Tag Archives: Tea Pot Testimony

Christian Growth, Devotionals

Revolving Door

Do you feel like you are living your life going around and around in a revolving door?

Pam Ford Davis

We all have days when we don’t believe we are accomplishing anything; we may even feel a little light headed. If those days turn into weeks and months, we need to purposely step out, free ourselves from the revolving door.   Often we realize we are not in the revolving door alone; though separated by barriers we sense another’s presence. We hope their stay is only temporary, that they will also step out to the freedom of fresh air.

As we exit a building through a revolving door, it often takes a few minutes to get our bearings. We need to get our balance and adjust to the surroundings of busy traffic, crowded sidewalks and weather conditions. If the sun is bright we may feel blinded temporarily. When weather conditions are extremely hot, cold, or stormy our body will need to adapt to that as well. 

Change is coming. Our life style and busy schedule suddenly stops. We adjust to changes after exiting the revolving door in order to enjoy our slower paced life. It will be worth it all! “The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth forever (Psalm 121:8 NAS).” Jesus is our Doorman!

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Christian Growth, Devotionals, GUEST AUTHOR

Psalm 32 Forgiveness

GUEST AUTHOR: JEANNE WEBSTER

 

Psalm 32 Forgiveness
© 2010 Jeanne E. Webster

Forgiveness for our sins brings us exuberant joy and overwhelming peace,
For God knows the spirit of an honest person and inters our sins forever.
When we keep sins hidden within us, they roar and groan to get out in the open.
The breath of God weighs mightily upon us and our spirits whither.
I confessed to Him my hidden sins and He forgave me.
Pray as quickly as possible after you have sinned, as the longer sin hides, the harder and more heinous it becomes.
You are my shelter and preservation from trouble. I hear your songs of sweet deliverance.
You will teach me how I should live and search the best path for my spirit.
Don’t be dumb as the horse and mule. They need to be led by bridle and bit to keep from stepping on you.
The wicked will reap sorrows but those who trust in the Lord shall be wrapped in His blanket of mercy.
Rejoice and be happy, you lover of God. Shout for joy all you who have an honorable heart.
 
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Christian Growth, Devotionals, Marriage

Mail Order Bride

Pam Ford Davis

Do you know anyone who uses on line dating services? We prefer to think matches are made in heaven, but some in loneliness turn to .com. Earlier outlets for finding a mate included Lonely Hearts Clubs or newspaper personal columns.  

Match making goes back farther than we can prove; but the father of Leah, Jacob’s first wife, used deception to find her a man. (Genesis 29:16-28).  Today she would likely be referred to as a plain Jane, with slim chances to land a man. The wedding night for Jacob and Leah goes beyond the worst blind date surprises. Seeing her in the camouflage of a bridal veil Jacob suffered from night blindness; he had an eye opener the following morning.

I find the old stories of mail order brides interesting. People corresponding by mail learned little about their prospective mate; they took the risk and arranged their marriage. Many things brought them together, including a deep desire for companionship. I’m sure the U.S. postal system offered no guarantees. The mail order arrangement brought perfect strangers together to form the binding covenant of marriage.       

The Bible gives another vivid example of such blind trust. “and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls (1Peter 1:8-9 NAS).”

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Christian Growth, Devotionals

Good Ole Days

Pam Ford Davis

How good were the good ole days? We often not only look at our surrounding world through rose-colored glasses, but the past as well. Most of us have gotten pretty well accustomed to the benefits of life today, and with close examination, most would decide against a return to the good ole days.

Why do we speak so fondly of yesterday? I believe it is because we do desire the simpler life, want to be freed of the stress of the rat race. We forget that those before us also yearned for the good ole days, so it is not really a certain period of time, more of an attitude. Our children in a few years will be referring to our present time as the good ole days!

Even those in Bible days dealt with this frame of mind, “Do not say, Why is it that the former days were better than these? For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this, (Ecclesiastes 7:10 NAS).”  We cannot purchase a return trip ticket. Soon these will be the good ole days!

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GUEST AUTHOR, Poems, Uncategorized

The Great Flood

GUEST WRITER: VICTOR JASTI  

 And it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His Heart. Genesis 6:6

Noah talked and walked with God,

Day in and day out, through out the year.

He and his family, the only ones around,

Amongst so many sinners and idolaters.

Moral depravity and growing sin,

Made man, the most despicable animal,

That God repented, about His creation,

Sadly deciding, to destroy mankind totally.

But Noah and his family, the only ones around,

Who found grace with God the Almighty,

Was saved from the inevitable judgment,

Along with the birds, animals, in two’s and seven’s.

Build an Ark, commanded God,

Of gopher wood, four decks high, rooms aplenty,

Noah started immediately and obediently,

Without a thought, of where to sail.

Up went the Ark, divine plan in action,

Inspired by God, strengthened by faith,

Prayer and song, drowning the wicked laughter,

Ridiculing Noah, his Ark, and his God.

Noah did not worry about how to go about,

From foundation to finish, God enlightened him,

The wood, the plan, measurement to the purpose,

God planed the little details for the great task ahead.

Animals and birds, God collected to the last,

Leaving nothing for Noah to get worried about.

Filling four decks high with forty five thousand animals,

A great and an impossible task, a lone man cannot do.

Often we do just the opposite of Noah,

Worry in details over things which we have no control,

Neglecting specific areas, like responsibilities and relationships,

That is under over control and loosing sight of the goal.

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Family, Short Stories

Bad Hair Day

What do you do when you experience a bad hair day? It can really get you off to a bad start unless you have access to a lot of attractive caps or hats. Ladies, it may not be a bad idea to keep an affordable easy care wig on your closet shelf.                                                        

Pam Ford Davis

This is a true experience about my worst hair day. It all began with a routine home perm. In my mid teens I had frequent perms done by my mom. My perms started when just a toddler with a Tonette. I had no reason to believe this hair treatment would have different results than all the rest.

She did the perm and then I rolled my hair on rollers for the night. The next morning I got dressed for school and began to style my hair. Something went terribly wrong! I could hardly get a brush or comb through my hair! It seemed to Mom that she must have got the perm solution and neutralizer switched. My hair was fried!      

 How could I go to school looking like a freak? I know Mom felt terrible. I stood before the bathroom mirror crying and trying to do something, anything with my hair. I remember nothing about going to school that day. I could not hide forever. I remember getting it cut very short, soon after and rolling it on very small rollers, which created a cute style. It eventually grew out.

My hair is not the issue. Dad is the highlight of the incident. That morning before school as I stood before the mirror crying, Dad came up behind me and started brushing my hair. He really understood the way I felt and did the only thing he knew to help; he brushed my hair. He did not have a magic touch; my hair still looked terrible. Yet, I knew that my Dad cared. That is what every daughter needs most. It does not take away all the problems of life; it does take the sting out of the wounds.          

Moms are usually there to help girls with their hair, clothes and makeup. In a pinch a tender hearted Dad can really make a difference, maybe not noticeable on the outside, but in your heart where it really counts!

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Devotionals

Portrait of My Love

 

Pam Ford Davis

What does Jesus look like? We each form a mental picture shaped by our culture and personal experiences. Likely pictures or paintings of Christ we viewed at an early age contribute to our character sketch. Some are drawn to pictures that portray Christ as a rugged man of the outdoors. My favorites are Jesus with children on his lap or crowed around his feet. Others that I find very moving are Jesus carrying a lamb on his shoulders and one where he knocks at a door with no outside latch. It represents our hearts which we alone must open to His saving grace.

The truth is we have no pictures or paintings that give us an accurate portrait of our loving Lord. I’m quite sure He would not resemble those in circulation. “Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not (Isaiah 53:1-3 NIV).” The portrait of my love reveals a suffering Savior!

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Short Stories

Planting Time For Joshua

“Planting Time For Joshua”

Pam Ford Davis

Gardening is always pure joy to Joshua; and he eagerly looks forward to planting time. From the first day he walked in the garden area, he knew he found the right spot! He saw potential! “Maybe it is dry and barren land now, but just wait until I work that soil!”     

A back yard gardener or farmer working the back forty all go through the same steps, and face the same trials. The spring of the year, a time of new beginnings is anticipated; but it can not be rushed. The land must be warm enough to germinate the seed. Waiting does not mean idleness; there are lots of preparations to be made.      

Joshua rose early and went outside just as the sun was rising. The land belonged to his father and he would not bring shame to the family name. Daddy would be proud of him! This would be turned into fertile land! He rolled up his sleeves and got ready to till the property. The job kept him busy for days. Hard dirt needed lots of turning over; and he kept at the job until he felt like he walked in fine sand!      

The days became warmer and Joshua saw his first robin. Spring finally arrived! He spread fertilizer across the garden, and then tilled it all again. The land almost begged for seeds! In his mind Joshua could see a harvest already before him; but it would take many weeks before he could see much to brag about. The planting showed his patience as he slowly walked back and forth scattering the seed. He did not want to miss any places by doing a rush job.  

The seeds were all planted; he stepped back and sighed, in feelings of relief that he completed his task, as well as a sigh of pride. Only others who plant can truly understand the satisfaction of Joshua. He did his best; now the land needed showers and sunshine. He would wait for both.    

During the growing season neighbors watched the progress of Joshua’s garden. Some were truly interested in his stories about insects, weeds, rains, or drought. Others could not understand why he went to all that trouble!  Joshua just smiled and walked down each row in the field, giving personal inspection to each plant.      

Harvest time arrived and Joshua won blue ribbons for the fruit of his field. We are that field! Our lives were broken by His tender hands, making us teachable. The Lord Jesus planted His word and warmth of love in our hearts. He fertilized with His Holy Spirit and refreshed with showers of His living water. He firmly pulled weeds of sin and fought off insects of defeat to present us unblemished to His Father, the vinedresser. (John 15:1) Like Father, like Son…Let’s keep it all in the family, and plant the seed of His word in our own back yards!

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Family, Short Stories

I Am Safe

Pam Ford Davis

I’m not afraid of the darkness; are you? I know I am safe in here; my mommy and daddy love me and they wouldn’t let anything hurt me. It is like a game; I see shadows and try to imagine what they might be! I can make them anything I decide, because it is my own private game.

One of my very favorite ways to pass time in the darkness is listening to all the noises outside. When it is late at night and everyone one is very still I hear lots of exciting sounds. The sounds I like the best are laughing and music! I kick my feet and wave my arms;  I am so happy!

I’m moving around in the darkness now, trying to find the way out. I think I have almost found my door.  I need to push it open. Yes, it is opening now! The light hurts my eyes; it will take a little while to adjust to such brightness.

Now that I am out of the darkness I can hear that laughter even better; maybe I’ll hear the music, too! The Dr. just wrapped me in a blanket and laid me in the arms of my mother. Yes, that is Mommy! I know her heart beat! She is laughing as Daddy grabs my fingers! This is even better than my games alone in the darkness. Mommy is humming and rocking me in her arms, just like she used to do when walking. Each time she did that before, in the darkness she made me rock and sway! “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so…” The light brought me closer to the laughter and music; and I can see Mommy and Daddy! I already know Jesus; he showed me the way to the door…

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Devotionals, Family, Marriage

He’s A Rebel

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Pam Ford Davis

Are you a Rebel or a Yankee? Geographical boundaries largely influence your choice of label. Most are pretty proud of that distinction. I don’t reside at the Mason-Dixon line, but I’m from the Northeast and my husband is from the Deep South. Before I ever saw his face I was very aware of his homeland. A Syracuse radio station hired him for the graveyard shift, and promoted him heavily before he arrived.  The Rebel would soon be on the air.

Rebellion against God is not a slogan or promotional stunt. It is very serious to rebel against our Creator. “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man be above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion (Titus 1:5-6 NAS).”  

Paul urged his co-laborer to choose church leaders wisely. As believers, we can not make children serve the Lord. We can guide them in hopes of stopping rebellion before it starts. Billy and Ruth Graham lived out their faith before their children. Yet, Franklin confesses to rebellion in his heart in early years. That rebel is now a humble servant.

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