I have shared this before; maybe more than once. But, because youth from our church are at Siloam Springs this week, I must share one of my memories from my time there.
Church camp always provided a little bit of entertainment and a few headaches for the counselors, of which my mother was one for several years.
Upon arrival at Siloam Springs, our group of girls from the big, red brick church down the street from the post office, could hardly wait to be assigned a dorm. Having been there before, most of us knew that in whichever one we were residing for those two weeks (yes, it was two weeks then, and not the five days it is now), we could count on the weather being either hot, cold, rainy or stormy.
The dorms, with open air screens all around and just enough holes for the mosquitoes and flies to find their way in, awaited us at the end of the long climb to the top of Girls Hill. Upon arriving, it was a mad scramble to claim your bunk. If the weather forecast was for hot weather, we all wanted the top bunk ; rainy with cold nights, we scrambled for the bottom bunks. And, of course, you wanted your best friend to occupy the bunk across from you so you could giggle and whisper to each other after lights out. Some of us discovered the top bunk was always the best because, occasionally, someone in the top bunk would be sick and throw up, usually right on the bottom bunk.
This particular year, we were blessed (and I use that word lightly) with a group of girls from south Arkansas, who came without a counselor. They all huddled together on one side of the room in the bunks closest to the door. The beds could be "unbunked" so my mother chose the unbunked bed closest to the door on the opposite side. Oh, it was going to be fun having these very pretty, older girls in our dorm. Little did we know then just how much fun.
After the evening worship in the open air tabernacle and a trip to the Snack Shack, everyone headed to their dorms for a devotional time before lights out. Two of the older girls offered to lead the devotional and my mother was thrilled. Our prayers were said and we all settled down for what we thought would be a restful night.
About midnight, my mother was awakened by giggling and a "Shhhhhhh......quite", whispered near her.
"Where are you girls headed ?" Mother said.
Startled, one of them said,
"Oh, well, we needed to use the restroom."
"Okay, just a minute and I'll go with you." Mother said as she searched for her houseshoes and flashlight.
Off down the hill the four of them went; Mother leading the way with her flashlight. After the trip to the restroom, the four of them trudged back up the hill.
All was quiet for a time and then there was more whispering. Opening her eyes and flipping on her flashlight, Mother caught three of those same older girls sneaking out the door. Immediately the girls ran back to their their bunks with a stern warning from my Mother that night time was for sleeping not sneaking. Soon it was quiet again.
My mother was a very kind, gentle and patient woman but her motto was "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me". So, after the three girls were settled in bed, I heard a noise that sounded like something scraping across the floor. I sat up in bed; looked toward the screen door and my 5' 2" little Mother was slowly, but surely pushing her iron bed in front of the door, completely blocking the exit. As soon as her mission was completed, she removed her houseshoes, crawled back into bed, pulled up the covers and all was well the rest of the night. Oh, and for the remainder of camp I might add.
How often do we think we can fool our pastor, parents, our spouses, our children or our friends? We may fool everyone for a time; maybe even forever but we will never fool our Maker.
"Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you."
Friday, June 26, 2015
"Sam"
The young kids and youth from the big, red brick church down the street from the post office made a lot of memories at church camp.
There was this young kid and I'll call him Sam. When I was about 12 or 13, he and his sister were at camp. They lived in a big city in Arkansas and their dad was a pastor. Sam was just a big old kid who seemed pretty dumb as far as I could tell. Sam's sister was a couple of years older than Sam. One day she came to me and said , "Sam would like to set with you at church tonight."
Sam was in one or two of my morning classes and I knew he kept looking at me , smiling, and then dropping his head. Well, Sam wasn't exactly the cutest bug in the rug so I wasn't too impressed with him. I don't remember what I told Sam's sister, but I do remember what I told my best friend , who was also at camp.
"Tonight at church , you stick as close to me as you can. I'm going to see if I can get a seat next to the pole and you set beside me and DO NOT MOVE FOR ANYTHING!!!"
So, that's what we did. Sure enough, the rest of the bench filled up and I was squeezed in next to the pole. Sam came in and I hunkered down in my seat. He wandered all around and finally spotted me. Not having room to set beside me, he chose to set right behind me. I was MORTIFIED !!
The rest of the week it was "Avoid Sam At All Costs". Finally, on the last night, he managed to set two people down from me. During the morning classes, I just tried my best to avoid him, which wasn't easy. Sam seemed to be everywhere I turned, even the Snack Shack.
That was sixty+ years ago and I hadn't thought of Sam since then. So, when I began thinking about camp, I thought about this incident and I wondered what ever happened to Sam. So, I googled his name and lo and behold, not only did I find Sam, but I found what he had been doing since I last saw him setting on that wooden bench in the tabernacle grinning and dropping his head.
Sam did alright for himself. He graduated at the top of his high school class of over 700 students; went on to Baylor, where he graduated again at the top of a class of 725. He went on to Yale, then to Penn State , where he got his Doctorate in Philosophy. He taught in colleges for 31 years; was affiliated with other numerous prestigious colleges and wrote numereous articles and several books with titles that I can hardly pronounce. He passed away a few years ago but he left quite a legacy.
The moral of this story is not that Sam was better than anyone else; I'm sure he put his pants on one leg at a time just like everyone else. We shouldn't look at another person who is shy or not the cutest bug in the rug and just ignore them. We don't know what a child is capable of when they reach maturity. We don't know how our actions will affect a child. Apparently, my actions toward Sam didn't affect his ability to go on to do great things in life, but, we never know when our actions will affect someone so we need to appreciate people for who they are; no matter the age they are; no matter the color of their skin or nationality or background.
The bible tells us "Do to others as you would have them do to you." Luke 6:31 NIV.
What a wonderful world this would be if we all lived by that rule.
There was this young kid and I'll call him Sam. When I was about 12 or 13, he and his sister were at camp. They lived in a big city in Arkansas and their dad was a pastor. Sam was just a big old kid who seemed pretty dumb as far as I could tell. Sam's sister was a couple of years older than Sam. One day she came to me and said , "Sam would like to set with you at church tonight."
Sam was in one or two of my morning classes and I knew he kept looking at me , smiling, and then dropping his head. Well, Sam wasn't exactly the cutest bug in the rug so I wasn't too impressed with him. I don't remember what I told Sam's sister, but I do remember what I told my best friend , who was also at camp.
"Tonight at church , you stick as close to me as you can. I'm going to see if I can get a seat next to the pole and you set beside me and DO NOT MOVE FOR ANYTHING!!!"
So, that's what we did. Sure enough, the rest of the bench filled up and I was squeezed in next to the pole. Sam came in and I hunkered down in my seat. He wandered all around and finally spotted me. Not having room to set beside me, he chose to set right behind me. I was MORTIFIED !!
The rest of the week it was "Avoid Sam At All Costs". Finally, on the last night, he managed to set two people down from me. During the morning classes, I just tried my best to avoid him, which wasn't easy. Sam seemed to be everywhere I turned, even the Snack Shack.
That was sixty+ years ago and I hadn't thought of Sam since then. So, when I began thinking about camp, I thought about this incident and I wondered what ever happened to Sam. So, I googled his name and lo and behold, not only did I find Sam, but I found what he had been doing since I last saw him setting on that wooden bench in the tabernacle grinning and dropping his head.
Sam did alright for himself. He graduated at the top of his high school class of over 700 students; went on to Baylor, where he graduated again at the top of a class of 725. He went on to Yale, then to Penn State , where he got his Doctorate in Philosophy. He taught in colleges for 31 years; was affiliated with other numerous prestigious colleges and wrote numereous articles and several books with titles that I can hardly pronounce. He passed away a few years ago but he left quite a legacy.
The moral of this story is not that Sam was better than anyone else; I'm sure he put his pants on one leg at a time just like everyone else. We shouldn't look at another person who is shy or not the cutest bug in the rug and just ignore them. We don't know what a child is capable of when they reach maturity. We don't know how our actions will affect a child. Apparently, my actions toward Sam didn't affect his ability to go on to do great things in life, but, we never know when our actions will affect someone so we need to appreciate people for who they are; no matter the age they are; no matter the color of their skin or nationality or background.
The bible tells us "Do to others as you would have them do to you." Luke 6:31 NIV.
What a wonderful world this would be if we all lived by that rule.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Playing Rook at Camp
The teens from our church , Southern Heights Baptist, are at Siloam Springs church camp this week. That brings back memories of time I spent there.
Church camp was not only fun as a child but I loved it as an adult. There were such nice, shady hookups provided for those who wanted to camp. So we hooked our trailer to our van and drove over for a week at Siloam Springs Baptist Assembly. Our daughters were old enough to go with the group from the big, red brick church down the ...street from the post office. So off they went and we followed up later.
Church camp was not only fun as a child but I loved it as an adult. There were such nice, shady hookups provided for those who wanted to camp. So we hooked our trailer to our van and drove over for a week at Siloam Springs Baptist Assembly. Our daughters were old enough to go with the group from the big, red brick church down the ...street from the post office. So off they went and we followed up later.
One particular summer, we were delighted to have some very dear friends there. He was the children's pastor that year and they were staying in little cabins nearby, provided for teachers or pastors who would be leading the youth. Their children were also there but, like ours, were staying in the dorms. What a wonderful time we shared that week just catching up with each others lives; laughing and talking and relaxing together.
The four of us loved to play Rook. I remember one particular night after the worship service in the open air tabernacle, the four of us walked back to our camper hoping to get in a great game of Rook before lights out. As I recall, it was a fairly cool evening so our windows were open and the curtains pulled back. With the lights on, we could be seen by anyone passing by. As the cards were dealt, one of us remarked that perhaps we should pull the curtains so the children's pastor wouldn't be accused of playing cards. So, pull the shades we did.
As I look back at that time, the four of us really weren't disobeying any of God's laws. However, to someone walking by and seeing us playing cards, they might have thought we were gambling. Because we represent Christ, any appearance of wrong doing presents a wrong picture of how a Believer should act. So, as God's children, we have to be aware of everything we do because, even though what we are doing is innocent, it might offend others. Offending or causing someone to sin, even by doing something that is allowable, is still a sin. Little children at camp look up to their teachers and pastors. They also look up to their parents and other adults in other walks of life.
So, as adults, we must be very careful in all that we do; we must avoid even the appearance of evil for we are setting an example for someone.
“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." Matt. 18:6 NIV
The four of us loved to play Rook. I remember one particular night after the worship service in the open air tabernacle, the four of us walked back to our camper hoping to get in a great game of Rook before lights out. As I recall, it was a fairly cool evening so our windows were open and the curtains pulled back. With the lights on, we could be seen by anyone passing by. As the cards were dealt, one of us remarked that perhaps we should pull the curtains so the children's pastor wouldn't be accused of playing cards. So, pull the shades we did.
As I look back at that time, the four of us really weren't disobeying any of God's laws. However, to someone walking by and seeing us playing cards, they might have thought we were gambling. Because we represent Christ, any appearance of wrong doing presents a wrong picture of how a Believer should act. So, as God's children, we have to be aware of everything we do because, even though what we are doing is innocent, it might offend others. Offending or causing someone to sin, even by doing something that is allowable, is still a sin. Little children at camp look up to their teachers and pastors. They also look up to their parents and other adults in other walks of life.
So, as adults, we must be very careful in all that we do; we must avoid even the appearance of evil for we are setting an example for someone.
“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." Matt. 18:6 NIV
Monday, June 22, 2015
Good Intentions
How many of us have good intentions? How many of us are struck with the "intendedto" disease? And, the medication you choose for it is "doitlater".
"I intended to call you today, Mom, but..........."
"I intended to get that back step fixed before someone fell but........."
"I intended to pay the taxes before the deadline but........."
"I intended to take the car to the shop before it quit running but..........."
Do any of those sound familiar?
"I intended to get my homework done before now but..........."
"I intended to give up drinking but ..............."
"I intended to take my kids to the park but.........."
Most of the time, God gives us another change to do the things we intended to do. However, sometimes He doesn't. I remember over 30 years ago thinking I should go across town and spend my day off visiting with my Mother and Daddy. I had good intentions to do that as soon as I finished the dishes, made the bed and a few other things. I never made it to their house that day. A few days later, I was making preparations for my Daddy's funeral.
What if we listened to that still, small voice that whispers to us about something we need to do? What if we made it a point to get our family back in church; go and visit a shut in; witness to someone we know is not a believer? What if our good intentions were carried out without question?
I learned a lesson about intentions when I didn't listen to that voice inside telling me I needed to visit my parents. Oh, I slip up; I don't always listen when I should and do what I feel I should. However, I do recognize that nudging in my heart telling me my good intentions will get me nowhere and I need to follow His nudging.
What good intentions do you have that you are ignoring?
"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and get gain'; whereas you do not know about tomorrow. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. "James 4:13-14 RSV
"I intended to call you today, Mom, but..........."
"I intended to get that back step fixed before someone fell but........."
"I intended to pay the taxes before the deadline but........."
"I intended to take the car to the shop before it quit running but..........."
Do any of those sound familiar?
"I intended to get my homework done before now but..........."
"I intended to give up drinking but ..............."
"I intended to take my kids to the park but.........."
Most of the time, God gives us another change to do the things we intended to do. However, sometimes He doesn't. I remember over 30 years ago thinking I should go across town and spend my day off visiting with my Mother and Daddy. I had good intentions to do that as soon as I finished the dishes, made the bed and a few other things. I never made it to their house that day. A few days later, I was making preparations for my Daddy's funeral.
What if we listened to that still, small voice that whispers to us about something we need to do? What if we made it a point to get our family back in church; go and visit a shut in; witness to someone we know is not a believer? What if our good intentions were carried out without question?
I learned a lesson about intentions when I didn't listen to that voice inside telling me I needed to visit my parents. Oh, I slip up; I don't always listen when I should and do what I feel I should. However, I do recognize that nudging in my heart telling me my good intentions will get me nowhere and I need to follow His nudging.
What good intentions do you have that you are ignoring?
"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and get gain'; whereas you do not know about tomorrow. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. "James 4:13-14 RSV
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Oatmeal and Toast
As I opened the kitchen door that morning, there sat my 90+ year old Mother in her pink cotton housecoat and her apron.
“Well, good morning, Sis. You’re just in time for breakfast.” She said, smiling.
“Having oatmeal again I see, Mother. Why do you have that every morning?”
“ ‘cause it’s good for me.”
“And, do you still crumble up your toast in it?” I inquired.
“Sure do,” she said,” makes the toast softer and it tastes good.”
As I sat down to my daily breakfast of oatmeal and toast this morning, I caught myself crumbling the crust into my oatmeal.
“She was right; it does taste good,” I chuckled to myself.
I thought of my mother’s love of books and how she was always anxious for me to see the latest one she had gotten from the Christian Book Club she belonged to. Although I enjoyed reading, then I never seemed to have the time it. Now, I devour books as though my life depended on it and can’t wait for the new ones to come to our church library.
“Mom, why don’t you just sit down and let me get it?” Daughter #2 said as I got up one more time to get something from the kitchen. Our house was just breaming with family and we were all sitting down for a meal.
“You’re just like Grannie Great; popping up and down like a Jack in the Box at every meal” Chimed in Daughter # 1.
As I age, I guess I do take on some of my Mother’s traits. And, there is no one I would rather pattern my life after. I cherish the things she has taught me. They are gifts that could never be bought.
God blesses us with His gift of the Holy Spirit when we confess our sins and ask Him to come into our lives. Just as I inherited some of my Mother’s traits, I should exhibit the inheritance of my Heavenly Father, who loves me even more than my Mother did. Then, people would be able to recognize Him in my life just like my Daughters recognize the traits of my Mother in me.
“If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can’t take him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see him, doesn’t know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!” John 14:16-17 in The Message
“Well, good morning, Sis. You’re just in time for breakfast.” She said, smiling.
“Having oatmeal again I see, Mother. Why do you have that every morning?”
“ ‘cause it’s good for me.”
“And, do you still crumble up your toast in it?” I inquired.
“Sure do,” she said,” makes the toast softer and it tastes good.”
As I sat down to my daily breakfast of oatmeal and toast this morning, I caught myself crumbling the crust into my oatmeal.
“She was right; it does taste good,” I chuckled to myself.
I thought of my mother’s love of books and how she was always anxious for me to see the latest one she had gotten from the Christian Book Club she belonged to. Although I enjoyed reading, then I never seemed to have the time it. Now, I devour books as though my life depended on it and can’t wait for the new ones to come to our church library.
“Mom, why don’t you just sit down and let me get it?” Daughter #2 said as I got up one more time to get something from the kitchen. Our house was just breaming with family and we were all sitting down for a meal.
“You’re just like Grannie Great; popping up and down like a Jack in the Box at every meal” Chimed in Daughter # 1.
As I age, I guess I do take on some of my Mother’s traits. And, there is no one I would rather pattern my life after. I cherish the things she has taught me. They are gifts that could never be bought.
God blesses us with His gift of the Holy Spirit when we confess our sins and ask Him to come into our lives. Just as I inherited some of my Mother’s traits, I should exhibit the inheritance of my Heavenly Father, who loves me even more than my Mother did. Then, people would be able to recognize Him in my life just like my Daughters recognize the traits of my Mother in me.
“If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can’t take him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see him, doesn’t know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!” John 14:16-17 in The Message
Friday, June 19, 2015
Turnin' off the TV
“I’m turning the TV off. I'm on overload with all of the bad news, politics, etc. I think I can find something better to do” I say, as I pick up the control and hit the power button. " My books aren't depressing so I'm gonna read."
As I watch the news, I am reminded about the shape of our whole world. If there are any good news stories, they are few and far between. There is so much turmoil in our country and other countries; wars, terrorists, people killing each other ov...er little things, road rage, even a killing in a beautiful church. Then there are the earthquakes, the droughts, fires, floods, people stranded on the roads, roads washed out or blocked by rock or mud slides, and power outages everywhere. And, people are, well, just frustrated .
As I watch the news, I am reminded about the shape of our whole world. If there are any good news stories, they are few and far between. There is so much turmoil in our country and other countries; wars, terrorists, people killing each other ov...er little things, road rage, even a killing in a beautiful church. Then there are the earthquakes, the droughts, fires, floods, people stranded on the roads, roads washed out or blocked by rock or mud slides, and power outages everywhere. And, people are, well, just frustrated .
As I was reading in the Psalms today, I couldn’t help but wonder what God might be thinking as He looks at His children. Those who are not believers have every right to worry because they don’t have the assurance of God’s protection. But, Believers have God’s word that tells us He is in control of all that goes on here on the earth. Psalm 2 tells us that God sits in Heaven and laughs. I’m sure He is amused ,but I am also sure that He is very disappointed when His children have so little faith in Him, they worry about everything that happens.
“Why are the nations so shaken up and the people planning foolish things? The kings of the earth stand in a line ready to fight, and all the leaders are against the Lord and against His Chosen One. They say, “Let us break their chains and throw them away from us.” He Who sits in the heavens laughs. The Lord makes fun of them.” Psalm 2:2-4 NLV
How is your faith? What is your worry level? How much faith do you put in God’s ability to control all things in your life?
“God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble. And so we need not fear even if the world blows up and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam; let the mountains tremble! There is a river of joy flowing through the city of our God—the sacred home of the God above all gods. God himself is living in that city; therefore it stands unmoved despite the turmoil everywhere. He will not delay his help. The nations rant and rave in anger—but when God speaks, the earth melts in submission and kingdoms totter into ruin. The Commander of the armies of heaven is here among us. He, the God of Jacob, has come to rescue us. Come, see the glorious things that our God does, how he brings ruin upon the world and causes wars to end throughout the earth, breaking and burning every weapon. “Stand silent! Know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation in the world!” The Commander of the heavenly armies is here among us! He, the God of Jacob, has come to rescue us!” Psalm 46 TLB
“Why are the nations so shaken up and the people planning foolish things? The kings of the earth stand in a line ready to fight, and all the leaders are against the Lord and against His Chosen One. They say, “Let us break their chains and throw them away from us.” He Who sits in the heavens laughs. The Lord makes fun of them.” Psalm 2:2-4 NLV
How is your faith? What is your worry level? How much faith do you put in God’s ability to control all things in your life?
“God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble. And so we need not fear even if the world blows up and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam; let the mountains tremble! There is a river of joy flowing through the city of our God—the sacred home of the God above all gods. God himself is living in that city; therefore it stands unmoved despite the turmoil everywhere. He will not delay his help. The nations rant and rave in anger—but when God speaks, the earth melts in submission and kingdoms totter into ruin. The Commander of the armies of heaven is here among us. He, the God of Jacob, has come to rescue us. Come, see the glorious things that our God does, how he brings ruin upon the world and causes wars to end throughout the earth, breaking and burning every weapon. “Stand silent! Know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation in the world!” The Commander of the heavenly armies is here among us! He, the God of Jacob, has come to rescue us!” Psalm 46 TLB
Thursday, June 18, 2015
The Old Porch Swing
There is nothing like setting in an old porch swing to bring back memories!
When I was a child, we had a porch swing on our breezeway. It was a favorite place to sit late in the evenings with my Daddy. That was when he caught up on my activities of the day.
"So, what have you done today, Honey?" my daddy would ask as we sat in our porch swing after supper.
"Oh, well, I played with Blondie a while. I dressed her up in my doll's dress and pushed her in the doll buggy. Then, Mother put some Kool-aid in a little jar with a lid and she fixed me a sandwich and she let me eat it outside. You know, down there under that white bush", I said, hardly taking a breath and pointing to the spirea bush that graced our south lawn. "Then, she said I had to take a nap. You know I don't like naps AT ALL. But, she said I had to at least lay down and if I couldn't sleep I could just rest. So, I took my doll and my books and climbed up on the bed. Blondie came and jumped up by me. She just purred and purred and then went to sleep but I didn't. It was just too hot. Mother came and peeked in a couple of times and just grinned so I guess it was okay if I didn't go to sleep," I said, yawning.
Then, as I laid my head over on my Daddy's big, broad shoulder, he would tell me about the fish he saw jumping out of the water on Kings River. Sometimes, he shared about the squirrels that were jumping from limb to limb in some big ole' trees. And, as he talked, he would gently glide the swing back and forth..... back and forth. The crickets would be chirping as darkness crept in. Then the lightening bugs would come out flickering all about, lighting little areas here and there. And, still daddy would gently glide that old, squeaky swing back and forth..... back and forth.
I never remembered being moved but in the morning, I would wake up just where my daddy had gently laid me; right in my own little bed, still wearing the same clothes I had on the day before. I would open my eyes and the sun would be streaming in and I would smell breakfast cooking. Yawning, I'd get out of bed, stretch and wonder what new things awaited me this day.
I like to think that's what it will be like for us when we close our eyes for the last time and awaken to the brightness of our Savior's face as He guides us to our Heavenly Home.
Dottie Rambo wrote this song that has been a favorite of mine.
Sheltered in The Arms of God
I feel the touch of hands so kind and gentle,
They're leading me in paths that I must trod;
I have no fear when Jesus walks beside me,
For I'm sheltered in the arms of God.
So let the storms rage high, the dark clouds rise,
They won't worry me for I'm sheltered safe within the arms of God;
He walks with me and naught of Earth can harm me,
Sheltered safe within the arms of God.
Soon I shall hear the call from Heaven's portals,
Come home my child, it's the last mile you must trod;
I'll fall asleep and wake in God's new Heaven,
Sheltered safe within the arms of God.
When I was a child, we had a porch swing on our breezeway. It was a favorite place to sit late in the evenings with my Daddy. That was when he caught up on my activities of the day.
"So, what have you done today, Honey?" my daddy would ask as we sat in our porch swing after supper.
"Oh, well, I played with Blondie a while. I dressed her up in my doll's dress and pushed her in the doll buggy. Then, Mother put some Kool-aid in a little jar with a lid and she fixed me a sandwich and she let me eat it outside. You know, down there under that white bush", I said, hardly taking a breath and pointing to the spirea bush that graced our south lawn. "Then, she said I had to take a nap. You know I don't like naps AT ALL. But, she said I had to at least lay down and if I couldn't sleep I could just rest. So, I took my doll and my books and climbed up on the bed. Blondie came and jumped up by me. She just purred and purred and then went to sleep but I didn't. It was just too hot. Mother came and peeked in a couple of times and just grinned so I guess it was okay if I didn't go to sleep," I said, yawning.
Then, as I laid my head over on my Daddy's big, broad shoulder, he would tell me about the fish he saw jumping out of the water on Kings River. Sometimes, he shared about the squirrels that were jumping from limb to limb in some big ole' trees. And, as he talked, he would gently glide the swing back and forth..... back and forth. The crickets would be chirping as darkness crept in. Then the lightening bugs would come out flickering all about, lighting little areas here and there. And, still daddy would gently glide that old, squeaky swing back and forth..... back and forth.
I never remembered being moved but in the morning, I would wake up just where my daddy had gently laid me; right in my own little bed, still wearing the same clothes I had on the day before. I would open my eyes and the sun would be streaming in and I would smell breakfast cooking. Yawning, I'd get out of bed, stretch and wonder what new things awaited me this day.
I like to think that's what it will be like for us when we close our eyes for the last time and awaken to the brightness of our Savior's face as He guides us to our Heavenly Home.
Dottie Rambo wrote this song that has been a favorite of mine.
Sheltered in The Arms of God
I feel the touch of hands so kind and gentle,
They're leading me in paths that I must trod;
I have no fear when Jesus walks beside me,
For I'm sheltered in the arms of God.
So let the storms rage high, the dark clouds rise,
They won't worry me for I'm sheltered safe within the arms of God;
He walks with me and naught of Earth can harm me,
Sheltered safe within the arms of God.
Soon I shall hear the call from Heaven's portals,
Come home my child, it's the last mile you must trod;
I'll fall asleep and wake in God's new Heaven,
Sheltered safe within the arms of God.
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
What Are You Reading?
As Granddaughter # 2 started to climb out of the bathtub , she looked up at me and said,
“Mimi, I needs a towel to stand my feets on and a towel to dry wif. Din, I needs you to hold my Barbie doll while I gets out of here.”
“Mimi, I needs a towel to stand my feets on and a towel to dry wif. Din, I needs you to hold my Barbie doll while I gets out of here.”
So, I held the Barbie doll while Christen, climbed out of the bathtub.
“Burrrrr, Mimi, I’s cold. Tood you dis hold me tight ‘till I warms up?”
So, I hugged her tightly until she quit shaking then I towel dried her hair and helped her put on her little night gown. She was spending the night with us and I knew what was coming next.
“Mimi, ‘fore I goes to seep, tood, you weed me dat story dat you know I yike?” She asked, looking up at me with those pleading brown eyes.
“Sure I will. You go jump in bed while I pick up the wet towels and I’ll be right there.”
So, we snuggled down in bed with her favorite book. I don’t remember the name of the book now but I know I read it to her until I almost had it memorized. We have read that book over and over but it was always her favorite and always the one we had to read first. Then there were the Dr. Suess books; several of them.
I remember when I was her age. I loved to snuggle with my Mother in my bed. I had a favorite book, too, and it was called "Poppy". It was about a fairy who had all kinds of adventures. I looked at that book so many times that I almost wore it out. It’s in my cedar chest even today minus the cover. I still love to read in bed. I love to snuggle down under the covers and get lost in some adventure taking place between the covers of the book I am currently reading.
I am ashamed that I don’t spend as much time reading God’s Word as I do other books. Why am I not more anxious to read the stories in the bible? After all, how are we to know what God would have us do unless we read what the biblical writers, who were inspired by Him to write for all generations?
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV
“Burrrrr, Mimi, I’s cold. Tood you dis hold me tight ‘till I warms up?”
So, I hugged her tightly until she quit shaking then I towel dried her hair and helped her put on her little night gown. She was spending the night with us and I knew what was coming next.
“Mimi, ‘fore I goes to seep, tood, you weed me dat story dat you know I yike?” She asked, looking up at me with those pleading brown eyes.
“Sure I will. You go jump in bed while I pick up the wet towels and I’ll be right there.”
So, we snuggled down in bed with her favorite book. I don’t remember the name of the book now but I know I read it to her until I almost had it memorized. We have read that book over and over but it was always her favorite and always the one we had to read first. Then there were the Dr. Suess books; several of them.
I remember when I was her age. I loved to snuggle with my Mother in my bed. I had a favorite book, too, and it was called "Poppy". It was about a fairy who had all kinds of adventures. I looked at that book so many times that I almost wore it out. It’s in my cedar chest even today minus the cover. I still love to read in bed. I love to snuggle down under the covers and get lost in some adventure taking place between the covers of the book I am currently reading.
I am ashamed that I don’t spend as much time reading God’s Word as I do other books. Why am I not more anxious to read the stories in the bible? After all, how are we to know what God would have us do unless we read what the biblical writers, who were inspired by Him to write for all generations?
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Bicycle wreck
It seems Little John was going home to spend the night with his friend. He didn’t have his bicycle with him that day so he jumped on the carrier on the back of his friend’s bicycle and hung on to the bicycle seat. Those two boys were forever working on their bicycles trying to make them as speedy as they could. They had oiled the differential on the back wheel making the brakes very sensitive. The road they were on was the main road in the community but it was newly graveled and not paved as it is today. And as they went flying down the hill, Little John’s friend applied the brakes a bit too hard. The rear end of the bicycle slid first one way and then the other. Little John was so frightened, he hung on for dear life while his friend went flying over the handlebars plowing into the gravel, sliding several feet on his tummy and knees. The bicycle fell over in front of their teacher’s house and sent Little John sliding along on his knees skinning them also.
Meanwhile, their teacher, who was inside her home when she heard the commotion, raced to the door, jerked it open and saw the two boys lying on the gravel. She started toward them,
“Oh my goodness, boys, are you hurt?” she yelled.
By this time, both boys had scrambled up, not wanting to let their teacher think they weren’t tough.
“Oh, no, we’re fine ain’t we, Little John?”
“Yep, just got a little skinned knees is all,“ Said Little John as he wiped the gravel from his britches legs.
As the teacher came closer, Little John’s friend happened to glance down and realized he was standing there facing his teacher with the whole front of his jeans literally hanging in shreds. He was so embarrassed he could have just died right there. He quickly turned to Little John,
“Uh, don’t think we’ll be able to ride at bicycle home so you push it on ta my house. I’m just agonna go through the field here ‘stead of down at road and I’ll meet ‘cha there,” Little John’s friend said,
“Oh, and, Little John, tell Mom to dig me out an old pair of britches and we’ll work on my bicycle when I get home, okay?”
Little John glanced at his teacher and was sure he saw a smile on her face. He hoped it was just a happy smile because they weren’t hurt and not a snicker because of his friend’s shredded britches.
The boys had laughed and laughed when they thought they were outsmarting their teacher in an earlier incident. They were disrupting classes, scaring the cattle and just generally upsetting the kids who had gone to school that day. Now the tables were turned. After realizing nothing but their pride was hurt, teacher had the last laugh at their expense.
Have you ever done something and had the tables turned on you?
“You have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out” Numbers 32:23. The actual meaning is “you will suffer for your sin.”
I’m not saying that Little John and his friend suffered skinned knees and torn britches because they blew their bugles during school time. But, I know both boys knew they were being disrespectful of their teacher and that skipping school was not the right thing to do. And, just perhaps while both boys were walking home from their accident, the thought crossed their minds that maybe, just maybe, aside from oiling that bicycle a bit too much, skipping school wasn’t the best idea they ever had either.
Meanwhile, their teacher, who was inside her home when she heard the commotion, raced to the door, jerked it open and saw the two boys lying on the gravel. She started toward them,
“Oh my goodness, boys, are you hurt?” she yelled.
By this time, both boys had scrambled up, not wanting to let their teacher think they weren’t tough.
“Oh, no, we’re fine ain’t we, Little John?”
“Yep, just got a little skinned knees is all,“ Said Little John as he wiped the gravel from his britches legs.
As the teacher came closer, Little John’s friend happened to glance down and realized he was standing there facing his teacher with the whole front of his jeans literally hanging in shreds. He was so embarrassed he could have just died right there. He quickly turned to Little John,
“Uh, don’t think we’ll be able to ride at bicycle home so you push it on ta my house. I’m just agonna go through the field here ‘stead of down at road and I’ll meet ‘cha there,” Little John’s friend said,
“Oh, and, Little John, tell Mom to dig me out an old pair of britches and we’ll work on my bicycle when I get home, okay?”
Little John glanced at his teacher and was sure he saw a smile on her face. He hoped it was just a happy smile because they weren’t hurt and not a snicker because of his friend’s shredded britches.
The boys had laughed and laughed when they thought they were outsmarting their teacher in an earlier incident. They were disrupting classes, scaring the cattle and just generally upsetting the kids who had gone to school that day. Now the tables were turned. After realizing nothing but their pride was hurt, teacher had the last laugh at their expense.
Have you ever done something and had the tables turned on you?
“You have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out” Numbers 32:23. The actual meaning is “you will suffer for your sin.”
I’m not saying that Little John and his friend suffered skinned knees and torn britches because they blew their bugles during school time. But, I know both boys knew they were being disrespectful of their teacher and that skipping school was not the right thing to do. And, just perhaps while both boys were walking home from their accident, the thought crossed their minds that maybe, just maybe, aside from oiling that bicycle a bit too much, skipping school wasn’t the best idea they ever had either.
Monday, June 15, 2015
Blow 'dem Trumpets, Boys!
In my earlier posts about bicycles and my mother and myself, I remembered another incident about my husband and his friend when he was a kid. Bicycles were involved in this story, too. In fact, a lot of stories about my husband as a kid involved bicycles.
It was such a beautiful fall day . So, why would two little boys want to spend it in that one room school house? The only fun they had there was at recess and it never lasted long enough. Oh, it was kinda fun to pass notes to the cute girl that sat behind you. Or to throw spit and/or paper wads when the teacher wasn’t looking. But, most little boys could do without the other stuff that went on at school.
Hopping on their bicycles and heading down the road, lunch buckets in hand, and the bugles they had acquired recently, their minds began to conjure up ideas.
“Hey, I got an idea. It’s just to purty to go to school so let’s skip. What’cha say? “
“Reckon we won’t get caught?” said Little John.
“Shoot no, that dumb teacher’ll just think we’re sick. ‘sides, she won’t see our mothers probally.”
“Well, okay, what ‘cha wanna do?”
“Let’s ride over there behind the school to that hill, climb to the top and we can watch what’s a goin’ on at recess. We might even get close ‘nuff to throw rocks at them girls.” Said Little John’s friend.
So, off they rode faster than a streak of lightening. Arriving at the foot of the hill, they left their bikes and their lunch boxes and headed up the hill bugles in hand.
“Think this is ‘bout high enough, don’t you?” said Little John.
“Nah, let’s get up there by that big, ole, rock and we can sit on it and watch and see what’s a goin’ on.”
So, up to the rock they climbed; seated themselves behind a tree that was growing up in front of the rock; leaned back against a couple of other trees and began their watch.
Down in the fenced in pasture behind the school was a herd of cattle grazing in the warm morning sun. Little John picked up his bugle and let out a loud blast. The cattle stopped and looked around wondering what the noise was.
“Let’s blow our bugles at the same time”, said Little John’s friend. “On the count of three, let’s blow ‘em.”
One, two , three and what a sound they did make. The cattle started running wildly around the pasture and the boys fell over laughing. That was such fun, they blew together again and again, continuing to laugh at the wild racing about of the cattle.
Hearing the commotion outside, the teacher went to the door. Seeing the cattle running about, she couldn’t imagine what was going on. She closed the door, went back inside and continued classes.
Recess time and out came the students running wildly about the school yard like the cattle.
“Let’s blow our bugles again. “ said Little John’s friend. So, on the count of three, blow they did. The kids all stopped and looked around.
“ ‘Ets do that again”, said Little John, “did you see how everbody was a lookin’ all around? They can’t figure out what's a goin’ on!” So, the two boys continued to blow their bugles; the cattle continued to run wildly about and the kids stood , looking around trying to figure out what was going on.
One day very soon, all of us will be going about our daily tasks. Some will be asleep, others will be working in a field and yet others, like Little John and his friend were , will just be out having a good time, enjoying life, unaware of what is about to happen. Then we will hear , not a bugle, but the trumpet of the Lord and, the end of this life on earth as we know it will be but a memory. What will your reaction be to that sound and the sight of our Savior descending from Heaven with a shout?
1Thessalonians 4:16-17, "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."
Hopping on their bicycles and heading down the road, lunch buckets in hand, and the bugles they had acquired recently, their minds began to conjure up ideas.
“Hey, I got an idea. It’s just to purty to go to school so let’s skip. What’cha say? “
“Reckon we won’t get caught?” said Little John.
“Shoot no, that dumb teacher’ll just think we’re sick. ‘sides, she won’t see our mothers probally.”
“Well, okay, what ‘cha wanna do?”
“Let’s ride over there behind the school to that hill, climb to the top and we can watch what’s a goin’ on at recess. We might even get close ‘nuff to throw rocks at them girls.” Said Little John’s friend.
So, off they rode faster than a streak of lightening. Arriving at the foot of the hill, they left their bikes and their lunch boxes and headed up the hill bugles in hand.
“Think this is ‘bout high enough, don’t you?” said Little John.
“Nah, let’s get up there by that big, ole, rock and we can sit on it and watch and see what’s a goin’ on.”
So, up to the rock they climbed; seated themselves behind a tree that was growing up in front of the rock; leaned back against a couple of other trees and began their watch.
Down in the fenced in pasture behind the school was a herd of cattle grazing in the warm morning sun. Little John picked up his bugle and let out a loud blast. The cattle stopped and looked around wondering what the noise was.
“Let’s blow our bugles at the same time”, said Little John’s friend. “On the count of three, let’s blow ‘em.”
One, two , three and what a sound they did make. The cattle started running wildly around the pasture and the boys fell over laughing. That was such fun, they blew together again and again, continuing to laugh at the wild racing about of the cattle.
Hearing the commotion outside, the teacher went to the door. Seeing the cattle running about, she couldn’t imagine what was going on. She closed the door, went back inside and continued classes.
Recess time and out came the students running wildly about the school yard like the cattle.
“Let’s blow our bugles again. “ said Little John’s friend. So, on the count of three, blow they did. The kids all stopped and looked around.
“ ‘Ets do that again”, said Little John, “did you see how everbody was a lookin’ all around? They can’t figure out what's a goin’ on!” So, the two boys continued to blow their bugles; the cattle continued to run wildly about and the kids stood , looking around trying to figure out what was going on.
One day very soon, all of us will be going about our daily tasks. Some will be asleep, others will be working in a field and yet others, like Little John and his friend were , will just be out having a good time, enjoying life, unaware of what is about to happen. Then we will hear , not a bugle, but the trumpet of the Lord and, the end of this life on earth as we know it will be but a memory. What will your reaction be to that sound and the sight of our Savior descending from Heaven with a shout?
1Thessalonians 4:16-17, "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."
Saturday, June 13, 2015
What... No Hot Water?
Like so many others my age, when I was a small child having hot water in your home was a luxury; just having running water was a luxury. We had running water but we had no hot water so our water was heated in a copper kettle on our stove. We had an old, cement shower stall but a cold shower wasn’t one of the things that I craved. So, the copper kettle got a real work out come Saturday night.
My bathtub was a galvanized wash tub. In the summer, it was set in our very tiny bathroom. In the winter, Mother would set it in front of the old coal stove in our living room. Dipping out the soapy water, then adding rinse water, was quite a chore but my mother did it without complaining. She also washed dishes by hand, scalding them with boiling water from that old copper kettle. And, she washed clothes in an old wringer washer, pouring hot water from the copper kettle into the wash water and into the rinse water. Today, that copper kettle sets on our fireplace hearth and brings back a lot of memories when I see it.
The last two days, I was reminded once again what it means to have no hot water. Our good plumber had worked on our water heater and thought it was fixed, as did we, but this morning, again no hot water. And, here it was Saturday.....So, I had a discussion with the Lord.
“Lord, tomorrow is Sunday and you know that we can’t go to church without showers. So, if you could possibly see fit, please, could you just let us know what the problem is and send someone to fix it? “
So, this afternoon, my industrious husband, who can fix most anything, fooled with the water heater until he found the problem. With a flip of a switch, we had water hot enough that steam was coming off it in the sink.
How many things in this life do we take for granted? The lack of hot water flowing from a faucet wouldn’t have been a problem 60 or 70 years ago. No running water in the homes was a common thing. Refrigeration wasn’t common so blocks of ice were purchased at an ice house and used to keep things cold in an icebox. Milk was cooled in spring water. Hogs were butchered and cured out in a smoke house for meat that didn’t have to be refrigerated. Telephones weren’t in homes so if you needed to share something, you posted a letter. If you needed to tell your neighbor something, you walked to their house or rode your horse. No televisions to provide entertainment, so you played games with your family and friends. You got to know each other and appreciate each other’s company. I wonder if people put more trust in the Lord back in those days than we do today?
Our material needs today are probably not as great as they were back then. But, I think perhaps our spiritual needs might be greater. A lot of us have forgotten to ask the Lord to meet our needs. We just complain if our wants are not met and forget that He desires that we come to Him with our requests. He will supply, not necessarily all of our wants but, all of our needs if we just ask.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives ; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Matthew 7:7-8 NIV
My bathtub was a galvanized wash tub. In the summer, it was set in our very tiny bathroom. In the winter, Mother would set it in front of the old coal stove in our living room. Dipping out the soapy water, then adding rinse water, was quite a chore but my mother did it without complaining. She also washed dishes by hand, scalding them with boiling water from that old copper kettle. And, she washed clothes in an old wringer washer, pouring hot water from the copper kettle into the wash water and into the rinse water. Today, that copper kettle sets on our fireplace hearth and brings back a lot of memories when I see it.
The last two days, I was reminded once again what it means to have no hot water. Our good plumber had worked on our water heater and thought it was fixed, as did we, but this morning, again no hot water. And, here it was Saturday.....So, I had a discussion with the Lord.
“Lord, tomorrow is Sunday and you know that we can’t go to church without showers. So, if you could possibly see fit, please, could you just let us know what the problem is and send someone to fix it? “
So, this afternoon, my industrious husband, who can fix most anything, fooled with the water heater until he found the problem. With a flip of a switch, we had water hot enough that steam was coming off it in the sink.
How many things in this life do we take for granted? The lack of hot water flowing from a faucet wouldn’t have been a problem 60 or 70 years ago. No running water in the homes was a common thing. Refrigeration wasn’t common so blocks of ice were purchased at an ice house and used to keep things cold in an icebox. Milk was cooled in spring water. Hogs were butchered and cured out in a smoke house for meat that didn’t have to be refrigerated. Telephones weren’t in homes so if you needed to share something, you posted a letter. If you needed to tell your neighbor something, you walked to their house or rode your horse. No televisions to provide entertainment, so you played games with your family and friends. You got to know each other and appreciate each other’s company. I wonder if people put more trust in the Lord back in those days than we do today?
Our material needs today are probably not as great as they were back then. But, I think perhaps our spiritual needs might be greater. A lot of us have forgotten to ask the Lord to meet our needs. We just complain if our wants are not met and forget that He desires that we come to Him with our requests. He will supply, not necessarily all of our wants but, all of our needs if we just ask.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives ; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Matthew 7:7-8 NIV
Silly Texting
I foresee babies in the future being born with no larynx and a third hand. Now let me explain.
People in the future will have no need for a larynx because they will have no need to talk. However, a third hand would come in handy for holding their IPhone while the other two hands type messages to friends and family much like we type on our computers today. After all, it would be much faster than trying to type with one hand while holding the IPhone in the other.
Follow me into... the future…………….
People in the future will have no need for a larynx because they will have no need to talk. However, a third hand would come in handy for holding their IPhone while the other two hands type messages to friends and family much like we type on our computers today. After all, it would be much faster than trying to type with one hand while holding the IPhone in the other.
Follow me into... the future…………….
Scenario # 1
“What’s for dinner?” Sis texts to Mom.
“Spaghetti and salad,” Mom lifts her IPhone and texts back, “Now text your dad and tell him dinner is almost ready.”
Scenario # 2
“ I just wonder if Jennifer would go to the prom with me if I texted her?” inquires Ben of his best friend, Rick.
"Never know till you ask".
Scenario # 3
“I love you, Nancy, will you marry me?” texts Ted while down on one knee.
Nancy, holding her IPhone in her third hand and texting Ted very quickly
“You know I will! I love you, too.” Then they put their IPhones back into their pockets and hug each other tightly.
And finally, scenario # 4
“Let’s all stand and text the next hymn.” Says the worship leader, “then Bro. Smith will come and text us his message for the day.”
Yes, it all sounds pretty silly, doesn’t it? However, have you noticed how many people sit right next to each other in a restaurant or around the table at home , texting each other rather than addressing each other verbally? Are we losing the art of direct communication; looking each other in the eye and speaking our thoughts?
Perhaps our texting is getting us ready for that time when we come face to face with our creator, whether it is through death or His return for all Believers. At that time, there will be no need for conversation for we will know all things just as He knows all things.
“Love never comes to an end. The gift of speaking God’s Word will come to an end. The gift of speaking in special sounds will be stopped. The gift of understanding will come to an end. For we only know a part now, and we speak only a part. When everything is perfect, then we will not need these gifts that are not perfect. When I was a child, I spoke like a child. I thought like a child. I understood like a child. Now I am a man. I do not act like a child anymore. Now that which we see is as if we were looking in a broken mirror. But then we will see everything. Now I know only a part. But then I will know everything in a perfect way. That is how God knows me right now. 1 Corinthians 13:8-12
“What’s for dinner?” Sis texts to Mom.
“Spaghetti and salad,” Mom lifts her IPhone and texts back, “Now text your dad and tell him dinner is almost ready.”
Scenario # 2
“ I just wonder if Jennifer would go to the prom with me if I texted her?” inquires Ben of his best friend, Rick.
"Never know till you ask".
Scenario # 3
“I love you, Nancy, will you marry me?” texts Ted while down on one knee.
Nancy, holding her IPhone in her third hand and texting Ted very quickly
“You know I will! I love you, too.” Then they put their IPhones back into their pockets and hug each other tightly.
And finally, scenario # 4
“Let’s all stand and text the next hymn.” Says the worship leader, “then Bro. Smith will come and text us his message for the day.”
Yes, it all sounds pretty silly, doesn’t it? However, have you noticed how many people sit right next to each other in a restaurant or around the table at home , texting each other rather than addressing each other verbally? Are we losing the art of direct communication; looking each other in the eye and speaking our thoughts?
Perhaps our texting is getting us ready for that time when we come face to face with our creator, whether it is through death or His return for all Believers. At that time, there will be no need for conversation for we will know all things just as He knows all things.
“Love never comes to an end. The gift of speaking God’s Word will come to an end. The gift of speaking in special sounds will be stopped. The gift of understanding will come to an end. For we only know a part now, and we speak only a part. When everything is perfect, then we will not need these gifts that are not perfect. When I was a child, I spoke like a child. I thought like a child. I understood like a child. Now I am a man. I do not act like a child anymore. Now that which we see is as if we were looking in a broken mirror. But then we will see everything. Now I know only a part. But then I will know everything in a perfect way. That is how God knows me right now. 1 Corinthians 13:8-12
Friday, June 12, 2015
Learning to Ride a Bicycle
“If you want a bicycle, you have to learn to ride first. Second, you have to save your money,” my Daddy said to me when I was about 9 years old.
How I was going to learn to ride without a bicycle was a mystery to me. But, the boy next door had a bicycle and my friend had one. One day, the boy next door brought his big boys bicycle up to my front yard.
“Okay, you can see if you can ride my bicycle but you better not wreck it,” the neighbor boy said to me.
How I was going to learn to ride without a bicycle was a mystery to me. But, the boy next door had a bicycle and my friend had one. One day, the boy next door brought his big boys bicycle up to my front yard.
“Okay, you can see if you can ride my bicycle but you better not wreck it,” the neighbor boy said to me.
I looked at his big bicycle with the bar from the seat to the handlebar area.
“No way, I’m gettin’ on that big thing,” I told him,” if I never learn to ride!”
“Okay, you had your chance,” he said, turning his bicycle around and heading back home.
I was so unhappy. My friends could all ride and there I sat on our front porch just watching them ride by. Of course, they were nice enough to wave to me as they past.
Eventually, I got up the nerve to try to ride. My friend had a girls bicycle and I promised her I would be very careful if she would let me see if I could ride it. Of course, the boy next door had to come and watch me make a fool of myself to his amusement. So, with them holding the seat on each side and me setting astraddle the seat, off we went down across the yard.
“Don’t you DARE turn loose, you two,” I shouted.
“Oh, we won’t”, they said, laughing all the while.
Of course, both of them turned loose at the same time and there I was wobbling from side to side and screaming for all I was worth! I took my feet off the pedals because they were turning so fast. Of course, they were hitting my legs, WHAM, WHAM, WHAM! In front of me was a drive way with a curb and a drop off into the neighbor’s yard and a little tree to the right. It was my choice which I took but I knew I was going down. Sure enough, into the tree I went and over onto the grass. My pride was hurt; my knee was skinned and my shirt was grass stained. But, my friend’s bicycle survived. I suppose if I hadn’t wanted to ride so badly, I would have given up. But, I didn’t. We tried again the next day and within a few days, I was able to keep the two wheels under me instead of on top of me.
Persistence in some things is worthwhile. My persistence in continuing to practice until I mastered the art of riding paid off because I enjoyed a lot of years riding my bicycle around the neighborhood and even to school and back.
How persistent are we with our bible study. A lot of times because we don’t always understand what we read, it’s very easy to just give up. However, if we ask God to open our minds and our hearts; get a version that is easy to understand, God will show us the things in His word that He knows we need.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4 NIV
“No way, I’m gettin’ on that big thing,” I told him,” if I never learn to ride!”
“Okay, you had your chance,” he said, turning his bicycle around and heading back home.
I was so unhappy. My friends could all ride and there I sat on our front porch just watching them ride by. Of course, they were nice enough to wave to me as they past.
Eventually, I got up the nerve to try to ride. My friend had a girls bicycle and I promised her I would be very careful if she would let me see if I could ride it. Of course, the boy next door had to come and watch me make a fool of myself to his amusement. So, with them holding the seat on each side and me setting astraddle the seat, off we went down across the yard.
“Don’t you DARE turn loose, you two,” I shouted.
“Oh, we won’t”, they said, laughing all the while.
Of course, both of them turned loose at the same time and there I was wobbling from side to side and screaming for all I was worth! I took my feet off the pedals because they were turning so fast. Of course, they were hitting my legs, WHAM, WHAM, WHAM! In front of me was a drive way with a curb and a drop off into the neighbor’s yard and a little tree to the right. It was my choice which I took but I knew I was going down. Sure enough, into the tree I went and over onto the grass. My pride was hurt; my knee was skinned and my shirt was grass stained. But, my friend’s bicycle survived. I suppose if I hadn’t wanted to ride so badly, I would have given up. But, I didn’t. We tried again the next day and within a few days, I was able to keep the two wheels under me instead of on top of me.
Persistence in some things is worthwhile. My persistence in continuing to practice until I mastered the art of riding paid off because I enjoyed a lot of years riding my bicycle around the neighborhood and even to school and back.
How persistent are we with our bible study. A lot of times because we don’t always understand what we read, it’s very easy to just give up. However, if we ask God to open our minds and our hearts; get a version that is easy to understand, God will show us the things in His word that He knows we need.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4 NIV
For The Birthday Girl!
It was early on a Sunday morning when my mother answered the telephone.
“So what do John and Jo Ann have?” asked the voice on the other end.
“What do you mean ‘what do they have’?“ inquired my mother.
“Well, they’ve been at the hospital all night. Surely they have a baby by now,” came the voice on the other end.
So, when my petite mother walked into the waiting room, she was loaded for bear!
“Why didn’t you let me know you all were up here?” she said, looking John straight in the eye.
Before he could answer, there was a cry from down the hall. That beautiful little girl had arrived and our world would never be the same.
Cheryl, your dad and I couldn’t ask for a more wonderful daughter. You have made life for us so interesting and fulfilling from the minute we brought you home until now. Thank you for all of the wonderful memories. And, thank you for finding the perfect soul mate and giving us two of the best grandsons in the world!
We love you, dear daughter, and your dad and I hope your birthday is the very best yet! And, happy 33rd anniversary to you and Clark! Being married on your birthday is something really special.
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Mother's Bicycle Ride
"A joyful heart is good medicine." Proverbs 17:22A
My daddy had quadruple bypass surgery when he was in his 70's. When he recovered, he chose to exercise by getting a big, tall men's 10 speed bicycle. Eventually, he was riding to the top of Saunders Heights and all the way to the next town and back for a total of 16 miles.
My mother had never ridden a bicycle and she wanted learn to ride. One day, the girls and I were visiting Mother and Daddy’s. Daughter # 1 had her smal...l bicycle with her. So, my mother decided she would see if she could learn to ride it since it was a much smaller bicycle and my mother was only about 5’3”. Off to the back yard we went. The yard slanted enough so she could coast to the fence on the south. With Daddy holding the bicycle seat; the girls and I waiting in anticipation, my mother, in her 70's, straddled the seat; put her feet on the pedals and after giving my Daddy strict orders not to turn her loose, off she went. After trying a time or two, we bragged on how well she was doing. So with the next ride, Daddy turned loose It was as if we were watching a slow motion movie. Over went my Mother, falling very, very slowly and hitting the ground very easily on her side. Of course, we were afraid she might be hurt so we ran to her.
My daddy had quadruple bypass surgery when he was in his 70's. When he recovered, he chose to exercise by getting a big, tall men's 10 speed bicycle. Eventually, he was riding to the top of Saunders Heights and all the way to the next town and back for a total of 16 miles.
My mother had never ridden a bicycle and she wanted learn to ride. One day, the girls and I were visiting Mother and Daddy’s. Daughter # 1 had her smal...l bicycle with her. So, my mother decided she would see if she could learn to ride it since it was a much smaller bicycle and my mother was only about 5’3”. Off to the back yard we went. The yard slanted enough so she could coast to the fence on the south. With Daddy holding the bicycle seat; the girls and I waiting in anticipation, my mother, in her 70's, straddled the seat; put her feet on the pedals and after giving my Daddy strict orders not to turn her loose, off she went. After trying a time or two, we bragged on how well she was doing. So with the next ride, Daddy turned loose It was as if we were watching a slow motion movie. Over went my Mother, falling very, very slowly and hitting the ground very easily on her side. Of course, we were afraid she might be hurt so we ran to her.
“Don’t think I’ll be trying that again,” and looking at the girls she said, “I’ll just leave the riding up to your Granddad I think.” Daddy helped her up trying very hard not to laugh. My Daddy was always a jokester. He loved teasing my mother so it was really difficult for him not to burst out laughing at mother's slow motion fall.....after he was sure she wasn't hurt, of course. It was impossible for all of us not to laugh, as Mother, Daddy, the girls and I walked back to the house. We thanked God that Mother was okay and then we all had a good laugh.
I think God wants all of His children to be able to laugh; to enjoy each other and the fun times He gives us. After all, we have something to laugh and be joyful about when we realize that He loved us enough to send His Son to die in our place.
"A time to cry;
A time to laugh;
A time to grieve;
A time to dance" Ecclesiastes 3:4
I think God wants all of His children to be able to laugh; to enjoy each other and the fun times He gives us. After all, we have something to laugh and be joyful about when we realize that He loved us enough to send His Son to die in our place.
"A time to cry;
A time to laugh;
A time to grieve;
A time to dance" Ecclesiastes 3:4
Monday, June 8, 2015
Desiring to Write
I have wanted to write for almost as long as I can remember. But, there always seemed to be an excuse for not doing so. First it was the lack of time with the promise to myself that when there wasn’t so much to do, I could be more creative and I would write. Secondly, there was the excuse of a place to write. After all, one cannot be creative unless one has a place of solitude, quiet music playing, a serene view of the mountains or seaside and a cup of tea. And , lastly, the... whole idea that anyone would want to read my ramblings was foreign to me.
Now, I have the time and the quiet place. I have quiet music available and mountains to gaze upon and a cup of tea if I choose.
Most of the time my creativity is the only thing lacking.
I believe all of us have been given a talent that we are to use to glorify God. I believe that if God gave us the desire to write poetry, prose, music, etc., He will also give us the creativity to do so. And, I believe that creativity comes from the heart. I have written a few poems in the past. Those poems have not come when I sat down in a quiet place with quiet music playing, and a beautiful view. No, those poems have come during trials that have come; with tears that have fallen even as I wrote the words on a blank page. Or they have come at moments of ecstasy when a new grandchild was placed in my arms for the first time. Other times, my heart has been overcome with joy and thankfulness to the Lord. My poetry has been written when I was heartbroken over an unjust situation or because of hurt that had been inflicted on someone I loved. Creativity comes from the heart and not from the expectation you or others have to create just because there is the desire. To be able to use the creativity God has given you for His glory, you must write from the heart.
I do not know if my writing can be considered a spiritual gift but I do know His word says this:
“Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this.”
Psalm 37:4-5 NIV
Most of the time my creativity is the only thing lacking.
I believe all of us have been given a talent that we are to use to glorify God. I believe that if God gave us the desire to write poetry, prose, music, etc., He will also give us the creativity to do so. And, I believe that creativity comes from the heart. I have written a few poems in the past. Those poems have not come when I sat down in a quiet place with quiet music playing, and a beautiful view. No, those poems have come during trials that have come; with tears that have fallen even as I wrote the words on a blank page. Or they have come at moments of ecstasy when a new grandchild was placed in my arms for the first time. Other times, my heart has been overcome with joy and thankfulness to the Lord. My poetry has been written when I was heartbroken over an unjust situation or because of hurt that had been inflicted on someone I loved. Creativity comes from the heart and not from the expectation you or others have to create just because there is the desire. To be able to use the creativity God has given you for His glory, you must write from the heart.
I do not know if my writing can be considered a spiritual gift but I do know His word says this:
“Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this.”
Psalm 37:4-5 NIV
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Are You Frustrated?
Do you get frustrated over little things? I get frustrated when I misplace my phone or when a telemarketer calls. I was so frustrated with their calls that we cancelled our landline phone number; went to an unlisted number and now we get the telemarketer calls of the previous owner of that number.
Frustration raises it's ugly head when I can't find a particular pair of shoes in my closet, or can't find a missing sock or I have misplaced my glasses and an hour later find them... on my head. I loose patience when I try to tell something and forget what it was I was going to tell or when I can't find something I am looking for at WalMart because, once again, they have moved it. I get frustrated if my internet is out for two days and I can't check on my friends on Facebook.
Frustration raises it's ugly head when I can't find a particular pair of shoes in my closet, or can't find a missing sock or I have misplaced my glasses and an hour later find them... on my head. I loose patience when I try to tell something and forget what it was I was going to tell or when I can't find something I am looking for at WalMart because, once again, they have moved it. I get frustrated if my internet is out for two days and I can't check on my friends on Facebook.
Last night I was frustrated because I clicked on a channel on DISH and no matter what I did, I couldn't go up or down to change channels......it was stuck and who wants to watch a local weather channel 24/7? I think simplifying things would serve me well and probably eliminate a lot of my frustrations.
As I get older, many more things frustrate me. I can't move as fast as I once did and certainly can't think as fast. My mind tells me that I can do something and yet, my body says "I don't think so."
But, I am so glad that no matter how many mistakes I make, or how many sins I commit, or how frustrated I get, God doesn't get frustrated or loose patience with me.
"God is gracious—it is He who makes things right,
our most compassionate God.
God takes the side of the helpless;
when I was at the end of my rope, he saved me". Psalm 116:6 The Message Version
As I get older, many more things frustrate me. I can't move as fast as I once did and certainly can't think as fast. My mind tells me that I can do something and yet, my body says "I don't think so."
But, I am so glad that no matter how many mistakes I make, or how many sins I commit, or how frustrated I get, God doesn't get frustrated or loose patience with me.
"God is gracious—it is He who makes things right,
our most compassionate God.
God takes the side of the helpless;
when I was at the end of my rope, he saved me". Psalm 116:6 The Message Version
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Old Homesteads
"Hand me your pen, please," I said to my husband.
"What do you need my pen for?" He asked.
"I need to write something down quickly," I replied , reaching across the seat for the pen he always carried in his left shirt pocket.
"What do you need to write?"
"A poem just came to me and I need to get it down before it's lost." I told him.
"Well, if you can get inspired going across the flatlands of Kansas, you are some kind of writer," was his comment.
He handed me his pen and I hurriedly searched through my purse for a blank piece of paper.
"Girls, do one of you have a piece of paper I could have?", I inquired of our two daughters who were setting in the back seat.
"Here, Mom, you can have this one," daughter # 1 said, handing a piece of paper to me.
With pen in hand and word swirling through my mind like a tornado, I began to write.
We were traveling across Kansas headed to Colorado on vacation. The trip across these badlands had been pretty boring so far as scenery goes. But, suddenly, as I looked across the wide expanse of land, I saw an old silo standing near an old homestead. The graying wood of the old home and the broken out windows brought these words to mind.............
Old homesteads standing,
Gently framed against the sky.
A reminder of the past,
Of exciting days gone by.
As you see them your minds wonders,
Of the pasts those old homes hold.
Could they whisper but a word or two,
What stories would unfold?
The flatlands that surround them
The waving fields of grain,
The barns, the sheds, the fields of corn,
Whipped by winds across the plain.
The silos standing straight and tall
As watchtowers in the night,
Are empty now of golden grain
Yet, sparrows take their flight……….
From windows broken out by winds,
hat whipped those prairie lands.
From crumpled roofs built long ago
By strong, determined hands.
These pioneers of old were brave,
And strong and mighty men
Who came to conquer untamed lands
Inhabited then by Indians.
From break of day to dark of night,
A father with his son,
Would till the cool, dark sodden dirt,
For work must then be done.
A mother’s work began at dawn,
The young ones giving chase,
They’d race each other down the stairs
To reach the warm fireplace.
How peaceful must have been their lives,
How close the family ties,
With time to work; yet time to play
‘neath God’s own clear blue skies.
As I finished the sloppily written poem, I continued to wonder about the family that lived there. How many hardships did they face? Were there a lot of children? Were they a God-fearing family that taught their children about the love of their Maker? And, I wondered how my family would have fared had it been us who lived in the solitude of this land.
I am reminded that God created this flat land just as he had created the hills back home. He had loved these people just as He loved my family and He had a purpose for their lives just as He has a purpose for the lives of my loved ones.
It matters not where we live or when we lived, if we submit ourselves to the leading of the Holy Spirit, He will direct our paths.
" Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6NIV
"What do you need my pen for?" He asked.
"I need to write something down quickly," I replied , reaching across the seat for the pen he always carried in his left shirt pocket.
"What do you need to write?"
"A poem just came to me and I need to get it down before it's lost." I told him.
"Well, if you can get inspired going across the flatlands of Kansas, you are some kind of writer," was his comment.
He handed me his pen and I hurriedly searched through my purse for a blank piece of paper.
"Girls, do one of you have a piece of paper I could have?", I inquired of our two daughters who were setting in the back seat.
"Here, Mom, you can have this one," daughter # 1 said, handing a piece of paper to me.
With pen in hand and word swirling through my mind like a tornado, I began to write.
We were traveling across Kansas headed to Colorado on vacation. The trip across these badlands had been pretty boring so far as scenery goes. But, suddenly, as I looked across the wide expanse of land, I saw an old silo standing near an old homestead. The graying wood of the old home and the broken out windows brought these words to mind.............
Old homesteads standing,
Gently framed against the sky.
A reminder of the past,
Of exciting days gone by.
As you see them your minds wonders,
Of the pasts those old homes hold.
Could they whisper but a word or two,
What stories would unfold?
The flatlands that surround them
The waving fields of grain,
The barns, the sheds, the fields of corn,
Whipped by winds across the plain.
The silos standing straight and tall
As watchtowers in the night,
Are empty now of golden grain
Yet, sparrows take their flight……….
From windows broken out by winds,
hat whipped those prairie lands.
From crumpled roofs built long ago
By strong, determined hands.
These pioneers of old were brave,
And strong and mighty men
Who came to conquer untamed lands
Inhabited then by Indians.
From break of day to dark of night,
A father with his son,
Would till the cool, dark sodden dirt,
For work must then be done.
A mother’s work began at dawn,
The young ones giving chase,
They’d race each other down the stairs
To reach the warm fireplace.
How peaceful must have been their lives,
How close the family ties,
With time to work; yet time to play
‘neath God’s own clear blue skies.
As I finished the sloppily written poem, I continued to wonder about the family that lived there. How many hardships did they face? Were there a lot of children? Were they a God-fearing family that taught their children about the love of their Maker? And, I wondered how my family would have fared had it been us who lived in the solitude of this land.
I am reminded that God created this flat land just as he had created the hills back home. He had loved these people just as He loved my family and He had a purpose for their lives just as He has a purpose for the lives of my loved ones.
It matters not where we live or when we lived, if we submit ourselves to the leading of the Holy Spirit, He will direct our paths.
" Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6NIV
Monday, June 1, 2015
Marriage.........Agape love.
Today would have been my mother and daddy's 88th wedding anniversary were still living. As it was, they had almost 57 years together before my daddy passed in 1984. God willing, John and I will have been married 57 years in September.
I was fortunate when I was growing up that my parents were a good example of what marriage should be. I can never remember them arguing. Oh, I'm sure they did perhaps when I wasn't around, but never within my hearing. Daddy loved to tease my ...mother. I can see my mother now when Daddy would start teasing her. She would look at me with lips pursed and just shake her head and sigh. Then, we would all laugh together.
I was fortunate when I was growing up that my parents were a good example of what marriage should be. I can never remember them arguing. Oh, I'm sure they did perhaps when I wasn't around, but never within my hearing. Daddy loved to tease my ...mother. I can see my mother now when Daddy would start teasing her. She would look at me with lips pursed and just shake her head and sigh. Then, we would all laugh together.
I miss those times.
I miss seeing my mother and daddy singing in the church choir when I was very young. I miss seeing them from my vantage point at the piano or in the choir when I was an adult, setting together on the fourth pew back in the big red brick church down the street from the post office.
I miss floating the river with them in the summertime. Mother would pack a picnic lunch and fill a thermos with lemonade. She would grab her wide brimmed hat, slip into her one pair of jeans and off we would go. My mother, always the lady, never wore pants or jeans until she was well into her eighties and then only because her little thin legs would sometimes get cold.
My Daddy was a fairly tall man and my mother was only 5'3". But, when they were walking together, which they did regularly as they aged, they fit together like a glove on a hand. My Daddy was forever the provider and protector of my mother and me. My mother was always the provider of home cooked meals and plenty of hugs for my Daddy and me.
I miss those hugs.
Marriage isn't easy. Despite how wonderful the honeymoon years go, they seldom have the staying power to withstand a lifetime of "for better or worse". God wants us to love our mates with the same kind of love He loved us; agape love. It's an unconditional love; a sacrificial love. It's a choice to love and not based on feelings. We have to learn how to forgive each other and respect each other no matter how we feel. Each spouse has to develop a servants heart.
I really think my Mother and Daddy loved each other all those years with agape love. And, I thank them for showing me what marriage really is.
"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." Genesis 2:24 (KJV)
I miss seeing my mother and daddy singing in the church choir when I was very young. I miss seeing them from my vantage point at the piano or in the choir when I was an adult, setting together on the fourth pew back in the big red brick church down the street from the post office.
I miss floating the river with them in the summertime. Mother would pack a picnic lunch and fill a thermos with lemonade. She would grab her wide brimmed hat, slip into her one pair of jeans and off we would go. My mother, always the lady, never wore pants or jeans until she was well into her eighties and then only because her little thin legs would sometimes get cold.
My Daddy was a fairly tall man and my mother was only 5'3". But, when they were walking together, which they did regularly as they aged, they fit together like a glove on a hand. My Daddy was forever the provider and protector of my mother and me. My mother was always the provider of home cooked meals and plenty of hugs for my Daddy and me.
I miss those hugs.
Marriage isn't easy. Despite how wonderful the honeymoon years go, they seldom have the staying power to withstand a lifetime of "for better or worse". God wants us to love our mates with the same kind of love He loved us; agape love. It's an unconditional love; a sacrificial love. It's a choice to love and not based on feelings. We have to learn how to forgive each other and respect each other no matter how we feel. Each spouse has to develop a servants heart.
I really think my Mother and Daddy loved each other all those years with agape love. And, I thank them for showing me what marriage really is.
"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." Genesis 2:24 (KJV)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)