Author: sippingcupsofinspiration

TODAY THE WORDS are HIDE AND SEEK.  One of our grandsons, Abram is visiting with us this weekend and yesterday, he played hide and seek with me and it took me back to my childhood when we used to play it regularly. You have heard me mention that we didn’t have a lot of toys as many of you didn’t have a lot either and reading this blog, so we were creative in our games. However, I think most children have played hide and seek because of the game’s ability for creativity on everyone’s part and that is the focus of the message. First, in the game, one is chosen to hide and the other one is the seeker. We learned to count as the seeker since we hid our eyes up against a wall or tree and while the other child hid,  the seeker counted. A certain number was counted off, and if the one that was hid didn’t giggle out, the search was on! Now, for the hider; a good hiding place had to be chosen, and the harder it was to find the “child” the better. If others were playing and they would give hints by telling the seeker they were getting hotter or colder and the seeker would move according to their directions, usually blending in a few giggles themselves. When the seeker found the other one, a lot of laughter and cheering went on but the longer it took; the seeker would get more determined or frustrated. A lot of anticipation built during the hunt and the search was intent. One more observation, not made as a child but as an adult was some children always hid in the usual places, while others found new and better hiding places. This brings me to the deeper thought of Hide and Seek…….I think all of us continue to play hide and seek during most of our lives and here is why I think this way. In our adult life, we find hiding places with our emotions and while others are trying to “find” them; our emotions stay hidden. Some people are better seekers and they figure us out; some are not as intuitive and they keep looking in the same, usual hiding places. Life throws a lot at us and we choose where we stand or if we hide (seekers or hiders) and we need to be both players. We benefit from asking others how they feel or if they need to be found, but we also need to learn how to count before we seek (giving the other one the right to stay hidden or make the decision to be found). The everyday “hide and seek” can become exciting or frustating, so we need to exercise patience while we are trying to “find” or communicate with others. The other one hiding can benefit from being found but sometimes needs to stay hidden until they are sure they want their thoughts exposed or “found”. Now, here is the deepest thought….Isn’t that how God allows us to find him? He is there hidden until we are ready to seek Him. He can be anywhere and usually we find Him in the same places: church, homes, work, or a quiet park, woods, or other places that are familiar. Today is a great day if you haven’t already won the game of Hide and Seek and found Our Maker; look in your heart as God is there!
DAILY FEATURED BIBLE VERSE:
Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.

(c) copyright 2012 Arline Lott Miller. The material here copyrighted, use only by permission.

TODAY THE WORDS are LIFE’S STRAND OF PEARLS.  For most of you who know me, you already know how I love pearls. I have worn pearls and they have always given me such a warm feeling when I have them on. I will notice in photos of anyone that has a pearl necklace, earrings or brooch (for any youngsters that is a pin). What I would like to share is the thought behind pearls. A dear friend of mine has told me many times, “there’s your pearl” when something good happened. He would also say when he was giving me great advice, “here is a little pearl”. One day, when I was about to put one of my strands, I took a long look at it, realizing the importance of message it was portraying. Let me share this with you. Pearls are grown in a hard shell (and really few of us look at an oyster shell as pretty like we look at other shells). It may take up to 20 or more years to bring a pearl to full size so a lot of time goes into the process. Pearls in their natural state aren’t the finished pearl we see in the strands as they are polished and by this process, it brings out their true luster. If you take the time and look closely, pearls are still unique and usually no two are exactly the same. As beautiful as pearls are, they can be beautiful with others or beautiful on their own. Pearls are usually a gift given by someone who loves them dearly. Now for the deeper thought……have you thought about the clasp? As beautiful as the strand of pearls are, without the clasp to hold it all together, the pearls would fall to the ground It is the most important part of the necklace and here is how I see pearls. Pearls are our different stages of our life. When we are young, we are the pearls being nurtured in our shell surrounded by a hard protective cover (our parents). After a while, we are plucked into our adult lives. We can be successful on our own or part of a collection (company). We have strength and luster; but are fragile if not connected by a strong clasp (God). We can add other pearls (spouses, children, friends, and grandchildren) to our strand and people like to enjoy our pearls. God will hold our lives together and the clasp needs to be checked to make sure it closed securely (our faith). Next time you see a strand of pearls, take a deep look at it. God gives us the freedom to build a beautiful strand of pearls of life with all of its beauty and luster but He wants us to keep our pearls safe, protected and loved.
DAILY FEATURED BIBLE VERSE:
Matthew 13:45 – Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls

(c) copyright 2012 Arline Lott Miller. The material here copyrighted, use only by permission.

TODAY THE WORD is TOOT THE HORN. No, this is not meant, “toot your own horn” which the two phrases have very different meanings. I think in my past, being very honest with myself, I tooted my own horn some (bragged a little). When my life was changed, I try very hard to stay humble and amazingly, life has cooperated with me on that part and kept me humble as a lot of people are going through difficult times both financially and emotionally and I want to count every blessing that we receive and that brings me to the focus of today’s message, “toot the horn”. When animals see or hear a threat to others, they sound the alarm. Different sounds mean different threats. I don’t see mankind making weird noises as the animals do, but we like to toot the horn at others when we see or feel a threat. No one likes to hear a horn blown at them and it usually irritates them greatly…..but they generally move at that sound. Now for the deeper thought…..when things in our lives are not on a smooth road or there are a lot of bumps in relationships whether they are between a husband or a wife, parent and child(ren), friend to friend,  co-worker to co-worker, we need to toot the horn. Relationships of all kinds are special and need to be cherished and maintained together. Sometimes, a driver has looked down at something and is not aware that the light changed and even though we usually say, “I am going!” it gets our attention. When we toot our horns in life’s relationships, we need to have a good intention behind it and not anger or spite. Life moves us down the highway at a fast pace, so only toot the horn when it is totally necessary. A few seconds restraint before tooting the horn in life relieves the need for it to be blown at all and we can go on our merry way. Think before you toot your horn, make sure that it is in the best interest of all drivers and have a very happy, safe journey with people you care about! Life’s highway can be a very dangerous route and sometimes, the last time you toot that horn will be the last time that other person drives in this world. Cherish each trip, each laugh, each other!
DAILY FEATURED BIBLE VERSE:
1 Thessalonians 5:6
King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober

(c) copyright 2012 Arline Lott Miller. The material here copyrighted, use only by permission.

TODAY THE WORDS are ANGELS WALK AMONG US. A lot of people have a belief that angels walk among us and for some of us, we have met them, felt the love radiate from them, and became better people because we have been blessed to share time with them. One such lady lived in my hometown and I felt like she was related to me, and many others felt this same way. It never mattered to her how much or how little a person had, they were welcomed and loved. She never had an easy life, but you wouldn’t have known a minute of any difficulty as she was busy spreading the love of God to anyone that would come into closeness to her. She was called by many names, Sister Ruby, Granny Holton and especially Mother by seven of her children. I never remembered anyone speaking an unkind word relating to her, but I heard hundreds of people speak of her gentleness, her love, but especially of her faith. No one was going to be in her midst that she didn’t share her testimony and remind you of how good her Savior was to her and to all that believed in Him. I was reminded today of one of many sayings that she shared with others, “God will smooth out the rough places and will light the dark places”. She lived by this faith and encouraged all to share in this love.

I heard that she would break out in song in church when the spirit moved her. She didn’t hold back like many of us would. That is one of the reasons that she was a walking, loving, caring angel. I don’t know if she could have held back as she was overflowing with a heavenly spirit. Many lives have been changed by her love and even when she left this earth leaving behind a family who sang for her in her final hours; she was happy to go to Heaven. Granny Holton, left her mark in this world and is singing her songs in Heaven. Her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and on to great-great children miss her, but they, like me and so many blessed people, can say “If I ever met a real angel on this earth, I think it was Granny Holton.” May her life live on through the ones she loved so much and gave so much and may we remember her long life of keeping the faith for 90 years. Now, for the deeper thought….. May we live up to our belief and trust in our Saviour and let Him smooth out the rough places and light up the dark places for us and may we try with all of our might to be as angelic as we can in our lifetime.

DAILY FEATURED VERSE:

Hebrews 13:2. “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

(c) copyright 2012 Arline Lott Miller. The material here copyrighted, use only by permission.

TODAY THE WORDS are LOOKING OUT THE REAR VIEW WINDOW.  When we were children, we loved to sit on our knees and look out the rear window of the car (probably wasn’t not safe, since children are now buckled into car seats) but we loved looking backwards at things going by. We saw it in reverse from looking out the front windshield, which would have been difficult with all of us in the car. Trees got smaller, houses that started out huge diminished to small matchboxes through the rear window and fields became patchwork quilts. As a child, I failed to see a lesson in life through the rear window. As an adult, it is quite clear what the rear view window represents, our past. When we “leave things behind” they are only seen through the rear view window of our life and become smaller and less significant the farther down our new road we travel. They can absolutely disappear into obscurity by distancing ourselves from the things we no longer need in our lives. Are you beginning to see how relevant this can be as we grow older and maybe a little wiser. What was present and in our immediate vicinity in our youth, may not be as important and necessary with the new things on the horizon as seen in our future destination from the windshield of life. We are all going to travel in our lives, some are going to take the short route and leave us, some are going on many trips and they will see lots of different routes, some are steadfast and never leave the home place so their trips are limited and most of the time their lives are “main thoroughfares”.  Now, for the deeper thought……when we travel, do not be discouraged by the rear view window (or past thoughts, actions or deeds or better stated….regrets). In time, God will move your vehicle or soul down the road and those regrets will diminish or sometimes disappear. God gives us a clear road ahead for making the most out of redemption. I experienced regrets for many years, until I understood the total forgiveness of God. I want to keep my eyes on the road ahead; I may feel a bump in the road occasionally, but the thrill of the new routes that I will travel keep me smiling. May you have a safe journey and arrive at your destination of eternal peace when God puts on the brakes!
DAILY FEATURED BIBLE VERSE:
Joshua 1:9           
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

(c) copyright 2012 Arline Lott Miller. The material here copyrighted, use only by permission.

TODAY THE WORD is PRESENCE.  The opposite of presence is absence and today I think a lot of people have become absent in the world’s behavior. Being present and accountable is vital to our existence and being aware of our surroundings is crucial . All of us remember the one kid in school, maybe more than one, who came everyday, sat in the classes, sometimes was the class clown, never made good grades, and back in my time, received a spanking nearly everyday for some antic. The odd part was he received the Perfect Attendance award….imagine that! He was present, not for learning, but for a need for attention. He felt a compulsion to attend, be present, and definitely made his presence known by everyone else. This is not the presence I am referring in this message; I am referring to a conscious presence in all phases of our lives. I have employed people who had all of the talent and ability to do a job well done, but sometimes they failed to show up mentally present. They were not focused and it reflected in their positions and production. Everyone has an off day and their body shows up without the mind and this is a temporary situation. Outside problems, health issues, family situations, and financial matters can affect one’s “presence” and as long as we can resolve them, put them aside temporarily, and now for the deeper thought…..Pray for resolution or solution. Our “Attention Seeker” is always present with His Almighty presence to help us on those days, situations, problems, or difficulties. If God is absent in our lives, so will His Presence be hidden. He will always be there waiting on us to trust Him, call on Him, show our Love for Him and our need for Him. He is ever present and secure. He can call us to “attention” when our focus is not on Him and can allow us the focus and presence we need to have in our faith, our families, our work and all other needs. Be present in your life by allowing God to be the most important presence. Today, allow God to show up and call roll!

DAILY FEATURED BIBLE VERSE:
Psalm 86:7
In the day of trouble I will call you, for you will answer me.

(c) copyright 2012 Arline Lott Miller. The material here copyrighted, use only by permission.

TODAY THE WORD is SLOW COOKED GRITS.  Here comes my southern roots with “grits” topic this morning. I lived with my family in Chicago for a few years when I was very young and I still remember my Mother trying to find grits in the supermarket. No where to be found and they had plenty of hominy. That definitely wasn’t grits and we learned to buy grits when we came to Georgia for a vacation and take them back to Chicago when we returned. It is strange to me that not all southerners know how to make grits perfectly and therefore the lumps and sometimes not enough seasoning, but the biggest problem is some people cooking them too fast. Grits were made to be cooked slow and easy. Otherwise, and a lot of cooks will relate to this problem; they sputter and spit at you. Anyone who has been hit by flying grits volcano eruptions knows what I am talking about, hot and fast lava coming straight toward you. My daughter and I visited a fine resort close to St. Augustine FL. and were privy to a fantastic breakfast and they had grits on the menu (this was funny since it is a 5 star resort). We were astonished at the taste of their grits, amazingly smooth and rich with plenty of great taste. Me, being the inquisitive soul I am, asked the waitress if she could tell us how they cooked their grits. She went to the kitchen and came back with instructions to cook them really slow, really slow, with cream and butter added after the initial cooking time. Wow, did this change the way that we cook grits and believe me, it makes an incredible difference and that brings me to the deeper thought………We need to slow down and take the time to “cook” our lives. When we refer to “the good ole days”, we are referring to a slower paced life. It was a time to slowly stir our pans of family, church, friends, and work. More families seasoned their lives with trips to the country, zoos, parks, ponds, trails, or sitting around a fire and topped the “meal” with lots of laughter and chatter. We had plenty of stress but we didn’t seem worried and worked through the ordeals. Good southern grits as well as life should be stirred and simmered to enjoy the best of the best. God has given us one life to live and we need to remember it deserves to be given the proper preparation for eternity. As you hear me say, “Live to love, love to live, and live life to the fullest”.

DAILY FEATURED BIBLE VERSE:
Proverbs 15:17 ESV     
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.

(c) copyright 2012 Arline Lott Miller. The material here copyrighted, use only by permission.

TODAY THE WORDS are BISCUIT PUDDING.  So many of you have probably not experienced the taste of biscuit pudding, but our Mother used to make the best biscuit pudding in the world. For me to relate the lesson, not the recipe, of this pudding, I have to walk you down memory lane to a time when we were kids. Some of you who have been following my blog and/or have known me are aware our family was not wealthy by any means. Both of our parents were hard workers and did the best they could to provide for our family. It was not because of lack of effort, as I never knew of a lazy bone in either of them. We had food to eat, a decent home and was never cold or hungry and that brings me to the biscuit pudding lesson. Momma taught us to save the “last” biscuit which she would stash in a cupboard wrapped up. We would have never touched that last biscuit for we had our goal of 5 biscuits and then Momma would make us the biscuit pudding. I know it sounds strange, but the biscuits had to “age” to make the proper pudding texture. We would keep count of how many were saved and then we got to taste the sweetness of the pudding. What is amazing is Momma was teaching her children several lessons that have been the base of our values. She taught us patience in the wait. She taught us that anything that was worth having was worth working for it. She taught us goals since I can relate the anticipation, the planning, and the excitement when our “goal” of five biscuits was achieved. She taught us how to appreciate well-earned rewards for all of the above lessons. She taught us love in her desire to give us something special. For the world that has not worked for biscuit pudding, you have missed something wonderful in both taste and learning great lessons in a great loving way. My Sister, even grown, when asked what she wanted for her birthday would gladly tell our Momma she wanted her to bake her a biscuit pudding. I finally learned to make one close to Momma’s  pudding, but there will never be one as perfect as her pudding was. Now, for the deeper thought…..we learn from Our Maker’s kitchen…..the perfect recipe for our lives is in His Cookbook. If we follow His directions carefully and measure out each ingredient in our life, we will achieve the rewards of a perfect “dessert” rich with love, compassion, forgiveness, and charity. Let’s bake up some wonderful memories of life with our loved ones today and everyday!
DAILY FEATURED BIBLE VERSE:
John 6:35  English Standard Version (©2001)
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

(c) copyright 2012 Arline Lott Miller. The material here copyrighted, use only by permission.

TODAY THE WORD is PREDICTIONS.  We woke up this morning and learned it was Groundhog Day and we watched “Phil” as he was reluctantly pulled from his stump and made his annual prediction of early spring. My mind made its way to predictions and how they play a role in our lives. Now, Phil has only been on target 39% correct which is below 50% but every year, more than 30,000 fans were present and millions watched him on TV. Why are we so interested in predictions? Superbowl predictors are hard at work for tomorrow’s big game. When the horses aren’t even in the stalls at Churchill Downs for the Derby, the odds are flying. Elections, polls, surveys, and predictive meters give us “predictions” and we listen for some odd reason. Some select people, for whatever reason, predict “incorrect” end of the world and even though they have been wrong, people still listen…..what is up with that? Is it that we have a curiosity about these things and want to have confidence in what we are predicting quietly? Predictions are just that, predictions and another word is “guesses”. I always go back to the upset in the election between Dewey and Truman with newspapers printed showing Dewey as the winner and as we know that when it was said and done, Truman become our president……Predictions??…….Now for the deeper thought……can we make a prediction on our eternal destination or can we be 100% sure without the odds? God has promised our place in Heaven if we believe in His Plan. He has reviewed the odds of Satan’s influence over this world, our human weaknesses, and all of the worldly temptations; He has placed His bet on us! With His strength, His compassion, His forgiveness, and His Love, we have the absolute prediction of Eternal Love and Existence with Him. Earthly predictions are good guesses, sometimes right; sometimes wrong but with Our Maker, it can only be right.

DAILY FEATURED BIBLE VERSES:
1 John 3:19-20

By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.
 

(c) copyright 2012 Arline Lott Miller. The material here copyrighted, use only by permission.

 

 

TODAY THE WORDS are HOME SWEET HOME. For some reason, my mind has traveled back in time, not to the home where I was raised, but my Grandfather and Grandmother’s house (on my father’s side). The thought brought to mind two houses as my father and his siblings lived in a huge house with the long center hall going down the entire length of the house. I remember the well off the back porch that water could be drawn from the porch. I remember the fireplace and the kitchen. It was typical of many floor plans in those days. Apparently, when my father was old enough, he and Granddaddy built the house that I remember visiting while they lived there. The “old” big house was visited when it was empty by all of us, but it has intrigued me all of my life. It had a mystique that brought all kinds of spooky stories to my mind. The smaller house had more “modern” features and we had many great meals cooked by Grannie Lott and all of the cousins would play and play. We swam in the pond and laughed. We shared many adventures in the surrounding woods and barns. Neither of these houses were fancy and the biggest difference was one was big and one was small. The biggest similarity was they both were Home Sweet Home. When people say Home is where the heart is, that is simply the truth. Whether it is a mansion on a hill, or a tiny two bedroom wood house built with love, home is all about the love in it and not the materials from which it is made. Now for the deeper thought……We have homes on earth……we can have mansions in heaven. We are to love our families, take good care of them, cherish our relationships, but not to give too much emphasis on material things. Our thoughts and prayers should be preparing to be granted a place for eternity that will surpass all earthly possessions. I go back to the two houses…as long as love is present….does it really matter whether a friend has a bigger, finer, more elegant home. We are to flourish in our lives, but riches are not mandatory; rich faith and devotion is! We appreciate our home that we live in and it is comfortable; we look forward to our Heavenly Home more!

DAILY FEATURED BIBLE VERSE:
John 14:3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

(c) copyright 2012 Arline Lott Miller. The material here copyrighted, use only by permission.