THE PHONE RINGS -- AGAIN

Hubby picked fresh green beans so I was preparing a meal our ancestors would approve of.  (We often laugh and comment that our grilled cheese and tomato soup would not be considered a proper meal.  The main meal was to include meat, potatoes, at least one vegetable and dessert.)  Today would be a proper meal!

The hamburger was thawed and I began making the meat loaf.  The phone rang and, since it was a local number, I answered it.  “This is credit card services…” 

I finished the meat loaf and began snapping green beans.  The phone range and, since it was a different local number, I answered it.  “This is credit card services…” 

Our meal was over and, if I do say so myself, it was extremely tasty.  Left overs were cooling, the table was cleared, hubby was doing the dishes (Bless his heart.) and --- YUP!  The phone range and, since it was a local number, hubby answered it.  He kept saying, “I cannot understand you.”  He hung up.  A determined telemarketer tried again.  Again, hubby hung up.

Those dreaded scam phone calls – We have received calls telling us:

• You have won one million dollars.  Send $895 to process your winnings.  The next call was:  Did I say one million dollars?  I am sorry, it is five million.  Send $895 to process your winnings.
• There are new terms on your credit card.
• This is google services.
• This is Microsoft.
• This is Apple.
• This is Marriott.
• You have won a cruise.
• You have won a week’s stay at a resort.
• Silver is a good investment.
• Gold is a good investment.
• Do you need windows?  Siding?  A new driveway?  A pool?
• You need to call this number immediately to verify a credit card purchase.

WHAT?  You want my Social Security number?  My bank account number?  The three digit code on the back of my credit card?  I am ready to rip the phone off the wall!! 

HELP!! We are drowning in scam calls!

I WANT SOMEONE TO STOP THESE CALLS!!  And no one does. 

I started looking up scriptures and Psalm 108:12 sure fits the comment above.  Smiling, I read:  Give us aid against the enemy (telemarketers), for the help of man is worthless.

WHERE DO WE TURN FOR HELP

Okay.  In the grand scheme of things – the big picture – the long run – considering the universe, telemarketers are but a mere annoyance.  There are so many important things in our lives which cause us to yell, “HELP – please help.”  We each have a different reason for seeking help, and the Psalms give us direction.

David cried for help and God heard him. 

In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help.  From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.  Psalm 18:6

Israel turned to God.  Israel turned away from God.  Enemies threatened Israel.  BUT God was always there.  AND GOD WINS!

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. ….. “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 46:1, 10

God heard David.  God watched over Israel.  GOD HEARS YOU AND HE WATCHES OVER YOU.  (Note:  Watching over does not mean your life will suddenly become a piece of cake.  What it means is you are not alone.  There is a power surrounding you.  There is a strength that will not fail.  There is help for every fear and every situation.  That presence, that power, and that strength is God!)

PSALM 121 – made personal

I life up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let my foot slip – he who watches over me will not slumber.

Indeed, he who watches over me will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over me – the LORD is my shade at my right hand;

the sun will not harm me by day, nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep me from all harm – he will watch over my life;

the LORD will watch over my coming and going;

both now and forevermore.

There are so many important things in our lives which cause us to yell, “HELP – please help.”  We each have a different reason for seeking help, but the source of our help is the same:  God. 

Do versus With

It seems I have been very occupied lately.  I have been doing a lot for God.  Well, maybe not for God, but what I have been doing is … Maybe it would be easier if I explain.

DO FOR

I do love spending time on the computer.  I like to google and I can research for hours.  I like to use power point to create fun pictures.  All this led me to work with our church’s Facebook page and set up a new website.  There is cartoon each Monday and songs each Wednesday, on Facebook.  They do not appear on their own, which means I have looked at cartoons and videos – all Christian – to find just the right fit.  And I have had fun.  I have spent many hours putting together a way to spread the word about God.  Hey, this is the age of social media,   Social media – a way to connect and interact with the congregation and a way to spread the word about our church.  A way to inform those seeking where we are, what we believe, and what we do.  Yes, I have been very occupied lately.  Of course, this is all for God.  It must be a good thing.  Right?

My time is used to encourage others to come to church.  My time is used….

But, in the back of my mind, I get this nagging feeling I am missing something.  The feeling makes no sense.  I go to church and Sunday School.  I listen to Christian music.  How can I be missing anything?  But the feeling is still there.  It will not go away.  Something is missing!

WHAT IS MISSING?

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.  She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?  Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”               Luke 10:38-42

“Does this scripture help you, Mary?”

Yes … but, if I don’t …

“If you don’t what?”

Honestly!  Which way do you want it?  We are to serve!  Didn’t you like the food Martha prepared?  Wasn’t it nice to have her home opened to you?   Do you think it cleaned itself?  Someone had to sweep the floor and get the groceries.  That cheesecake she has ready for dessert did not magically appear.  It is not like when you changed the water to wine.  She could not look at the pan and say, “Fill with cheesecake.” 

“Mary …”

And ..

“Oh, you were not done?”

No I am not!  We are to follow Matthew 25:  feed the hungry, give a drink to the thirsty, invite the stranger in, give away clothes, take care of the sick, and go visit those in prison.  How are we to do that and sit at your feet and listen?  You do know there are only 24 hours in the day, don’t you?

“A rhetorical question – good one.  I see you still have a sense of humor.  Let’s figure this out.  Start with the word balance:  to keep something in a steady position so that it does not fall.  So?”

OH!  (Light bulb moment.)  This nagging feeling is because I have not balanced do for and be with?  The something missing is time with you?  That seems too simple.

“Final question:  What happens when you spend time with me?”

My spirit calms.  My Soul listens.  My path is easier to see.  Yes, time with you is what I am missing.

BE WITH

Jesus had a lot to do, but he took time to be with God. 

After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.

When evening came, he was there alone,     Matthew 14:23

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.     Mark 1:35

After leaving them, he went up on the mountainside to pray.     Mark 6:46

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.     Luke 5:16

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.     Luke 6:12

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed …

for himself, for his disciples, for all believers     John 17

Balancing to do and be with means to keep my life in a steady position so I do not have a nagging feeling that I am missing something.

How do you balance doing for and being with God?

Instagram, a Frog and a Friend

I have told you about my stuffed frog, Norman, and his Instagram account.  Today I want to tell you about a friend we never met.  Pieter lived in The Netherlands, with his brother.  The first time I saw Pieter, on Instagram, I wondered who would put a picture of someone in a hospital bed, with stuffed monkeys hanging all around.  Then I read his story – the story of his family.

At age five, Pieter had a brain tumor which caused many physical problems and a rare syndrome.  Jump forward to 2015, when his brother realized Pieter was not doing well in the care facility he had finally had to enter.  A hospital bed was placed in the middle of a very busy household, filled with children, music, cooking, and noise.  And, along with all the medical paraphernalia, Pieter had a new home!  Home – what an amazing word.  Home – where miracles happen.  Home – where love can rescue a brother.

Pieter thrived on the noise and the activity and the music and the coffee.  He watched children draw, so he drew.  He watched people feed themselves, so he fed himself.  He sat in a chair.  He loved getting mail.  Did I mention he loved coffee?  He loved the stuffed monkeys.  He had a smile that made the world light up.  Everyone on Instagram loved Pieter, his family, and those monkeys.

I never met this family, but from them I learned:

• Families make sacrifices – Having a hospital bed, in the middle of the living room, would require change.  Not only a change in the arrangement of furniture, but a change in the arrangement of many lives.

• Surroundings do affect life – The noise, the activity, the music, the coffee, and, yes, the monkeys stimulated Pieter and he responded with joy and a smile.

• People care – Pieter looked forward to receiving mail, but the mail also encouraged his family.  Each stamp, each envelope, -- each card was a way for people to say, “We care.” 

In our day to day lives, we meet people who influence us – they are examples of how to live (or not to live).  But sometimes -- sometimes a person we have never met changes our heart. 

Pieter and his family changed my heart.  Pieter died July 5, 2019.

I would like to share the family comments with you:

We have to announce that our beloved Pieter passed away on the 5th of July; he died Peacefully after being very ill. We believe that he is in Heaven now, without pain and sorrow. We will miss him badly but we have comfort thinking about the Love we felt for each other, the Fun we had in spite of his Illness. ….We are so grateful and feel so blessed about the 4 years he lived in our home and we were allowed to take care of him. I know this news will make a lot of people sad, and a lot of people will miss Pieter and his famous Smile. But I will ask you to remember him as the Happy Person he was, enjoying the little things of life! …. 

This is the front of the Mourning Card we made to make the Announcement of Pieter his passing to our Family and Friends. We asked our daughter to make a drawing of a Photo of him and she did a really great job capturing his Happy Face and Wonderful Smile so well. Behind him you see a sheet of Music Paper of the opening chorus of the St John Passion from Bach, which was one of the favorite Choral Works of Pieter. In the past he was a member of many different Choirs and Music was his life! Unfortunately he became deaf and had to quit singing for public. But he never stopped singing in private, and even sang the beginning of this choral in the past week; very soft and flawed but with his whole heart! We like to think of him singing this choral in heaven now; loud and clearly! He also wears his favorite hat on this drawing..... The people who get this card will not only become sad because he left us, but we hope they will smile too seeing him Sparkle. We look at it all day; this drawing of Pieter makes us feel happy and proud of him!

But sometimes -- sometimes a person we have never met changes our heart.

Pieter and his family changed mine.

YOU SEE IT EVERY SUNDAY

I have been working on a church website.  I stopped by the office, talked to the pastor a bit, and showed him a picture.  He looked at it and asked, “Where is that window?  In our church?”

The answer was, “Yes, in our church.  You use that door every Sunday morning.”

This window is on the door to the Prayer Room.  It is a beautiful window.  Those involved in Sunday Worship gather, in the Prayer Room, to pray for the service.  And yet, pastor did not remember the window. 

Or, had he seen it so often, it became a part of the door.  This beautiful window – became invisible.

How often do you drive the same road?  How often do you say, “When did that house get there?”  Then realize it was built about 100 years ago.  It happens all the time.  We become so used to seeing something, we no longer see it. 

God’s blessings often fit into that category.  We forget:

• Trees
• Flowers
• Laughter
• Eyesight
• Sound
• Imagination
• Strawberries
• Touch

The list could go on and on and on and on.  Do not feel like you are the only one with eyes that do not see –

When he (Jesus) was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.  Luke 24:30-31

(Later in Jerusalem) While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”  They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.  …. Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.  Luke 24:30-31, 45

The disciples did not see Jesus.  They were so used to seeing the MAN; they could not see the SON OF GOD.  Of course, the man who really had blinders on was Saul.  Acts 9 tells us:

Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples

…if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners

As he neared Damascus … a light from heaven … heard a voice

“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

… when he opened his eyes he could see nothing

For three days he was blind

BUT THEN ---

(Ananias) Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord – Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here – has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.  Immediately something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again.

The secret is to open our minds so we can understand and our eyes so we can see.

Today … Tomorrow … Always – do not allow God’s blessings to become invisible.  Savor a strawberry.  Laugh loudly.  Be blessed by a flower.  Close your eyes and hear the waves and the breeze rippling the leaves.  Allow your imagination to create a masterpiece or the next great invention.  See hope for the future, as you touch the hand of a child, and see a life well lived, as you shake a hand that is calloused or wrinkled. 

Today … Tomorrow … Always – do not allow God’s blessings to become invisible.  You might just miss a very beautiful window, as you enter a room to pray.