by Dona Hake

Many times our lives get so jammed packed with things to do, places to go, and “to do” lists a mile long.  The other day I woke up feeling extremely overwhelmed with much to do.  There were things that needed accomplished that I felt were no way possible within my means of time and ability.  I stood in the front yard with my dog and looked up and was praying about my day.  I felt a “whisper” from within that seemed to quiet me and bring fresh perspective to my day.  ”Sometimes it’s not as big as it looks.”

Plain and simple the Lord was bringing new perspective to face all that had to be done.  I held fast to that and honestly I was able to  accomplish more than expected  because I choose a new “dwelling place” for my thoughts and my soul rested there.  Sometimes we just need to be quiet and not allow the noise that goes on in our heads to dictate peace or lack of it.  One very famous quote that I love from Ralph Waldo Emerson that applies beautifully…

“Let us be silent that we may hear the whisper of God.”

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by Dona Hake

Psalm 119:165 (HCSB)

“Abundant peace belongs to those

who love Your instruction;

nothing makes them stumble.”

It is one thing to possess peace that permeates your heart and mind, but abundant peace or great peace is what our awesome God promises as we love His Word.  Did you ever notice how if you are agitated, feeling a bit empty and someone does something offensive it is almost immediately makes you snap back and get offended.  How precious are those times where you feel saturated in His peace because you are saturated in His Word, and you feel unmovable.  It is when we are in that place of His refuge that we will simply be unmovable.  Paul spoke of the peace that passes all understanding.  That peace will keep and guard your mind and that peace will also surpass your understanding.  It is His peace that will make us scratch our heads in wonder how we got through something and did not move off of the Rock that keeps us standing.

Let us strive to live in His abundant peace that we may abide in His place of refuge.  Have a wonderful day and God bless you!

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by Dona Hake

Psalm 147:3-5 (TLB)

“He heals the brokenhearted, binding up their wounds. He counts the stars and calls them all by name. How great he is! His power is absolute! His understanding is unlimited.”

I love these verses and I love thinking about how God knows all the specifics about everything.  He knows everything about everything that He created.  He created you and the stars and there is no limit to what He knows!  This is a powerful thought isn’t it?

Before this verse that causes us to ponder His greatness is the verse that says that He heals the broken in heart.  This time of the year always causes me to think about people that do not look forward to celebrating the holidays.  This can be an extremely painful time for people.   I would dare to say that there is more depression in people this time of year than none other.  For many, the holidays is simply a painful reminder of the past that they can only revisit in the precious, silent memories of their heart.   I lost both of my parents very close to Christmas and also my very special Grandmother.  I embrace the precious hope of seeing them again someday because I know they are in Heaven.

Today I want to encourage those of you that He that has given every single star a name knows and understands the pain of your heart.  Whether it be that you have lost a loved one to death, divorce or there is broken fellowship with someone special to you, He is able to bring you comfort.  He is able to come close to you and touch your heart and bring His touch of healing to it.  Our Lord is great. Nothing is impossible with His overwhelming power. He is loving, compassionate, and wise beyond all measure.  God bless you.

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by Dona Hake

John 15:5

The Voice (VOICE)

“I am the vine, and you are the branches.

If you abide in Me and I in you, you will bear great fruit.

Without Me, you will accomplish nothing.”

This is such a wonderful scripture to keep fresh in our hearts.  Without Him we can do nothing and yet with Him ALL things are possible!  All means all, and that little word with three letters contains big possibilities.  Whether we are trying to do things for Him or the things that involve our daily accomplishments, it would do us good to know that we are pulling ALL of our strength and wisdom from His resources.

Recently I put some fresh batteries into something I wanted to use.  I checked and checked to make sure all the batteries were in the right position and secure.  It made no sense to me that there was no power.  My husband opened it and examined it and sure enough one of the three batteries was in the wrong direction.  Sometimes that is how it is for us.  We can seem to have all that we need, yet one thing is out of place and there will be no power.  When we are connected to God, He assures us that all things are possible as we stay hooked up to His divine ways and purposes!  God bless you.

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by Dona Hake

I can remember several years ago my husband and our son and I took a trip out west.  I could not get over the magnificence of the great mountains.  Their beauty was like none other I have ever seen.   I anticipated knowing we were going to also visit the Grand Canyon.  I had seen many images before yet I can honestly say that I have never seen one image that does it any justice.  There is nothing like the experience of the human eye.  I can remember stepping up to the edge of the canyon and it literally took my breath away.  My eyes welled up with tears and my first thought was how could anyone see this and question that there is a God of this Universe.  What I saw totally exceeded any expectation in my mind.

I think the Lord is quite the Master of doing things greater than we think or dare to dream.  I believe it is His desire to surpass our highest expectation and He dares us to dream.  He dares us to dream about our future, and all of the plans He has for us.  God is great and God is so good.

Ephesians 3:20   (AMP)

” Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]”

Today let us be thankful for a God that is great and a God that is so good.  Thank Him for His provision in your life and the many blessings that continue to flow your way.  God bless you and Happy Thanksgiving Day!

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by Dona Hake

Earlier this month I was able to capture this shot from my kitchen window.  Oh how I love watching my feathered friends of the outdoors!  It almost looks like he is saying a prayer as he sits on the ground feeder.  I am amazed at how trusting they are of my presence because they can see me watching them.  Even though there seems to be a one to two day time for them to acclimate to any changes I impose, they quickly adjust.  They adjust simply because I have been faithful to feed them winter, spring, summer and fall.

This past week I was dealing with a very hectic schedule and my routine of feeding them got a little off schedule.  The one morning I woke up and noticed how strange it was that not one of them was on the deck eating.  No…there was one Mourning Dove sitting patiently just waiting.  These are the characters that will actually sit lined up and glare into the window at me if the right “stuff” isn’t there for them.  The night before it was windy and almost all the feeders were empty because seed was blown away.  I quickly went out and fed them and within a matter of  minutes there was a Tufted Titmouse, Nuthatch, Chickadee, and a Red Finch dining on the deck.  I have read where they will actually sit and watch in the trees and wait till you fill the feeders.

This all reminded me of how God is so faithful as He daily provides for us.  He notices us and observes whether we are waiting for Him.   As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week let us be mindful that our eyes on looking to Him for His provision in our lives.  Let us wait patiently for Him especially on those days where the “winds” of this life throw things out of kilter.  God is good, God is faithful, and blessed are those that trust in Him!

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by Dona Hake

Something that bothers my heart is seeing people get so stressed over the holidays.  Yesterday I had to go to the grocery store to purchase some things for Thanksgiving Day.  On top of the high volume of shoppers, there was threat of bad weather which added a whole other element to the “air”.  I purposed to hold fast to peace as I went up one aisle and down the other.    Because the aisles were so full I tried to back up and there was a woman that I almost bumped into.  I  excused myself and apologized.  We passed each other again in the next aisle and she seemed to want to be where I was and sarcastically said, “Well I can see we will probably be doing this throughout the whole store.”  She abruptly pulled her cart away. , I thought to myself how sad it is that people just do not care how they handle themselves in public. They allow their impatience to justify rudeness.

Throughout my time in the store I had engaged in conversation with some other ladies that noticed the same thing that I was noticing.  The stress level was high and people did not care how they were acting.  I have been thinking about how important it is to guard your heart when you have more demands going on in your life.  If you do not, even those things that you desire to celebrate will become a burden and they will wear you out and wear you down.  Unguarded hearts and minds result in saying and doing things you wish you wouldn’t have.

Colossians 3:15  (AMP)

” And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].”

I just want to encourage you to hold fast to peace over the holidays that you may enjoy every minute you spend with family and friends.  Remember the reason for what you are doing whatever you are doing and do not allow yourself to be robbed by the stress of all the extra demands.  God bless you with His peace.♥

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by Dona Hake

Today I am thinking about how thankful I am for the wisdom of God.  One of His priceless treasures available to us as we ask Him.  Wisdom is found only on one road and that is for those who desire for God and only God to direct their hearts.  Let us value it and be ever so thankful that He said in His Word that it is there for us…all we have to do is ask Him.

Job 28:13-18

” No human perceives wisdom’s true value,

        nor has she been found in the land of the living.

    The deep says, “She is not to be seen within me.”

        “Nor within me,” says the voice of the raging sea.

    No gold can be given in trade for wisdom,

        nor a sum of silver weighed out as her price.

     She cannot be bought with all the gold of Ophir,

        neither with onyx nor sapphire.

   The shimmer of gold and brightness of glass cannot compare,

        and no refined gold jewelry is worth her in trade.

     Perish the mention of coral and crystal;

        even more than pearls is the value of wisdom.”

God’s wisdom is a treasure and it can only be found in Him   It is  another one of His gifts that we should be so thankful for.  God bless you.

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by Dona Hake

“Thank you! I appreciate what you did.”  

“Thank you, I could not have done this without your help.”  

“That was the hardest thing I have ever walked through in my life, thank you for being there for me.”

I could list more because there are many ways to express a thankful heart to God and to those that He has put into your life.  I think the one thing we need to always guard against is taking God, people and things in our life for granted.  We just can simply forget about how valuable and precious our Lord and His blessings are.  

“Thanksgiving is possible only for those who take time to remember;

no one can give thanks who has a short memory.”

Anonymous

We not only need to remember what we are thankful for but make it a habit to think it and speak it.  Let us purpose to remember and give thanks for all the blessings around us each and everyday.    We all have so much to be thankful for.   God bless you!

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by Dona Hake

By the end of this summer I can say I have never seen my front garden ever look so beautiful.  Every week I would pull up in front of my house with our granddaughters the four year old would exclaim, “Grandma, your flowers!!!! They are so awesome!”    About five weeks ago one flower after another began to fade and die.  Little by little I was uprooting them to prepare the garden for its winter sleep.

I can remember thinking and pondering how am I was going to explain to her the day we pull up in front of the house and the will all be  gone.  Every opportunity I had I would bring up the subject on a positive note.  I would tell her that flowers just cannot stand the “shivery brrrrrrrrrrrrrr”cold but when spring comes we will plant more.  I would remind her that the winter will soon come which brings a whole different beauty and fun.  Snowmen, snow angels and sledding.  This always brought a delightful smile to her face.

I can still remember the morning she saw that all my flowers were gone.  Her eyes so sad yet she seem accepting and now we look forward to the new season of winter.  I have shared with her how God has blessed us with so much beauty in His seasons and we have to accept their change and leaving us.

One thing we can be assured of is that even though things change here on earth during our stay, God’s Word never changes.

Isaiah 40:8  (The Message)

“True, the grass withers and the wildflowers fade,

    but our God’s Word stands firm and forever.”

I am thinking and thanking God that He remains the same yesterday, today, and forever and His Word stands firm and forever.  What an assurance this brings to my heart!  God is so good.

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