Mimi's Musings: August 2016

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Malachi's birthday-2016

He was the cutest little fellow with big bright eyes and a dimply smile. Sundays found him running around the Worship Center after services, up and down the long flight of stairs as fast as he could go. Usually, there were a couple or three little girls his age giving chase. What a great time they had that year down in the lower level of the church while the congregation was upstairs worshiping. They were listening to bible stories, singing little children's songs, looking at picture books, playing with the little play kitchen and other toys that were there. Meanwhile, a little baby girl sat on the teacher's lap, intrigued with the bigger kids play.

I see the Christmas play the little ones put on at Thorncrown. I hear them singing their sweet Christmas songs and I see that little fellow running back up the aisle at the end of the play; tripping on his shepherd's robe and falling flat on his face in the aisle only to jump up and continue running.
That little boy is now a grown man married to our granddaughter, Christen, who was that little baby girl that sat on the teachers lap while he and the others played all around her.

Who knew what was in God's plan when He first brought them together almost 24 years ago?

Happy 27th birthday, Malachi Million ! We are so glad God brought you into our family ! We can't wait to see what the next years hold for you and Christen.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Publishers Clearing House

"Do you remember mailing a card to Publishers Clearing House, Ma'am?

"No........."

Pause........

" Well, you have won $ 3.5 million and a new car from Publisher's Clearing House. Will you be home this afternoon? Your car will be coming from Washington. But, in order for us to get your money prize to you we will need to deposit it directly to your bank account.........."

"This is a scam and I have received this call numerous times. Please don't call our UNLISTED number again."

Just think............I could have been a millionaire times over had this not been a scam.

How many of us believe everything we are told? The media has a way of twisting the truth in such a way that we don't know what to believe or who to believe; particularly during this election year.
I am so glad there is one thing we can believe and that's God's Word. I am glad when we have been burdened down with the cares of life; the loss of a loved one; trials of many kinds that we can lean on our Savior..........

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:28-29 NIV

And, I'm glad that when we have almost given up on humanity itself and the woes of an election year overwhelm us, God gives us a promise.

"Let him have all your worries and cares for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you." 1 Peter 5:7 (TLB)

And, most of all, I'm glad that He has made a way for those who believe in Him and trust Him fully to one day live with Him in those Heavenly places where the burdens of this world will be remembered no more..........

" For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 (NIV)

"There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with me where I am. If this weren’t so, I would tell you plainly." John 14:3 (NIV)

Confession

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I have a confession or two to make.........I don't like loading or unloading our dishwasher. With just two people eating, it takes a couple of days to get a full load. So, lately I have been washing dishes by hand. Our water is hot enough to scald the hair off a cat, so I wear gloves and I feel sure the dishes are clean.

I also confess that I am compelled to make the bed every day. I hate getting into bed at night if it hasn't been made that day. And, I have been known to change the bed more than once a week simply because I love the smell of freshly washed sheets.

I'm also a neat freak of sorts. I like the clothes in my closet to be hung with same colors together. I confess, they don't stay that way so ever so often I have to rearrange them. My husband can spot a picture or mirror on the wall if it's the least bit crooked and he has to straighten it. Perhaps my neat freak ways have gotten to him, too.

I also confess that I can't just sit and watch TV. I have to be doing something while it's on. Sometimes, I have my laptop in front of me or I'm reading a book. And, speaking of books, I kinda hate to confess this but I'm addicted to them. I read 3-4 at a time. The story lines are usually different enough that I don't get them mixed up. I can also get lost in a book store and loose all track of time.
I'm also gonna confess that I'm claustrophobic. I hate being in a small room with no windows when it's full of people. And, don't ever put a pillow case over my head if you don't want a fight on your hands.

I find it difficult to sit down to a meal at home without getting up a time or two to get something for myself or someone else. My family has been known to call me a jack in the box. I must confess that I inherited that trait from my mother.

I confess that I hate shopping. I particularly hate shopping for groceries especially when everything seems to be shelved in a different location every time you go. And, I hate shoe shopping. When you wear a size 8, triple A width with a 5A heel, you don't just walk in and pick up a pair at just any shoe store. So, my shoe wardrobe is pretty limited.

I confess that I hate robo calls; prerecorded, unsolicited annoyances that are invading homes every day, so badly that I'm willing to pay $5.00 a month for an unlisted number. But, even that hasn't completely stopped the robo calls only cut them back in number.

I confess that I'm not a morning person but the first thing I see when I awaken in the mornings is my husband. The second thing would be pictures of our family and that makes getting up all worth while.
My main confession is that I'm a Believer in Christ. And, I'm so glad that all of my sins and shortcomings; past, present and future, are covered in the blood He shed for me on the cross
.
"For if you tell others with your own mouth that Jesus Christ is your Lord and believe in your own heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in his heart that a man becomes right with God; and with his mouth he tells others of his faith, confirming his salvation. For the Scriptures tell us that no one who believes in Christ will ever be disappointed." Romans 10:9-11 (TLB)

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

The Telephone Booth

"If you don't believe me just ask that lady over there in that telephone booth. Now laugh, Silly! " I said as I pointed to the lady laying in the hospital bed across from mine.

" Quit talking to me and get out of here. Just go home.....now!"

I was just coming out from under anesthetic and my husband was asking me questions then laughing hysterically at my answers. I knew the answer to the questions yet I knew when I opened my mouth, something entirely different was going to come out. Had I been thinking straight, I would never have talked to my husband like that.

How many times do we as Believers allow Satan to control our minds and our tongues and say things that we never would have said normally?

"Beasts, birds, reptiles and all kinds of sea-creatures can be, and in fact are, tamed by man, but no one can tame the human tongue. It is an evil always liable to break out, and the poison it spreads is deadly. We use the tongue to bless our Father, God, and we use the same tongue to curse our fellow-men, who are all created in God’s likeness. Blessing and curses come out of the same mouth—surely, my brothers, this is the sort of thing that never ought to happen!" James 3:7-10 Phillips translation

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

The Days of Habakkuk

"This is the message that came to the prophet Habakkuk in a vision from God: O Lord, how long must I call for help before you will listen? I shout to you in vain; there is no answer. “Help! Murder!” I cry, but no one comes to save. Must I forever see this sin and sadness all around me? Wherever I look I see oppression and bribery and men who love to argue and to fight. The law is not enforced, and there is no justice given in the courts, for the wicked far outnumber the righteous, and bribes and trickery prevail. The Lord replied: “Look, and be amazed! You will be astounded at what I am about to do! For I am going to do something in your own lifetime that you will have to see to believe. Habakkuk 1:1-5 (TLB)

Ah, yes, the political scene is revving up! Each candidate is touting their own reasons why they would make the best next leader of our country. And, it matters not whether what they are saying is true as long as it sounds good and will convince the voting public they are the best person for the job. The candidates don't need the money or the perks that come from sitting in the Oval office so why would they want the position? Could it be prestige or fame? It doesn't seem that justice prevails in many instances. We the voters are tossed about by the things we see and hear on the news about each candidate. And, we wonder how long the Lord will put up with the way our country is going. Hopefully, as in the days of Habakkuk, we will eventually be amazed at what the Lord is going to do.

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)

If You Could Have Anything You Want Right Now........

If you could have anything in the world right now, what would it be?

What would it take to satisfy the desires of your heart? Do you think the desires of your heart are God’s desires for you? I have heard it said sometimes we have to “trust and adjust”. There are times when the desires of our heart are things that would only harm us. However, if we give those desires over to God and trust Him, somehow He will help us adjust our desires so they are in line with what God knows is best for our lives. We are on this earth to fulfill the plans God has for us.

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

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

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

Sometimes we may feel that nothing is going as we planned. We might feel it’s because we aren’t in God’s will. Sometimes, God is allowing those difficult times to happen to grow our faith and to bring about His purpose for us. These are the times that we just have to “trust and adjust” and continue to walk through those doors that you feel He is opening.

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

God has a purpose for placing us on this earth. And, because He is a loving God, He will give us the desires of our heart; things we Love to do as long as they are in accordance with His will for us. God has given us the Ability to do things with our gifts and talents, and God desires that we do these things for Him Now.

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

Jeffie and the Playpen

"Jeffie was in his playpen and he was crying. Tears were rolling down his little cheeks, his face was red as it could be. He was crying, and he looked pitiful in his little baseball T-shirt and a diaper.
Then Jeffie's Grandpa entered the room; Jeffie's little face lit up when he saw his Grandpa! He immediately reached out his little arms in supplication and said "Out Pa Pa out."

What is a Grandpa to do? How can someone resist that?

So Grandpa went over to the playpen, he bent over. He reached down to lift his little buddy from captivity and distress . . .

Just then "Law and Order" walked into the room.

Momma said "Jeffie, you stay right there! I'm punishing you because you have been naughty! Dad, leave Jeffie alone!"

What is a Grandpa to do?

Grandpa backs off and is thinking, "I can't just pick up a book and read it with Jeffie here. He would think I was uncaring and distant. I can't leave the room because he would feel like I have abandoned him."

What is a Grandpa to do?

But you know what? Love always finds a way.

Since Grandpa couldn't take Jeffie out of the playpen, Grandpa climbed in with Jeffie!

Grandpa said "If you are in the playpen buddy, I'm in the playpen too. What are you in for? What is your sentence?"

Having Grandpa join him in his "prison cell" brought Jeffie great comfort and joy. In the midst of his captivity, Jeffie no longer felt so alone.

What Jeffie's Grandpa did is also a picture of what Jesus Christ did for us when He came to Earth as a baby. God the Father yearned to reach down into our "playpen of captivity" and pull us out. He could not . . . because of our disobedience . . . because of our sin. What did God do?

God climbed into our "playpen" with us!

When Jesus Christ entered into our "playpen of captivity," He took the sin and disobedience that should have been ours alone, releasing us from our captivity . . . allowing us the opportunity to experience the fullness of life God has for us!

The message is simple, clear and personal: God with us . . . He loves you so much He sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ!

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have Eternal Life.
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of
God's one and only Son." John 3:16-18 (NIV)"
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Wringin' That Chicken's Neck

My Mother was a mere 5'2 or so but she was a mighty woman in more ways than one. If you read my post about church camp and her counselor experience with some teenage girls, you will know that she was kind, but firm and had a grip on things.

My Mother also had a grip on other things. Take for instance when the day rolled around that she decided fried chicken would be our supper. My Mother didn't run to the store and buy a chicken that was all dressed out, my Mother killed a chicken then undressed that old, Mrs. Hen a handful of feathers at a time.

I remember the first time I observed how a chicken got from the coop to the table. I couldn't have been more than five years old. Mother went to the chicken coop; chose one of the nicest hens there and carried Mrs. Hen to the middle of our big back yard. With Mrs. Hen squalking as loudly as she could, Mother tucked Mrs. Hen's backside under her left arm; quickly grabbed Mrs. Hen's neck; released Mrs. Hen's body and began to swing. There Mother stood with her left hand on her hip and with her right hand, she swung Mrs. Hen around and around as hard as she could. After about a dozen swings, Mother brought Mrs. Hen down toward the ground and with all the force she could muster, Mother popped Mrs. Hen's head right off her body! I couldn't believe my eyes ! Poor headless Mrs. Hen jumped up and began to run around the yard in dizzying circles. As Mrs. Hen headed my way, I screamed; ran around the corner of our smoke house; grabbed the back porch screen door and raced inside as fast as I could.

I suppose Mrs. Hen finally gave up and fell over because when I went outside to see if my Mother was okay, Mrs. Hen was hanging upside down from the clothesline via a cord tied around her feet and Mother was plucking the feathers off Mrs. Hen.

Mother fried Mrs. Hen for our supper. She had all the trimmings; mashed potatoes, gravy and corn on the cob. It really did smell wonderful but I asked Mother if it would be okay if I just had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

I still wonder why my dear, sweet , kind Mother allowed me to witness that slaughter. But, back in those days, that wasn't considered bad; it was considered providing food for the table. It was a fact of life. And, it didn't scar me for life because I can eat chicken with the best of 'em now.

How many of us are like Mrs. Hen? We run around day after day like a chicken with it's head cut off. We have so many things to accomplish yet we seem unable to get the things done we feel we need to do. How many of those things are necessary? How many of those things are truly satisfying? How many of those things will really matter 10 or 20 years or even 50 years from now? How many of those things will matter in Eternity?

"These are the words of the Teacher, King David’s son, who ruled in Jerusalem.
'Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!' What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes. The sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again. The wind blows south, and then turns north. Around and around it goes, blowing in circles. Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows out again to the sea. Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content." Ecclesiastes 1:1-8 NLT

Our Last Grandchild

Now that I have written about the births of all five of our grandchildren, I shall move on to a different subject tomorrow. Thank you to those who have indulged me as I walked down memory lane.

Two little girls, ten and seven had begged for a sibling for a long time and finally mother told them a baby was on the way. They could hardly wait.

Daughter #2 had taught school that day but I could tell she was tired when she came by our home after school. There wasn't any sign of beginning labor although I could tell she wished there was. When our phone rang about 4:00 a.m., I knew who was on the other end of the line.

"It's time. If dad can come and stay with the girls, we'll meet you at the hospital. I don't think it will be long because my contractions are pretty regular."

"Okay, I'll call your sister and tell her. Granddad will head to your house in just a bit and I'll meet you at the hospital.

I was prepared; really prepared. I had a bag packed with a couple of books; some unread magazines, a bottle of water; a couple of packages of peanut butter crackers; a little pillow in case I wanted to nap while I waited and, of course, my sweater because hospital waiting rooms are always cold.
The waiting room was empty when we arrived. The soon to be parents checked in while I made myself comfortable. I dug out a magazine and flipped through it. I had my ears on standby waiting for the cry of a newborn.

I grabbed a packet of crackers; propped my feet up on a nearby chair, leaned back with the little pillow under my head and threw my sweater over me thinking I might catch a wink or two. But, a nap was not to be........was that a baby crying or was I dreaming? I sat up and listened again. Sure enough, it was the cry of a new born. I threw things aside and ran down the hall only to see my son-in-law come out of the room with a smile on his face.

"It's a girl and the nurse just took her to the nursery. She is beautiful and Mama is doing great. Sure didn't take long , did it?" he said. We glanced through the glass into the nursery and then the proud daddy went back inside to see about Mama while I called the girls
.
In no time, another set of grandparents arrived and a granddad with two very excited little girls who were jumping up and down with excitement. Within minutes, daddy came out carrying that tiny bundle and the girls gathered around; touching her gently and gazing at her in awe.

Within a couple or three hours, Daughter #1 and her family arrived, thankful this was real labor and not Braxton-Hicks again. There we were; altogether again as a family oohing and cooing over that sweet face wrapped tight in a little blanket with a little knit cap on her head.

Families are brought together to celebrate the good times.............Thanksgivings, Christmases, birthdays, graduations, and weddings. They are brought together in the bad times; serious illnesses and funerals. But, the most exciting time of all is when God sends a new life into a family.

As I think about our grandchildren, I realize how blessed we are. Each of them has a relationship with God and the knowledge they are secure in Him throughout eternity.

I recall hearing this statement: "The family unit points us to another establishment God has ordained—the church. Jesus Christ is the head of the church. He is the authority. The church as a whole is His bride. We as individuals in the church are His children and siblings one with another."
Yes, God established the earthly family in the beginning. And, He gave us His direction for families through His word. I am so thankful for my physical family and I'm thankful for my spiritual family in our church; those fellow believers who have professed Christ as their Lord and Savior. And, we are to love them just as we love our physical family.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35).

Our Miracle Grandson

"It's me ..........uh........we're on the way to the hospital. My water broke and the contractions are three minutes apart."

It was Daughter # 1 calling. This is the daughter who apparently is destined to just carry her babies for 37 weeks instead of 40. Yes, the daughter who had our first grandson in the middle of a snow storm 11 years before. The baby she was carrying was our miracle grandson. Daughter #1 and her husband had been told by their doctor they had a five percent chance of having another child.......... ten months before. Now, our Five Percent Chance Grandson was on his way and so were we.........

Did we have our suitcases packed? Of course not but that didn't matter. We decided the idea of expecting her to call, as her pregnancy neared the last month, might be in order where Daughter # 1's pregnancies were concerned.

Thank goodness it was the beginning of August and not the middle of December for this trip to Tulsa. We got there just after this beautiful 6 lb 8 oz perfect little baby boy arrived. Holding him in my arms was just as exciting as holding his brother those many years before.

When I thought about this, I realized that most of us aren't really prepared for the things that come along in our lives. We are never prepared for the accidents that happen; never prepared for the sudden passing of a loved one. And, how many of us are prepared for the return of our Lord? Have we made preparations for the second He bursts forth from the Eastern Sky with trumpets sounding and the archangel accompanying Him?

The earth is pulsating.........contracting in fact with sin and evil and all manner of destruction in every corner. Let's pray that this is the preparation for the returning of our Lord.

Are you ready?

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (KJV)

Our Second Granddaughter

“Before I shaped you in the womb,
I knew all about you.
Before you saw the light of day,
I had holy plans for you" Jeremiah 5:1A (The Message)

"Dad, I think it's time," the voice on the phone was Daughter #2 in the wee hours of the morning.

Her Dad had been designated to drive her from her apartment on the grounds of Thorncrown Chapel, to Fayetteville, where delivery was scheduled. And, this grandmother was given the job of looking after three year old Granddaughter until the baby arrived. Then we would make the drive to see her newborn sister.

So, I called Daughter #1 in Tulsa.
"Your dad just left here. He's headed to take your sister to Fayetteville. Her labor pains are pretty regular. So, if you're still planning on being there, thought I'd give you a heads up. I'll bring Little Sister over after she wakes up so I'll see you there sometime today."

" Well, I hope it's not Braxton-Hicks this time like it was last time and I make a trip over for nothing," muttered Daughter #1.

From all reports, the ride of father and daughter from Eureka Springs to Washington General was a pretty scary one. Dad was straightening out the corners and daughter was promising not to deliver in the vehicle.

Daughter #2 made it from Tulsa to the hospital on a wing and a prayer and went in to be the labor coach. The doctor, after checking the patient, thought it would be a while so she went to tend to other duties.

"I've gotta push !"

"NO, YOU DON'T GOTTA PUSH!" yelled Daughter #1, "Don't you dare push. The doctor's not back here yet !" she said as she hurried to the door.

"Dad, go get me a coke, please, things are happening here !"

So, dad returned with the requested coke. And, yes, things were happening. The doctor raced down the hall ; through the door to the labor room and within minutes the sound of a newborn's cry was heard.

Another beautiful little 7 lb 1.9 oz , 20 " long baby girl had made her way into the world at 11:30 that September morning. She immediately captured the hearts of all of us who were there, including her sister. And, by 6:00 that evening, Mother and baby were back home and settling in.

Now, some almost 24 years later, that September baby is still capturing hearts. She captured the heart of one particular young man and they were married at Thorncrown Chapel two years ago, where they first knew each other when they were both small. And, as a Family Advocate, she is helping families with little ones get the needed help to ensure a better life for their children.

Isn't it amazing how even though we can't see God's hand ahead of us, we can look back and see His hand in things that we experience; even in circumstances that occur in our lives that may be painful at the time? God knew us before we were conceived; He knew the circumstances and experiences that make us the people we are today.

Wouldn't it be wonderful, knowing all of that, if we could trust God completely with our lives and the lives of our children and the circumstances we may find ourselves in?

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Mimi's Musings