KEEPERS By Sally I. Kennedy

How blessed the hearers and keepers of...all the words written in this book! Rev. 1:3

With strains of Auld Lang Syne ringing in the air, I was thinking of what things to change, what things to keep, and what things to get rid of in the NewYear. My husband is a keeper. He keeps things a long time. Like coats. And favorite shirts. He's not a pack rat, but he knows what he likes and he holds onto them.

One thing he, my sons and grandsons, all enjoy doing is fishing. Ben has mentioned that fishing rules have become more stringent. He has to sometimes check and see if it's a "keeper". Apparently fines are heavy for keeping a fish that is undersized, or for keeping too many over the quota for the day's catch.

Isn't that just like God with His kids? He not only loves us, He likes us. He knows what He likes, and He holds onto them. Good thing for us, there's no quota, and no limit.

Yup, God.......He' s a keeper. He knows what He likes, and keeps them a long time. Like, forever.

That is good news.

TAKE IT WITH YOU By Sally I. Kennedy

Take it with you and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Eph 6:17

Most days when I leave home I have my cell phone glued to me. In the unlikely event that I forget to take it with me, I turn around and go back and get it if possible.

For a lot of years I got along fine without a cellular phone. “What’s so important about having it now”, I asked myself just this week, “especially all the time?” There is something more important to have when I leave home – or even at home. Armor, spiritual armor.

When Paul wrote a letter to the people at a church in Ephesus, he closed it with an important wrap-up, instructions on putting on this armor, and what it’s for. You never know what a day will bring. It is a more-than-good idea to not leave home without it, your spiritual armor.

‘A final word... put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared..hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.’ Ephesians 6: 10-17

ALL WE REALLY NEED TO KNOW, WE LEARNED FROM NOAH'S ARK Author Unknown

1. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.

2. Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone might ask you to do something REALLY big.

3. Don't listen to critics -- do what has to be done.

4. Build on high ground.

5. For safety's sake, travel in pairs.

6. Two heads are better than one.

7. Speed isn't always an advantage. The cheetahs were on board, but so were the snails.

8. If you can't fight or flee -- float!

9. Take care of your animals as if they were the last ones on earth.

10. Don't forget that we're all in the same boat.

11. When the doo-doo gets really deep, don't sit there and complain -- shovel!!!

12. Stay below deck during the storm.

13. Remember that the ark was built by amateurs and the Titanic was built by professionals.

14. If you have to start over, have a friend by your side.

15. Remember that the woodpeckers INSIDE are often a bigger threat than the storm outside.

16. Don't miss the boat.

17. No matter how bleak it looks, there's always a rainbow on the other side.

18. "Stop what you are doing, and do what God says!"

A PLUS By Sally I. Kennedy

“I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Mark 10:15

McCallen has great big-as-saucer round brown eyes. Her hair is shiny and dark. She has a dynamite smile and creamy olive complexion. She’s our very wonderful, special grandchild. McCallen is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside, with her gentle, loving, and kind nature.

A couple of years ago, her parents were with her at a new school for some testing. The facilitator had been showing McCallen oversized flash cards, with symbols and pictures on them, and asking her to talk about them.

After a while, she began to fidget. She’d about had enough when the next card came up with a “plus” sign on it. Without hesitation, her eyes lit up and she responded enthusiastically. “Jesus!”.

Sometimes kids catch on quicker than “grown-ups”. During the years of Jesus’ teaching and ministry here on earth, He once said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” (Matthew 11:25)

A “plus” usually means extra, a bonus, or perk. To McCallen, the plus sign represented a cross. I believe she knows a cross is not just a “plus”, but everything, because it means Jesus.

THEN NINETEEN COMMANDMENTS Author Unknown

1. If you feel far away from God, guess who moved?
2. Fear knocked. Faith answered. No one was there.
3. What you are is God's Gift to you. What you become is your gift to God.
4. I am God's Melody of life and He Sings His Song through me.
5. We can never really go where God is not, and where He is, all is well.
6. No matter what is happening in your life, know that God is Waiting for you with open Arms.
7. God Promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
8. Do your best and then sleep in peace. God is Awake.
9. God has a Purpose and Plan for me that no one else can fulfill.
10. The Will of God will never take you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.
11. We are responsible for the effort, not the outcome.
12. We set the sail; God makes the wind.
13. Begin to weave and God will Give you the thread.
14. When God says "no", it's because He has something better in store for you.
15. The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.
16. Prayer: don't bother to give God instructions, just report for duty.
17. It's my business to do God's Business and it's His Business to take care of my business.
18. Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm.
19. How come you're always running around looking for God? He's not lost.