Matthew 6:26, Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

God takes care of His creation. Sometimes, he uses me. Mr. Red clicks insistently at me to let me know it is time to feed him, and the Mrs. God is like that; he uses us in wonderful ways to see, reach out, touch and carry...and feed the birds.

As a Believer, a follower of Jesus Christ, we look at the birds in the sky, in our trees, in the bushes; they do not reap or gather into the barns and trust that the Father will provide their needs. Jesus tells his followers not to be anxious about food but to rely on God as the birds, who are worth far less than people and are fully provided for.

She is beautiful. When I look at the details of her creation, I am reminded just how miraculously we are created in love. I'm the one blessed by putting out food. I will, or someone else will. In drought, we can be helpers. In a flourish, there is plenty and we can sing praises of provision!

Matthew 25:40, The King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.

Philippians 2:4, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

James 2:14-17, What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Galatians 6:10, Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

We must take care of those that are placed in our lives. We must sense needs through our faith relationship that overflows from us into others. 

John 3:16, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

When we build relationships, God uses us to reach others. 

What a blessed year we have had. God has allowed us to see Him on a deeper level. Yes, we have lost loved ones and been broken through many circumstances, but God is bigger. In 2021, I want to be used more by God, who created it all! It will be my choice to continue this habit of humble serving. I try, fall down, get back up; it's hard sometimes. I'm a sinner redeemed, covered with promise and Hope! God is good.

This is one of my favorite photos of my dad and me. I have his face shape but not his lips. He had thick full lips, so handsome. The year I was born, my family lived in a boarding house apartment located on the west side of Quincy and 9th Street. It was torn down several years ago for Wayland Baptist University's expansion. 

Before my mother passed away, before my Aspergers diagnosis, I asked her if anything about my childhood stood out as different or difficult. She said, "You did not like to be held." This is one of two pictures I have of my dad holding me. I had a wonderful dad and a really good childhood. God placed me with amazing parents that led me to God directing my life.

I did not get his lips or his height. He was a bit over six feet tall!

I wish I were everything you wanted me to be; need me to be. Thoughts like this take the mind to places that one should not go, at least not for long. We have struggled this year with the health crisis and an election like no other. The forgotten ones who live with mental anguish are trying to file it all neatly in a mind that feels overturned by a thief in the night. They are trying to balance it all, attempting to reroute their days, while barely surviving because of the overwhelming exhaustion created through world-overload-stimulation.

Then enters the Birth of Forgiveness. The One who delivers Hope. What is true? What is real? World, you overwhelm us with idle chatter. Words of truth should drive us to please God. They should lead us into greater confidence and faith walk with the Lord, giving us great purpose.

What do we believe? Who can we trust? Words are powerful. Trusting words produce spiritual wisdom. We must make an appointment for our yearly examination. How did we do in 2020? As we run the race, we must pursue Godliness. Did we manifest the fruit of the Spirit? 

Galatians 5:22-23,  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.

God is with us. He is here to help us fight our discouraging battles, and he is here to cheer our victories of progress in our walk.

Change does not come because we gain wisdom and strength. It comes because we have been blessed with the grace of Jesus. We are created as dwelling places of the Almighty. There is room for a stirring change. In every situation, we trust that he alone will make all things new in us, O Lord, come. He provides the balance, the peace, the wisdom, the calm, the change that we can trust.

This isn't about wishing. This is about the Trinity breathing into us and moving within us to weave our tapestry here to hang in Eternity.

Psalm 40:4, Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.

Psalm 56:3-4, When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God, I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

Psalm 62:8, Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

In the dirty sin of our days, Jesus continues to deliver new life for those who trust, believe, seek, and accept!

Allow God to renew your soul!

Thinking Back ...

Below is a picture of my grandfather, Hugh Etter, father, John Dayton, brother, John Dayton, and nephew, Carey Dayton, at our wedding in 1975 in the old First Baptist Church Chapel, now the choir practice room.

I look back, and the one thing I wish we would have had the money for is a professional photographer. I'm thankful, though, for what we do have.

I carry special treasures in my purse. They have no worldly value but the treasure is found in my heart.

I enjoy a hot cup of black coffee in the morning. I like my coffee to stay hot, so I have a Cosori mug warmer. Over the years, I have used lots of mug types (and I still do), but for me, the perfect mug looks like this...

The three-finger grip and the flat bottom are the most important features. Artwork should not be distracting but peaceful for the drinker. More is not better. I have several flat bottom mugs with a more rounded handle that allows for the three-finger grip, but they are not quite as comfortable to hold. I have a handleless few, too. They are nice to hold, of course, flat bottomed. I like the lip of my mugs to be on the thinner side instead of thick and heavy. Every coffee drinker has their own idea of the perfect mug. What is yours?

Christmas past, circa 1966, Debby Duncan (Ketchersid) and my mother, Nanny (Lorena Etter Dayton). Our daughter looks so much like my mother. I love it, love them, and love my friend since toddler days; over 60 years!

Isaiah 53:10, “Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief.”

How could it be that God the Father would allow the "crushing" of his Son? How could it be? As a parent, you know that it pains your heart to see your child in a crushing experience, even minor. As a parent, can you imagine watching the grief and torment that Christ faced on the cross? Many have felt horrible suffering along our life journey, but the weight of the world, crushing, filling with my sin, your sin; our suffering does not compare. This is the depth and width of God's love for us.

Scripture answers Scripture: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

In pleasure, in pain ... to live for Christ is gain!

Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”

Never Doubt God's Love, His purpose, His plan ... it includes you! Merry Christmas!!!

for unto you ...

Have you ever thought about these words as you read the Christmas story? The angel of the Lord did not say, for unto Mary or Mary & Joseph, or the shepherds, or the wise men, or Bethlehem or Israel. The Angel of the Lord said, for unto you. YOU, me, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, the people of Bethlehem, Israel, Judea, the United States, Texas, Plainview, Dallas, wherever you are...He, Jesus, came for you. Do not be afraid. He brings you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people ...

Luke 2

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.16 And they came with haste and found Mary, Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Jesus was born for us, and we must trust, in faith, that we are His; keeping our eyes on Him, we will have the portion of strength we need. He set it all in place!

For the sake of his great name, the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own. — 1 Samuel 12:22

Through my volunteerism with the Plainview Downtown Association and not having an office location, the Broadway Brew is often my "hangout." Through the years, I have gotten to know the young people who work there. They come and often go without a thought as to the impact they have on the lives that they interact with, specifically mine.  God has blessed my life through these special young people! Many I keep up with through social media long after they have moved on in their lives.

Today, Rach was in the house. I decided a few years ago to make a real effort to include me in a picture with those who are special to me.  I do not enjoy having my picture made, but sometimes I just should.

This Christmas, I had an ugly sweater coloring contest for the Brew employees. I try to do something special for them each year. They do such a great job of serving me all year long, and I want to express always how important their kindness is to me.

The judges pick the winners ...

And in the kids' category, our honorable mention entries (Miss A & Mr. H) ...