Negativity in 2015

Why is there so much negativity? Is it because of the terror reports instilling fear and anxiety in everyone and negativity is coming out? Is it the political mumbo-jumbo ; the constant bickering politicians put out, calling each other names and putting out trash on each other?

I enjoy Facebook. I love keeping up with friends and family.....seeing pictures from Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. But, why all the negativity in the comments?
 
I was reading some post...ings yesterday and wondered just what kind of life these poor souls had who were badmouthing every positive comment. Just let someone make a grammatical error and you would think it was the end of the world. A half dozen people jump on it as though they had a doctor's degree in education, correcting the individual who was just trying to make a comment. 
 

And, name calling and foul language? Where on earth did all of that come from? Oh, of course, I know there are cuss words and gutter language on TV on three-fourths of the programs, but why does it have to carry over to Facebook?
 
Just let someone mention how glad they are to see the sunshine and the comment section fills up with "But, did you hear the weather forecast? This isn't gonna last" or "It may be nice here but did you see all the ice and snow in the northeast?" And, all the personal garbage? People, if you're going to badmouth someone, why not do it to their face instead of broadcasting it to the world. Or, why not practice a little forgiveness and not do it at all?

I remember a little song we use to sing in Sunday School when I was a little girl. It was called "OPEN UP YOUR HEART AND LET THE SUNSHINE IN" by Stuart Hamblen.

Mommy told me something a little girl should know
It's all about the Devil and I've learned to hate him so
She says he causes trouble when you let him in the room
He will never ever leave you if your heart is filled with gloom

So, let the sun shine in, face it with a grin
Smilers never lose and frowners never win
So, let the sun shine in, face it with a grin
Open up your heart and let the sun shine in

When you are unhappy, the Devil wears a grin
But oh, he starts a-running when the light comes pouring in
I know he'll be unhappy 'cause I'll never wear a frown
Maybe if we keep on smiling he'll get tired of hangin' around

I really would love to see us be a little kinder to each other; a little less negative and a little more loving in 2016 than we have been in 2015.

"Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them." Titus 3:10 (NIV)

Wasting Time-2015

As we reach the end of another year and we start thinking about making those resolutions, let's think about wasting time. When I consider that I have lived 27,574 days, I wonder how many of those days I have wasted
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Are you wasting time worrying about the nonsense around you? What if we just focused on the positive things in life and ignored the negative things? It's so easy to waste time on things that are really none of our business. "Not my pig; not my farm", is something our family says. And, we just let those who are involved work out their own problems.

Surely none of us waste time on the web or texting on our IPhones. How many minutes have been wasted doing that rather than spending precious time talking face to face with our loved ones? Do we spend more time on our personal desires leaving no time for communicating with God either by prayer or reading His word?

Do you waste time thinking about everything you don't have rather than being thankful for the things you do have? Maybe we should appreciate what we do have rather than waste time wanting what someone else has.

A lot of us waste time worrying about mistakes we have made. Those mistakes of the past can't be changed but they can remind us not to make the same one
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I'm sure none of us waste time trying to impress others. When we learn that we don't have to be perfect; that not everyone is going to like us and that's okay, we don't have to waste time worrying about what other people think. As long as the way we live pleases God, we shouldn't worry about what others think.

Ben Franklin once said, " Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of."

Life is too short to be wasted. It has taken me many years to learn this but as I get older, I realize the time I have wasted could have been better spent on much better things. Don't let that happen to you..........

"How do you know what is going to happen tomorrow? For the length of your lives is as uncertain as the morning fog—now you see it; soon it is gone. " James 4:14 TLB

After Christmas Rush

In most people's homes, the Christmas decorations are slowly being put away for another year. People rush to the malls and local stores the day after Christmas to buy bargain gifts and decorations for next year's celebration. There is much hurrying and scurrying and pushing and shoving to obtain as many bargains as one can. Children are eagerly playing with the gifts they were given this year. And, they are already dreaming of Santa and what they will add to their already overflowing toy boxes and bedroom floors at Christmas next year.

Why is it people are always so rushed during the holiday season? People wait until the last minute to do their shopping amid the chaos and angry crowds. They fume over Christmas lights that won't light; ornaments that have been broken or misplaced in the hurry to pack them away last year. And frustration sets in because they are stumped about what to buy for family and friends who have everything.

I wonder why we don't all just settle down and enjoy the time we have with our families rather than being concerned about a gift exchange? People spend themselves almost into bankruptcy because they want to be sure the gift they buy someone is at least as expensive as the gift they will receive. The month of December is filled with a party here; a dinner there and soon they find themselves wishing the whole season was over.

As I have gotten three fourths of the way to one hundred, I have come to realize just what is important in life; in my life at least. Age has a way of slowing one down; retirement frees up the time that for four decades or more was used working, scrimping and saving to make a better life for our families. Oh, along the way, there was a time of fun and laughter; a time of enjoying the blessings God had bestowed upon us, but with age comes the realization that we should have taken more time for families and friends and less time worrying about tomorrow.

Dr. Adrian Rogers once said, "Every day God gives you enough time to learn, enough time to work, enough time to laugh, enough time to love. He gives you enough time to do gracefully everything He wants you to do. It is a gift. What kind of steward are you of that gift today?"

"How do you know what is going to happen tomorrow? For the length of your lives is as uncertain as the morning fog—now you see it; soon it is gone." James 4:14 (TLB)

A Cup of Applesauce

I have a confession to make. I thought I was a thorough housekeeper until recently when I was mopping my kitchen. I had looked a little closer at one of the baseboards and remembered an incident that happened four years ago.
 
I was making a meatloaf and I always put applesauce in it because I think that makes it more moist.
But, unless you want to mop your floor, clean the front and tops of your cabinets, take a second shower and change your clothes, DO NOT try to salvage ...a cup of applesauce by turning it upside down, shaking it to get all the sauce down to the lid and opening it. Can we say fermented? Could have been worse; could have been syrup. I do think applesauce would make a good hair gel in case of a tight.

Case in point here.........when you make a mess like that you may continue to discover applesauce (or whatever) hidden in out of the way places.

Sin is like that. We may look clean on the outside but in the hidden places of our hearts, sin is hidden from view. And, the only way to get to those sinful places in our hearts is through the love and forgiveness of our Savior. He can clean up our lives leaving them spotless.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23 (TLB)

The Day After Christmas

"It's the day after Christmas. The glow on the tree is just a little dimmer because the anticipation of the day is now past. Ever feel that way about your walk with the Lord? But, the best is yet to be! Christmas Day is past, but Resurrection Day is coming soon, and I don't mean Easter. I mean the Second Coming of Our Lord is imminently on the horizon. He is coming again." Dr Adrian Rogers

Our society looks for every reason to celebrate; have a day off from work or have a big party. We celebrate Easter with a bunny and Halloween, which was originally All Saints Day, has been turned into outlandish costumes and begging for candy. Christmas is Santa Claus with hardly a mention of the Babe of Bethlehem. Even New Years is considered by some religions to be a holy day honoring Mother Mary. But, for most, it's just another day off to "gluttonize" ourselves and watch football and party like there is no tomorrow. I wonder what would happen if those of us who are Believers refused to desecrate the holidays?

I'm not against celebrating. I just think we should celebrate the right things. We can have Christmas with gifts and family and food as long as it's not the main reason we celebrate. I love getting together with our family for Christmas. In fact, I'm known as the one who starts after the Fourth of July trying to figure out all the "whens and wheres" for our family Christmas. But, I'm as guilty as the next person at forgetting the reason for the season. Perhaps we should celebrate the Christian holidays as they were meant to be celebrated. And, then invent some secular holidays. Of course, we are not to be just Christians on Christian holidays and Sundays, but everyday.

"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you." Romans 12:2 (TLB)

Where Are Your Eyes This Christmas?

How busy do we get during Christmas? From the looks of the vehicles on WalMart's parking lot yesterday, people were very busy doing their last minute Christmas shopping. I wonder how many of us take out eyes off the one whose birthday we celebrate at Christmas and focus on buying gifts.
Where is your focus this Christmas?

I recently read a story written by John Vandenoever. He tells about giving his small daughter her first kite. He was so anxious to show her how to run with it until the wind caught it and carried it high.
 
"The first attempts were thwarted because of her inability to understand what needed to happen. Finally, with her father running along with her, the kite soared upward. Suddenly, his daughter looked down. She saw her shoelace was untied and began to cry. As he puts it, “The triumph in the sky had been swallowed up by a loose shoe lace. Such is the life in Christ. Ours is a story written from before time, a promised inheritance hidden in Christ, a future where God ‘makes everything work out according to His plan.

"It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone." Ephesians 1:11-12 The Message (MSG)

Do we let the spiritual equivalent of loose shoelaces be our undoing.” As long as his daughter was keeping her eyes on the kite and allowing her father to run along beside her, everything was fine. But, once her mind was taken off the things above, everything went wrong."

What is your undoing? Do you take your eyes off of Christ during this season and look more toward Santa Claus? Do you let the things of this earth take your eyes off your Heavenly Father and the plans He has for your life? Do you feel you can do things better your way and don’t need the Father to run along beside you?

I’m reminded of the story in the bible of the children of Abraham being led from Egypt to the Promised Land. This comparatively short journey that should have taken them only a few months ended up taking them 40 years. Why? Because they took their eyes off of God and His promise and looked at their broken shoelaces. They grumbled and questioned why their journey was taking so long. They wondered why they weren’t enjoying the journey; why there were hardships along the way.

“They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!’ Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. “Numbers 21:4-6 NIV

They had taken their eyes off of the land that God had promised them and in the end, most of those who started out on that journey never got to see the Promised Land.

What might God do to get your attention when you take your eyes off of Him? What will you miss out on because you fail to keep your eyes on God?

Little John Sings from the Stump

Last night, KYTV had a segment about the Ozark Jubilee on TV and their web page. When I watched it, it brought to mind another story John likes to tell.

“Ah, let him go along again. He’s really not any trouble. I’ll watch out for him.”

Little John’s Dad’s friend was hearing the pleas of Little John, who wanted to go along with his Dad and the friend to cut wood.Little John wasn’t old enough to go to school and just hangin’ out with his Mom was pretty boring for the little guy.
 

“I promise I’ll be good and I’ll stay outta tha way of dat ax. Please, Dad, let me go wif you.”

So, Dad relented.

“Get your jacket, Son. I’ll tell your Mom you’re going with us.

So, off they went; lunch pails in hand and an ax thrown over their shoulders.

As they begin to chop, Little John began to jump around, climbing over fallen trees. Finally, they chopped down a tree leaving a stump that was big enough for Little John to stand up on easily. So, there he stood for all the world to see. Suddenly, he burst forth with a song. He sang and twisted around on that old tree stump.The longer he sang; the louder he got. Finally, the two men stopped their chopping, turned around and stood listening to his latest rendition.

“Say, he’s not too bad for a young sprout. If he keeps on, he’ll probably be singin’ on the radio before we know it” said Little John’s dad’s friend.

Little John’s singing was just the beginning of his love of music. Who would have guessed that in just a few years, he would be standing on the hillside with his best friend, blowing his little bugle, scaring a pasture full of cows and exciting a yard full of school children. From then on, Little John continued to sing. He sang wherever anyone would listen whether it was a tree stump or at church. Sometimes, he was playing his double necked steel guitar AND singing. In his late teen years, he was playing his double necked steel guitar on the Ozark Jubilee television show in Springfield along with locals, Don and Charles Williams and Billy Leon Smith. And, even later, singing with me and another couple at the Albert E. Brumley Sundown-Sunup show in Springdale.

Music and the love of it………..you never know where it will lead. In his case, he passed his love of music on to his daughters and grandchildren.

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100 NIV

Fireplaces and Christmas

We still have some firewood left from last season but come the new year we will be needing another load. It seemed a bit ridiculous to consider a fire burning in the fireplace with the temperatures like they were the last few weeks. The leaves have fallen and blown all directions; tree branches are bare; Christmas is this week and soon we will be anticipating the first snowfall.

There is nothing like a glowing fire in a fireplace; the smell of wood permeating the air. It's very easy for me to get lost in my thoughts as I sit, curled up in front of the fire with our cat purring in my lap. I love watching the flames as they twist and turn and lap at each other.

When the girls were small at Christmas, we had a wood burning fireplace in our dining room at our home in town. We always hung their stockings on the mantle and it was one of the first things they looked for on Christmas morning.

As I gaze in our fireplace, I remember those Christmases.....
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I remember also when I was small my Daddy would burn our trash out back in the chill of the evening. I loved to watch the flames as they consumed whatever he was burning. When the fire died down to a few hot coals, he would cut a long stick and put a marshmallow on the end and I'd hold it over those coals until it turned a golden brown.

"Be careful and don't let that slide off the end of the stick because we don't have very many marshmallows," Daddy would say.

So, I would hover close to the fire and hold the stick very still, yet turning it very carefully, and removing it very slowly when it looked just right. Mother would usually make hot chocolate to go along with those marshmallows. She would carry it out back and pour it into a little cup for me and bring my daddy's coffee cup to hold his. Sometimes Daddy would bring out our old washtubs, turn them upside down and we'd set until the fire burned completely out. My daddy learned early on not to tell ghost stories if it was close to bedtime or he and my Mother would be sharing a bed with me.
You know, the stars seemed a little brighter and the moon a little closer back then. Perhaps the air was not as polluted and there were fewer outdoor lights. It didn't take a lot of entertainment to keep families occupied at the end of a very busy day.

One thing I know for sure, our Creator knew exactly what He was doing when He set our earth in motion giving us the seasons to enjoy with our families while we can.

"The day is yours, and yours also the night;
you established the sun and moon.
It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth;
you made both summer and winter." Psalm 74:16-17 NIV

Spending Christmas with Jesus

You are frantically getting ready for Christmas.  You're rushing around with your last minute shopping, baking, addressing cards and a million other things that seem important on this special holiday.

Ring........Ring.........

 

"Hello?

 

"This is Jesus.  I'm planning a visit to your hometown and would like to spend Christmas day with your family.  Don't plan anything special; just your normal family Christmas.  I'll see you on Friday."

 

Suppose you got this call..........suppose Jesus wanted to spend Christmas with your family.  Would there be things you would change? Would you frantically dig out your nativity scene you failed to put up this year? Would you lay the family bible out in plain sight with the Christmas story in Luke carefully marked? Would your gifts be different?  What kind of gift would you give Him?  

 

We tend to forget that although we can't physically see Jesus, He is with us always in the form of the Holy Spirit that lives in the hearts of every believer.

 

"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" 1 Corinthians 3:16 EST

 

OH, NO! Those Awful Pox!

Older Sister was up bright and early and into the bathroom she strode. After all, this was Christmas break and she didn’t want to waste a minute of it. Suddenly, I heard her scream !

“OH, NO ! I can’t believe it!” She wailed, “NOT THIS!”

As I ran into the bathroom, there she stood. Her face as white as a sheet EXCEPT for the dozens and dozens of bright, red pox that covered her face. As I lifted her pajama top, her back and front were covered! Yes, Older Sister had a wonderful case of the old stinking chicken pox! And, yes, Little Sister enjoyed every minute of that day laughing at her older sibling.

“Boy, do you look funny!” Young Sister laughed, “You’re gonna have those pox ALLLLLLL over your body worse than I do. I can just tell. I can’t wait ‘till your friends hear about how silly you look!”

Yes, Older Sister had missed the chicken pox when she was younger. She waited until she was twelve years old to have them. Nothing…..absolutely nothing could be more humiliating to an Almost Teenager.

Then, I recalled my own bout with the horrid chicken pox. I must have been about nine when I contracted them. I had a very, very bad case; not a place on my body that wasn’t covered and itching terribly. My Mother didn’t have access to anti-itch medicine so her solution was a baking soda bath. Since we only had a # 3 washtub that would have to be carried in and filled with hot water from a tea kettle, I had a sponge bath. So, while I moaned and groaned, Mother would dip the wash cloth into the warm water and gently pat in on my itching skin. It hurt to sit down; hurt to stand up because I had pox on my feet and most of all, it hurt to lie down because I couldn’t be still and every time I moved the pox would itch worse. My hair couldn’t even be combed because my head was covered in those red itchy blotches. I complained loudly and clearly and I’m sure nearly drove my parents wild!

I was very good at complaining………….very good.

Do you complain when you feel badly; when it’s too hot or too cold; when it rains out the ballgame? Do you complain when things don’t go your way or when you have to go to work? Complain because there isn’t enough money at the end of the month; nothing seems to be going the way you think it should and now even the refrigerator has quit!

It is so very easy for us to forget our blessings when something goes wrong on our lives. We forget to thank God for the very fact that we woke up this morning and were able to get out of bed.

God reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Granddaughter # 2's Chicken pox

My mind wandered back even further to a time when Granddaughter #1and #2’s mother developed the chicken pox. She was eight at the time, when just before Christmas, she and her older sister were taking baths. Older Sister discovered a bright red spot on Little Sister’s back. After a brisk drying off, I examined the spot and knowing several of her friends had come down with the pox, I proclaimed it looked like the chicken pox to me.

“Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, you got the chicken pox!!” chided Older Sister. “You’re gonna look so funny when you are covered in the morning!”

Older Sister continued to jump around gleefully, laughing all the while. Little Sister, of course, was in tears. After all, Christmas was coming and here she was with the horrid pox! She was going to miss the Christmas party at school and might not even be well enough to go to the family Christmas at great-aunts, which was the annual thing to do.

As the girls climbed into their beds in their respective rooms, I could hear them yelling back and forth. Older Sister continued to chide Younger Sister about “the horrid red pox you got” and Little Sister yelling at the top of her lungs to “just shut up!” I anticipated more of the same the next morning knowing that Little Sister would more than likely be completely covered in big red splotches. Of course, Big Sister would continue to chide her then until more tears were flowing. However, little did I know what would await our rising the next morning.

I will admit, I was not looking forward to facing the morrow knowing that Daughter # 2 wouldn’t be feeling well; would likely be broken out all over her little body and, as Older Sisters often do, this one would be laughing and making fun of her for the better part of the day.

Have you ever gone to bed anticipating what was going to happen when you the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 NLT

"I Got The Chicken Pox"

About twenty years ago, the telephone rang in my office. I picked it up anticipating the call was one of the brides I was working with at the time. Instead, I heard the voice of Granddaughter # 1.

“Guess what, Mimi?”

“What, Sweetie?” I replied.

“I got the chicken pox!”

“You have what?”

“I got the chicken pox!” She repeated.

Kids now don't have chicken pox or measles like they use to because of vaccines. However, I remembered then how three years before, Grandson # 1 had the measles.

“Nothing to worry about,” I thought. “All kids that age have the all those childhood diseases sooner or later”.

But, I was wrong it WAS something to worry about in Grandson # 1’s case. After breaking out like the typical child does with spots covering a good part of their body, Grandson # 1 continued to break out until every spot on his little body was covered in the dreaded, itching measles. The doctor examined him and turned to his mother.

“This is absolutely the worst case of measles I have ever seen! He is likely broken out just like this on the inside.”

So, Grandson #1 was admitted to the hospital to ride this awful disease out. Thankfully, with strong medication, prayers of his parents, grandparents, other family members and friends, he recovered and just celebrated his 30th birthday.

Granddaughter #1 wasn’t feeling too badly; wasn’t broken out other than her stomach and back, and most likely would be back to normal in a few days her mother said. Of course, we knew that we could expect Granddaughter #2 to come down with her sister’s malady next.

What a thing to look forward to.

You know, as parents we can look forward to our kids bringing home from school every stomach virus going around and every cold germ always lights on our kids
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But, there are more pleasant things we also look forward to as our children grow up. We enjoy watching them play Little League ball or watching their performance in the school Christmas plays. We enjoy the band concerts and church Christmas programs as we watch them grow and mature into responsible adults. And, we especially enjoy the times we can snuggle with them on a cold winter night reading them bedtime stories or hearing them read to us.

As our children grow, we watch them encounter the illnesses of childhood; the heartbreaks of youth; the decisions of education and the choice of mates. Through all of this, we always want God's best for them. Perhaps we should give them this encouragement found in God's Word:

"If you want favor with both God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don’t ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success." Proverbs 3:5-6 (TLB)

The Fallen Angel

Before God created man, He created the angels. There was one angel in particular that was full of pride and thought himself better and more powerful even than His maker. You remember what happened to him, along with 1/3 of the angels in Heaven. He was tossed out faster than a bolt of lightening.

"The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven." Luke 10:17-18 NIV

When Satan was loosed on the earth, then came sin and death and pain and suffering and famine. We are a fallen nation because of the pride and arrogance of Satan, who at one time was one of the most favored angels God created.

As we gather with our families this Christmas, we need to be reminded that we are a blessed people even with all of the terrible events going on in our nation.

What can you and I do to alleviate some of the suffering caused by this "Fallen Angel"? Can you share your meal with someone in need? Can you take time during the Christmas holiday to share God's love with someone? Can you give some of the money God has blessed you with to help even one of those 10 million little children who will die of hunger, disease and complications this year?

"He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor." Proverbs 22:9 NASB

Christmas is an Excuse for Making Someone's Life Better

"Christmas is an excuse for making someone's life better."

The weather has been so warm during the month of December it's difficult to get in the Christmas mood it seems.

Those of us who have family near by are so very blessed.  "The Lord willin' and the creek don't rise" as the old saying goes, we will get to spend at least part of this Christmas season with all of our immediate family together.  When family is scattered across the country that's difficult. And, as children and grandchildren marry, we find ourselves sharing them with their in-laws. 

Had you ever thought that there are people waiting to be encouraged during the holidays; people who are unable to spend time with their family for whatever reason? Maybe we need to cease our own self-centered hustle and bustle long enough to see! Could you invite someone who has no place to go to spend Christmas with your family?

' When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’  Matthew 25:38-40(NIV)

John Clark's Birthday

Today our Grandson # 1 is celebrating his birthday.

We had such a good time celebrating his birthday yesterday with family and friends at Crystal Bridges! When we made our trek to Tulsa in the middle of the night thirty years ago, hoping to get there before he arrived, it was snowy and icy with snow coming down all the way and about 8 inches on the ground when we left here. Glad for the Jeep Cherokee and not much traffic in those wee hours of the morning. He made his way into this world just before we got to Tulsa. The excitement we felt seeing him for the first time is something I will never forget ! We are so proud of the fine Christian young man he has become.

Happy birthday, John Clark Robinson! We love you!

Peace on Earth

"Dear brothers, don’t ever forget that it is best to listen much, speak little, and not become angry." James 1:19 TLB

Sy Miller and Jill Jackson were a husband and wife songwriting team. In 1955 they wrote a song about their dream of peace for the world and how they believed each one of us could help create it.
As I hear some people talking during this Christmas season, I wonder just how much peace there is in our homes on Christmas. Peace on earth must begin in our homes. ... Consider what it would be like during the Christmas holidays if the memories created were only of laughter and good times. Too many times, there is ill will among family members and it festers when everyone is together celebrating the holidays.

I have heard the old saying "Never discuss politics or religion with your family." And, in a lot of families, those two subjects seem to be the main topics of conversation during the holidays. Or, in some cases, there are hurt feelings from some perceived mistreatment that happened way back when.

"Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. " 2 Timothy 2:23 NIV

As we gather around the Christmas tree with family, perhaps we should make our New Years resolutions early this year and include the resolve to love our siblings, parents and grandparents with the love of the One who came on Christmas to bring peace to our world.

"Don’t quarrel with anyone. Be at peace with everyone, just as much as possible." Romans 12:18 TLB

Arrival of the Catalog

How well I remember the anticipation of the arrival of a new catalog.

In 1872 or there about, Aaron Montgomery Ward, who had established the Montgomery Ward company, went a step further and began publishing a catalog. Then there was the Penney's catalog with beautiful colored pictures of everything anyone could ever want. And, who could forget the Sears wish book.

When the weather began to turn cold, it was obvious that Christmas was just around the corner. I would wait impatiently for the mail man to bring our catalogs. When they arrived, I immediately began flipping through the pages carefully marking everything that I wanted Santa to leave under our tree. Of course, most of the markings were useless but Mother usually ordered something for me to open on Christmas.

My husband loves to recall one Christmas when he was small. It seems his mother had ordered something for him and when Christmas came, it hadn't come.

"Little John, Santa is going to be a little late this year for some reason. But, don't worry, he will be here with it soon".

Of course, Little John was disappointed. How could Santa forget him on Christmas? Day after day he wondered when Santa would be coming to his house.

Little John and his parents lived in a one room house. One evening as his mom, dad and he were sitting at the supper table, his dad got up; went over to the bed and all of a sudden a sound came trickling toward Little John....rrrrrr...rrrrr....rrrrr...rrrrr..rrrr.... Little John looked up wondering what that could be. He jumped up and out from under the bed came a toy caterpillar in all of it's glory!! Little John was one excited little man! Santa hadn't forgotten him after all.

Do we wait with anticipation the return of that One who was born on Christmas day? Oh, we hear people say just as Little John's mother had, "Don't worry, He will be here soon." But, do we really believe that? If we truly believed, wouldn't we be sharing the story of the Christ child that was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger?

"Anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

But how shall they ask him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?" Romans 10:13-14 (TLB)

Christmas Memories With Little Ones

Ah, that first Christmas with your offspring. Who can forget those? Even though their little minds can't comprehend all of the lights and music and the funny, rotund man in the bright red suit, they can feel the excitement. How delightful to see the expressions on the faces of their parents and grandparents as they watch these prodigies of tomorrow gooing and cooing over the wind up toys, spinning top or soft baby doll. Each Christmas shared with your children is to be cherished for too soon they will be in their own homes for Christmas with their own families.

I well remember the look on her face as she opened the new stereo. Or the sheer shock of the keys wrapped in a colorful box with a big red bow. Could these be keys to her very first car? A car that would have to be driven immediately around the town square though she was donned only in pajamas and the weather was freezing. I see her dragging a screaming younger sister by her arm so she could join in the spin. Off she went to feel the excitement a car of her own could bring.

Too soon the years pass. The excitement of Christmas is still there. But faces are added to the mix around the Christmas table and the tree. Excitement builds as we drive through a wintry ice and snow storm to be there as that first grandchild makes his appearance at the beginning of the Twelve Days of Christmas. His Angelic face lit up the room making the lights on the tree dim in comparison. "Ooohs and Ahhhs" were not so much for the gifts under the tree that Christmas morning but for this tiny grandchild in his mother's arms.

As each new little person joins the family, that first Christmas becomes even more special. There is that first baby doll for precious little girls barely able to sit up yet their eyes sparkling and their smiles coming at the sight of that gift. Then, another precious grandson to even out the numbers; a duplicate of his big brother; his Christmas teddy bear clutched tightly in his arms. And, then, another child, so young she is unable to even hold up her head on her first Christmas. Yet with an infectious countenance and little fat cheeks so tempting to kiss. Ah, the happiness of those first Christmases.
In the mix, there are always sad Christmases.

A grandmother passing on Christmas morning; two wee ones to young to realize what the word divorce and the absence of a father on Christmas morning means. A Christmas in a small town like this when the gulf war brings local families anxiety and sadness at the separation from their loved ones. These are part of Christmas memories that we might long to forget. Yet, they are the ones that help mold us into the people we are today.

As we see our tiny ones in our Christmas memories, we are reminded of another baby, whose birth we celebrate during this season. He came to earth to bring us a new life in Him
.
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)

Christmas Nostalgia

Call it a case of Christmas nostalgia if you like.............

Why is it this time of year I can reminisce with the best of them? I can put off digging through the Christmas decorations that were stored in the same old attic trove as years before. It seems only a few weeks ago we stored them there. I can plan where the artificial tree, sans the odor of a freshly cut one, will stand. I can envision the mantle laden down with familiar angel dolls, lights and candles. I can even see Old Saint Nick's stone cold statue setting on the fireplace hearth along with his sleigh full of Christmas cards that come straggling in a few at a time even before the turkey from Thanksgiving is digested. But, where is my Christmas spirit? Is it buried in the old box of ornaments, a few of which adorned the cedar tree in the corner of our living room when I was small? Or is it hidden somewhere in the recesses of my mind along with the memories of past Christmases both happy and sad?

The memories of those first Christmases are often the ones we cherish the most. One in particular when I was six comes to mind. We didn't have a lot of money for frivolous things so I know my daddy must have scrimped and saved a long time to buy this gift. But, there it was......the most beautiful red and white tricycle I could ever imagine! The living room became my race track even before my other small package was opened.

The Christmas when I was a gangly teenager wishing and needing a new winter coat, I dreamed of one that would instantly turn me into Betty Haynes from the movie White Christmas, which had just been released. I could just see me now dancing and singing in that old Vermont Inn trying to impress the likes of Bing Crosby's character, Bob Wallace. When the wrapped box was opened, there it was in all of it's splendor; the gray furry coat of my dreams!

Memories of Christmas as a newlywed seem so fresh in my mind. I can see the small cedar tree with a few hand-me-down ornaments and strings of popcorn, as it sat on a little table in the corner of our rented apartment. A salary of $50.00 a week didn't stretch too far even in those days. But, my husband of barely three months skimped and saved enough to buy me a beautiful white jewelry box with bright red velvet lining. I cherish it to this day.

I hope this brings about Christmas memories for you. I will have more to share later.

Aren't you glad that God, in creating man, chose to give us the capability of remembering things; especially all of those Christmases we had as children.

"Don’t let the excitement of being young cause you to forget about your Creator. Honor him in your youth before the evil years come—when you’ll no longer enjoy living." Ecclesiastes 12:1 (TLB)

Attitude of Gratitude

So many people seem to be having so many problems now. Problems are bad anytime but especially at Christmas. We have just passed the Thanksgiving season when we should have been giving thanks for everything we have in life. But, wouldn't it be wonderful if we had an attitude of gratitude all throughout the year ?

If as believers we would have a grateful attitude even in the hardships of life, perhaps unbelievers might wonder why we don't complain. What an opportunity for us to share the love of Christ with them and let then know that even in the difficulties of life, they have Someone who will give meaning to their lives.

Let's check our attitudes today.

"Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live."
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (MSG)

Let's Go a Fishin'

“Let’s go down and check the minnow trap and see if we got enough of ‘em to go fishin’, what ya say?”

Mr. A., was a little old man about 80 and Little John was about 13. They loved to go fishing during the summer.  It was such fun just being together whether they caught anything or not. Mr. A. had a son who had been killed so Little John was like a son to him.

Mr. A. had a 1929 Model A sport coupe but he couldn’t drive. So, he let Little John drive when they went fishing.  Of course, back then, being 13 didn’t keep a young man from driving if he could see over the steering wheel.

“Yep, Mr. A., I think there’s enough of ‘em that we could probably fish all day,” said Little John, “I’ll see what Mom’s got for us to take to eat in case we’re not back in time for dinner.  Maybe she’ll let me fix us a couple of biscuits with some sausage, if there’s any left from breakfast.  I’ll be right back.”

So, off Little John ran to see what he could round up for the two of them. Within minutes, he came running back with a little sack containing a couple of apples and biscuits and sausage.

The two headed down the road to Mr. A’s.  They climbed into the Model A; Little John in the driver’s seat and off they went.

“You know, Mr. A., this old car sure could use a coat of paint.  It’s just a lookin’ pretty bad.  When we get back from fishin’ , what say I see if I can round up some paint and we’ll have this old thing lookin’ like new next time we go fishin’.”

Sure enough, Little John was able to round up some black paint and an old paint brush and in a few days, he walked over to Mr. A’s.

“Look what I got!” He said, holding up the bucket of paint and an old paint brush. “ You’re not gonna know this old car when I get through with it.” So, brush in hand, Little John painted and painted and, sure enough, when the paint dried, it shined like a new dollar never mind the streaks made by the old paint brush.

“Good job there, Little John,” said Mr. A. “I think you’re gonna make a fine car painter one of these days.”

One day not long after the new paint job, the two were headed off down a dirt road with Little John in the driver’s seat, of course.  All of a sudden, Little John looked out his side window and the back left wheel came rolling by.

“Oh my goodness, Little John, is that the wheel off this thing?”

“Yep, ‘fraid so, Mr. A.  I’ll see if I can get ‘er stopped and we’ll go get it,” replied Little John.

“How in the world did you steer this thing with just three wheels?” Inquired Mr. A.

Little John drew a long breath; looked over at Mr. A.

“Well, you know, I couldn’t tell but what it drove just as well on three wheels as four.” Little John said, laughing.

Memories from boyhood are sweet.  The memories Little John has of his adventures with Mr. A. make for a wonderful time of telling stories. And, I’m sure Mr. A. spent a lot of time in his later years recalling that young lad who cared enough to spend time with him.

“You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.” Leviticus 19:32 ESV

Rabbit Huntin'

Oh, boy! Oh, boy!! It’s a snowin’ Mom! " hollered Little John, “can me and Mr. A. go rabbit huntin’ today?”

“I guess so if Mr. A. can go and if you promise to be back in time to help your dad with the chores.”

So, Little John grabbed his coat and cap and off he ran, hollering at Mr. A, who lived across the road.

“Mr. A.! Mr. A.! Mom said I can go rabbit huntin’ if you can go?” Little John yelled as he ran up onto Mr. A’s porch.

“What’s all the hollerin’ about, Little John?” Mr. A. asked as he opened the door.

“It’s a snowin’ and we need to get ourselves down in the field there where them rabbits will be a scurrin’ around and get us some. Mom’ll fry up a bunch of ‘em for supper tonight if we get back in time. And, you can come and eat with us.” Said Little John.

So, off they went. Mr. A. with his shotgun and Little John, his trusty .22.

“Why you take that old shotgun, Mr. A., instead of a .22 like mine?” inquired Little John.
Mr. A. had a far off look in his eyes.

“Well, Son, let me tell you a story about my shotgun days when I was a little boy. When I was about your size, my dad and I went rabbit huntin’ just like me and you. I couldn’t wait ‘till I was old enough to shoot me a rabbit with dad’s old shotgun.”

“Why a shotgun ‘stead of a .22, Mr. A.”, little John interrupted.

“Well, rabbits run fast you know and you can’t get a good bead on ‘em with a single shot so you use a shot gun and you just hope that one of them pieces of lead hits ‘em. Well, one day dad finally said I was old enough to handle his old shotgun. So, as we walked along, kinda like you and me’s a doin’, we scared up a bunch of rabbits.

‘Here, Son, blast away and see how many of ‘em you can hit!’ Dad said to me as he shoved his old shotgun ‘tward me. So, I took aim and pulled the trigger. Dad hollered at me ‘ Shoot ‘em again, Son, their still a runnin’ and you can get ‘em with a second shot.’ When I didn’t answer, Dad looked around and I was a gettin’ up off the ground. I handed him back his old shot gun. ‘Here, Dad, you shoot ‘em. That gun done hit me ‘side ah the head and my eye and I can’t see to shoot’ “

Mr. A. laughed and I laughed, too. I could just see Mr. A. when he was lyin’ on the ground in that snow, holdin’ his head and wonderin’ what hit him. And, I was just mighty glad I was a huntin’ with my .22.

Have you ever been broadsided with something you didn’t expect? Had a relationship go sour? Have you had a best friend share a confidence between the two of you with someone else? Have you ever had something so shocking it just knocked you for a loop? Ever lost your job and wondered what on earth you would do? Life is full of uncertainties. We can’t put our trust in anything or anyone completely as long as we walk this earth. But, the promises that God has made to us, you can bank on because God does not lie.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

Sharing at Christmas

 

One of the nice things about Thanksgiving with family is catching up on the little things that have happened throughout the year. Oh, we talk on the phone or we see each other from time to time but there are always those little "feel good" stories that are shared during the holidays that make such an impression.

So, it was this past Thanksgiving when we had the pleasure of being with our young cousin. We don't get to see him very often. He is such an intelligent child; deep thinker and mature beyond his years. He has been through a lot for a 4th grader, having lost his mother in an accident when he was very young. His grandparents were raising him when his grandmother passed very suddenly. He has adjusted extremely well in spite of all the losses in his life. 

It seems the young man loves pets. He has dogs and cats in his home and yet , he takes time to go to the humane society and talk to and pet the animals there. A couple of years ago when his birthday rolled around, he made it known that he had plenty of toys and would much rather anyone who was going to buy him a gift would instead give something to the humane society to help the animals there. Again, this last birthday, a pick up load of things plus a van load were taken to the human society in honor of his birthday.

Isn't this what Thanksgiving and Christmas is all about? Being thankful for what we have and wanting to help others less fortunate?

Perhaps instead of giving gifts to family and friends who generally have everything they want or need; at least anything we could afford to give them, we would help those who are less fortunate whether it be an animal at the humane society or an individual who is in need.

So proud of my cousin and his unselfishness even though he did make me feel just a bit guilty.

"For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give—large or small—will be used to measure what is given back to you.” Luke 6:38 (TLB)

Writers Block

Roses are red,
Violets are blue.
Sugar is sweet,
And so are you!

You remember when everyone had autograph books? Teachers detested them because they were forever being passed around during class. In your best friends book you would write something like the verse above. If it was someone you didn't like, you might write:

Roses are red,
Violets are blue.
Who wants to be friends,
With a nerd like you?

Here is was being passed toward you; the autograph book of your secret love. Whatever would you write? The book was getting closer and closer.....oh, no, it's in your hands now. You pick up your pen and....wham...nothing.....you have drawn a complete blank! Where are all of those great words you wanted to write? Words that would go down in infamy just like the Gettysburg Address. You fumble; your palms sweat....what will you write? All you can think of is:

Can't think...
Brain dumb.....
Inspiration won't come....
Bad ink....
Bad pen...
That's all....
A-Men!

You slam the book shut and quickly pass it on. You would cry if you weren't so embarrassed.
Yes, it was the adolescent version of an adult plague.

"Oh, creepers! Confess...you've caught that confound, creepy, clearly critical creative crisis condition compounded by catastrophic complacency constituting concessions and conflict! In conclusion ....you're brain dead
.
I feel this way so much of the time when I'm trying to put the thoughts running through my head on paper. Sometimes, they flow like a gentle stream. Other times, they are just not there.
Do you feel lost for words when you pray? Sometimes I have things on my heart I want to tell God but when I try to pray, the words just won't come. For some reason, I want to think when I am talking to One who is so holy, I have to speak the king's English so to speak in order to be worthy of God hearing me. I know in my heart, that's not so because God tells me in Romans that I have a "go between", who speaks to the Heavenly Father on my behalf when the thoughts in my heart just won't come to my mouth.

"And in the same way—by our faith—the Holy Spirit helps us with our daily problems and in our praying. For we don’t even know what we should pray for nor how to pray as we should, but the Holy Spirit prays for us with such feeling that it cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows, of course, what the Spirit is saying as he pleads for us in harmony with God’s own will." Romans 8:26-27 Living Bible

I must remember that my prayers don't have to be an exercise in eloquent speech. All my prayer needs to do to reach the throne of God is to be uttered in my heart toward Him. His Holy Spirit will take it from there.

Trust and Adjust

As we get closer to the season of giving and receiving, we might want to ask ourselves this question: If we could have anything in the world right now, what would it be? What would it take to satisfy the desires of your heart? Do you think the desires of your heart are God’s desires for you? I have heard it said sometimes we have to “trust and adjust”. There are times when the desires of our heart are things that would only harm us. However, if we give those desires over to God and trust Him, somehow we will adjust our desires so they are in line with what God knows is best for our lives. We are on this earth to fulfill the plans God has for us.

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 TLB You notice in this verse, God says “the plans I have for you”, not “the plans YOU have for yourself”.

God has promised us if we look to Him for our happiness rather than things of this earth, He will give us our heart’s desire. Because, only then will our desires be His desire for us.

“Seek your happiness in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desire. Give yourself to the Lord; trust in him, and he will help you.” Psalm 37-5 GNT

If we can bring ourselves to forgo that desire that is in our heart, and just allow God to take complete control of us, He will not only give us what He has promised but it will be something that will be far beyond what we could have imagined.

Sometimes we may feel that nothing is going as we planned. Sometimes, God is allowing those difficult times to happen to grow our faith and to bring about His purpose for us. These are the times that we just have to “trust and adjust” and continue to walk through those doors that you feel He is opening.

"Hold loosely to the things of this life, so that if God requires them of you, it will be easy to let them go." Corrie Ten Boom

God has a Purpose for placing us on this earth. And, because He is a loving God, He will give us the desires of our heart; things we Love to do. God has given us the ability to do things with our gifts and talents, and God desires that we do these things for Him now.

The Jewelry Box

I have a white, three tiered jewelry box lined with soft, red velvet that is very much worn now. I treasure it because it was given to me by my husband 57 years ago when we celebrated our first Christmas together as man and wife. Inside I have little things that mean a lot to me; a heart with my name on one side and my husband’s on the other. It’s tarnished a bit now but I wore it on a chain when we were dating. There is the little pink and white bracelet with the letters of our last name that was placed on # 2 daughter’s arm at the hospital as soon as she was born. There is a POW bracelet purchased in the early seventies. I wore it until that particular POW returned home. I didn’t recognize the name of the POW when it came in the mail. However, I learned later that he was a next door neighbor to some of our friends in Texas. It’s truly a small world. I have a bracelet that was handed down by a g-g-aunt. My mother’s wedding ring is there along with some earrings that an aunt, who passed away many years ago, wanted me to have. There are old charms on a bracelet. The charms were purchased at different vacation locations.

I love opening that old jewelry box and reliving the memories that come with each little treasure. But Jesus warned us in His Sermon on the Mount not to lay up treasures here on earth but to lay up treasures for ourselves in Heaven.

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

What are your treasures and where are you storing them?

My Writing

There are so many people out there who are much more articulate with their writing than I. All of you who read my postings; those who hit like and particularly those who comment whether good or bad are really appreciated. Many of you encourage me to put my thoughts in a book. At my age, unlike Grandma Moses, I don't think I have the wherewithal to do that. Perhaps someday when I'm no longer walking this earth, one of my family members will want to tackle that project.

Some people paint or draw; some people write music. Others , like me find thoughts racing through their minds and eventually coming out the ends of their fingers. Not sure how other people who create feel but it feels to me if my thoughts don't get out, my head will burst.

I write poetry sometimes while always wishing creative poetic words would just easily flow into print at will. But, it doesn't happen that way. My poetry has always come at the point where someone I love is hurting; something in my life is pressing on my mind or I'm just full to overflowing with joy at some event. Most poems come in the night. If they aren't captured on paper, they are gone the next morning. Perhaps I'm just weird that way.

I'm an avid reader. At times, there are three or more books laying about in several forms; just started, half way through or almost finished. Why the story lines don't get jumbled in my head in confusion I'm not sure, but somehow each story seems to individualize.

Okay, enough about me. This is to you because I do appreciate my faithful readers. And, I do remember those who read and like each day. Hopefully, you are reading because you are interested and not just because it popped up on your screen.

I appreciate all of you, my friends...........

"So encourage each other to build each other up, just as you are already doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11Living Bible (TLB)

 

The Red Leaf

There it was.....a beautiful leaf of the brightest red color lying on top of one of our shrubs. While my husband was making coffee, I looked out the window toward the road. Vehicles were passing, throwing up sprays of water from the two and a half inches of rain that had fallen. I saw the rain clouds hovering over the pasture across the road; raindrops splattering against the window and the wind blowing what few leaves are left on our trees. Then, my eyes fell on that one red leaf lying among the brown ones that had landed on that shrub; the only bright spot in all of the area I could see.

As I stood there admiring that bright spot in the midst of a dreary morning, I recalled walking into my elderly mother's kitchen. She was usually sitting in her rocking chair reading her bible. Or, perhaps she was stirring something on top of her stove. Whatever she was doing, she looked toward me and her blue eyes, dimmed with age now, lit up and a smile came across her face.

"Well, am I glad to see you" she would always say. To her, I was that bright spot in the midst of an otherwise bleak and uneventful day. I was that red leaf in the midst of the rain to my mother.
Are you that bright spot in someone's life? I have to admit that after my mother left this life in exchange for her Heavenly home, I haven't been much of a bright spot in anyone's life. I know there are friends who are in nursing homes who would smile and say "Well, am I glad to see you" if I would just take the time to visit. There are those who are shut in and sit all day just hoping their phone will ring bringing a bright spot into their life but they never get a call from me. Some wait, anticipating perhaps a card or note that would brighten their day and let them know they are thought about.

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16The Message (MSG)

I hate to admit it, but I'm not much of a light-bearer for our Lord. Too many times, my bright, red leaf is hidden under a bushel basket.

Where is your light?

"Toto, We're Not In Kansas Anymore"

"Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

If you remember L. Frank Baum's story about Dorothy and her dog Toto being caught in the path of a tornado, then you remember that line from the Wizard of Oz.

Yesterday, I thought about that line when I saw the videos of crazy people fighting over whatever they could get their hands on in stores across the nation. I thought to myself, "Not only are we not in Kansas anymore, are we really in America? Is this brawl actually happening in our country? Can you believe two women actually came to blows over a vegetable strainer??"

Black Friday, which should really be called Black and Blue Friday, had arrived. I feel sure there were some people who felt that truly, they had been caught in the path of a tornado. I wonder if the store owners/managers felt all the hype about sales was worth the destruction they were witnessing as big screen T.V.'s came crashing to the floor; jewelry cases where smashed into smithereens and displays they had spent hours on were wiped out in seconds.

Most of the people, when entering the stores, didn't expect to be caught up in a brawl. Some families make Black Friday a part of their holiday experience. The ladies in particular, enjoy the shopping experience with each other and never intend to get in the middle of a wrestling match. But, in times like these, gang mentality takes over. One person wants what someone else has; wrestles it from them; friends see what is happening and jump in to help. Next thing you know, an all out war has been waged within four walls and innocent people are soon being knocked about just because they were there.

You know, we could compare this with the way Satan works. He entices people with thoughts of pleasure; enjoyment for a time; acquiring wonderful things; being with friends for a day of carefree fun. Now what could be wrong with that? Once people are drawn in by Satan's promises, he blinds their eyes and it's difficult to get out unscathed.

"Satan, who is the god of this evil world, has made him blind, unable to see the glorious light of the Gospel that is shining upon him or to understand the amazing message we preach about the glory of Christ, who is God." 2 Corinthians 4:4Living Bible (TLB)

You're right, Dorothy, we're not in Kansas anymore. Instead, we are in a world where evil exists on every side and it will take more than a wizard to change the minds of those whom Satan has deceived.

Dim Those Lights!

"I'm so glad you all drove over.  Drive carefully and watch for deer. I love you!" our daughter #2 said as we headed out after spending the day celebrating Thanksgiving with the family.

I always dread driving after dark even though my husband is a good driver.  And, I particularly dread driving back highway 23 and 45 because of the deer population.  They don't seem to care about anything but crossing the road whenever they choose.

We leave the five lane highway at Hindsville and head on the two lane back to our home.  The headlights of oncoming traffic on the five lane when it's crowded with people heading to their Thanksgiving destination or leaving from work isn't pleasant but, it's nothing like the two lane we have to travel through the deer infested woods.

"You would think people would have the courtesy to dim their headlights when they meet you on this narrow road, wouldn't you?" I said to my husband, " people must be headed to the mall to shop.  They sure do seem to be in a hurry, not caring if they pass on a yellow line or fail to dim their lights."

I was taught when learning to drive years ago that when you meet oncoming traffic, you clicked the dimmer switch, which was located in the floor board.

"If I was guessing, I bet most young people don't even know there is a dimmer switch on their vehicles.  I'm not sure what the excuse is for those older people who don't dim their lights," I said, as I fumed about the blinding lights; especially those new blue ones that feel like a laser when they hit your eyes.

When we finally pulled into our drive, I was exhausted from seeing those blinding lights and trying to see any deer who might be thinking about making a mad dash across the road.

Years ago, young people were taught to respect their elders; to respect each other and, if necessary, put their wants on the back burner. By 18, a lot of young adults were beginning their own families, careers or a few went to college. They had to be respectable in those days if they wanted to retain their jobs or find favor with their college professors. Society has changed....our government has changed.....respect is not something easily found anywhere and that includes behind the wheel of a vehicle. 

Young people and older adults as well have programmed themselves to the idea that rudeness, thoughtlessness and disrespect are a way of life. We live in a Me society. If it's okay with me, then it should be okay with you.  I will do my thing; you do yours and we will get along fine.  Never mind if I shove my way in front of you in line or I fail to dim my headlights when I meet you. And, should you get in my way on the highway, I might just as soon shoot you as not. I'm comfortable with what I do and that's all that matters.......just stay out of my way.

Galatians 5:22 in The Living Bible tells us this:

^"But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,   gentleness and self-control"

How many of us are allowing the Holy Spirit to control our lives? Are we exhibiting those attributes?  If I was guessing, very few of those bright, blaring headlights were being controlled by someone who lives by those verses.

Think about this when you are traveling at night. You might be meeting some old people like us on the highway who were taught to dim our lights and we always appreciate those who do the same.

Thanksgiving 2015

“Do you want me to carry the food to the dining table or can we just fill our plates here in the kitchen?” Daughter # 2 asked as we were preparing to enjoy another Thanksgiving dinner.

“What does everyone want to drink? Tea, water, Coke?” inquired Daughter # 1, as she removed the tall glasses from the cabinet.

What a fun time our family has when we get together for a meal. There is always so much laughing and talking and sharing memories with one another. There have been times when it was just our immediate family and times when we have had as many as forty friends and family seated at tables throughout our home at Thanksgiving.

What is it about setting down to a bountiful dinner that makes our hearts sing for joy? Is it the turkey and dressing, the green bean casserole or broccoli casserole and orange junk topped off by desserts of all kinds? Oh, the food definitely helps but the main reason for joy is that we are all together in one place sharing the love we have for each other.

When we get to Heaven, will we be seated at a table with our loved ones around and Jesus at the head? I don’t know if there will be a need for food or drink in Heaven but “The Angel said to me, “Write this: ‘Blessed are those invited to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.’” He added, “These are the true words of God!” Revelation 19:9 The Message

No, I don’t know what Heaven will be like. I only know that we will be content there for eternity. It would be all the better if all of our loved ones were there also so we could fellowship just as we do here on earth.

What about you and your family? Will you be together one day in Heaven?

“We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!” I Corinthians 13:12 The Message

Sunshine In My Window

I love standing at our kitchen sink in the wintertime. The sun has moved just far enough south that by midmorning the sun streams in and warms up our home. Oh, there are those dull, sunless, cold, rainy, blustery days in the winter. We have learned to expect that. But, when the sun comes up in the east early in the morning and frost glistens on the windows, my soul just feels lighter and my heart wants to sing.

I know we need the rain. And, sometimes I enjoy sitting and listening to it hitting the roof. It's enjoyable sometimes to sit in our window seat, look out over the yard and watch the raindrops hit the ground with a splash. But, when it has been dreary and raining for several days , you open the shades and the sun bursts forth and you feel so much better! Isn't it amazing what the sun can do for ones heart and soul?

It's amazing what the Son can do for our souls, too. He can make our hearts sing when we realize just how much He loves us and what He has done for us by coming into the world to forgive our sin.
" I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will praise God to my last breath! May he be pleased by all these thoughts about him, for he is the source of all my joy." Psalm 104:33-34 (TLB)

One day just as the rain comes down from the Heavens, so will our Lord come down for His people. Much like I draw back the curtains to see the morning sun, the curtain of time will be drawn back to reveal the true Son.

"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NKJV)

Are you looking forward to His return?

Genna's 16th birthday

In 1999, I was asked to teach a seminar at the Wedding Professional Photographers International in Las Vegas. John and I were in our hotel room at the end of the day when the phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Mom! What’cha doin’”, Daughter # 2 inquired.

“Well, your dad and I are just recouping from a very long and tiring day. What’s up?”

“Are both of you sitting down?” She said.

“Well, actually, we’re stretched out here on the bed. Is that close enough?”

She laughed, “Yea, I guess. We just wanted to let you know that you’re going to be grandparents again.”

“OH MY GOODNESS!” was my initial reaction. “When?”

“In about eight months and we are SO excited and so are the girls!” she said.

Our two granddaughters had been begging for a brother or sister for ages and now their wish was going to come true.

Granddaughter # 3 made her entrance into the world. I had assumed it would take several hours for her to arrive so, while John had stayed with the little girls, I packed books, magazines, etc. in a bag and headed to the waiting room. I should have realized it wouldn’t take long for this grandchild’s arrival if she arrived as fast as Granddaughter # 2. The waiting room was near Daughter # 2’s room and it wasn’t long until I heard a baby crying. I rushed down the hall to the viewing room and there she was; screaming at the top of her lungs with her daddy standing and looking at her.

“Isn’t she the most beautiful baby?” He said.

“She certainly is.” was my reply.

Very soon, we were joined by another set of grandparents, a granddad and two very excited little girls, who couldn’t wait to see the little sister they had wanted for so long.

Happy 16th birthday, Genna Grace, you have truly been a delight for our family. Your sisters have loved you and helped you learn a lot of things even though sometimes they wonder why they ever wanted another sibling. All joking aside, you are such an outgoing, loving, talented young lady who loves the Lord, and we can’t wait to see what He has waiting for you in the future!

“Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
before I’d even lived one day.” Psalm 139:13-16 The Message

The Winter of Life

The cold winds have arrived taking most of the leaves from the trees in our yard. The temperatures dropped through the night and snowflakes glistened as they fell softly to the earth. We begin to dread the ice and inches of snow that surely will come with the season.

Winter is here………….

Each season comes in God's timing. During the cold winter months, we can sit by the fire, watching the snow fall and dream of spring flowers and budding leaves.
 
Spring arrives………….

We plant gardens thinking somehow that will hurry the warm sun and gentle breezes. Kids bring out their kites, praying for enough March wind to take them up into the clouds.

Summer comes.............

Scorching sun beats down on our bodies; flip flops are dug out; cool shorts replace the sweat pants. Kids beg to go swimming; men hurry from work so they can play golf or watch their off spring play some sport.

Then fall…………….

“Can you believe fall has arrived?” we ask our friends. Kids bemoan the beginning of school while college students begin to pack up and head for their college dorms. Football games begin and thousands of fans line the bleachers, shouting wildly for their favorite team.

Then as in nature, the winter of our live is here.

When we are young, in the springtime of life, time seems to move very slowly. We gather our neighborhood friends in the nearest field to fly kites. We grab sweaters and play hide and seek in the twilight. We listen for the thunder as lightening crosses the sky and wonder if this is the night we will spend in our cellars. New calves are born; new babies are born into families to begin the springtime of their lives.

Summertime in our lives and we are busy with our growing families. Work takes up the majority of time for both mothers and fathers, and we never seem to slow down. We are frantically running a taxi service for our children, who seem to have a plethora of activities.

Then the fall of life..... Sometimes, we feel our job in life is finished now that our children are raised and off on their own beginning their own families. Life begins to slow down a bit and we find time for ourselves. Oh, we continue to work but it’s easier to get there on time with no kids to get off to school. On the weekends we travel to our kid’s college and watch football games with them. Or we make a trip to see our grandchildren.

Winter of life is here. How did it arrive so fast? Wasn’t it just yesterday we were playing with neighborhood kids? Wasn’t it just last month we were running a taxi service taking our kids here and there? Didn’t we just rock our children and grandchildren?

Winter……..a time to reflect on life; time to slow down and think about our past and wonder if what we have done in life amounts to anything. We have wrinkles; our steps are slow; our hearing isn’t as keen as it once was. Travel is something we would rather talk about than do. We still dread the ice, because of the inconvenience and because old people tend to fall in icy places.

Yes, the winter of life. Many of us who have reached that place wish we could go back and relive the many things we took for granted along the way. If we are Believers, we don’t dread death but we dread the pain that sometimes proceeds it. And, we don’t want to think about the inconvenience we might be to our children.

God has given us life. He knows the length of our days just as He knows the number of hairs on our head. And, He has promised to be with us whatever season we are in.

"For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels won’t, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are—high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean—nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us." Romans 8:28-29 TLB