Have a Blessed Fourth of July!

I love my country, the United States of America. May the Spirit of Lord be found with you and keep you safe over the 2016 Fourth of July, or Independence Day, holiday weekend. Enjoy the time with your friends and family! May God bless America.
Sallee Bonham
A Joy Filled Woman

A Rocky Mountain Wedding in Colorado

The bride's bouquet of newly picked mountain wild flowers being held by my oldest granddaughter. 

The wedding vows taking place on Crystal Mountain in  Larrimer County, Colorado. Sun, cool temps, and scenic beauty blessed the small, intimate wedding for my daughter Cassie and her fiancee Curt.

Bill and I at Crystal Mountain, CO

June 22 my husband and I were in the Rocky Mountains just west of Greeley, Colorado on Crystal Mountain. 
Why? My oldest daughter married her sweetheart and my handsome husband performed the wedding ceremony. What a blessed day!

Cassie and Curt wanted a simple, rustic wedding with immediate family members present to celebrate the wedding with them. 

Bill and I drove the 800 plus miles from central Missouri to Greeley, Colorado in about 14 hours. My sister met us at a local gas station that is about six minutes from her home in Greeley and led us to the house.

Shortly after we arrived, my youngest daughter arrived with her family after a sixteen hour trip with a toddler, a baby, and a second grader. 

The wedding took place the day after everyone arrived in Greeley. 

Psalm of the Week - 29:2-4 - June 26, 2016

Photo by Cassandra Buchmiller                                                              Photo editing by Sallee Bonham 

Verse of the Week - 1 Corinthians 12:3 - June 26, 2016

Matthew Henry made the following points in his bible commentary:

• No man can call Christ Lord, with believing dependence upon him, unless that faith is wrought by the Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit. 

Note: Wrought means to have an effect or influence, as on a person or on the mind or feelings of a person. 

• No man could believe with his heart, or prove by a miracle, that Jesus was Christ, unless by the Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit.
•  There are various gifts...but all proceed from one God, one Lord, one Spirit; that is, from the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the origin of all spiritual blessings. 
• No man has them (various gifts) merely for himself. 
• The more he profits others, the more will they turn to his own account. 

Psalm of the Week - 21: 6-7 - June 19, 2016

Photo by Cassandra Buchmiller                                        Photo editing is by Sallee Bonham

The "him" in the psalm is King David. 

The psalmist has written about his observations of King David's faith and relationship with God. 

King David's trust and joy in God was visible to those around him.

His reliance was not shaken because he knew God's love would not fail him.

An Example of Faith

This is a perfect example of how our faith in Jesus and God should be visible to those around us, our family, friends, coworkers, and acquaintances. 

Verse of the Week - Luke 11:13 - June 19, 2016

Photo by Cassandra Buchmiller  Photo editing by Sallee Bonham

Bagnall Dam, MO

I grew up going to Bagnall Dam at Lake of the Ozarks because my grandma had a cabin down river from the dam. Occasionally, my mom and dad would take us to the dam by boat. 

At the dam, 

a small amount of water trickles through the flood gates at the dam all the time to generate power. However, when the electric company receives a request for more power during peak demand times, the flood gates are opened wider and this allows more water to gush through the flood gates to generate more power. 

Luke 11 states that even bad people know how to give good gifts to their children. 

Everyone can let a small amount of good enter their lives,  just like a dam always trickles a small amount of water to generate power.

Likewise, Christians have a trickle of the Holy Spirit flow into them the minute that they turn to Jesus and our Father in heaven. 

However, when we ask our Father in heaven to receive the Holy Spirit,
He opens up the spiritual flood gates and allows the Holy Spirit to surge forth into us. The Holy Spirit then counsels and empowers us to become more like our Father in Heaven. 

Grains of Truth - Number 12

Sallee Bonham - A Joy Filled Woman

As I was preparing to ride my bike through a curve today, I remembered a piece of advice I was given about going through a curve on a motorcycle,

"Look at where you want to go. Don't look right in front of your bike, look ahead to where you want to go."

In life, I want to stay focused on heaven because that is where I want to go. It is so easy to get caught up doing what is right in front of me, that I forget to look ahead at where I want to go.

SalleeB: Happy Father's Day to Dads Everywhere

Think about God and Jesus as Father's Day approaches. The Heavenly Father surely rejoices greatly that his son is righteous and wise. They are the ultimate father and son relationship.

Psalm of the Week - 9:1-2 - June 12, 2016

Photo by Genie Horner                 Photo editing by Sallee Bonham

Scripture Prayer 
O Lord, I will praise you with all my heart.
I will tell others of all your wonders in my life and in the Bible.
 I will be glad and rejoice in you.
 I will tell others why I am glad and rejoicing.
I will sing praise to your name Father in heaven.
I pray these things in the mighty name of your son Jesus,  who is my Lord and Savior. Amen.

Verse of the Week- Acts 2:39 - June 12, 2016

Photo by Cassie Buchmiller                            Editing by Sallee Bonham

God Has a Plan!
God has a plan for you. 

God has a plan for your children. 

God has a plan for the future.

God has a plan for everyone who answers his call to believe in him and his Son Jesus Christ.

We must believe the following points about Jesus:

• Jesus is the Son of God and was born as a human baby to a virgin mother.
• He suffered death on the cross as a sin offering.
• God resurrected Jesus from the dead
• Jesus ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of his Father God

When each of us answers God's call to believe in him and Jesus, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is an invisible, wise counselor who resides inside each faithful follow of Jesus and God the Father.

Three Equals One
Together, God the Father, Jesus the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit form one all knowing creator. Our creator has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide us along the path he has for each one of us. How amazing is that?

Taking a Time Out at Jesus' Feet

Congestive heart failure. That is the diagnosis an extended family member received. The good part of this news is that the diagnosis isn't terminal and my family member knows Jesus.

However, I really need to take a spiritual time out with Jesus. This bit of song is running through my mind:

Oh, how I love Jesus,

Oh, how I love Jesus,

Oh how I love Jesus,

           because He first loved me.

Yes, Jesus loves me and oh how I love him!

Appeal

Lord Jesus, just let me feel the peace and serenity that flows from you to me through the Holy Spirit as I spend some time with you this morning, just sitting at your feet. 

Prayer

Lord, I am asking you to extend your hand to heal my family member and I am asking this in your mighty name, Jesus. Amen

Acts 4:29-30 NASB

 29“And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” 

Wrenching, Rejoicing, and Giving Thanks

Grass mowing day....sigh.  A slight cloud of concern marred my otherwise calm and peaceful day. About two weeks ago while I was mowing the last of our 2.50 acres of grass, the fourteen year old mower had started to sputter and hesitate once in awhile. Plus, the leaky gas tank was quite a bit worse. 

A quick, "Lord help me get the grass mowed." and I went outside to mow.

The mower started right up and idled smoothly after an initial "pop" from the motor. While I mowed the first third of the yard, the aging mower ran okay. Nevertheless, the mower motor began to hesitate and surge, hesitate and surge. Quickly, I disengaged the mower blades and headed for the roofed area along the side of our garage. About 4 feet from the shady, roofed area, the mower motor died.

In an effort to keep myself in a positive frame of mind, I thanked the Lord for the beautiful day and asked Him for help in fixing the riding mower. 

I am a problem solver and a mechanically-minded gal. 

Growing up, I loved helping my dad fix our vehicles. At age 17, The United States Navy had been glad to put me into the aviation branch working on jets and helicopters. Consequently, working on a riding mower doesn't faze me much.  

Motors need three things to run - fuel, fire (electrical not flame), and air.

• So I started with fuel. I knew the motor was getting fuel because the fuel filter had gas in it. In fact, it might be getting too much fuel. I gently tapped on the little black square box on the side of the motor, the fuel pump. I knew from past experience that the little parts inside might be sticking. Next, I checked the fuel lines and found one to be cracked pretty badly. As a temporary fix, I wrapped a piece of gorilla tape around the cracked area.
• Time to check and clean the air filter. 
• After that, I checked the spark plug wires to see if they were clean and tight. 

Then I went back to fuel. 

From past experience, I knew the mower wouldn't run well on lower octane gas. Maybe that was part of the problem. Anyway, I loaded up the gas can and drove to the only station in town that has 91 octane gas. After filling the gas can, I drove to the local dollar store  for a bottle of fuel injector cleaner and gas treatment.

Home again, I added about one third of the fuel injector cleaner and gas treatment to the gas can. 
Carefully, I added the treated gas to the riding mower's gas tank. Saying a quick prayer, I sat on the mower and started it. Yes! It started right up and was running smoothly. Right about that time, the hubby came home and I told him I'd had trouble with the mower, but I thought it was fixed now.

Fifteen minutes later, the mower motor resumed hesitating and surging. Dejectedly, I headed the mower back to the side of the garage under the roof.

"Okay Lord, I may not have fixed the rider, but I can finish the side yard with the push mower." I thought in my head.

About 15 minutes later, I had the side yard area grass cut with the push mower. 
"Wow, am I ever out of shape!" I thought to myself as I stood there sweating profusely and dreading the long walk around the house to put the little mower up.

I know this will sound odd, but I thanked the Lord for letting me know that I was out of shape.

Time to go and talk to the hubby. 
Bill is my anchor. He helps me stay calm and rational when I really feel like throwing my hands up in the air and crying tears of frustration. In fact, he usually says, "Why don't we pray about it?" 

Today, I was calm by the time I walked to the house. 

My first words were," I think we need to call the lawn service and have them finish the yard because the mower quit again." Continuing to think and speak at the same time, I said,"I think the leaking tank and the bad fuel line is causing this problem." 

Calmly, Bill said,"Why don't you call the mower repair place and see if they have a gas tank?" To make a long story shorter, I am going to jump to the end of my story.

I am sitting here rejoicing and giving thanks to Jesus for two reasons.

1. I was able to order a new gas tank on Ebay for half the cost of the two quotes I had been given,$26 versus $46, AND the expedited shipping was free. The new tank should arrive on Thursday. 

2. I have been procrastinating about walking again. Today, using the push mower emphasized my need to get back in shape and gave me the motivation I need to follow through. It's time to break out the pedometer and start walking and push mowing! 

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.                     1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV

Verse of the Week - Acts 2:38 - June 5, 2016

Photo by Cassandra Buchmiller            Photo editing by Sallee Bonham

From the first delivery of this message, it appeared that there was Divine power going with it.
Thousands were brought to the obedience of faith. But neither Peter's words, nor the miracle they witnessed, could have produced such effects, had not the Holy Spirit been given.

Sinners, when their eyes are opened, cannot but be pricked to the heart for sin and cannot but feel an inward uneasiness. 

The apostle told them to repent of their sins, and to openly acknowledge their belief in Jesus as the Messiah, by being baptized in his name. Thus professing their faith in Him, they would receive remission of their sins, and partake of the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit.

To separate from wicked people, is the only way to save ourselves from them. 

Those who repent of their sins, and give up themselves to Jesus Christ, must prove their sincerity by breaking off from the wicked.
                                                                                Adapted from Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary

Psalm of the Week - 8:6-8 - June 5, 2016

Photo by Cassandra Buchmiller                    Photo editing by Sallee Bonham

Jesus is the ruler over the works of God's hands. Jesus is the ruler over mankind because mankind is the work of God's hands. Everything on Earth is lower than Jesus' feet. That puts all living things, including mankind, under Jesus' rule. 

"The greatest favour ever showed to the human race, and the greatest honour ever put upon human nature, were exemplified in the Lord Jesus."                          Matthew Henry