Here are some obscure passages found in the book of Deuteronomy...but oh what a punch they hold:

"Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them." (Deuteronomy 4:9)

"You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other." (Deuteronomy 4:35)

Last Sunday, my pastor talked about how Jesus didn't pray for us to be taken out of the world, but that He assured us He would be with us in the world. He said instead of looking at all the bad things happening around us and crying in our soup (my paraphrase), we should instead be thankful for anything good that comes our way.

Ha! What a difference that would make.

Imagine. When you spill the entire carton of eggs on the floor, all you do is reach for the paper towels and start cleaning up the mess. When you rip your last clean shirt as you're pulling it over you head, all you do is grab the sewing machine or make a phone call saying you'll be a little late while you wash another shirt (I've even had to wear wet ones). When you're already to make that long trip to town and you discover your car won't run, all you do is walk back in the house, make a few phone calls, and write instead. You can explain to friends later.

I've actually had all these things happen, and amazingly, life went on. It gets more difficult when REALLY bad things happen. I won't go into that, because I know we all know what those are, but even in those we can eventually see God’s gracious hand and we can know that He understands our tears and pain. He’s been there, too.

But what a thought—what if we expected the bad and rejoiced in the good! I bet we would find a lot more to rejoice about than we do now.

So, today, I'm focusing on remembering the good things God has done in my life. There are sooooooooo many.

Goodness! He touched me. Called me to be His child. Comforts me when no one else can. Oh, what a wonderful husband He gave me. What wonderful kids and grandkids. I am soooo rich, even though I live in a very small manufactured house.

I feel the softness of the cold wind, even now, as i fling open my window and hear the turkeys and squirrels chattering over who will be the first to eat. It feels as if the breath of God is blowing all around me. I see the goodness of His creation as I stare into the big brown eyes of two incredibly perfect fawns who have just recently lost their spots. I hear His voice in the rustle of the giant Douglas Firs outside my porch. I feel loved and protected.

He gave me one of my biggest dreams of being able to travel all over the world. I remember my Chinese friends, one now wearing a headband just like I do! I remember Edward in Russia, Ping Ling in Chengdu, a brown-eyed street boy in Jerusalem, pigeon boy in Cusco, Olga and Ella in Magadan, Lieu in Kumming, Sophie in Mexico, Gloria in Haiti, Forever in Quanzhou...what a long list of faces and memories I have!

I remember how God gave us a home after we were homeless for several months with five children and two dogs after our house burned to the ground and we had no insurance and less than ten dollars in the bank. I remember how everything afterward was so much better than before.

I remember how God had someone pay the balance of my guitar that was on lay-a-way so I could continue leading worship. And Goodness, someone even gave me a piano...my first choice of worship instrument.

I remember how God touched my Grandson's heart as he sat in Juvenile jail over this last Christmas. How my friend Marianne is finding strength in God as she faces her battle with cancer. How God is allowing me to clear my schedule and be there for her. How God touched my uncle’s heart and brought him to Himself after I've been praying for Roy for over 30 years!

Amazing God. Amazing love. Oh, yes, let us be very careful to not forget. The Lord is God; besides Him there is no other!