Good Morning from Alabama! It’s been quite a while since my last post but our life roads have been kinda crooked lately. Some of our journey has been fun with a lot of unexpected humor. Some of the journey has been flat out hard.

One of our fun journeys has been the addition of our twin kittens; the only 2 in the litter. Meet Spunky, our handsome yellow fellow, and Matilda, Matty for short, our beautiful blue eyed girl.

Our newest life journey though has been plain ole hard! I recently developed unexpected mobility issues due to a rapid deterioration of the bones in my right foot; much quicker that even my doctors expected. I now can’t even stand on that foot and am waiting on further testing and obtaining a wheelchair. To be quite honest, I have been overwhelmed by the whole experience. All of the questions, the trying to balance and learn how to not fall but still clean, do laundry and cook, the not knowing what to do, the worry for my hubby, the wondering about the what ifs … it’s all exhausting, sad and overwhelming 😴😢😩.

So how does one cope? How does one deal with life alterations?

One goes to the Lord. It’s that simple. Like the old hymn says, “Take it to the Lord in prayer.” One “give(s) thanks in all things”. One goes to the Scripture for guidance and comfort.

I’ve been trying to do all of that but this morning it was a mighty heavy load. I woke way before daybreak and honestly, I fretted. I felt a weight on my shoulders as if I was carrying a huge backpack overflowing with cares and concerns and forcing my shoulders towards the ground. I tossed and turned trying to go back to sleep. Then I fretted about fretting! I know I’m not supposed to be anxious or worry because that is not of God. So I tried to pray. My prayers seemed stagnant and they finally stopped all together.

Then, I remembered James, the book of James in the Bible that is. I am quite certain that the Lord planted this precious Scripture in my heart long ago and it has sustained me through the years. It sustains me now.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1: 2-4 NIV

I read that over and over in my YouVersion Bible ap in my smart phone. I read several different versions but I kept going back to the NIV using the word, “perseverance”. Other versions used “endurance”… I definitely need that because I’m feeling mighty tired lately. Some versions used “patience” … well I certainly need that, especially with the uncertainties. But there was something about perseverance that, in a manner of speaking, stuck with me. I need perseverance and the way to get that is to consider this time, these trials, this journey, to consider it all joy. Joy to produce perseverance… Perseverance in this new life journey; Perseverance through the trials; Perseverance in my faith; Perseverance in trusting my Lord Who’s Grace is Always Sufficient for my every need; Perseverance to become a mature Christian that can help others along their life’s journeys.

I know this is not the worst thing in the world to happen and I really don’t want to whine or complain. I can tell myself that all day in order to cope and move along. But in truth, I am grieving my loss and only the Good Lord will help my hubby and me as we walk, or should I say “ride”😉, better yet, as we persevere on this journey. Hopefully, our unexpected life journey will encourage you to trust and lean on The Lord to guide, help and comfort you along your journey.

God be with you dear friends,

Kim 💕🙂

Blessings and prayers have been on my mind today. Sweet childhood blessings helped me learn to give thanks to God for my food. Blessings and prayers we’ve said over the years have turned our hearts and minds towards our Father in Heaven who provides for our needs. I’m not sure but I believe one goes like this…

“Thank You for the world so sweet. Thank You for the food we eat.
Thank You for the birds that sing. Thank You God for everything.”

My childhood favorite went like this…

“God is good. God is great. Let us thank Him for our food.
Bow His hands, We all are fed. Thank You God for daily bread”. 😃

That’s not a typo or misprint. I really do remember saying it that way 😂. (I just love how kids can mix things up a bit 😄). It took a few years before I realized that the blessing actually goes like this…

“God is great. God is good. Let us thank Him for our food.
By His hands we all are fed. Thank You God for our daily bread.”

Last year at Thanksgiving, I told my cousin that his Blessing was especially appropriate while Mother was in the hospital. Her first meal in several days was none too appetizing consisting of beef broth …at least that’s what we thought it was 😳. I looked at that meal and said “Mom, I think David’s blessing is very appropriate for this meal, ‘For what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful’.” Sometimes, actually all the time, we should be thankful for what we have, whether we like it or not, especially as there are many who have much less than we do.

I was actually thinking about my devotional time this morning when that first prayer came to mind. I had read in 1 Kings about Elijah asking the widow woman for something to eat. Due to a major drought, she was ready to cook the last grain and oil for herself and her son then, they would die. Instead, she shared that last bread with Elijah. God then rewarded her by providing enough grain and oil for bread throughout the drought.

I have mentioned before that I am reading through the Bible along with reading Warren Wiersbe’s commentary on the Old Testament. I was touched by some of his final lines on this passage as he shared a line from the most precious and sacred prayer of all….

“ ‘Give us this day our daily bread’ is more than a line in a prayer that we may too casually recite. It’s the expression of a great truth, that the Lord cares for us and uses many hands to feed us.

Back of the loaf is the flour.
And back of the flour is the mill.
And back of the mill is the wheat, sun and shower,
The farmer — and the Father’s will.”

This Thanksgiving holiday I want to be thankful for more than the fine food my hubby and I will share with our family. I hope I remember to also be thankful for the farmers, the mills, the markets and the hands that prepare the food, and especially the Father’s will to provide for us.

We are abundantly blessed with God’s daily bread, and all of His provisions. I hope to be truly thankful always to Him.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving Holiday. And thank you for following along with Hope and a Dash of Humor!

Kim🙏🙏🙏💕💕💕

Almost 2 years ago my church family was encouraged to read the Bible through in a year and they started all over again in January 2023. So now I will confess, I finally finished 2 Samuel last week, not even half way through the Old Testament in almost 2 years 😳. But here’s the thing, I never even made the 2022 commitment to read in a year. You see, I did believe God wanted me to make the commitment to read the Bible in its entirety with a good commentary to guide me… No time lines… Just keep on reading and learning and soaking it in no matter how long it takes 🙂. Wow! Sometimes I feel like God has opened the windows of my mind and poured in showers of blessings. It’s been an amazing journey!

So, as I completed reading in 2 Samuel about the end of King David’s reign, I learned about his preparations for Solomon to build the Temple. David had rebelled against the Lord’s command and took a census of the people. As just a short summary, God was angry and the judgement angel brought a devastating plague. David repented and God allowed him to see the judgment angel hovering over a threshing floor. David then purchased that land to offer sacrifices to the Lord and God’s fire came down from Heaven and consumed the sacrifices. Going further back in time, this was the same place that Abraham had offered Isaac as a sacrifice and he was spared. It became the place where Solomon built the Temple. This was a sacred place of repentance and sacrifice, surrender and offering; a place of ashes. It became a place of great beauty and reverence; a place where the Glory of the Lord came down and resided in the Temple of His people. It became a place of worship. Those ashes from sacrifices became a place of great beauty.

That’s a really short version but as I read about this, God spoke to my heart and reminded me, yet again, that He brings beauty from ashes. Isn’t that a wonderful Word from the Lord? He comforts us in the ashes of our heartbreak, when it seems that nothing good can ever happen again; when we can’t even move; when we grieve.

The phrase “Beauty from Ashes” has been stuck in my heart and mind for a couple of weeks now since reading this passage. In searching for the origin, I found these precious words of Isaiah:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom to the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of joy instead of mourning
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”
Isaiah 61: 1-3a NIV

Dear friends, I needed that Word! I dare say, this has been one of the hardest years of my life in more ways than I care to remember. God reminded me of His comfort and His restoration, and someday, Praise God, of His ultimate healing! He brings beauty from ashes in our lives! Thank You Lord! Bless Your Holy Name!

Dear friends, may I encourage you to commit to read and study His Word no matter the circumstances. Pray and seek His guidance. Keep your eyes on Him.

Just a quick note, I am so grateful for a dear pastor friend who introduced me to the work of Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe. “The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: The Complete Old Testament In One Volume” and many of his other publications are invaluable and a blessing. I found most of these on Amazon.

Another sweet friend from church encouraged me to ask Google for the locations of Scripture. I confess. I’m not good with numbers or Scripture number references. Such is life 🙂. Google has been extremely valuable too.

Thank you so much for reading and following along with Hope and a Dash of Humor! May the Lord bless you,

Kim💕🙏

Yes, He does provide in all kinds of ways …

Even waiting while my loved ones were in surgery, in visiting various Emergency Rooms (I’ve lost count of how many times this past summer), in hospital rooms, through pinkeye, with eye, heart and pancreas problems and post op infections…

I’m truly not complaining. We’ve had an unusual Summer. I guess Summer 2023 could be renamed “Summer of Sickness” for my husband, my mother and myself. While my hubby and mom fought through one or more of those above named events with me on the sideline, I only had a bout with pinkeye … for 3 weeks (and may I just say that those typical “childhood” diseases are more vicious on adults!🥴)!

Many folks would comment “Y’all sure are getting hit hard here lately” (this is a common Alabama phrase to express concern 🙂). And yes, it was almost unbelievable and plain ‘ole tough at times. I saw a lot of pain, sickness and heartbreak.

But there was a point that I distinctly recall deciding I will not focus on the bad stuff. I choose to focus on how God provides!

In the most unlikely ways, and in the most unlikely places, I saw kindness and compassion. I saw friendliness and willingness to help. We had family who filled in the gap to help in major ways. I felt God’s comfort and knew His protection was about me. I learned to let go because I had no control anyway. God was in control and He was with us through it all. I experienced God providing help, answering prayers and helping us make it from one day to the next.

Throughout this Summer of Sickness, I often thought of the chorus to a favorite old gospel song, “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow” …

“Many things about tomorrow
I don’t seem to understand.
But I know Who holds tomorrow
And I know Who holds my hand.”

It may have been a Summer of Sickness but I choose to think of it as the Summer of God Providing, a Summer of Blessings. And may I echo Paul’s words?….

“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” Philippians 4: 19-20 NASB1995

Thank you for following along with Hope and a Dash of Humor. Hopefully the blog posts will not be so far apart now. And I hope that you see God providing through your hard times too.

God bless you!

Kim 💕🙂

Sometimes our bodies just don’t want to cooperate anymore. All of my life I’ve heard older folks say, “Gettin’ old ain’t easy!” And they are Right! It ain’t! And I’m not really “old,” yet! 😳 (At least, I don’t think so 😉 and please, pardon my grammar).

Well, recently, I was feeling the effects of that aging process, and pain … a lot of Pain! I’ll confess it now… I was fretting and worried about what’s to come. In the midst of the fretting and worry, the Lord reminded me of some verses about not despairing. I could not stop thinking of the phrase, “but not despairing”… I wondered “Where is that in Scripture anyway?” 🤔

So, I Googled it. Now I only say this because you really can find Scripture through Google. That is a great piece of advice from one of my Bible study friends (Thank you MA! 🥰). I’ve never been very good at remembering actually where verses are located in the Bible so this has become a well used Google feature for me! 🙂

Anyway, Google directed me to 2 Corinthians 4 …

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted but not abandoned;
Struck down, but not destroyed.”

2 Corinthians 4: 8-9 NIV

These words spoke to my heart and comforted my soul. They were so rich that I had to keep reading. The Lord really got my attention later in the chapter…

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

2 Corinthians 4: 16-18

That certainly adjusted my attitude! I felt like the Lord was telling me that outward me may completely fall apart. I will be alright. He is in control and will continue to renew the inward me daily. I just have to keep my eyes on the eternal, on Him!

Sometimes, I forget that His Grace is still sufficient and He will still supply all my needs (2 Corinthians 12:9)! I really love how the Lord will often use one thing, like the “not despairing” phrase stuck in my thoughts, to direct me to more good stuff for me to really ponder. Thank You Lord! 🙌

I hope these verses bless and encourage you as they have encouraged me! 🥰 Thank you so much for following Hope and a Dash of Humor! May The Lord richly bless and comfort you!

Kim 💕