The Dry Season

As I gaze out of my kitchen window, even though we need rain, I am thankful for the green grass. Back in the winter, it was so dry and brown and ugly. Then, I'm reminded of the seasons in life that we experience.

So many times , we are in a dry season. We feel that God doesn't hear our prayers or that He has taken a hiatus from our lives. We pray and yet feel our prayers go no higher than the ceiling. And, then, just as the cool rains come during a dry season , God rains down His blessings on us and suddenly, we know that He hears our prayers. We see His hand in our lives and we are refreshed much as the rain refreshes the land. Just as the ground is thankful for the rain, we should be thankful for the blessings. 
 

Could it be if it were not for the dry seasons in our lives, we would not enjoy the blessings God rains down upon us?

" I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing." Ezekiel 34:26 NIV

Sam and Siloam

I hope I'll be forgiven for using former postings (and I think this will be the last about camp) but hearing about kids going to church camp brings up a lot of memories.

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 sit 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 sit 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 sit beside me, he chose to set right behind me. I was MORTIFIED !! The rest of the week it was "Avoid Sam At All Costs". 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. Finally, on the last night, he managed to sit two people down from me.

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 sitting 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 numerous 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.

Happy Was His Name

Happy was his name.......Happy Ingram. And, yes, Happy was happy ! I never did see Happy at church camp when he wasn't happy. He had a smile from ear to ear from breakfast until lights out at night. Happy was just a happy person.

Happy wasn't a young man those years he was the night watchman at Siloam Springs Baptist Assembly but was Happy's job to keep everyone as happy as he could. There were times when someone did something wrong; he caught them catching crawdads in the s...tream when they were suppose to be in bible study. Or, they were playing sick and laying on their bunk while worship service was going on. Wherever they were, you could bet Happy would find them. They might not be happy when he did but before he finished talking to them about right and wrong, they were happy again.

The last person you would hear after lights out at night would be Happy. We always listened for Happy to come whistling up the hill shining his flashlight ahead of him. As he walked by our dormitory, he would shine his light up on the side of the building and in his happy voice,
"How's everyone in there doing? Are we all happy?"

"Yes, Happy, we're all happy," we'd say in unison.

Off he would go then to the next dorm, shining his light ahead of him.

I'm sure Happy had unhappy times just like all of us do. But, Happy had the Lord living inside of him and he showed it to us kids. He was an example of what a Christian should be. He always had time to talk in the afternoons during free time. You'd see Happy over on the bench by the Snack Shack enjoying a snow cone with four or five kids gathered around him laughing at his jokes. And, yet, Happy always took the time, when telling his funny stories, to witness to these young boys and girls about the love of the Lord.

A few years later when John and I were first married, Freeman Heights was a mission of First Baptist Church, that big, red brick church down the street from the post office. I played the piano and John led the music. When Freeman Heights became a church, Bro. Happy Ingram was their first pastor. It was so good to see Bro. Happy once again. He still had that smile from ear to ear and he wanted everyone else he came in contact to be happy , too.

How do you appear to those around you? Do you exhibit the love of Christ in your actions? Can those around you look at you and tell that you are a Believer?

"Happy are those who reject the advice of evil people,
who do not follow the example of sinners
or join those who have no use for God.
Instead, they find joy in obeying the Law of the Lord,
and they study it day and night. They are like trees that grow beside a stream, that bear fruit at the right time, and whose leaves do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do." Psalm 1:1-3 GNT

Mother and Church Camp

I have shared this before; maybe more than once. But, because youth from our church got back from camp just a few days ago, I must share one of my memories from my time at Siloam Springs Baptist Assembly years and years ago.

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."
Psalm 139:7-12 NIV

The Black Phantom

Have you ever felt like you were being watched?

Have you ever been afraid someone saw you doing something wrong or about to do something wrong? How about that time you were excelling the speed limit and immediately looked in your rear view mirror to see if there were red lights flashing?

There were a lot of kids at summer camp who got that feeling and usually they were right; they were being watched. Bro. Lawson Hatfield, a.k.a. The Black Phantom, had a way of bringing bad behavior to a halt without saying a word.

When our daughters were at church camp, Bro. H. was the night watchman. He was good at getting kids to behave during the night service in the open air tabernacle. Many a young person has been whispering, throwing paper wads, or numerous other incidents that were strictly forbidden only to find they were being watched.

Bro. H. road a black bicycle all over the campus. He was known as The Black Phantom. During the worship services, Bro. H. would ride his bike into the tabernacle and set astride it. If he saw someone misbehaving, he would dismount his bike; walk up behind this person, cross his arms and just stare at them. Apparently, his stare was like a knife in the back to these individuals because very soon, they would look around and see Mr. H. smiling at them but never saying a word. Immediately, the bad behavior ceased and Mr. H. would turn; walk back to his bike, mount it once again and continue to monitor behavior.

The Black Phantom was a little like our God in that his presence was immediately felt even though he was not seen. It is much like that feeling we get when we have behaved in a manner displeasing to our Master. Our God has a way of pricking our conscious without saying a word to us. And, if we are the kind of Believers we should be, we cease doing wrong at that moment.

"He watches every step we take.
  There is no darkness dark enough
to hide a sinner from God." Job 34:21-22 GNT

Taking God the Scraps

I wrote the other day about my mother using foil over and over and it brought to mind an incident that happened one time.

Years ago a very dear and busy lady in the church we attended loved giving what she could, including her time, and was diligent to see that everyone's needs were taken care of.
Like most Baptist churches, we loved to have pot luck dinners. We had them for every occasion and if there wasn't an occasion, we invented one.

So, it was on a certain Sunday, at the red brick church down the street from the post office, a bountiful dinner would be served when the worship service was over. This dear lady rushed around very early Sunday morning preparing a casserole. She covered it carefully with foil and set it on her cabinet while she finished preparing for church. She was running late so rushing out the door, she grabbed the casserole, her bible and purse and hurried to the car thinking all the while that people would be so pleased to see their favorite casserole among the dishes served.

The final "A-men" was said and everyone gathered in the fellowship hall. The men stood around visiting; the kids were peering at the cakes and pies at one end of the table while the ladies bustled around setting out their contributions of food and uncovering them. As the dear lady uncovered her dish, she was horrified to discover that in her rush , she had picked up the bowl of scraps she had put into an identical dish over the last few days.

As I recalled this incident, I wondered how many times we rush off to God's house bringing Him the scraps. We are so busy tending to our own and others needs that we fail to bring our very best to Him. I'm reminded of the story of Moses leading the Children of Israel out of the wilderness. God promised to provide manna for their needs daily telling them not to worry about gathering the leftovers. Did they trust Him to provide? Do we gather up the leftovers in our lives and bring them to Him?

"The People of Israel went to work and started gathering, some more, some less, but when they measured out what they had gathered, those who gathered more had no extra and those who gathered less weren’t short—each person had gathered as much as was needed. Moses said to them, 'Don’t leave any of it until morning.' But they didn’t listen to Moses. A few of the men kept back some of it until morning. It got wormy and smelled bad. And Moses lost his temper with them." Exodus 16:18-20 The Message

Crumpled Foil

"Oh, Honey, don't throw that piece of foil away. Uncrumple it, lay it on the table and take this soapy washrag and wipe it off. We'll let it dry and we can use it again." How many times I heard that while growing up, I don't know, but my mother was the Queen of Reuse.

My mother and daddy married in 1927, just a very few years before the Great Depression. Times were hard and they learned quickly not to waste anything they had. Those learned lessons continued as long as my... mother lived.

Mother would reuse a piece of foil until it was so thin you could almost see through it. She seldom bought boxed cereal at the store when I was growing up because old fashioned oatmeal from the big, round Quaker box was, as she put it, "nutritious and very good for you". And, except for an occasional bowl of Total before bedtime, my mother continued to make oatmeal from the big, round Quaker box for her breakfast until the Lord called her home.

I was reminded of this when I cleaned out my refrigerator this morning. There was a perfectly good piece of foil covering the remainder of a casserole. After I placed the remainder in a smaller container, I found myself wiping the foil with a hot, soapy rag and leaving it to dry before putting it in the drawer to be used later. And, when I poured the last bit of dry cereal into a bowl, I removed the plastic liner; wiped it down and put it in the same drawer. It worked every bit as well as wax paper that cost money at the store.

We are creatures of habit. What we learn growing up may not be applied as soon as we leave home but as we grow older, those memories will bring us back to an earlier time and perhaps we will follow in the footsteps of our parents in a lot of ways.

That's why it is so important to instill the love of God in our children. It's not only important to tell them of God's love but to show them God's love in our every day lives.

"Teach a child to choose the right path, and when he is older, he will remain upon it." Proverbs 22:6 (TLB)

People Watching

When the girls were small and Tanger Outlet and Branson Landing weren't in the landscape, we would go to Springfield shopping for school clothes for the girls. John usually went along and he was a very good shopper for a time. After a while, he wore out and chose to sit on one of the benches in the middle of the mall and wait for us. On our trip back home he would often tell us about people watching.

"I felt sorry for that old man who was in a wheel chair trying to navigat...e the mall with his wife. She didn't seem to have much patience with him. I think he would've been better off if he'd come and sat with me." 
 

Or, "I don't know what that young couple's problem was but they were arguing so loud you could hear them from one end of the mall to the other. I'm surprised you didn't hear them." And, he would continue to mention this kind of person or that kind of situation until the girls were fast asleep in the back seat.

As I stood at the kitchen sink this afternoon and gazed out my window at the traffic going by I wondered about the people in those vehicles. Some cars were whizzing by. I wondered if they were late for an appointment. Some were traveling fairly slowly. Were there more people than the driver in their vehicle? Were they talking about the affairs of the world or reminiscing just as I was doing while looking out the window?

Everyone has their own problems; their own difficulties; their own hopes and dreams. As I continued to look out, I wondered if all of those people would reach their destination without accident and, if they were fatally injured, what would be their destination?

People watching..........vehicle watching........it's all the same pretty much. It makes those who are doing the watching wonder what is going on in the lives of those people and do we really care. If we did, I suspect we'd be petitioning God on their behalf in prayer for them and their situations.

"The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live." 1 Timothy 2:1-3 (MSG)

Is Your Hut on Fire?

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed fervently for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none was forthcoming....

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had ...happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, 'God! How could you do this to me?'

Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! 'How did you know I was here?' asked the weary man of his rescuers. 'We saw your smoke signal,' they replied.

The Moral of This Story:

It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.
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"For God is at work within you, helping you want to obey him, and then helping you do what he wants.In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing "
Philippians 2:13-14Living Bible (TLB)

Sheltered Safe

"For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory." 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 NIV

As I looked at the pictures and comments about Fathers yesterday, it brought back memories of my daddy.

There is nothing like sitting 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 my 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.

Light of the World- Orlando

Looking at the events of the past weekend from our vantage point far away from the actual atrocity, we tend to either feel it will never happen to us or we are glad that it didn't happen to us. Either way, we need to be prepared for whatever comes along through Satan and the evils of this world.

How prepared are you for when the wait is over?

I saw this on a friend's FB page and thought it worth sharing in view of the terrible events of last weekend. It is from The Cross, a ...church in Orlando.

Light for the World

I don’t know why he waits.
He has answers.
He has full joy and impenetrable peace.
Yet, somewhere he sits, knows our situation and waits.
Times like today, I don’t know why.
When hate, having prowled in the night has found a wiling host.
When anger has multiplied and met with just enough power for destruction.
When ignorance festers and grows unchecked alone.
I know He’s seen death. From Egypt to Calvary.
I know He’s felt it himself, endured it’s pain and watched friends affected.
Yet, still he waits.
I know that one day He will come.
That day will be good. But sometimes I wonder why he waits.
Eight and a half years ago, I rocked our first baby in a basement apartment and thought distinctly, “Lord, I’m glad you waited for this. For this baby to join us.”
As long as our Lord waits, there is good to be found. Not in every event (some things are all evil) but alongside them. Whatever the world looks like; babies will be born, people will find forgiveness, wounds will heal.
Today, as I asked the Lord how we ought to respond to such brutality and evil, this passage came to mind:

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

You see? In places of darkness, you are the light. Go to the vigils and be a presence of hope. In conversations find ways to respond with love. I am proud of the Cross, because it sends all of you out to be light in the world until Jesus comes back.

-ben

Orlando and my poem

Most of us are hearing the news out of Orlando and asking ourselves "Why?" Why would anyone go on a killing spree in a nice, American city like Orlando, Florida? What we must realize is that Satan dwells in nice, American cities. He walks the streets of these cities in human form seeking whom he may devour. Satan has infiltrated the hearts and minds of so many.

What if each of us would pray to God that He would help us live a life of helping others; of telling others about ...Him.? Could we make a difference in the lives of the people we meet?

I wrote this poem almost 50 years ago but I think it is relevant for today.

Lord, help me that each day I live,
Not just to take, Lord, but to give.
To give but a smile where there's a frown,
A tender word where harsh words abound.

Help me, Lord, to light the path,
To turn away from thoughts of wrath,
To love my neighbor that he may see.....
That spark within of Christianity,

That helps to keep me in They care,
That helps to save me from despair,
When all about the world I see,
Those with burdens, what ere they be.

Help me, Lord, to thankful be
For Thy dear Son, Jesus, who died for me.
When trials come; when hopes seem dim,
Help me to keep my eyes on Him.

When I fall short in things I do,
When I fail to keep these eyes on You,
Just help me , Lord, your love to share,
With those about me everywhere.

May all I think and say and do
Be in accordance, Lord, with you.
Especially Father do I pray,
For those about me everyday.

For those who slip from Your kind hand,
For those who fail to understand that,
There is a God, Who does love and care,
That everything is His affair.

And now, dear Lord, I ask of thee,
A very special thing for me.
Where ere I am, what ere I do,
Help me, dear Lord, to honor You.

Jo Ann- Copyright 1969

Applesauce in the Kitchen

I have a confession to make. I thought I was a thorough housekeeper until recently when I was mopping my kitchen. I had looked a little closer at one of the baseboards and remembered an incident that happened one day when I was making a meatloaf. I always put applesauce in it because I think that makes it more moist.

But, unless you want to mop your floor, clean the front and tops of your cabinets, take a second shower and change your clothes, DO NOT try to salvage a cup of applesauce by turning it upside down, shaking it to get all the sauce down to the lid and opening it. Can we say fermented? Could have been worse; could have been syrup. I do think applesauce would make a good hair gel in case of a tight.

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

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

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

The Political Scene

Ah, yes, the political scene is revving up! And, I dread it........I detest the lying; name calling, etc.

Of course, each candidate is touting their own reasons why they would make the best next leader of our country. Do each of these people feel their ideas can bring this country out of the mess it's in or do they run for prestigious reason? Of course, there is the salary of $400,000.00 plus an expense account.  There are perks such as living in the White House with it's own movie theater, bowling alley, swimming pool and, yes, a staff for everything. They can fly to exotic places on their own private plane; take vacations anywhere in the world whenever; have their own vacation retreat at Camp David for use whenever. Then after leaving office they have a retirement of somewhere around $200,000.00 a year plus money from speaking engagements and Secret Service protection. And, they are provided an office, staff, travel and mail expenses during that time. Now, tell me, do people spend a couple of years extoling their qualifications for the job just because they want to make this a better country or could the benefits be the draw?

Before we become too critical, what is the reason we do what we do in life? Are we after the almighty dollar? Are we striving to attain prestige so we will be considered "Somebody"? Do we choose a career based on what we think we will enjoy? Or could it be we consider a career where we will be helping others regardless of the financial benefits?

It matters not if we are the President of the United States, the Queen of England or a ditch digger, we are placed here for the purpose of serving God and our fellow man.

"Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don’t just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing. Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ, who, though he was God, did not demand and cling to his rights as God." Philippians 2:3-6 (TLB)

Enjoying the Days of Band

"Mom, I really, really, REALLY want to be in band. Can I , Mom" Daughter # 1 asked.

“I’ll ask your dad. I think he will probably agree,” I told Daughter # 1
.
“I really, really want to, Mom,” she said, “I hope he’ll say that it’s okay.”

So began the days of practicing, marching, band concerts, band trips, competitions, etc. for Daughter # 1. Piano had interested her in the beginning but it didn’t hold the excitement she thought band would. So, she chose the clarinet. Bringing it home to practice that first evening was quite a treat. She hadn’t learned to play any songs but just being able to blow into it; place her fingers on the key holes and get some sort of pleasing sound was such a treat. Eventually, just random sounds developed into actual songs as Daughter # 1 continued to practice her chosen instrument.

“Mom, MOM! Make her quit blowing that horn in here! I can’t practice my piano and I have a lesson tomorrow,” yelled Daughter # 2.
 
“YOU stay at this piano and practice and YOU go back to your room to blow that horn or take it outside!” I said, pointing at each of them as I spoke.

And, so began the many afternoons and evenings of musical conflict in our home. But what joy it was to watch Daughter # 1, donned in her brand new band uniform, marching in the local fair parade and other parades around the area. The band had been the lucky recipient of much needed uniforms provided by a man who had grown up in this area; had gone on to open a lot of chain stores and had now given back to his community.

In a few short years, Daughter # 2 joined the ranks of the bandies. She never gave up her piano but added an alto sax to the mix. Now both daughters were bringing home horns to show their dad and me the latest tunes they had learned to play. And, it was the beginning of what seemed like endless nights of sitting out in the cold on the hard bleachers at a football game just to hear our daughters play and watch them march. Often we found ourselves sitting inside a stifling hot gym at a basketball game just to hear the band play from the bleachers. There were also those horribly cold Branson and Harrison Christmas parades to endure. And, now, Daughter # 2 had attained the rank of drum major, which meant a scantier mode of dress in the biting cold.

Both daughters survived the rigorous practices with only one of them passing out once during the summer while on a very hot practice field.

Memories of those years are precious. It’s wonderful to be able to think back to not only the difficult times of scheduling our work activities around our girl’s band activities, but the joyful times seeing their smiling faces as they recognized us in the crowd. Occasionally, they would sneak a small wave to us when they should have been paying attention to the band director. It’s great to pull out the photo albums and relive those times.

And, once again, as a parent of daughters who participated in musical activities and grandchildren who have followed in their footsteps, let me encourage you to make time for those activities your children love and excel in. Encourage their efforts when their horn squeaks because their finger wasn’t exactly where it should have been on their horn or when a sour note is sung or played on the piano. This is a part of the learning process and a part of the memories they also have and can pass on to their children and grandchildren.

“Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” Revelation 11: 15 ESV

Getting Up in the Mornings!

Do you find it difficult to get up most mornings? I use to have that problem. However, retirement brings some benefits; no time clock to punch; no deadlines to meet; no rush to get to work through traffic and no appointments with clients.

When I wake up in the mornings, sometimes I even have to think for a moment to remember what day it is. Retired people no longer run by the clock or the calendar. Before rising, I thank God that I woke up to a new day. And, I wonder what this day will hold.

Many of my family members and life long friends have already finished their tasks on this earth and have passed on. Perhaps I should ask God each morning upon waking what He would have me do with this day He has given me.

What if we all looked forward to each day and not just Fridays? What if we all woke up with an optimistic rather than a pessimistic attitude? What if we thanked God each morning that our hearts are still beating? I know if He could He would tell each of us to cherish each moment.

"This is the day the Lord hath made. We will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

What Comes Out of Your Mouth?

As I read some of the postings on Facebook, it hurts my heart. There is seldom a posting about any subject but what there is someone who feels the need to post something negative. It may not even be about the subject originally posted.

Why is there such negativity around us? I feel sure there are a lot of children who leave their home on the way to school remembering how they were yelled at by a parent for something that morning. Parents, those words are with your child all ...day. Suppose before that day ends, the parent who spoke those angry words is taken from this earth. Are the last words you spoke to your child the words you want them to remember you by?

Spouses, the same can be said for you. Would you rather your husband or wife remember the last ugly thing you said to them should the Lord remove you from this earth or would you rather they remember you hugging them, smiling at them and saying "I love you" ?

Our words are so powerful. You can build another up or you can tear them down. Think about the words you have spoken or written this week. Are you intentionally working to build up those around you, or have you thoughtlessly allowed destructive words to come out?

Remember this........the negative , hurtful things that come out of ones mouth are not placed there by our Heavenly Father, but by the Ruler of Darkness who walks upon the earth seeking whom he may devour.

"Some people like to make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise soothe and heal." Proverbs 12:18 (TLB)

People Pleasers

Are you a people pleaser? Do you go out of your way to please everyone and then complain when they don’t appreciate it? Do you worry about what people think about you? Are you afraid they will no longer like you if you don’t go above and beyond to help them?

A lot of people have a fear of rejection. Some will do anything to get the approval of others even if it means wearing themselves out and neglecting their own families or their own needs in the process.
When will we learn that we can’t please everyone? Even Jesus couldn’t please the people who knew him best. He wasn’t accepted in his own hometown.

"Jesus told them, 'A prophet has little honor in his hometown, among his relatives, on the streets he played in as a child.' Jesus wasn’t able to do much of anything there—he laid hands on a few sick people and healed them, that’s all. He couldn’t get over their stubbornness. He left and made a circuit of the other villages, teaching." Mark 6:4-6 The Message

I’m sure Jesus wasn’t trying to please people for He only wanted to please His Heavenly Father. It seemed no matter what He did; how many people He healed, the people could not be pleased. Maybe we should quit trying to please everyone else and just do the will of our Heavenly Father. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to help those in need. But, sometimes when we think we are helping others, we are only allowing them to be more dependent.

It’s pretty easy to please our Heavenly Father. It’s much easier than it is to please other people. And, after all, being pleasing to Him is all that really matters when this life is over.

“And now just as you trusted Christ to save you, trust him, too, for each day’s problems; live in vital union with him. Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him. See that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all he has done.” Colossians 2:6-7 TLB

Daughter's Piano Lessons

Daughter # 1 and Daughter # 2 both had an interest in the piano when they were growing up. So, my beautiful, upright piano was moved once more and lessons for Daughter # 1 began. They lasted about three months and she decided she wasn’t learning fast enough. There were more important things she could be doing with her life she decided.

When Daughter # 2 was about seven years old, she began to beg for a chance to play the piano. I was the church pianist at the time at the big, red brick church down the street from the post office, and that was what she wanted to be. So, lessons began and she showed real talent. I remember her piano teacher saying the first time Daughter # 2 laid her hands on the keys of her piano, she knew she had what it took. Thank you, Ms. Sue, for your talent, encouragement and patience that started Daughter # 2 on the track to becoming the musician she is today.

Like Daughter # 1, Daughter # 2 loved playing the piano but practicing everyday was something else.

“If you will just continue with lessons through the summer if you don’t like it then, when fall rolls around and school starts, you can quit,” I told her.

So, it was that she stayed with it; grumbling all the while. Finally, just before school started, something clicked……songs began to come forth from that big upright piano and she was hooked. From then on, every time I would sit down at the piano to play, she would suddenly feel the urge to practice.

It was first recital time at the Christian Church. I made her a little blue long dress with a big white collar and she was so excited. She played………..and she played well. From then on, she was the pianist of the family. By seventh grade, she was playing for all the school activities. By ninth grade, she was giving piano lessons. The John W. Schaum piano books; red, orange, purple and brown, were the books her students used. She became our church pianist at the big red brick church down the street from the post office and eventually the pianist in other churches.

The old upright piano has been refinished to a beautiful, shiny oak. It sat in her livingroom here in town where she again gave lessons from those John W. Schaum; red, orange, purple and brown books. After her family moved a few years ago, that old piano moved with them. Once more it sets in her living room. She doesn’t give lessons now but rather teaches school. However, the piano that first sat in my living room sixty-five years earlier, still sounds wonderful when she touches its keys.
I visualize my great-grandchildren will someday be playing on that old upright piano.....my piano.......from so many years ago.

I think God has a lesson here for all of us. No matter the age of the instrument or the person, both can still bring glory to the Father in their own special way as long as they are dedicated to their purpose in life.

“Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21 ESV