Running by the Clock

We ran by the clock when we were in business for so many years that since we have retired, it's difficult not to run by the clock. We ran by the clock getting the daughters to school or after school or church activities. We watched the clock in the mornings so we wouldn't be late to work. Or after work when there was a nighttime meeting so we wouldn't be late. When you have an hour for lunch while working, you know at noon, you need to eat. When you have an early appointment, you know when 10:00 p.m. comes, you better be in bed with the lights out.
 

When heading to photograph a wedding, John calculated how long it would take to get to the destination; how long it would take should we have a flat. And, he was always reminding me of the time. Now, when we are going someplace, my husband is still inclined to determine how far we have to travel; what time we will get there, etc. although we don't have to be at that destination at any certain time.

When we pray and ask God for something, oft times we get discouraged because He either He doesn't hear our prayer or He doesn't get in any hurry to answer our prayer. We tend to forget that God isn't interested in time.

Dr. Adrian Rogers once said ,"You're not going to hurry God because He is not interested in time. He's interested in timing. Lean back, watch, wait, and trust. He knows what He is doing."
Are we so inclined to run by the clock that we don't take time to enjoy the now? To enjoy our families and spend quality time with them? How long as it been since you took the time to watch a beautiful sunset? How long since you gazed out the window and watched a squirrel scamper about burying digging up the nuts he had buried before winter? How long since you just took the time to sit and prayerfully thank God for the blessings He has given you. Or sit and reminisce? Or visit with a neighbor over the back fence? Time is something that you can't retrieve so we need to spend it wisely.

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” John 4:13-14

Why Do People Curse?

"No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter; God won’t put up with the irreverent use of his name." Exodus 20:7 The Message

In the modern definition of cursing, usually people use the name of Jesus or God in vain and swear with curses such as "go to hell" or "damn you." These words clearly show it is an evil coming from the devil. Have you ever wondered why people do not use the names of gods of other religions when they curse? The names that the devil hates and uses people to voice hateful curses are "God," "Christ," "Jesus Christ" and "Jesus." Terms about hell and heaven are also used in derogatory ways. The very misuse of these words should prove the existence of God and the reality of a heaven and hell.
 

Some people can't seem to express themselves verbally or online without using bodily function words (or as we use to say, "potty words") Not sure why people choose to use that sort of language. Is it they need to be noticed? Want to shock people? Or perhaps A habit they have?

Popular movies and T.V. are responsible for causing society to accept foul language as the "norm." We don't often watch t.v. but a couple of nights ago, I was flipping channels about 7:00. I came upon a program we had watched quite a long time ago; a mystery that was pretty good. I was shocked at the words the actress used; cursed like a sailor. It is bad enough coming from the mouth of a rough and tumble person but coming from this lady seemed just a little worse. She was cursing as a way to vent anger and tell this person off. Even popular politicians can't seem to get their point across without using foul language.

I'm taken aback when I read some of the postings on Facebook. I suppose the people who post don't think anything about the curse words they are using or profaning God's name. They probably talk this way all the time.

The very attitudes behind cursing show that it is not right as cussing is used to demean and put down people. These words can be mild expletives to horrible blasphemies. Since the devil is the one who inspires these evil utterances he causes people to use our Lord's name in the most ungodly ways.

“Anyone who says he is a Christian but doesn’t control his sharp tongue is just fooling himself, and his religion isn’t worth much. " James 1:26TLB

 

The Robins Have Returned

This is from something I wrote a couple of years ago. However, it's true other than a whole yard of robins. Actually, we are seeing a yard full of a lot of different birds; blue birds, snow birds, a lot of cardinals and a robin here and there in our yard. There are enough to definitely get Ms. Kitty's attention.

Oh my goodness ! An invasion has taken place ! Two mornings in a row, our yard has been invaded by robins. And, not just a few, but an army of them! To say I'm delighted is putting it mildly. Robins are a sign of spring. They typically appear in Feb. or March on their way north. I suspect this bunch has stopped along the way , filling up their tummies with all kinds of insects that are crazy enough to show themselves above ground.

It has been very entertaining for Ms. Kitty, who sets in our window seat, watching the robins hop hither and yon. Ms. Kitty seems to sense that it's a bit cold outside for her plus, she has a little lazy streak that makes it a bit difficult to put forth much effort to chase them.

Do you watch for signs? I do. I watch for the robins to appear and the jonquils to push through the soil. I watch for the little purple heads of crocus to pop up brightening the grass, left dead by the winter frosts and freezes. When a woman is pregnant, she watches for signs of impending delivery like nesting; cleaning house furiously for no understandable reason. We watch the skies for signs of impending weather. We check our children's foreheads for a sign of fever.

However, there are some signs that we really must pay attention to that are far more important than the robins or jonquils or crocus or the nesting instinct. These are the signs of His return. Signs our Lord will be coming back to gather the believers unto Himself.

"Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people." 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (MSG)

As I read the signs of His return, I couldn't help but think how many of them we are witnessing in our world today. Perhaps, we should spend our time spreading the news of our Lord's return rather than being a bit lazy like Ms. Kitty, sitting idly by while the minutes click away and lives are swept into eternity without the assurance of a Heavenly home.

It's wonderful to see the robins return; the jonquils burst forth and the crocus peak out through the dead grass, but it will be even more wonderful when we hear that trumpet and see our Lord burst through the eastern sky.

"See! He is arriving, surrounded by clouds; and every eye shall see him—yes, and those who pierced him. And the nations will weep in sorrow and in terror when he comes. Yes! Amen! Let it be so!" Revelation 1:7 (TLB)

Those Shiny Black Shoes

We don't watch a lot of t.v.in our home but we do like Finding Your Roots on PBS. Watching it last night brought memories from seventy years ago.

My great-grandparents lived about a hundred miles from us so I didn’t get to see them very often. One time when I was about five years old, we drove to their home. They were old people but they were still very active. My great-grandmother's family came from England and bore the Cromwell name. Her parents had come over aboard a ship from England. When my great-grandmother fell in love and married my great-grandfather, her parents disowned her because she had married a commoner. She didn’t seem to let that bother her though. She and my great-grandfather moved to the small community of Zack, Arkansas and she became the postmistress. She was a petite little lady with white hair wound tightly on her head. The few times I saw her, she was always wearing an apron and a dress that came almost to the floor. My great-grandfather ran the general store in their community and it was such a fascinating place.

Great-grandmother was a wonderful cook. I remember especially her big biscuits she always made for breakfast. She would bring them to the table with a pitcher of molasses and a platter of ham stacked so high I was sure it would fall off the plate.
 
On this day, I stood in the general store and gazed into the big glass case at the front of the store. They had licorice candy but I didn’t like licorice. There were peppermint sticks that I did like but this day, I wasn’t interested in candy. What took my eyes that day was a pair of beautiful ,shiny, black shoes. I remember my great-grandpa walking up to the counter; picking me up and holding me close to the glass.

“Would you like to have a stick of peppermint candy” He asked. I shook my head so great-grandpa sat me down, went around to the back of the case and got a piece of peppermint candy.

“Here you go, Young Lady”, he said as he handed it to me.

While I licked on the peppermint stick, I continued to stand on tip-toes and look longingly at those shiny, black patent leather shoes thinking those were the most beautiful shoes I had ever seen.
Great-grandpa noticed that I was staring at those shoes. So, he went around to the back of the case, slid the door open and lifted those beautiful shoes out.

“Would you like to try these on?” He asked.

Would I like to try them on? You bet I would so I scrambled upon the seat of the cane bottomed chair setting nearby. Great-grandpa knelt down, unlaced my shoes and slipped those beautiful shiny, black, shoes on my feet. And, wonder of wonders, they just fit! Then, he gently lifted me to the floor.

“Now stand up here and let’s see how they look.” Great-grandpa said.

He took me by the hand and we walked across the old wooden floor. I couldn’t take my eyes off those shoes. They were truly the most beautiful shoes I had ever seen. They were almost like Cinderella’s slippers because I could see my face in them. Great-grandpa twirled me around and around.

“Now, let’s see if you can walk in them by yourself,” he said.

They were slick on the bottom so I walked very carefully across the room. I couldn’t wait to show my Mother and Daddy.
 
“My, what do you have on your feet?” Mother said. Before I could answer her, great-grandpa came up behind me.

“I think those shoes were just made for her feet. Would you like to have them?” he asked.

Was I hearing things? Did he actually ask if I would like to have those beautiful, black, shiny shoes? I don’t remember anything else that happened that day. I was too busy dancing around in those shoes. I knew right then what a Fairy Princess felt like.

I have often wondered just want happened to those wonderful shoes. My granddaughters would have loved them!

We know that material things will not bring lasting happiness. But, that day in my great-grandpa’s store, I was happy. I loved those beautiful shoes until I outgrew them and they were put away.
We can be rich in many ways. Things like good friends, a loving spouse, a job that we enjoy can bring happiness. Those are not material things. There is a difference between that kind of happiness, material happiness, and spiritual happiness. If we believe in God, life has meaning because life on this earth is not the end but we are promised an eternal life in the presence of God, our Heavenly Father. My beautiful, shiny, black, shoes brought me happiness for a time but nothing can compare with the happiness I have in Christ.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17 NKJV

Children Can Frustrate.

As I read your comments on Facebook about some of the things children do that frustrate you, I am reminded of the adage of the terrible twos. I’m sure most of us went through those and can well remember when our children did. They seemed to delight in not obeying.

 I remember when our daughters were small they enjoyed seeing their mother frustrated after they would pronounce “No!” in a very emphatic way after being told to do something specific. I remember how upset I would become with them. It wasn’t that I didn’t love them when that happened but I surely didn’t like them for a while. Why couldn’t they see that keeping their coat on when outside was in their best interest? Why could they not see that when I told them not to cross the street, I had their safety at heart?

Do you ever wonder if God gets frustrated with us when we do not obey? He never ceases to love us but I know there are times when we are not very likable in our Heavenly Father’s eyes. Why can we not see that the things He asks us to do are for our own good? Yes, we go on sinning in His sight while making excuses for what we are doing . To us it is perfectly alright and is certainly pleasant.
 
As a parent, even when our children disobey, we are quick to forgive them; take them in our arms and shower them with kisses. The same is true with our Heavenly Father. He loves us in spite of our sins and is quick to forgive our sins. But, wouldn’t it be nice if we just obeyed Him in the first place? It might keep a lot of heartache, pain and disappointment out of our lives.

“I warned you when you felt secure,
but you said, ‘I will not listen!’
This has been your way from your youth;
you have not obeyed me. “Jeremiah 22:21 NIV

Fruits of the Spirit

Reading the Facebook posting of a friend this morning threw my thought process in gear.  He spoke of the fruits of the spirit namely, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  “Wow”, I thought, “I wonder how many of those I exhibit?” 

I LOVE my family and friends but I have a little problem loving the murderers or thieves. I’m full of JOY as long as things are going my way and God is answering my prayers the way I like.  My joy ceases if things are not going as I planned. PEACE is easy for me as long as I’m in peaceful sleep.  PATIENCE I have unless I am standing in line at WalMart. I find KINDNESS is easy most of the time until I have been wronged by some uncaring person. What about GOODNESS? Goodness knows, I am willing to help those in need out of the goodness of my heart unless it interferes with something I needed to do that day. FAITHFULNESS is an easy one. I have been faithful to my husband for over 55 years. I am faithful to my family, etc.  But, am I faithful to my church and its ministry? I have always been a gentle person. I treat babies and animals with gentleness. But, GENTLENESS means more than that. Gentleness means humility.  It means that I should not be above doing humble tasks. If the toilets at church need scrubbing or a stranger has thrown up in the foyer there, would I be willing to clean up the messes or is that the job of the janitor? Would I open my home to a homeless person and provide comfort to them even if I am uncomfortable?  Ah, and that last one……….SELF-CONTROL.  Most of the time, I have very good self-control unless it comes to eating that extra piece of pie.

How about you?  How do you line up with the Fruits of the Spirit?

I like what The Message says in Galatians 5:22-24.

“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.”

 

The Canary

From the book “Prairie Rose” by Susan Kirby: “He was me own bird. One day gas seeped into the shaft. Dickie’s silence saved us. Ech! How the barins cried when I came through the door, Dickie’s cage a swingin’empty in me hand. Twas his own life he’d given, sparin’ ours.” Thomas held Captain Boyd’s gaze a long moment, then made the transition, saying quietly, “poison seeps into ever’man’s life, Captain. But we dinna haf to be hopelessly doomed.”

Early coal mines didn’t have ventilation systems so legend has it miners would bring a canary in a cage and hang the cage where the men could hear the canary. Since canaries’ are known to sing all the time, the miners knew if the singing ceased, it was time to get out of the mine because the canary had died from methane or carbon monoxide.

Thomas had a wonderfully, meaningful quote. All men have poison that seeps into their lives in the form of sin. Sometimes, it is plain to see but most of the time, it seeps in unexpectedly. However, like that canary, Jesus came into this world to die for our sins in our place so we can escape eternal death.

“Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ’s sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It’s because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.” I Peter 1:18-21 The Message

 

How Do You Judge People

How quickly do you judge people?

Do you judge them by the clothes they wear; the expression on their face; the slump of their shoulders; the attitude they portray; the words they speak or don’t speak; the look in their eyes? If you were judged the same way, what would people think or say about you?

All of us have good days and bad days. If we are judged on a good day, we are perceived as being one kind of person. But, if we happen to be having a bad day, people will judge us as a different person altogether.

Remember, God judges us whether it is our good day or our bad day. But, God doesn’t judge us on those outward things; God judges our hearts.

There is an interesting story in 1 Samuel 16. God sent Samuel to the family of Jesse in Bethlehem to find a new king. Samuel could have chosen any of Jesse’s sons to become the next king. However, when asking Jesse if there were other sons, Jesse told Samuel there was one other but he was only a shepherd boy. If you read the story, you find that humble shepherd boy was the one God had chosen to be the next king. How many of us overlook “that humble shepherd boy” because of their appearance, their age, their nationality, etc. when perhaps God has brought them into our lives at this very time for a very special purpose. Yet, because they don’t meet our standards in dress, expression, the way they carry themselves, the look in their eyes, etc. we miss a blessing.

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at the way he looks on the outside or how tall he is, because I have not chosen him. For the Lord does not look at the things man looks at. A man looks at the outside of a person, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 NLV

DO NOT JUDGE QUICKLY

Sometimes people are quick to judge others,
when what you see isn't really all there.
People have different moods; different personalities; different desires, so what you're really seeing is only a mask, of what others want you to see.
On the inside, we all have the same desires,
a kind smile, a warm heart, a tender soul,
all wanting to be reached on the inside.
We're all not perfect, only human, we'll have ups and downs
like a merry-go-round, we'll make many mistakes.
But just remember, the next time you see a person,
do not judge what’s on the outside, we could be having a bad day.
Try and see on the inside, and you will see, the kind smile, the warm heart, the tender soul, reaching out....
From: Lessons Learned In Life

Child of the King

There is royalty in my family. John loves to delve into the ancestors in our backgrounds and prides himself with the fact that he has over 6,000 names listed. He is very meticulous in his research and can go back to royalty in the 1500’s and never skips a generation just so he can post a name.

If you could go back in time and find royalty in your lineage, how would you address them? Would you walk up and say “Pleased to make your acquaintance, Cousin.” I think not. I rather doubt that anyone I know personally would be able to have an audience with the Queen of England or the Pope in Rome. You might stand for hours in a line to see such royalty. You might even be able to touch the robe of the pope. The Queen might smile at you as she walked by. But, that would be about as close as we peasants could come to royalty. I may have Cromwells of England in my lineage hundreds of years ago but that’s about as close as I can come to claiming any sort of royalty.

You may not have ancestors who were royalty. However, if you are a Believer, you ARE royalty because you are a child of The King; you are His child; His son or daughter.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God" John 1:12-13 NIV.
 
Your Heavenly Father is the King of King and Lord of Lords. He is a King yet, He is approachable. He is always there to listen to us and speak to us. He never tires of listening to our needs and our desires. And, He never closes His ear to our whining and grumbling. He is there all the time; day or night.

“In his mouth he held a sharp sword to strike down the nations; he ruled them with an iron grip; and he trod the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God. On his robe and thigh was written this title: “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” Revelation 19:15-16 TLB
So, never let anyone look down on you because you don’t have royal blood flowing through your veins for, as a Believer, your Father, the King of Kings, shed His blood to bring you into His royal family.

“God paid a ransom to save you from the impossible road to heaven which your fathers tried to take, and the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver as you very well know. But he paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” 1 Peter 18-19 TLB

Time Flies

My mother use to tell me that the older you get the faster time goes. I didn't understand that then but I do now.

John and I are amazed at how fast time goes by. On Saturday night as we lay our heads on our pillows, a comment is usually made by one of us "Tomorrow is Sunday. Didn't we just go to church?" Don't get me wrong; we love Sunday's and the opportunity to be in God's house with His people. But, it seems the days, weeks, months and years roll by so fast.

As I look back on my life I wonder just what I have accomplished. Have I accomplished what God put me on this earth to do? How do you know what it is that God wants you to do? I feel sure I have failed miserably at doing His will.

Do we book every minute of our calendars? We did before we retired. We still, after almost nine years of retirement, find it difficult to not run by the clock.

Time isn't earned.....you can't buy time. Time is a gift. God allotted each of us a certain amount of time. None of us know how much that is. And, frankly, I don't care to know, do you?

Take a few minutes out of your busy day and see how much time you have given to the things that really make a difference in someone's life....things that make a difference when you are gone.

This verse speaks of the time when Christ returns to earth to take His children home. However, I think it could very well apply to our time on this earth.

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven or the Son, but the Father only. Matthew 24:36 (ESV)

Danger in Anger

Anger always comes before unforgiveness, doesn’t it? First you are angry at your friend, your mother, father, your child, your boss, your spouse and then unforgiveness creeps in and you carry that until it weighs you down. And, at that point all you want to do is get even. I think a lot of diseases and depression is probably caused by the anger and unforgiveness we carry in our hearts.

ANGER is in dANGER, but there is danger in ANGER. Once anger enters your mind, you are in danger of doing something you otherwise wouldn’t do or saying something you otherwise wouldn’t say. Words and actions are like an arrow; you can’t take them back.

I read somewhere that Christian counselors report that 50% of people who come in for counseling have problems dealing with anger.

So, how do you overcome anger before that sin of unforgiveness festers up in your soul? Does God ever become angry? “God is a judge who is perfectly fair, and he is angry with the wicked every day.” Psalm 7:11 TLB.

 One day when Jesus enemies confronted him about healing on the Sabbath. Jesus was angry. “Looking around at them angrily, for he was deeply disturbed by their indifference to human need, he said to the man, “Reach out your hand.” He did, and instantly his hand was healed!” Mark3:5 TLB

I believe God knows that all of us will become angry at one time so He tells us what to do with that anger in Ephesians 4:26 TLB He says , “If you are angry, don’t sin by nursing your grudge. Don’t let the sun go down with you still angry—get over it quickly” So what do we do when anger flairs up in our hearts? Do we brood about what has caused the anger? Do we tell others what we are angry about? Do we confront the person who has angered us?

I am reminded of the anger all of us feel when we heard of the bombings and killings by terrorists group. We are angry; we want God to strike those killers dead in their tracks. And, I believe that killing, as with all sin, angers God.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Adam and Eve had never sinned? Wouldn’t it be great if they had not introduced sin into the world and we could all have lived in sinless perfection? Anger and unforgiveness are tools of the Devil. And, those who sin are, for a moment at least, being controlled by the Devil.

We all need to allow God to handle our anger problems. When we feel anger toward another, the first thing we need to do is look to God and say “God, you know me and my anger problem. Right now, before I do or say something I shouldn’t, I’m giving this to you. You take care of it for me.” And, then allow God to do just that.

Remember, we can’t control the actions of others but we can control our own actions.

Comparing God's Disciplining

As I thought about my posting the other day concerning yelling at our girls, I was reminded of a few things.

They probably felt they didn't deserve it because they were going to clean their rooms in a little while after they finished playing.

They were pretty upset with their Mother so they certainly weren't going to apologize for not doing what I had asked them to do.

But by me not apologizing , I wasn't setting a very good example for my children should they need to apologize for a wrong doing sometime.

Because I yelled at my daughters didn't mean I didn't love them. I yelled at them because I was angry they hadn't done what I had asked them to do.

Let's compare this to the way we look at God's disciplining.

When God disciplines us for our wrong doing, do we feel we didn't deserve it because we weren't really doing anything wrong at the time? We were going to obey Him, not at the moment, but when it was more convenient.

When God disciplines us, do we thank Him for correcting us or are we upset because we feel God has treated us unjustly?

When God disciplines, perhaps we need to set an example for those around us by accepting His discipline; sharing with others that God loves all of us no matter what we have done and we should follow His example.

When God disciplines, it doesn't mean He no longer loves us. It means he does love us and by disciplining us, He shows us that He cares enough about us that He wants us to do what He knows is best for us at the time.

"Young man, do not resent it when God chastens and corrects you, for his punishment is proof of his love. Just as a father punishes a son he delights in to make him better, so the Lord corrects you. Proverbs 3:11-12 (TLB)

So Much Tragedy in the World

There is so much tragedy all over this world; such turmoil and grief. I suspect over the years all of us have been touched by some sort of tragedy. And, when it happens to us, we can’t help but wonder why.

I had just turned two when the tornado of 1942 struck and destroyed most of my hometown. Because of work, my parents and I were living in Salina, Ks. at the time so we were spared. But, my paternal family wasn’t. My grandparent’s home was destroyed; my grandfather was severely injured and my grandmother died a short time later from injuries suffered in that tragedy. My paternal family was bombarded by tragedies during the years my daddy was growing up and even after he was married. This tornado that took the life of my grandmother even before I got to know her was only one of them.

My paternal grandfather was known in the town as a good man and a very good businessman. But, there were things that he did that brought about tragedy and discourse within his family. My grandmother was a wonderful woman by all accounts; a Christian woman I’m told, who loved the Lord and her family. My grandfather, on the other hand, was raised in the home of a circuit riding preacher. His dad was gone much of the time holding revivals here and there and my grandfather resented that he was away so much. So, going to church was not a priority for my grandfather when he left home. I’m sure my grandmother spent much of her life praying for the salvation of my grandfather and her children. But, his salvation and that of one of his sons was not to come until after her death.

It was a small country church in Grandview and my parents and I had gone to one of the services. We sat on the same pew with my grandfather, his brother and my uncle. I remember so well, even though I couldn’t have been more than five or six, when the alter call came and those three men began bawling like babies. I don’t remember much of the details other than seeing them all raise their hands; tears flowing down their cheeks and them going to that old fashioned alter asking the Lord to come into their lives. And, I remember later going to the river where they were all baptized. I don’t know what brought about my grandfather’s salvation but I am almost positive it was the prayers of his wife, now deceased. And, perhaps, the knowledge of the tragedy that took her life, and the tragedies that took the lives of all of his children but two, over the years.

I see and read the news stories of families torn apart by war. I read of the ravishing storms that have taken place. And, yet, as I hear some of their stories, I’m reminded that even in death, God has gained a victory. Their testimonies of His love and faithfulness abound even through their tears.
Isn’t it amazing how we tend to believe that everything revolves around us? That God should give us special priority because we are such good people? That He should never let tragedy or unhappiness come to us because we are His people? We never think about the fact that God uses tragedy to bring people to Him that otherwise might never know His saving grace.

Has God used a tragedy in someone's life to bless you? Or a tragedy in your life to bless someone else? God put us on this earth to be a shining example of Him to those around us. We are not here for our own selfish reasons.

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." Genesis 50:20 NIV

Dirt Behind the Blinds

I know it will be a shock to most of you but I have a confession to make. I don't deep clean our home every week. Seriously, I do try to keep our home clean enough to live in and not be a disgrace if we have visitors. However, deep cleaning isn't something that I do on a regular basis, but something that I do when deemed necessary.

We have blinds on our windows. In the winter, the blinds are usually opened on the sunny sides of the house. On the sides were there is no sun, we might leave them closed to keep out the winter winds.

A couple of mornings ago, I not only opened the blinds but I actually raised one of them. Much to my dismay, there was dirt on the window sill; not just any dirt, but yucky, ugly dirt; the kind that happens when the windows sweat. I rushed to the kitchen for my cleaning solution and a rag and cleaned up the mess thinking to myself all the while that I should never let that happen again. Had I not raised that blind, I would never have known what lay behind it.

Isn't it that way with our hearts? We need to "raise the blinds" once in a while and see what yucky, ugly, dirty stuff has accumulated there. Oh, it accumulates slowly over time and we don't notice it until through some happening in our lives, God points it out to us.

How's your heart? Does it need a good cleaning? Would you be happy if a visitor were to see the mess that is hiding behind the blinds of your heart?

"Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires." Psalm 51:10 (TLB)

The Day I Yelled

I yelled at my kids! Yep, I actually YELLED at my kids. Oh, I had hollered at them before but that day I actually yelled.

“Come pick up these things out of the floor, please,” I might holler from one room to wherever the Offending Daughter might be.

“Would you hurry up, please, and don’t make me have to tell you again,” I had hollered at them more than once.

But, on this day, I was fuming. I was mad! I was furious!

It was a Saturday and I had tried to get our home cleaned up while their dad was at work. The girls had been in their rooms and I had assumed they were cleaning them up like I had asked. I discovered , when opening the door to each of their rooms, Younger Daughter was setting in the middle of the floor with Barbie things strewn about; bed unmade and clothes lying in the floor everywhere. Older Daughter was lolling about on her unmade bed; tape player playing, looking at the latest teen magazine. Her closet door was open and things had fallen out everywhere. So, I did what any loving mother would do. I marched them into the living room and told them to sit. And, sit they did while I ranted and raved and even stomped my foot. They were taken aback. Their mother had never acted like this before. What was wrong with her? And, all the while they were probably wishing their dad would walk in from work and rescue them.

That has been forty five years ago and yet if you ask either daughter if they remember the day their mother lost it, they will both nod in the affirmative and roll their eyes. They may not remember a lot of times they have been disciplined but they do remember that one.

I am not proud of the way I acted that day and I don't remember if I ever apologized to them. I know God was not pleased just as well as I know that Satan was laughing at my weakness.

I am so glad that my Heavenly Father doesn’t yell at me every time I fail to do what He asks me to. Oh, He is disappointed in me. And I have sinned against Him when I fail to obey His will. However, He is always willing to forgive me.

“If you stay calm, you are wise, but if you have a hot temper, you only show how stupid you are.” Proverbs 14:29 GNT

Are We Able to Forgive?

I have heard two very good messages about forgiveness at church; one last Sunday morning and again at prayer meeting Wednesday night. I can remember times when Daughter # 1 or Daughter # 2 would come home from school mad at one of their girlfriends, or in some cases a boyfriend. They would mumble and grumble and whine and pout until they were miserable, I was miserable and their dad was miserable. I can still hear them as they shared every detail with me and then be on the phone with their friends sharing the same story with them.

“Do you know what So and So did to me today? You are not going to believe it! Just wait until you hear this!” Then they would proceed to go through the whole story again and again until even I had it memorized.

When bedtime came, I would go into their room to tell them goodnight and there they were still fuming about So and So and how evil they were and how they had been treated. Tears would fall and I would have to sit and listen to the story of their betrayal again. Then they would toss and turn until the wee hours. When morning came, they were still mad. They would make all sorts of unkind remarks about the person who had hurt them. Off to school they would go and I would pray they didn’t have a confrontation with So and So at school. However, I learned to never be surprised when after school, in they would come, happy as a lark and many times the person they were ready to behead the night before was with them.

How is it that kids find it so much easier to forgive than adults? As I read the posts on Facebook, I realize that so many people have unforgiveness in their hearts and they are miserable. I can understand unforgiveness. I have been in the position of carrying resentment and unforgiveness in my heart. And, I know that I was the one who was miserable, not the one I held the grudge against.
I finally came to the realization that God is the one who will deal with the wrongdoing of another person; I don’t have to. I need to release that anger; quit trying to get revenge and trust God to right the wrong. I don’t think God will actually deal with the ones who have hurt us unless we put them fully in His hands. It’s very easy to give it all to God and then take it back when we don’t think He is handling it fast enough
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Jesus tells us it’s alright to be angry with another as long as we don’t continue to be angry. Anger is not sin; what you do with that anger can lead to sin. Ephesians 4:26-27 in The Message tells us this:
“Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.”

Anytime I was able to forgive someone it wasn’t that I wanted to forgive them. I sort of liked the idea of holding a grudge and thinking about how badly they had hurt me. But, I knew that if I didn’t forgive them, it would be difficult for God to forgive me the wrongs that I had committed. Oh, I have not conquered the art of forgiving by a long shot. I still have times when I am angry with someone and I have to sit myself down and give myself a good talking to. I have to ask myself what kind of an example am I setting for others if I cannot forgive. I must remember if I want forgiveness from God and others, I must be willing to forgive.

“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.” Matthew 6:14-15

Snake on a Limb

As a game warden for many years, my Daddy knew the river like the back of his hand. He knew when the water was high enough, yet not so high the shoals would be too rough. It was just such a day when my daddy, mother and I were headed down the Kings River. Along the way, daddy shared stories of a big fish “caught right over there”. Or, how he picked up two guys without fishing license in that bend.

As noontime approached, the lunch Mother had packed in the wicker basket began to sound better and better. With his experience, Daddy knew just how long it would take to reach that special picnic place. By noon we were there.

“Mother, I’m going to slowly pull under that low branch. When I do, you reach up, grab it and hang on while I maneuver the boat next to the shore. Then we’ll get out, stretch our legs and eat”, Daddy said.

As the boat slowly moved under the limb, Mother started to reach up.

“STOP!” yelled my Daddy.

Mother pulled her hand back just in time to see a huge snake slithering toward her on the low hanging limb. She screamed; I screamed and Daddy began paddling away from that perfect picnic place. Isn’t that just the way the serpent, Satan, is? He is just waiting in what we think is a perfect place; waiting to strike in a second’s notice.

As children of God, it is our duty to be on the lookout and listen to our Heavenly Father when he calls “STOP!” much as my earthly father had done. As we looked back, the snake, probably frightened by my Daddy’s loud voice and my mother’s shrill scream, had fallen in the water and was swimming away from us as fast as he could.

“Be humble then before god, but resist the devil and you’ll find he’ll run away from you”. James 4:7 Phillips Translation

Life is a Grindstone.

"Life is a grindstone , and whether it grinds a man down or polishes him, depends on the stuff he is made of." Copied

I was thinking today of some of the people I have known through the years. Many of them have faced hardships that the majority of us could not endure yet, they have and are better people because of what they have gone through.

I often wonder how I might react if faced with some of the seemingly insurmountable things that life has to offer. John and I often talk about how we have been blessed with so few difficulties in our lives. We have families that are doing fine; our health is fine for a couple of people who are three quarters of a way to the century mark. We have always had jobs that kept us fed and clothed and a roof over our heads. So, I wonder just what kind of stuff I am made of should disaster come my way. Will it polish me or grind me down? What is the stuff you are made of? Have obstacles in life brought you to your knees or have you been able to stand through them?

John Piper says there are a number of lessons we can learn from Job.

1.Believe with all your heart in the absolute sovereignty of God. Pray that God would give you that conviction.

2.Believe with all your heart that everything He does is right and good. Pray that God will give you that assurance.

3.Repent of all the times you have questioned God or found fault with Him in the way He has treated you. Pray that God would humble you to see these murmurings as sinful.

4.Be satisfied with the holy will of God and do not murmur.

George Müller, a Christian evangelist and Director of the Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol, England, cared for 10,024 orphans in his life. On the Lord's Day, February 6, 1870, his wife Mary died of rheumatic fever. They had been married 39 years and 4 months. The Lord gave him the strength to preach at her memorial service. He said,

"I miss her in numberless ways, and shall miss her yet more and more. But as a child of God, and as a servant of the Lord Jesus, I bow, I am satisfied with the will of my Heavenly Father, I seek by perfect submission to His holy will to glorify Him, I kiss continually the hand that has thus afflicted me."

As I watched the memorial service for Craig Strickland last night, I was in awe at the way this family's faith is carrying them through this most difficult time. His memorial was a celebration of his life and a rejoicing that he was at home with His Lord.

"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady. Then, when that happens, we are able to hold our heads high no matter what happens and know that all is well, for we know how dearly God loves us, and we feel this warm love everywhere within us because God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." Romans 5:3-5 (TLB)

The Worth of a Life

The worth of a life.......

I realize my posting today may be a little unusual from what I normally post but I have a heavy heart today because so many of my friends have lost members of their family the last few days
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So many times, we don't consider what a person's life is worth until God has taken them from us. So many people that I know ; many I have known for years, have recently been faced with the loss of someone they love; so many people then are faced with the five stages of grief.
 

Denial comes first....denying that a loved one is gone. Feeling they will walk through the door any moment. This helps the grieving person not have to face the truth all at once. Anger then comes.......anger at the person who has left us ; anger at God or anger at ones self because they feel they could have done something to prevent the loss. Then, a grieving person wants to bargain. They want to go back to an earlier time when the loved one was there. They plead with God to change the outcome so they can have more time with the one who is gone. Most of the time, depression follows. People try to get the person who is grieving to get help from their grief . It's better to allow that person to grieve so they can move on to the last step of accepting what has happened. The very best thing we can do for someone who is going through this process is to pray for them. We can also just be there for them. We don't have to say a word; just be there if they need to unburden their hearts.
 
The grieving process is different for everyone; some come through it in a matter of months; for some, it takes years and others seem to never get to this point in the grief process.

If we haven't already experienced it, someday all of us will face the loss of someone we love dearly. Life is uncertain and death is a part of life just like birth. God placed us on this earth for a specific purpose. Those who find their purpose are truly blessed. I think when God takes someone we love it is because they have fulfilled their purpose on this earth; they have taught us to love a little more.

Those of us who are left need to be sure and certain where we will spend eternity. We need to encourage our friends and loved ones to be ready for the day when God calls them home.

"But our homeland is in heaven, where our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, is; and we are looking forward to his return from there. When he comes back, he will take these dying bodies of ours and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same mighty power that he will use to conquer all else everywhere." Philippians 3:20-21 (TLB)

The Starfish

"Can't think,
Brain numb,
Inspiration won't come.

Bad ink,
Bad pen,
That's all
A-men...."

I jotted this down because this is the way I felt this morning when I thought about putting something on Facebook. Perhaps, it's because of my lack of sleep last night and I hadn't even had a Sunday afternoon nap. Seems some nights I am out like Lottie's Light; other nights, I mull over everything I can recall over the last however many years.

So, today I'm digging back to something I posted a few months ago. I think it's an example of the importance of each and everyone who walks the face of this earth.

Are you making a difference in someone's life today?

“Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”
The child paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”
“I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” asked the somewhat startled man.
To this, the child replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”
Upon hearing this, the man commented, “But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”
At this, the child bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, “I made a difference for that one.”

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:
I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’
“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’ " Matthew 25:34-40 (MSG)

Sunday Morning Poem

Sunday morning
Dawn’s bright
Grateful heart
Restful night

Church bells
Choir stands
Lifting hearts
Holy hands

Pastor opens
God’s Word
Sweetest Story
Ever heard

For sin
He died
“Forgive, Father”
He cried

His blood
He shed
Three days
He’s dead.

Comes forth
From grave
Brings life
To enslaved
.
Jesus came
From Heaven
His life
Freely given

I repent
From sin
New life
Can begin

Thank you
God above
For Jesus
Is Love.

Evening’s shadows
I’m free,
God’s love
Saved me……

Jo Ann Swofford
Copyright-Dec.2015

Sweet Mrs. Mayes

As I was contemplating the snow we were predicted to have today, my mind went back to a time at First Baptist Church here years and years ago. It was a Sunday night and there was at least eight inches of snow on the ground. Not letting a half foot plus of snow deter faithful Baptists, Training Union and church services were going to be held.

An elderly and very faithful lady and her husband certainly didn't let snow keep them from church. My husband opened the door for them.

"Mrs. Mayes, what do you think about this snow?"

Without hesitation , Mrs. Mayes said in her long drawl , "Well, if the Lord thinks we need it, I like it....." And, off she and Mr. Mayes tottered toward the sanctuary.

Oh, to be more like that sweet, sweet child of God.

How faithful are we to our Lord? Do we use every little excuse we can think of to stay at home rather than meet with fellow believers in His house? There are times when there is a legitimate reason for not attending. Illness certainly is or the passing of a loved one. But, the frivolous reasons we tend to use sometimes cannot be pleasing to our Lord.
 
How thankful we as believers should be that the Son of God didn't make an excuse and choose to remain in Heaven rather than die on that horrible cross for our sins.

"Let us not neglect our church meetings, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near." Hebrews 10:25 (TLB)

More About Reading Addiction

When I wrote about my reading addiction yesterday, I was reminded of the times my husband has said he wishes he enjoyed reading as much as I do. He does read occasionally. The kids get him a book sometimes for Christmas and he will read it, although not in one setting like I do sometimes with my books. He enjoys "Field and Stream" and some other magazines like that but his passion is researching genealogy. He can sit for hours in front of his computer researching and posting information on Family Tree Maker. He has a memory that is phenomenal. He can remember people he knew seventy years ago; who they married; where they lived and who their children are. He has researched our family trees back to the 1500's, generation after generation with not a blank in between.

Yes, God created us all with different looks, abilities, personalities, and desires.

I am reminded of the story I heard some time back. It seems two gentlemen were sitting on a bench, whittling and passing the time telling stories. One gentleman looked over at the other and said,

"You know, it's jest a real good thang that we don't all have the same tastes 'cause iffin' we did, everyone 'id want my wife." To which the other replied,

"Yep, 'shore 'tis cause iffin' they all had my taste, there wouldn't be nobody 'id want her."

The one thing that God did give all of us alike is soul......a spirit. All of us will pass from this life someday..........our bodies will decay but our soul/spirit will live on somewhere. It's up to each of us to determine where our soul/spirit will live for eternity.

"Life, lovely while it lasts, is soon over.
Life as we know it, precious and beautiful, ends.
The body is put back in the same ground it came from.
The spirit returns to God, who first breathed it. Ecclesiastes 12:6-7 (MSG)

I'm A Book Addict

I have a confession to make. I am a book addict. My mother loved to read; I love to read; our daughters loved to read. I remember when Daughter # 2 was in junior high, she would walk through the house with a book in front of her face, not watching where she was going and oblivious about what was going on around her.

I began to love reading when I started school. Oh, I loved books before that time but it was because I loved for my mother to read them to me. We spent a lot of summer afternoons lying on a quilt out under a shade tree in my back yard; me looking at picture books and my mother reading books to me. I can remember us walking to town and up the two flights of stairs in the courthouse and into the library. I can still see those books on the shelves and even remember how they smelled. Mother would let me check out three books a week and I would have them almost memorized before it was time to return them. When I reached high school, I loved just hanging out in the library and eventually joined the library club and worked in the library during my free period.

After not finding the time to read as much as I would like because of a career, when I retired about eight years ago I couldn’t wait to begin reading again. I am so thankful for a wonderful church library and a very good friend, Becky Floyd, for keeping me in wonderful reading materials. I love anything by Lewis, Brunstetter, Peterson, Rivers, Snelling, Oke, and Kingsbury. They are favorite fiction authors. But, Max Lucado is my very favorite inspirational author.

I have a cousin and a grandson-in-law who are published authors. I'd love to be able to write well enough to be published. But, unlike Grandma Moses, I think I'm too old to begin such endeavors.

Learning new things is a big part of reading but I also love to read for relaxation. I love Kindle books but there is nothing like the feel of a book in my hands. A book is a companion. Being an only child, there were a lot of times I was lonely and a book filled that loneliness. When I was in school, it was good that I enjoyed reading because book reports seemed to come quite often in English class. To be able to see and almost live the characters in a book; see in your mind’s eye their surroundings; hear their accent as they speak, in my mind, makes a good read.

When I see some of the mindless programs on television, I wonder why people spend time watching it when they could get lost in a good book. I wonder why reading is not more of a part of a school’s curriculum. Unless a child is taught to read, they cannot be very successful in the real world.
How many of us who love to read spend time reading God's word. Our lives will be enriched and blessed when we fill our minds reading our bibles.

"But this is the new agreement I will make with the people of Israel, says the Lord: I will write my laws in their minds so that they will know what I want them to do without my even telling them, and these laws will be in their hearts so that they will want to obey them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people. " Hebrews 8:10 (TLB)

How Do You See Yourself?

How do you see yourself? When I look in the mirror every morning I think “My goodness, can that really be me?” I look at pictures posted on Facebook by me or my children/grandchildren and I think, “Why do I look this old? Why didn’t someone tell me to straighten my sweater; uncock my head and quit leaning? Why didn’t I have lipstick on because I look so washed out?”

I have to admit, I spent a lot of years behind a camera as a photographer. I have always been more comfortable there than in front of the camera. Most of the people I know feel the same way; very uncomfortable with any picture that is made.

It’s not the end of the world when unflattering pictures are posted for all to see. My husband use to say " Photographs don't lie; at that moment, you looked exactly like that." Of course, those were the days before photoshop. We have to face the fact that we are not perfect. We are not always made up and ready to be in front of a camera. And, we have to realize; at least a lot of us do, that we are old; we are wrinkled and we are not photogenic.

What really should matter is how God sees us. God doesn’t see just our physical bodies but He sees what’s in our heart.

“Men judge by outward appearance, but I look at a man’s thoughts and intentions.”1 Samuel 16:7B TLB

God loves us no matter the color of our skin or our hair; no matter now short or tall we are; no matter where we live; whether we are rich or poor. God loves us because He made us in His image.

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 NIV

If we are created in the image of God, then how can we be ashamed of the way we look? God made us all unique. No two people are exactly alike yet, we are created in the image of our Heavenly Father.

“Long ago, even before he made the world, God chose us to be his very own through what Christ would do for us; he decided then to make us holy in his eyes, without a single fault—we who stand before him covered with his love.” Ephesians 1:4 TLB

Would God choose us to be His very own; to make us holy in His eyes without a single fault if He didn’t love us the way we are?

“In this act we see what real love is: it is not our love for God but his love for us when he sent his Son to satisfy God’s anger against our sins.” 1 John 4:10 TLB

So, I hope when I look in the mirror or at my image in a photograph, I will remind myself that no matter how I look, in God’s eyes I am perfect. I am His child and He has plans for me that I cannot know but I trust.

“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

Quaker Story About Contentment

Most of the time, I'm pretty content. But, have you noticed how advertisements tend to make us discontented with our situation? Sure, I am content with the home I have until I see the one HGTV is giving away. I'm content with going to the closet and finding something I like to wear until I see an ad for those new fashionable clothes. TV commercials are of the devil I have decided because they tend to make us discontented with what God has provided for us.

I have shared this story before but it illustrates so well the idea of contentment.

A Quaker put a sign on his house one day that said,

"I will give this house to any man who can prove to me that he is content."

After a bit someone came knocking at the door and said he saw the sign out front and wanted to claim the house. He said he was perfectly content. The Quaker asked what he meant. He said,

"I have everything I want, all the money I need, everything in life that could satisfy. I am perfectly content."

The Quaker said, "Friend, if thee is so content what does thee want with my house?"
That's a revelation of how subtly these desires for more can creep into our thinking.
Contentment is not having all that you want. True contentment is wanting only what you have and being content with it.

"Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of contentment in every situation, whether it be a full stomach or hunger, plenty or want; for I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power." Philippians 4:11-13 Living Bible

God Swoops Down

As I gazed out my kitchen window a few days ago, I saw a highway department truck stop.  The man on the passenger side got out with a shovel; scooped up a dead varmint from the road and tossed it over into the ditch.  It wasn't long until a big bird swooped down, lighting beside the varmint.   We do have eagles that fly over our home quite frequently. I don't like to think of a bird as majestic and beautiful as an eagle being a carrion but they are. At a distance, I wasn't sure if it was a buzzard or an eagle.

As I considered what I had just seen, I thought about how God swoops down from Heaven in all of His beauty and majesty and cleans up the messes we make in our lives.  Sometimes, He confronts us before we have made a complete mess of things. He gives  strength to young and old to face the trials and temptations of life when we tire of fighting them ourselves. 

Most of the time, the problems we face can be overcome if we just wait on the Lord; ask Him to give us strength and power and then acknowledge His presence and thank Him for helping us through the storms in our lives.

What problems are you facing today?  Are you trying to work out your difficulties on your own?  Why not give them over to God and let Him

swoop down and carry your problems and difficulties for you?

"He energizes those who get tired, 
   gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,    
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
    They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired,    
they walk and don’t lag behind." Isaiah 40:29-30 (MSG)

Odd Number Three

Three is an odd number (no pun intended) it seems and sometimes a cause for problems. Did you ever notice how two people can get along really well but add number three to the mix and you are probably looking for trouble?

I remember when I was a kid, my friend and I would be playing together really well. Then along would come her cousin and soon there was a quarrel that usually ended up with someone crying.

Playing in my yard next to the neighbor's fence in a little tunnel made in our spirea bushes was a great place for a tea party. My friend and I would be having such a good time until the mean boy next door decided to throw rocks over the fence, usually hitting one of us until we cried.
 

I'm not sure why but as a teenager, I seemed to be the mediator between two friends. The three of us would be together and the next thing I knew, my two friends were fussing among themselves and asking me to take sides. Not wanting to loose either as a friend, "Odd Number Three Me" would immediately try to reason with my two friends......not a comfortable place to be.

When I was allowed to date, I had a friend just younger than I who wasn't yet dating. She appointed herself the third person on my dates and managed to tag along wherever we went. I didn't want to make my friend feel badly even though I wanted to say "Two's company; three's a crowd".

Marriages go along really well until a third party shows an interest in one of the spouses. You guessed it.......trouble because of number three.

Oh, and how about the Third Reich established by Adolf Hitler in 1933. You history buffs know that wasn't a good thing.

So is number three ever a good thing? Absolutely................

There is the Trinity. I don't completely understand it. I believe the Father is the creator of the whole universe. The Son died on the cross to save us from our sins. The Holy Spirit is the One who came to us as a Comforter. He is also the One who takes our request to the Father.
I'm thankful for all three of these even though I don't understand how it's possible. I'm glad God created this beautiful place called earth; the Son came to save me from eternal hell and the Holy Spirit is always there when I need someone to hear my prayers and comfort me when I need comforting.

1 John 5:7 says, "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."

Life Is Like A Journey On A Train

Life is like a journey on a train...with its stations...with changes of routes...and with accidents!

At birth we boarded the train and met our parents, and we believe they will always travel on our side.

However, at some station our parents will step down from the train, leaving us on this journey alone.

As time goes by, other people will board the train; and they will be significant ; i.e. our siblings, friends, children, and even the love of our life.

Many will step down and leave a permanent vacuum. Others will go so unnoticed that we don't realize that they vacated their seats!

This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells.
Success consists of having a good relationship with all passengers...requiring that we give the best of ourselves.

The mystery to everyone is: We do not know at which station we ourselves will step down. So, we must live in the best way - love, forgive, and offer the best of who we are.

It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life.

I wish you a joyful journey for the coming year on the train of life. Reap success and give lots of love. More importantly, thank God for the journey! Lastly, I thank you for being one of the passengers on my train!

Author Unknown

“But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven’s angels, not even the Son. Only the Father." Mark 13:32 The Message

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January 1, 2016

As I lay in bed early this morning contemplating 2015, I realized one very important thing..........the things I worried about never came to pass. Oh, how much time I spent worrying and realizing worry doesn't change a thing. That time would have been much better spent doing something constructive. That time will never be retrieved........

Most of us make some resolutions at the beginning of a new year. Most will be forgotten by the end of January of course. However, I re...alize that anything meaningful needs to be done because with each passing day, all of us have one less day to accomplish anything.

I have lost several friends this past year. As I look back, I could have been a better friend; could have called them more often; could have answered that last letter I received from them.

I complained too much about my aches and pains in 2015. Of course, unless your are the bionic man or woman, as you age, you will have pains. My "volley ball knee" pops and cracks a bit more upon getting up from my chair. My back aches a little more occasionally. Sometimes when I get up, I shuffle along like Tim Conway for a bit until my joints loosen up. But, how many people want to hear about that? Why couldn't I just be thankful that I can get up; that I can walk?

I hope in 2016, I will take the time to enjoy my family and friends more.

I hope in 2016, I will be able to encourage others.

I hope in 2016, instead of complaining about my husband's snoring, I will be thankful that after 57 years, he is still lying beside me at night.

I hope in 2016 instead of trying to change someone else, I will look at my own faults and work on them. Change comes in other people, not by what you tell them, but by setting an example for them in the way you live.

I hope in 2016, I will be kinder, more patient, more understanding of others.

I hope in 2016, I will not waste time on trivial things but concern myself with things that will improve me or those around me.

I hope in 2016, I will release my worries and fears to my Heavenly Father. After all, He knows what is best for me.

"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 (TLB)