company.  I expected them to do their jobs efficiently.  I had accumulated a large stack of bills sent to me in error before my insurance company had received the original bills which they would have paid in full.  I became a very unhappy patient and the many phone calls back and forth confirmed that to the medical insurance workers.  My attitude was that I was literally performing their tasks for them because they were incompetent.  I was not using wisdom to solve the problem as the following scriptures advise.

Proverbs 8:12, 13 – “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, which is “skill and good judgment in the use of resources”. 

I was being prideful which is too much self esteem, and arrogance which is an overbearing manner.  When I finally calmed down and agreed with their solutions, we developed a good working relationship.  In no time, all of their financial errors were corrected.  My knowing that there is scriptural advice to cover any given problem, I often wonder why I still try it my way before I succumb to God’s Way.  As in Isaiah 55:8,9 – 

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways, My ways”, says the Lord, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”  

My new motto must surely be – First, take it to the Lord in prayer or you might not get anywhere on your own!  Praise the Lord, He is always ready to answer.  It is our duty to always ask Him for advice before we stumble around in the darkness.  He is able to open doors of opportunity, if only we will ask.  Praise the Lord that He is always there to listen to us and take care of all of our needs.  I hope I have now learned everything He has taught me through this experience, so I don’t have to take this test over again.

 

Thank you for reading this,

 

Great Granny Witt

Maturing in a Godly Manner with Gratitude and Grace: We have new opportunities each day to pray for those in need.

Each morning, before I set down with my Bible for my quiet time, I check my inbox for church emails to see who is requesting prayer for a special need that day.  I lift them and their request up to God in prayer.  It seems that frequently, later in the day, they express their gratitude and thankfulness for His answer.  It is good to be a part of this prayer group as described in James 5:16.

“Pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”  

As an example, my whole church family was praying for my recovery from a stroke.  Their prayers were answered and I am home now and am  on the way to a complete recovery.  Praise the Lord for prayer warriors!  They help us win the battle against our enemy.  They also encourage us with hope.  

It is very comforting to me when I lift up in prayer individually all of my family members by name each day and ask this of God, Our Father:  “Please put Your loving arms around each of us and protect us from all harm, all personal harm, and all of the elements and of all damage.  I pray Your Grace will be sufficient for all of us, spiritually, emotionally and physically, this day and this night, wherever we might be and whatever we are doing." 

I place these requests from my heart into His Hands, which is a place of safety, security, blessings, love and hope!  There is no better place to be while we are still on this earth, until He takes us home to be with Him for eternity!

 

Thank you for reading this,

 

Great Granny Witt

Maturing in a Godly Manner with Gratitude and Grace: Lessons learned from trials and tribulations

A trial is a test of faith.  A tribulation is a trying experience. It is possible to turn an annoyance into a blessing by being thankful and grateful for it.  I have been healthy and medicine free most of my adult life.  Now, because of my recent stroke, I have had to be on a strict medicine schedule.  This has dropped my patience level down several degrees.  I have finally come to my senses and realize that my complete recovery will occur much sooner because these medicines have been made available to me.  Now my attitude is one of gratitude and not impatience.  I know as a follower of Jesus, that this temporary bump on the road to recovery will not weaken my faith and trust in My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I believe it will be used to strengthen my faith and trust in Him.  

I am a firm believer in Romans 8:28-31 -

 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who are the called, who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?”  

What a fantastic privilege as a believer in Jesus to have instant access to God,Our Father, at any time of the day or night and wherever we might be.  He will show us the way.  As Jesus said to Thomas in John 14:6 -

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  

The following scriptures have helped  me to change my perspective from annoyance to gratitude:

Luke 8:11 -  “Now the parable is this:  The seed is the word of God.”  verse 15, “But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.”  

I Thessalonians 1:3- “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father.”  

I Timothy 6:11 – “But you, O man of God, flee thee things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.”  

James 1:2,3,4 – “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials. knowing that

the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” 

John 6: 28, 29 – “Then they said to Him, “What should we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” 

 

If per chance, someone is reading this devotional who has never accepted Jesus as their personal Savior, consider  John 3:16  -

”For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”   

Believe what it says and you will become a new believer.

 

Thank you for reading  this,

 

Great Granny Witt

Maturing in a Godly Manner with Gratitude and Grace:Contentment in Christ in a Crisis

As I continue to recover from my  recent health adventure, I am accepting the fact that while the present happenings in my life are outwardly chaotic  I can have an inner peace and contentment in Christ at the same time.  I find solace in the following scriptures:  

Philippians 4:6-8 - Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

This results in  the confidence I attain in verse 13 –

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” 

Just as a positive attitude produces positive results, a negative attitude produces a hopeless feeling or despair. I praise the Lord for giving me the common sense to choose the hope that only He can guarantee.  What a great privilege to have a Savior  to guide us who is perfect in every way.  

Proverbs 3:5-6 says it all – 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.”  

For the past 42 years, I have sought and followed His directions and He has never steered me the wrong way; nor have I ever thought that “doing my own thing” was an option for me. When you come to a crossroads in your life most people would not choose the rocky, bumpy way with many detours over a smooth straight path.  Jesus assured Thomas in John 14: 6 by telling him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  

As you walk through your life with Jesus by your side, your final destination will be to spend eternity with Him and God the Father.  God allows each of us to make our own decision during our lifetime on where we will choose to spend our eternal life.  Every now and then stop and check where your life is heading.  Prayerfully, you will be going in the right direction.   If not, there is still time to  turn around and let Jesus direct your paths. You can learn how to have peace with God here.

Thank you for reading this,

Great Granny Witt

Maturing in Godly Manner with Gratitude and Grace, “ Do not ever stop depending on your faith and trust in God to rely on your own fragile humanness “

I have had a very unnerving experience this past week that I have never had before.  Most of my adult life I have been healthy.  But, with no warning, no headache, nor any other symptoms, or so I thought, I was taken to the hospital and diagnosed as having a stroke. My daughter told me that my face on the left side was indeed drooping and my speech was slurred.  I was admitted and given many tests.  The test I dreaded the most was an M.R.I.  When I am in an enclosed area, I am very claustrophobic.   I prayed and asked the Lord to give me the courage to endure what was necessary for the doctors to diagnose what caused my stroke.  The nurse sensed my fear and gave me a sedative to calm my fears and nerves.  I was able to enter the machine and have the test with no fear or trauma.  

Four days later, after numerous other tests, I was discharged to go home and have a health care worker come to my home for a few weeks.

I have to remind myself that I have to be a Godly example to others and live out my complete faith and trust in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  He has been faithful to me for the past 42 years in many other difficult situations and has never let me down.  I pray that my faith and trust in Him is still strong enough to help me win this current battle with no worry, doubt nor fear.  I never want to willingly let him down.

Since this coming July I will reach the ripe, old age of 92, the following scriptures are more realistic and applicable than they ever were before.

Matthew 7:7 – “Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

Psalm 34:4 – “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all of my fears.”

Psalm 90:10-17 - “The days of our lives are seventy years, and if by reason of strength, they are eighty years; yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off and we fly away.

“So teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom. 

“And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands.”

Psalm 91:1 – “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress. My God, in Him I will trust. “

I pray that in the days I have left in my life to serve My God, He will be able to use me to tell many others about how important it is to walk hand in hand with Jesus by our side in Spirit and in Truth.

Thank you for reading this,

Great Granny Witt

Maturing in a Godly Manner with Gratitude and Grace-"Do the next thing and Do It Now!"

We are now into day 11 of this new year.  Only Our Lord knows what the future holds. Do not procrastinate, which means to   “put off” intentionally something that should be done now.  Because of my writing, everywhere I look in my home there are stacks of paper, waiting for me to file them away in my file cabinet.  That is my “next thing to do”.  I have to be determined not to put off this task because it is the next thing to do.

Matthew 6:34 – “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. “

In the past, when my husband was still alive, the chore I  disliked the most was to starch and iron his white dress shirts.  I decided to do that chore first and the rest seemed easy.  “Out of sight and out of mind was my M.O. then.  That is still applicable today.  To practice what I preach, I am going to pause in my writing and file away all the papers into my filing cabinet.  That was my “next thing to do” and it is done now.  What a relief to have a neat and uncluttered space to live in.  My advice today is “Don’t put off unpleasant jobs.  Just finish them and forget about them.

Thank you for reading this,
Great Granny Witt